Re: HANASHIR digest 111

[Sbguitar2 <Sbguitar2...>]

I would like to address Jeff's comment also.  I am speaking from a slightly
different perspective...I'm the kid!  While it's true that I'm not in grades
3-5 (I'm in 12th grade) I still recognize the lack of ruach in my region of
NFTY.  While my peers will jump up and down and scream at the top of their
lungs for a cheer session, our song sessions have turned into a social time
where a select group of people stand close to our guitars and sing loudly but
a large group walks around and talks.  It is very frustrating to me as a
songleader because when i came into SEFTY as a freshman, this was unheard of!
 I don't know if this is saying something about me or my co songleaders or if
it just reflects on the emphasis placed on music in our camps or religious
schools.
  I think the argument about the lack of music in public schools is
wonderful.  I do attend a public school and the music program at my high
school is extremely weak!  We do not have a chorus at all.  The marching band
has about 40 people in it and we do not have sufficient equipment to work
with.  
I was fortunate to have a wonderful music teacher in religious school who got
me interested in Jewish music as well as attending UAHC camps.  However, we
are running out of ideas in SEFTY as to capturing the interest in song of our
peers.  I even question my co songleaders as to their interest in the music.
 It is not uncommon to find people talking during services or during song
session, which I feel shows a lack of respect but has become more of a social
hour than anything else.  We have tried jumping on the chairs and doing crazy
stunts to capture interest and we have introduced new songs also.....HELP!
-Sara Greene