Go Cardinals!

Create your own scrapbook Apologies to my wonderful students from Cooley High School, who are performing  this piece. When I posted this, I included no notes.  The selection is entitled "O My Luv's Like a Red, Red Rose", by David Dickau.  A hauntingly beautiful piece that beautifullyly sets the Robert Frost poem to music.  How rewarding it is when the students excitedly exclaim,  "Mr. Smith, we studied/read that poem in English!  And frankly, isn't that what education is all about; making those connections, having those 'light bulb' moments, those palpable, visceral and sometimes ecstatic reactions?

More Cooley Choir

Create your own digital scrapbook

This is the Cooley High School Choral Ensemble and they're singing John Rutter's "All Things Bright and Beautiful", accompanied by my exceptionally talented friend, associate and colleague,  Ted Thomas.

I taught at Cooley for 17 years (1991-2008).  The school closed in 2010.  It was an iconic edifice with a noteworthy reputation for academic excellence.  It educated thousands of very successful people in every endeavor and pursuit and it was my second home. It took me two weeks to move everything out; coming back after school everyday, to haul a lifetime of materials and memorabilia.

New Beginnings

Constant evolution - another one bites the dust. Now I have a blog; can you beat that?!!

Well what precipitated this was my posting of two personally designed musical e-cards on Facebook about three hours ago. Facebook suggested that I provide a "link" for my viewers to easily access my content. This in turn, led to adding a "feed" to my personal Google page, which then led to me creating this blog. I guess if you can't beat 'em, join em!

So today(tonight), I am posting "Smith's Sampling" and "Smith's Sampling No. 2", excerpts from my CD, "Is This Mr. Smith's Room?", a 20 song compilation (a choral collage of 40 years of teaching in Detroit Public Schools). Anyone who would like a copy of the CD should drop me a line.