Climb Every Mountain… ‘Till You Find Your Dream

I was raised on Disney movies and musicals.  Some of my favorites (that still hold up) are: Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story, Grease, Singin’ in the Rain and, of course, The Sound of Music.  The Sound of Music, in my opinion, is easily one of the greatest musicals ever made… the amazing Rodgers and Hammerstein never disappoint.  I was a bit skeptical when hearing that the live production was coming to Gammage as the movie is such a well loved classic and something I watched more times than I can remember.  I was not disappointed!  Last night’s opening night show was spectacular!!!  

My love of Disney and musicals carried over into and throughout high school.  I joined the drama club with my close friends where singing Disney songs and old musicals aloud on a daily basis was the “norm”.  In addition to the productions we put on at school we would take a drama trip once a year to catch a play in L.A. and visit, my home away from home, Disneyland!  All of this solidified my love for musicals.  I love musicals so much that often I am brought to tears when watching live theatre.  Something about the music and awe of it all… having been raised listening to and singing these songs, is probably a big part of that love and emotional connection. And it’s most likely the same reason I get all giddy and child like when visiting Disneyland even as an adult! 😉  I think the other part is the pure imagination and love that can be found in musicals as well as the underlying messages of never giving up on your dreams.   

Fast forward a few years… when my son was born, I didn’t feel I had many expectations for him aside from being a good person. I didn’t know what I hoped “he would be when he grew up”.  I figured he would love sports as I and ALL my family did growing up.  He didn’t.  He was quite good at a couple sports (I still think he could be the next Michael Phelps!) but did not have that winning drive, the competitive gene if you will… how he escaped that one I do not know.  In elementary school, he was interested in learning to play an instrument and joined band.  We purchased him his first used trumpet. In middle school, he joined choir.  Currently, as a sophomore in high school, he plays the trombone in jazz band, the tuba in marching band and the piano in his free time!  He would have joined choir too but did not have enough electives to do so.  This kid, a teenager, loves music with all of his heart.  And it wasn’t until I was watching the Sound of Music last night that it hit me that he is doing what he loves and is following his dream just like the song “Climb Every Mountain”.  And maybe I get a little credit for planting that love of music in him… genetically speaking?  Whether or not there is truth in that, I could not be happier that he has a dream and is following it.  He loves music.  And currently has the dream to acquire a music scholarship and attend a university where he wants to become a music teacher.  This dream may change over time.  It may evolve into something else.  But for now, I am going to support him and his love of music.  To my son:

Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
‘Till you find your dream

The Sound of Music is playing through Sunday and tickets are still available!  

Visit ASU Gammage to get your tickets.   

What is your favorite musical?  Let us know in the comments below.