Scrollworks: an essay by Claudia Duran

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."

Why do I believe in Scrollworks? Why is Scrollworks important to me? These are questions I can't answer in one sentence. It's pretty hard to explain how I became obsessed with Scrollworks, why I constantly want to get on Facebook just to check if Mrs. Goforth posted pircutres of that Friday or Saturday. I really can't explain why I sleep so late and wake up so early just to finish music theory worksheets for Scrollworks or why I spend hours drawing fliers to be put up on Saturdays. I honestly don't know where to start.

I joined Scrollworks about a year ago. I was at the mall with my younger brother, Steve, looking for a toy he saw on television. I swear, there isn't a toy on TV that he doesn't want! He was inside KB Toys when I decided to sit outside the store on an armchair. I looked to my right and saw a newspaper article that read, "Free Music Lessons." I wasn't taking any violin lessons from anyone at that time, so I picked up the article. After reading it, I jotted down the number and called Mrs. Goforth. A week after calling her, I decided to walk to Cave9 and when I got there, I was too shy to walk in, so I ended up walking back home. A couple of weeks later, I finally got the nerve to just walk inside, when I did I was greeted with a lot of smiles and I met my then violin instructor, Mr. Lacanski.

After that day, I began going to scrollworks every Friday and Saturday. I enjoyed walking in and getting a brownie or two and then waiting for Nick to be ready. And then after my lesson, I would just walk back home. A month or two later, when the all the violin teachers were busy, I was told to teach a kid beginners violin. I was really elated when I got the news because I have never taught anyone before and it was a new experience for me. I still remember how it went and it always gets me smiling. Well first of all, I was very confused, but I enjoyed it so much!

I honestly believe that it wasn't until December of last year that I really began to, I guess you can say, "fall" for scrollworks. Scrollworks moved to GreenCup Books, even though I was sad that we were leaving 5 points South, I was also really excited because I felt like I was part of the Scrollworks Family. That was half a year ago and my commitment and love for Scrollworks has centupled! I have never cared so much for anything, ever! I think about Scrollworks 24/7. I have to admit that every night before I fall asleep, I think of ways I can help. I think of fundraiser ideas and what I can bake and then sell. I'm always finding excuses to do anything related to Scrollworks.

My life has seriously turned around because of Scrollworks. I began taking lessons on the violin when I was eight and I enjoyed them, but I have always liked drawing best. When I was in 5th grade, I already had my entire future planned out. I was going to start to my portfolio before my junior year of high school, I was going to go to CalArts and then graduate from there and my career would be as an animator. And then I would adopt and die years later. But lately, I'm having second thoughts of what I want to do now. I am 100% positive that I want to stay with Scrollworks for as long as I can, even if that means having to stay here in Birmingham and having to change plans I've had for years. I don't want to leave Scrollworks, I enjoy it so much, it's so weird!


I swear Scrollworks is so important to me, I get this rush every Saturday morning because I know I'll be spending the next four hours doing something I love. I'll be around awesome people and I'll learn a lot new things. It would be really devasting if something happen that would prevent Mrs. Goforth and Jimmy from doing the amazing things they do everyday. I won't have anything to look foward to on Friday nights and most importantly, I won't have anything I can dedicate my time and love to.

So in conclusion, Scrollworks is really important to me because I have learned so many things just by going on Fridays and Saturdays. I learned that it's always best to think of others before yourself. I have also learned that music is just amazing! Learning and playing is just wonderful. But the most important thing that I learned from scrollworks is that if there is anything you can do to help anyone, you should always do it! Because in the end, you will always have a huge feeling of satisfaction that neither nothing nor no one can take away from you.

Scrollworks Community Meeting: Claudia's Fundraiser

This Saturday, June 13, we are having a community meeting about Scrollworks.
It will be at 4 pm at Highlands United Methodist Church, 1045 20th St S (behind the fountain at Five Points S).
If you believe in Scrollworks and what it can do for our community, it is very important that you attend.
Many of you remember that our board chair bet real money that no one would come to the last community meeting--and we had a great crowd.
We have even more to prove this time.

The meeting will be about recent teaching and policy changes, volunteer opportunities, fundraising ideas.
But we also want to listen to you, your concerns, and your ideas.
If you have a specific item you'd like discussed, please let us know and we'll put you on the agenda.

Claudia will be providing refreshments for free and a special treat as a fundraiser.
She will bring homemade banana bread, some plain and some with nuts. The bread has buttercream frosting and is decorated with strawberries.
Claudia wanted me to tell you that this will be free to all and is 230 calories per serving.
She will also be taking orders for individual servings of brownie cobbler served warm with vanilla ice cream, nuts, whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
These she will sell for $5 with all proceeds going to Scrollworks.
Please let us know if you'd like to order one or more of these decadent treats to be delivered on Saturday at Highlands.
If you've tasted Claudia's baking, that should be a major motivation to come to the meeting!


Paul Neville of NorthStar Youth Ministries sampling the sample.

Thank you all for your support. Your donations over the last week have definitely helped with not just our cash flow but our outlook.

MYOCA in Full Bloom

Thanks to all who came out for the rehearsal at NorthStar yesterday. What a wonderful crowd--especially since many of the regulars were out of town for the holiday weekend.

The musicians did not even hesitate about rehearsing again today. One mom asked me if we really would rehearse on Memorial Day. I told the assembled parents that Dwight would keep their students working continuously until Friday if he could arrange it. Everyone nodded and said they'd be here.

Some of the duets and trios will begin rehearsing at 5:30 today. (And if your small ensemble wants to, come on!) Dwight asked MYO to be here at NorthStar (700 8th Ave W) at 6 pm. MCYO was asked to come at 6:30.

If you have a folding stand, please bring it.

We are still accepting applications for the free summer ensembles. (Application here.) Dwight is planning to use the orientation meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday, May 26, 6:30 pm, NorthStar) to set up three different nights at different locations to accomodate as many youth musicians as possible.

Reuben Cox will be working with a vocal ensemble. If you are interested, please email.

Final rehearsals: Expecting perfection

This weekend will be the last rehearsals for the MYOCA ensembles before the concert.
Because the Alabama School of Fine Arts will be closed, we will be rehearsing at NorthStar Youth Ministries, 700 8th Ave W. (Directions)


Mr. Houston has requested that both orchestras rehearse on both days:
Sunday, May 24, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Monday, May 25, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Mr. Houston is closing out an orchestra season he did not begin with higher expectations for all orchestra members.
He has been recruiting across the city and found several young musicians passionate enough to join us for this final concert and already committed to the orchestras for next season. We expect you to welcome them at rehearsal and your help in creating a seamless performance next Friday.

We very much appreciate that you have stuck with us through the growing pains and promise to make the coming year an enriching musical experience for all.
Across our organization, a commitment to excellence, to doing our very best, is taking a firmer hold as we begin our third year.
Much of our calendar for next season is already in place, including rehearsals and major performances.
Mr. Houston will implement his own standards as we move forward:
We will be auditioning for the higher level ensembles and for seats. There will be minimum attendance requirements for both rehearsals and performances.

We are getting a stream of performance requests for next season from a wide variety of venues including TV, festivals, libraries, etc. This is a testament to your hard work this year. Thank you! (Please work on your solos over the summer!)

Are you looking for MORE opportunities to play and perform this summer? We still are forming our free summer ensembles, which will begin rehearsing the first week in June. Download more info and the registration form here.

Classical XKCD

More XKCD here.