Family's Christmas music CD may be start of new tradition
She has no desire to be a rock star, but she loves to sing. Her favorite song isn't listed on the top forty, yet she has a CD out. She's not the lead singer but she is proud to do back up. And who knows? Maybe someday, she'll be taking the lead microphone.
She is Abby Skirmont who at 6 is very content to sprawl across a living room chair and tell me all about the CD, the Skirmont family's "Homemade Christmas Music 2008"
"Do you want to go on American Idol someday?" I asked.
"No," she responded, as she draped her body over the chair arm.
"Do you know what American Idol is?" I asked
"No," she said, in a simple, no nonsense tone. "Don't you need to talk with my brother? He is the lead singer."
Matthew is a bit more reserved but still willing to tell me about the CD that he, Abby and their dad put together in the studio in the basement.
"Wes played the bells and my cousins did backup."he added.
As five-year-old Wes flew through the family room, it was clear that he had the energy to keep those bells ringing.
Matthew, a member of the Fox Valley Children's Choir, enjoys singing but doesn't plan to be a singer when he grows up.
"I want to be a biologist or someone who works with animals," he added.
Dave Skirmont had the talent and equipment to put the CD together, a Christmas gift for family members, but he said it was 10-year-old Matthew's idea to create the CD.
"I wish we could have had more time to work on it," said Matthew. "We could have made it better."
I'm not a professional music critic, but I was pretty darned impressed. The CD features Christmas songs with the innocent voices of children with a very professional accompaniment track.
"Originally it was going to be our family and then when the cousins came to visit, they wanted to do it as well," added Dave.
Abby is quick to tell you that her cousins, Carly and Sydney, are "backup" backup singers.
"I am the backup singer," she said. They do the repeat part."
David Skirmont enjoys creative music endeavors, both in the studio and in performance. He plays guitar, keyboard, bass and likes trying new things musically. On this CD, he was joined by his brother in-law, Jeremy Sauer, on guitar and a friend on drums.
For Dave, it was exciting to give copies of the CD to his grandmother, Batavian Rose Berndtson. His wife, Julie, shared the CD with members of her family as well. Her mom, Kathy Ryan Sauer was so excited to get the CD that she shared it with her friends.
"We're thinking about doing it again next year and getting more of the kids involved," said Dave.
Two-year-old, Evelyn Sauer loves to sing but might not adapt to the group.
"She loves to stand up and sing but she only sings alone," said Kathy Sauer. "If anyone tries to sing along she puts up her hand and quiets them."
Luckily the 2-year-old "diva" stage doesn't last too long.
The Homemade Christmas Music 2008 CD won't make it to the top 40, but it is a big hit in the Skirmont family and you can't find a greater gift than the gift of music from children.