Step Sing!
Step Sing! It’s a 67 year old tradition at Samford University in Birmingham where my son is a student. When my parents attended school there (then, Howard College) Step Sing was a much smaller production, literally done on the steps of one of the buildings, although my Mother said she remembers Step Sing being held in the library.
My how times have changed!
The groups around campus compete in singing and dancing routines, and they are truly amazing! The young men are hilarious and the group above, dressed in their Boy Scout costumes won the entire competition.
You can click the video link above for a quick overview of the show.
Step Sing is entirely student produced, and my son was this year’s Assistant Producer. The school brought in this huge professional production truck which gave the students fabulous experience with real-world media technology.
This is before the show started and my son is the tiny speck on this balcony wing, operating the camera. There were four full performances to sold out audiences and the production was also live-streamed to over 20,000 people.
Samford does everything possible to bring real-life experiences to their students as early as possible. Over 1,000 of their 5,000 students participate in Step Sing, giving yet another opportunity for hands-on experience in the areas of media production, journalism, business management, finance and fine arts.
My younger son sat with me during the show and after the first group performed whispered, “I can’t wait to get to college!”
Mission accomplished.
How Fun!!! Looks like a fabulous tradition. Have a great week, Leslie Anne!
Thanks Katie. I can’t believe it has grown this large and endured for 67 years!
This looks like a great time you shared with the youngest. A great school. It is always a great feeling when we accomplish our missions ๐
Happy Dayโฆโฆ..
You’re so right! Here’s to many more missions accomplished!
Those perfomances are always so fun and amazing. Great idea to rope the youngest one in!
He was happy to see his big brother!
How fun to see such talented students! And how wonderful that Samford makes this experience available. My niece recently graduated from Samford U. and now works for a non-profit in Birmingham.
I didn’t know we had a distant Samford connection! We’re kinfolk now!
Very impressive! I know you are bursting with pride — in both your sons.
Thanks. Because of your son’s career, you understand what a big deal it is to get this level of hands-on experience so early into the college experience. And yes, very proud! (But you understand that too!)
I participated in stepsing through panhellinic at Auburn in the mid 70s. Not nearly the quality of production you have shown. Always a great diversion during winter quarter. My dad attended pharmacy school at Howard in the early 50’s.
I’ll get you to show me some of your moves sometime!
Totally awesome.
Oh yeah, you said it right!
Hi Little Bitty Pretty One! Oh, this sounds like such fun! Look at all of the happy faces. Your son must be quite good to be up on the camera! You should have been up on that stage telling how you were going to write a fab article for the paper! ๐ Hope your week is going well
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ๐
Haha! I’m sure that would have brought the crowd of college kids to their feet to have a Mom on stage! Maybe to their feet . . . to leave!!! hahaha! You crack me up. Thanks for popping in to read and hope you have a great weekend (starting early today!).
The Live Stream I watched was flawless . The production was broadway worthy and the precise camera work as the groups moved on and off the stage was timed to perfection. So very proud of our Samford students and amazed and proud with you of your Sophomore son to already be assistant producer/camera expert of such a professional production. WOW!
Glad you got to see the live stream. I checked it out on the night we got home for their last performance to watch the winners announced and was amazed at the clarity. I thought it was going to be kind of garbled, but it was as clear as my TV set. What will those newfangled kids think of next?
Oh goodness, this made me tear up Leslie Anne! What a fabulous experience, and what an awesome college!
Thanks Jenna. It really is moving to see how they all work together. I also forgot to mention they use this as a fundraiser for special causes every year. This year it went to a women’s mission in London. The future generation may not be so bad after all.
My college had Sing-Song…a huge deal when I attended. Sadly the tradition at the college waned in the 90’s. Reading your post brought back great memories.
[…] my son and I were in Birmingham for Step Sing at Samford, we did some sight-seeing as well (getting those homeschool field-trips in!). The […]