A Lesson Learned is A Lesson Learned...

So, life's been crazy lately! It is now less than a month until school is done for the semester! And you know what that means...woohoo party time? Not quite yet! It means me freaking out about all these assignments that I have to complete within the next couple weeks including those few things I should've been working on for the past month or two(oh, the life of a procrastinator!). Anyway, so in my frantic state yesterday, I was studying for a test I just got done taking a bit ago. By time I got to class this morning, I was feeling pretty good, thought I knew the materials, knew what I was going to write. So, I get the test and it said it was over chapters 4, 5, and 11. Well, I studied chapters 6 and 7-I somehow looked at the syllabus for a different class and drilled myself on the wrong chapters all along! Instead of throwing my arms up in a rage, screaming "Why!?! Why me? Why this!?!" and creating a scene and possibly scaring my classmates, I played it cool. I actually think I did pretty decent on the test, especially considering I didn't even read those chapters! Luckily, I'm a good listener in class and came to some conclusions through previous lectures. And after, I felt good about it. I did the best that I could, plus I learned some new things from the chapters I 'didn't have to read.' I also learned that I need to look at the right syllabus next time! A lesson learned is a lesson learned...

Worth writing about...me!

So I have another first to add to my list...the first time someone wrote a song about me! My newfound love went on a music retreat this past weekend. He spent 3 days by himself in a "little wooden box" as he calls it, others would call a cabin. He brought his instruments, recording equipment, and went to town! Well, not literally. He literally went out of town to do this to be away from all humans. Anyway, he recorded four new songs, one of which is about me! It is so beautiful, it made me cry! I'd tell you the lyrics, but you'll just have to hear it sometime! Also, for my birthday present (which is slightly early to talk about but he wanted me to be able to plan for it), he is renting a little cabin for me so I can create and record my own music!!! Exciting, huh?

I fear that it's been so long since I've written that people have stopped looking at my blog! Is this true? Give me some feedback. Well, I guess if it's true than I won't get feedback....yeah. Well, my life is somewhat the same old-same old with random crazy out-of-the-ordinary sprinkles on top. If your life was a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would it be?

randomness of the mind

Coffee has become
my life blood
Flying by the seat of my pants
I try to comprehend
everything offered to me
Sensory overload!
in the best way I think
I think a lot
Wandering around the
hallways of my mind
Always trying to find
what I'm looking for
Whether it be words, a thought,
a memory, or something I can't identify
They multiply randomly
Filling me to the rim
Trimming down my wants & needs
Needing to focus on the musts

I will hold my passions
above needless things

Yes!

I have to hold my passions
above needless things

Here I am
and there it is
The endless train of thought
Off the rails and upside down
Slow down, speed up
Life!

Few and Far Between

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last entry! Insane! And that's what it has been this last month or so. So much has happened, where to begin! Maybe I will just keep writing about writing something but not write anything that has any purpose or thought behind it other than thinking about writing about something. Kind of like the song that never ends. Who even likes that song? It's annoying because it doesn't ever end. Someone could go there whole entire life singing that song and never get to the bottom of it. But it's not like the chicken or the egg question because the song that never ends has a beginning. People never start that song in the middle. So there's a beginning, a middle, but no end! I'd say it's like a circle but a circle doesn't have a beginning...

And all that Jazz!

The Jazz Festival was a success! It was my first year as a college student being part of it. I actually played in it in high school but it was just in, on, and out. This year, however, consisted of an nine-hour day at the school helping set the stage every half-hour for the next band, directing, and drinking a lot of coffee! Then it was time to get ready for the big concert! The concert went really well. I was nervous on and off throughout the week, but once I got on stage, I felt pretty comfortable. I thought of how wonderful it was to share music with people. I thought of the people in the audience that loved me and were proud of me. I thought of how much I love music and all the hard work we put into those tunes. And when it was over, I wished that it wasn't...The next day was more of the same, high school bands playing every half-hour, but there were more clinics done by the guest artists. Since we all only had to work half of the day on Saturday, I was able to catch a few clinics. I think my favorite was the guest artist was the trumpet/jazz improv clinic. He had some good things to say about practicing, playing with history, different types of mouthpieces for different sounds. There was something that stood out to me though. He said that was was never the best, never won awards or things like that in high school or wherever, but that he just kept practicing. Now he is absolutely amazing! One of my favorite things about watching/listening to the guest artists play together is how much they respond to eachother! They are truly communicating through music. One person would play something, then someone else would mimic that or build on it or support it. What a great weekend!!!

Crunchtime to showtime!

Tonight was our last full rehearsal before our huge jazz festival concert! Two days, not even 48 hours at this point-MADNESS! The music department has become insane at this point. Along with our classes and homework, there have been extra rehearsals, hanging up giant banners, shuffling instruments, music stands, and other miscellaneous things from place to place, hanging up posters, getting ready for hundreds of middle and high school music kids to invade our school-it's a blast! Actually though, I'm really looking forward to this weekend. There are going to be some really great guest musicians from all over right here at my school! We even get to play a tune with one of them at our concert. This concert will be the biggest audience that I have ever played for in my life! That's a little nerve-wracking! But mostly, I'm looking forward to sharing music with people...through the madness there is joy.