A Moment for Reflection

Today I decided to take a few minutes out of my busy schedule to listen to a recording of a solo I played at ISYM in 2011. I am not particularly proud of how I performed that day, so I usually don't go back and listen to the recording. 

Something was different when I listened to it this time. Instead of thinking about how bad I played that day, I thought about much I have improved. I thought about why I am not proud of the performance I had...and if I still have the same issues today. I realized that some of the weaknesses I had then are still weaknesses..but I also noticed that some have become strengths. 

I thought about why I still have some of the same weaknesses. For many of my weaknesses, it's not because I don't know what to do..it's simply because I choose not to practice certain things, even though I know I should practice those things. The only thing stopping me from working on my weaknesses is myself. So yes, maybe if I would have practiced (more) in high school, I wouldn't have some of those weaknesses..but that is in the past..so I need to remind myself that hard works pays off..and that the sooner I start working on my weaknesses the sooner that they might not be weaknesses anymore. I also have to remind myself that some things may always be a weakness that I will always have to practice..but it's about making them less of a weakness or barrier that keeps me from playing certain literature. 

As I head into the final weeks of the semester, I will try to stay positive and remind myself that hard work pays off! 

"Don't encourage mediocrity. Play at your best and don't be second class in the head." - Arnold Jacobs

A Light-post Along the Path

Mondays are the longest day of the week for me.  I start at 9am, and by the end of the day I have had two classes, four rehearsals, plus time in the practice room.

With two performances this week, I have extra rehearsals which leads to planning out my playing very carefully. After three long rehearsals, I headed over to CoFAC for my fourth and final rehearsal.  I didn't want to be there-my face hurt, my body hurt, and all I could think about was getting something to eat and putting on my pajamas/laying in bed.  But yet there I was, trying to tell myself that I could play for just one more hour.

By the end of the last rehearsal, I was exhausted.  All I wanted to do was put my trumpet away and head to my room. The director stopped me to tell me how I was doing very well.  He reminded me of how much my sound has improved.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting to receive this compliment.  It was completely out of the blue, in my opinion.  While I know that I still have a major amount of work to do when it comes to my trumpet playing, this compliment could not have come at a better time.

This compliment was a light-post along the path..a gentle reminder that hard work pays off.  There are many days when I just want to quit, but yet I get up the next day and pick up the trumpet again.  It's always nice to have someone tell you that they've noticed the work you've put in.  So, as I continue with the rest of my extremely busy week, I am ready to tackle the next obstacles that will be thrown at me.

ESA

ESA-Epsilon Sigma Alpha. It's a way of life. It's a part of who I am.

ESA isn't something that I joined after going off to college. I've been brought up in ESA..if you've been to a convention, you've probably heard many of the people say how they remember when I was in diapers...well, that's the truth..My first IC Convention was when I was 9 months old..and so far I haven't missed one-so I really have been brought up in ESA.

One of my favorite things in ESA is going to IC Convention. Going to convention allows me to see so many people who I consider family.  My whole family knows that when you arrive at the hotel, you better be ready for lots of hugs and kisses.  Amanda and I know that everyone will ask the same questions- How old are you now? Do you have a job? Do you have a boyfriend? How is school going? How is band? Where are you living? Have you started a chapter yet?-all week long...and as much as we may get frustrated with having to respond so many times to these questions, we still respond because the people asking those questions are important to us. 

ESA has taught me the importance of giving back to the community.  ESA has also taught me the importance of sharing my talents to help others.  ESA has allowed me to find my passion for supporting Easter Seals and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. ESA has allowed me to make an uncountable number of friends-many of whom I consider family. ESA has taught me so much more than I will ever know.

The men and women of ESA support, encourage, and love me more than I will ever know.  I will always be grateful to ESA for all of the memories.  

For more info: http://www.epsilonsigmaalpha.org/Homepage

A Weekend Away

Sometimes it takes a weekend away from the wonderful chaos of school to find motivation. Yes, my life at school is full of fun times and great memories, but it is also very hectic and chaotic.  Somedays I struggle to find the motivation needed to push myself to be the best person and musician that I can be.

As I was home this weekend, I was reminded as to why I am studying music.  There is just something about going back to Quincy, attending concerts, and visiting with friends and family that makes me want to become an even better musician.  Every time that I am home and attend some type of concert, I am reminded of where I came from. As I have previously talked about, I was very fortunate to grow up watching many fantastic musicians perform. (see:Why the Trumpet? Why Music?) Many of these people have known me since I was very little.  The thing about this is that now when I come home from college, they all ask about how I am doing.  The best part is that when they ask how I'm doing and about school, you can tell that each of them genuinely cares.

There is also something about practicing in my room and putting the music on the stand that I used for over eight years that reminds me of my love for music.  The deep conversations about music with my dad help, too!

There are so many things that I want to say in this post about what this weekend at home meant to me...but it is so hard to translate my thoughts into this post.  So..I just want to say thank you to everyone that I saw this weekend. Congratulations to everyone in the Quincy Symphony Orchestra on a wonderful performance, and thank you providing me with a little motivation heading in to the new week!

Who am I called to be?

This question has been on my mind the past few days, and tonight at mass this was discussed in the homily.

SO-who am I called to be?

I am called to be myself.  I am called to be a Godly person. I am called to be the best Christian that I can be. I am called to be the best trumpet player that I can be. I am called to be the best sister, the best daughter, the best granddaughter, and the best cousin that I can be. I am called to be the best friend that I can be.

I am not called to be the best trumpet player in the world...I am called to be the best trumpet player that I can be. Even on the days when I feel like I'm the worst trumpet player ever, I remind myself that there will always be someone worse than me and someone way better than me somewhere in the world. The only thing that matters is that each time I pick up the trumpet, I am working to be the best musician that I can be.

I am not called to be the next saint...I am called to be the best Christian that I can be..to share the love of God with others...to help those in need...to give back to the community...to live out God's plan for me. While there are many days that I question why I am in a certain situation, I have to remind myself that it is part of God's plan, whether I like it or not. If it is a part of His plan for me, He will help me through the rough waters.  I am here on Earth because He has a plan for me.

I want to remind each and every one of you to strive to be be the best that you can be. Live your life for Him, and He will help you reach your dreams.

A Blue Uniform

While some may not like police officers, I do. I respect those who wear blue. I respect those who wear blue because they are the ones who protect us.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Conference with my dad, who at that time was a Deputy Chief for our city police department. At the banquet, the organization honored the families of those (in IL) who had lost their lives that year. While the families were being honored, it really hit home that everyday when my dad went to work, he put his life on the line.

Police officers protect out community 24/7. We may not like police officers becuse they give speeding tickets and other fines, but that is their job. Their job is to protect and serve our country and the people. So when you get a ticket, don't think police officers are mean, because the officer that gave you the ticket was just simply doing his/her job: to protect the people. Even when an officer is inside working at the desk, his/her life is still on the line. Officers working in a station still face the chance of a person coming into the station and attacking/shooting them. 

The men and women who wear blue don't just work normal twelve hour shifts.  They are usually at the station before their shift starts and many have to stay after to finish up reports. Or perhaps they took a call a half-hour before the end of shift..they can't just drop everything and go home..When an officer goes home after shift, they have to be prepared to go back in if an emergency were to happen.  Even though they may work twelve hour shifts, they always have to be prepared to protect the community.

The men and women who wear blue have families. They are the son or daughter of someone, they are the spouse of someone, or even the parent or grandparent of someone. If your mom or dad was a police officer, wouldn't you want them to come home at night? For the families of the men and women wearing blue, they have no idea if their loved one will come home safely after each shift.

There are so many things I could say in regards to how people treat police officers, but I'm not going to.  I just want to remind everyone to respect those who wear blue.  If you are driving and you pass a police vehicle, don't be afraid to smile and wave.  If you are out and about and walk past a police officer, tell them thank you.  If you hear someone talking bad about the police, ask them to stop. Remember that the men and women wearing blue have families.

All officers, at any level, put their lives on the line to keep the people of our communities safe. So next time you see a police officer, make sure to thank them for their duty and service to the community.

DON'T TELL ME!!

If you are a musician, you know that waiting for audition results can be very stressful. The results bring joy to some and cause sadness for others. Results are something you want to find out on your own, not by being told from someone else-who isn't even in your section.

Tonight I came out of a meeting to look up the results from my auditions, and before I could even look-some kid was telling me how I did while I was telling him that I wanted to find out myself..Well, some of you may know what it's like if you make me very angry-and that is what this person did. For those who were there and heard me raise my voice at the individual-I apologize...but something needed to be said to the individual. What he/she was doing was not right, and I'm sure it upset more people than myself. Luckily my results were in my favor, but what if they wouldn't have been and this kid told me..how would he/she like it if that happened to them? I would assume he/she wouldn't like it--so why would they do it to me?!

Why the trumpet? Why music?

A lot of people ask what made me want to play the trumpet or why I have chosen to study music in college. To be honest, there isn't a simple answer. 

Growing up in a musical family, music was always a part of my life. You always went to hear dad play, whether it was with the QPB, QSOA, or him filling in with another group. Some may not know, but my mom can play the piano, so music is truly a family affair.

Many people have that concert they went to or the recording they had that made them want to play a certain instrument..but I truly don't remember having something like that that made me want to play the trumpet. I kind of remember always liking the sound of brass instruments the best, but didn't think anything about it.  

One memory I have is when I was able to go hear the QSO during their Young Peoples concerts..I can remember one year sitting in the front row with all of my classmates when my dad came down to talk to me, and then all of the brass section was waving at me-yes, I felt special. At those concerts, they always picked a few kids to come on stage for a song..I remember my dad asking who I would sit by if I was ever chosen, and I was always like "I have no clue-but probably somebody in the brass." 

So when I was in fifth grade I chose to play the trumpet and began taking lessons as well as playing in PMO band. I immediately fell in love with the trumpet, and obviously never looked back. But why the trumpet? I have no clue-my dad said you should try the trumpet-so I said okay. Later I realized that it was kind of a family tradition, too, because my great grandpa had played the trumpet along with my grandma and great aunt. 

So that answers the question of why the trumpet(sort of)..but why study music? Well, that's hard to answer-because there are so many responses I could give. And in my opinion, the two questions go hand in hand. A lot of people have that one band director and/or private teacher they give credit to-but I would have to give credit to more than just my private instructors and band directors. So many people in my life are involved in music, and each one has helped me on my journey of continuing to study music in college. Since I began playing in the QPB after my freshman year of high school, I have gotten to know and become friends with the many musicians I grew up watching each summer. And I would say the same to everyone in the QSO, especially the wind and percussion players(both past and present). Each of these musicians have reinforced the many things I was taught from my private teachers and band directors. But without my private teachers, there is no way I would be where I am today. I am very blessed that I had two wonderful trumpet teachers before going to college-one during grade school and the other during high school. Each of them taught me not only about music and the trumpet, but also about life. My parents have always been supportive of my music journey, as well. Without all of these people, I wouldn't be studying music today. Many of these people are more than just my peers, they are practically family. My trumpet teachers, band directors, and all of my fellow musicians who are band directors and private lesson teachers are what have inspired me to study music in college. 

As I was traveling in the car today, I was listening to one of my favorite CDs- Alternate Voices(Dr. Greg Jones).  When Nightsongs came on, I began thinking about these two questions, which led to me writing this post.

As I am about to begin my sophomore year at WIU, I would just like to say thank you to all of my former, current, and future music teachers and mentors for all of the support, encouragement, and inspiration!

(If you want to know about why I'm studying music therapy, check out the post entitled "What are you going to do with THAT degree?)

We all have a story

We all have a story. Some are short and sweet, while others are long and complicated.  But whatever our story is, it is created in God's hands.

While I was at the ESA IC Convention the other week, I was thinking about this. I was thinking especially about how the clients of Easter Seals and the patients of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital all have a different story. Some endure more treatment than others.  Some survive the odds and beat childhood cancer, while others don't.

As I was thinking about this, I began to think about my own story. What makes my story unique? What makes me different from everybody else? What gifts and talents did God give me? What situations has God put me in that make me who I am today?

For me, I thought about how I was born with a VSD, or Ventricular Septal Defect. A VSD, simply put, is a hole in the wall(septum) that separates the two lower chambers(left and right ventricles) of the heart. I was tiny but mighty when I was born. My parents had to feed me every two hours when I was born.(And if you know me, I still eat almost every two hours!) Growing up, I saw my pediatrician along with a pediatric cardiologist who specialized in Congenital Heart Defects from OSF Hospital in Peoria. At OSF Peoria, through the Children's Hospital of Illinois, there is a Congenital Heart Center that treats both children and adults with CHDs.  CHDs are present at birth, and many require immediate attention and surgery.  According to the ACHA, heart defects are found in 1 in 100 babies.

I am very lucky that my VSD has not caused any issues, nor has it restricted me from doing anything I wish to do.  Many small VSDs close as the child grows-mine did not.  As I have gotten older, I now understand how lucky I am. Many children are born with multiple CHDs and require multiple surgeries with long hospital stays.  But yet here I am..I've never had heart surgery or long hospital stays. I know some will say I am lucky because I haven't had to do that....but some days when I hear the stories of other CHD survivors, I wonder why I am the lucky one. Why did God choose them and not me? While I will probably never know the answer to this question, some days I find myself asking it..I especially began thinking about this during my senior year of high school when a young woman in my community had her sixth open heart surgery.  All I could do was pray for her, because even though I have a CHD,I had no idea what she was going through.

At the beginning of this post, I talked about how we each have a different story, and how we are all created in God's hands. Whenever I question why I am the so called "lucky one", I remind myself that I was created in God's hands, just like everyone else. I remind myself that God doesn't put people in situations that they can't handle. We may not know if we can handle something when it first happens, but we must remember that God put us there, so He will help us through, as long as we trust in Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11~

What are you going to do with THAT degree?

For those who don't know, I am studying music therapy. There are a few questions I always get asked when I tell somebody that I am studying music therapy: What are you going to do with THAT degree? Are you going to be a teacher? What kind of job are you going to do with that degree? Where would you work?

First, let me explain how I discovered music therapy. When I was younger, I wanted to become a teacher(for like half of my childhood). As I grew older and began to develop my passion for music, I knew I wanted to a have a job in music.  At first, I wanted to become a music teacher. As my sister went away to Maryville University, my parents had told me that her school didn't offer a degree in music. One night as I was looking at a brochure for Maryville, I was reading the list of degrees offered...I suddenly came across "Music Therapy". I looked up at my parents and said "what is music therapy?" My dad tried to explain it to me the best he could. As a curious teenager, I went online and looked it up. As I came upon the AMTA's website, I found the definition(http://www.musictherapy.org/about/quotes/). I knew that it was what I wanted to do with my life. Towards the end of my junior year of high school, I visited WIU and sat in a senior music therapy class..that day they happened to be discussing the definition of music therapy-I was hooked and knew that was what I wanted to do..

So here I am the summer after my freshman year of college, and it's still what I want to do with my life. Yes, there are those days where I think about studying music education, but then I am always reminded of why I am studying music therapy.  

This afternoon as I was outside, one of my elderly neighbors stopped to talk to me. He asked me what I was studying, and I answered. He then proceeded to ask if I was going to be a teacher..and I said no.  I explained how that's not what I want to do with my life, and how I want to be a music therapist. 

I love when people ask me what I am studying..and then what music therapy is because it gives me the opportunity to advocate for music therapy. But it becomes frustrating when people think that I am studying to be a full-time music educator-because I'm not! I am studying music therapy so I can become a music therapist. If I wanted to be a full-time music teacher, I would be studying music education. Yes, I teach trumpet lessons, and I love my students, but I don't want to be a band director. 

*What am I going to do with my degree? Become an MT-BC and share my love of music while helping others.

*Am I going to be a teacher? No, I am not going to be a full-time music educator or band director. I would love to teach trumpet and adaptive piano lessons, on the side, though.

*What kind of job am I going to get? I plan on getting a job where I will be a music therapist. (And obviously I will still play my trumpet!)

*Where will I work? Somewhere where I can be a music therapist. My dream job is working with children in either the school or hospital setting. And of course I will always have the dream of owning a private practice.

If you are interested in knowing more about music therapy, check out the American Music Therapy Association's website. (www.musictherapy.org) Explaining music therapy would need to be its own blog post!

Always up to something!

Well, it's been a busy summer so far! I've stayed busy with babysitting, music, taking an online class, and traveling.  Although I feel like I never got a break after school ended, I have loved most of my summer so far!

Babysitting always brings out the best in me! There are many times when I smile because I love the kids I babysit. But, there are other times when I want to pull my hair out because the kids try to bend the rules and push the limits.  It's amazing to watch the kids grow.  Having been away at school all year, I missed a lot, and I am glad I was able to make more memories with the kids. Let me just say, that taking four kids to the library is very exhausting! Some of my favorite times are taking them for ice cream, hearing them read an entire children's book to me, and hearing them practice their instruments. My favorite part, though, is hearing them talk about God and sing along to their favorite Christian artist(s)!

Musically, I am always up to something.  I took a few days off after playing six graduation ceremonies..but then I was back at it preparing for the opera.  Being a part of the Muddy River Opera Company's production of La Boheme was a wonderful opportunity for me.  I had never played in the pit before..I had a great time! Playing with the Quincy Park Band always keeps me busy. If there's not a concert, I am probably taking apart the folders and putting the music back in the cabinets.  Speaking of which, I set a new personal record today: I sorted three concert sets and put all of the music away in just under three hours! I guess after about seven years, I have developed a pretty good system. I also spent time volunteering through the QSOA at an instrument petting zoo at the Quincy Public Libreary-watching little kids try to play the trumpet is very entertaining! And I even learned the trumpet call that is used at horse races for the ESA Illinois State Convention!

Words of Advice:
"My theory is, if you confident you can pull off anything- even if you have NO CLUE what you're doing." -Jessica Alba

It's been a year?!?

I can't believe that I am ending my freshman year of college! It still feels like yesterday that I was laying in bed the night before I came to school wondering if I had made the right decision. I'll never forget how nervous I was my first week at Western. As the days went by, I became more and more comfortable...I look back and wonder why I was so nervous, because I knew that God was directing me where I was supposed to go.

Musically, everyone says I've improved so much..but some days it doesn't feel like it. Some days it feels like I'm the worst player out there...and others it feels like I'm on top of the world.  Last night as I laid in bed reflecting on my jury (unable to fall asleep), I went back and watched some of my practice session videos from the beginning of the semester...I realized how much I really have improved.  As I listened back to my solo from a recording in February, I couldn't help but smile at how much I had improved.  If someone would have told me a year ago that I would be playing the solo I played this semester, I would have laughed in their face. I would have told them that they are crazy.

This year has reminded me that if I'm willing to put in work, great things will come.  The late nights and early mornings are worth it, if you want the best results possible.  It has taught me that on the days when your playing is at its worst, you have to push through and keep going.  You have to learn from your mistakes and start fresh the next time you pick up the horn.  (And, yes, this is easier said than done!) Some rehearsals might suck, you might get called out, or you might not want to be there...but in the end, is it all worth it? To me, the answer is yes.  To me, those bad rehearsals might be what push you to the next level...that rehearsal you don't want to go to may be when you hear an inspiring message from a director or just a fellow musician.

Here is a link to a piece that I played for Solo & Ensemble my sophomore year of high school.  This is one of my favorite pieces I have ever played.  Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Bi7fpWWqw

Gentle reminders-part 2

Sometimes you just need a gentle reminder that you are on the right path.

Even though I love my school and what I am studying, I still have those moments where I'm not sure if I'm on the right path- it may only last for a second or two, but that feeling is still there...

But God works in such an amazing way that when I have one of those moments, He gives me a reminder of why I am where I am/why I'm doing what I'm doing. 

Being home on spring break has been a great reminder as to why I am where I am.  There's just something about coming home to family and friends who love and care about you that reminds you as to why you are who you are.

Throughout my life, I have been very fortunate to have many great role models.  For me, some of the most important role models are in the music world.  Some of these role models have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and others have only been in my life for a short amount of time.  Some I've had the honor of making music with, while others I have not.  Some are still here with us, while others have gone to be with God.  But no matter what, they have all been a big part of why I've chosen to continue studying music.

Most of these people have been with me through the ups and downs of my playing.  When I was struggling, they were there giving me support and encouragement. When I was successful, they were there giving me praise and reminding me that hard works pays off.  We've smiled together, cried together, and laughed together. We've shared stories of both triumph and tribulations.

These are the people I contact when I get done with an audition, get accepted into an ensemble, or when something finally "clicks!" These are are the people that, in a way, know me better than my best friends.  These are people that I try to spend as much time around as I can-because they inspire me to improve day in and day out.

The past few days have reminded me of how lucky I am to have such amazing role models in my life.   Some I was able to visit with for a while, and others and it was just a quick "Hello! How are things going?" But no matter which it was, it put a smile on my face.  It gave me a gentle reminder as to why I love music.

Gentle reminders-part 1

Sometimes you just need a gentle reminder that you are on the right path.

Even though I love my school and what I am studying, I still have those moments where I'm not sure if I'm on the right path- it may only last for a second or two, but that feeling is still there...

But God works in such an amazing way that when I have one of those moments, He gives me a reminder of why I am where I am/why I'm doing what I'm doing. 

Being home on spring break has been a great reminder as to why I am where I am.  There's just something about coming home to family and friends who love and care about you that reminds you as to why you are who you are.  

As I spent my evening with two of my favorite young men, I was reminded of this.  These boys never fail to make me laugh and smile. 

As I sat watching the older boy practice his violin for Solo & Ensemble Contest, I couldn't help smiling and thinking of how far he has come.  This reminded me of how far I have come on my trumpet, but yet how much there is still to learn.  It reminded me of my first time at Solo Contest when I was so nervous-but everything ended up going very well.  And then I thought about Contest my senior year of high school when I had only prepared my solo for a week and a half, and somehow managed to get  a superior rating. 

Always remember why you are doing what your are doing. For me, this means reminding myself why I play the trumpet: because I want to, not because my parents want me to, not because a friend wants me to, but because I want to play the trumpet and use the talent that God gave me to bring joy and happiness to others. 

Intonation? What's that?!

Well, I honestly don't think I have ever left a rehearsal this frustrated with myself.  It's the week of our concert, and of course I can't play in tune to save my life.

I try not to let frustration get the best of me in rehearsals, but today there was nothing I could do about it.  My frustration level was at its highest.  I couldn't play a single note in tune.

There is only one thing more embarrassing than not being able to play something (the melody!) you've worked really hard on in front of the whole band, and that's not playing in tune-at all.  Why today? Why me? Why on the day when I'll be playing for 5 out of 7 hours in the evening? Why?

Nothing was clicking...everything was running together...It sounded like I hadn't practiced the music, but in reality I've spent a lot of time on the music.  I was honestly embarrassed and wanted to leave the rehearsal.  I felt like I was not only embarrassing myself, but my entire section and studio.

So, since that rehearsal didn't go so hot, I now have to focus even more for my next two rehearsals of the evening.  I must learn from the first rehearsal and move on..or as the song says: "let it go!"

When you have a bad rehearsal, don't look back.  Move forward and work even harder.  Push yourself to be the best that you can be.  Don't let anything stop you.

Now I'm going to go spend some time with my tuner....

Why am I here so late?

Posting this a little after the fact....

Why am I here so late? This question was asked to me tonight by a fellow music student.

I gave them a shocked reaction.  Why wouldn't I be here at night? First of all, it's only 8pm....second of all, I am a music major-I have to practice.

Yes, I have had two rehearsals today.  Yes, I have already practiced once today.  And yes, I am practicing again.

As a trumpet player, I believe that it is important to have more than one practice session a day.  I believe that having multiple practice sessions a day is better for a brass player, rather than having a practice session that lasts for 2 or more hours.  I think that by having more than one practice session, it keeps your health in check- both physically and mentally.  If you play for too long, you can ruin the muscles in your face that are required to play a brass instrument.  Mentally, focusing for two hours can be very difficult..and trying to switch between all of your assignments can be very taxing and difficult.

Some people practice for like 20 minutes a day and never have major issues...and then there's me who practices for a couple of hours a day(usually) and has lots of issues...

I am here again because I wasn't satisfied with my first practice session...yes, I put a lot of work in, but the result wasn't that great.  Demand excellence...or you won't get results.  Hopefully this practice session will be successful.  If it's not, then tomorrow I will push myself harder.

Time to crack the whip!

So, some things are harder for some people than others.  For me, multiple tonguing is a great challenge.

When I was in 7th grade, I could double tongue without thinking about it, play a high C on a daily basis, and play parts of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto....but then things changed when I got braces.

Truthfully, having braces should have only pushed me to work harder, but I let it be an excuse to not practice and work on the things that needed to be done.  As a sophomore in high school, I got my braces off.  I had to learn how to play again...which was definitely a process.

Now, as a freshman in college, I find my self struggling with multiple tonguing, range, and volume.  Why are these things an issue? Simply because in the past, I chose not to practice them, even when my private teachers told me to, and I knew I needed to.

Since coming to college, almost everyday I am reminded of my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to my playing.  This semester, I have to work on these things everyday, no matter what! I can't put them off any longer.

Throughout high school, my private teacher would tell me that if I didn't work on these things, I wouldn't be able to play a lot of music.  But I never believed him.  Almost every lesson, he would remind me that these were the only things holding me back from playing any music I wanted to.  But yet I never practiced these things.

Now, as I'm off at college, I know he is right.  I should have listened to him and worked on these things.  But I chose not to. So now its time to CRACK THE WHIP! I have no choice but to practice these things.  If I choose not to, I am not going to get better, and I won't be able to play most of the music I dream of playing.

Starting today, February 3rd, 2015, I am promising to practice these things everyday.  I am not practicing these things because other people are telling me to.  I am practicing these things because I want to become a better musician.  I want to be the best trumpet player that I can possibly be!

Taps-One to Remember

Today was a day I will never forget.  I had the honor of playing Taps for the first time in my career.  The performance was very near and dear to my heart, as I played at the funeral of a QPD officer who my father worked with.  

Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which made this experience even more memorable.  I had the privilege to rehearse with the QPD Colorguard prior to the funeral.  Through this, I was able to interact with the officers and get to know some of the people my father works with.   After the funeral, I was able to have lunch with my dad.  

Overall, today has been one to remember.  Playing Taps is an honor, but playing for someone who you can relate to makes it even more honorable.  I will never forget this opportunity that I was given my my father and the Quincy Police Department. 

Thank you to all of the men and women who are protecting our communities, counties, states, and country.  Each day when an officer puts his/her uniform on, he/she takes a risk of not coming home at the end of shift.  Never forget that.  May God always be with the officers and keep them safe. And may He also be with the families of the officers to help them through whatever challenges they may face.  

The truth of a practice log...

Since September 2012, I have kept a daily practice log for my trumpet.  At the end of every year, I total up the number of days that I did not touch my trumpet.  Each year the total shocks me.

As 2014 came to an end, I totaled up the number of days that I didn't play my trumpet.  When I looked at the total, I was speechless.  There were a total of 100 days in 2014 where I didn't play my trumpet.  I am ashamed that the total is that high...but it explains a lot.

So, as the new year begins, I am making a goal that at the end of 2015, my total number of days without playing will be no greater than 30.  That means that I am allowed two rest days a month, plus six extra days for when I absolutely can not practice.