Sectionals and Puppies

February 6, 2006 at 11:14 PM

So, every few weeks at the high school, we have rehearsals entirely devoted to sectionals (they used to be once a week, but there wern't enough practice rooms/spaces to make that fesible this year. Sectional days are usually really great for everyone, but I don't get to play (section leader = sectional leader = (in high school) conductor). Anyway, heres how the seconds currently stand:
1) me
2) this girl seems really good, but her violin (or playing is really quiet)
3) this girl is also fairly good, she really supports the section volume wise
4) is able to play, but doesn't have the confidence, so she doesn't play out
5) ok, not great... plays out when he knows the part
6) absent due to medical stuff, who knows when he'll be back
7) ... he can't play at all, has never learned about using all four fingers - just slides around with his 1st/2nd fingers. Torommow with his and the director's oks, I'll put tapes on his violin, cause I'm at a loss of what else to do short of him taking lessons
8) ........ if possible, worse... I'll put tapes on his violin too
9) shes new, and seems ok. shes trying to catch up on a month of rehearsals. for a student violin, her violin is really nice

So that what I'm working with....... Today we spent SO much time trying to tune measures note by note. (Just listen to the people around you!!!)
But I think that is was a good hour. I think that some people were able to better understand what the parts are supposed to sound like (we'll see tomorrow...). But I think I wore off a layer of skin on my fingers by snapping for an hour... (note to self - put metronome in case)

Then, in band, we got the lecture about mistakes not being funny. And laughing at your mistakes disrespects you; laughing at others' mistakes disrespects them and the director.

Also, I was talking to the directors about being a music educator, and one of them told me that if I wake up every morning wanting to spend my life sharing music with others then I would be welcome in the world of music educators; but if I wake up some mornings not wanting to play or practice, then music education isn't for me, and I should find something else to do. That seems like on of those important little scretes that often gets glossed over. Maybe music education really is for me...

Regionals is next weekend. My school is hosting this year, which will be very different from every other year (the past two years, is been a 5-6 hour bus ride (very fun).

Off the topic of music, I got my guide dog puppy (a 6 week old golder retriver) on Saturday.. His name is Fen, and he is just plain cute! I'll try to post (or link to) pictures later wher I get back on my other computer.

Thats all for now.

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 7, 2006 at 2:53 AM

Greetings,
put the tapes around his head?
Cheers,
Buri

From Jessica Smith
Posted on February 7, 2006 at 3:56 AM

you might have a good idea there.......

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