It is amazing how much excitement one little word can create in people.
I just wanted to thank everyone for believing in us, working for us, and swaying with us. The band, the parents, and the directors/instructors have been so amazing these past few months. The hard work really paid off tonight. (1st in class band!!!!!!!! woot woot!)
But you know we could do so much better. That wasn't even our best show.
:) Bliss.
Emily
-- Too tired to think. Will write more later.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Exhibition
I feel awful. This blog has both died and become some kind of band-focused compilation of ramblings. Oops.
Two years ago, I attended the marching band exhibition at Norcross as a clarinet player. I loved watching every school perform, and I loved that tingly feeling you got on the back of your neck when the cymbals rolled across a melodious brass line. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of this magic, playing beautiful and inspiring music with my peers. But the thing I remembered most was watching the Brookwood Band and watching their drum majors. So, I'll admit it. I was already entranced by the idea of conducting on a podium. I wanted more than anything to be able to mimic those amazingly musical gestures and stand before 200 people. But then, watching the Asian drum major on the podium (ok, I knew her. but, I know. get over it. how many Asian drum majors do you know?? :-P) inspired me so much that I knew conducting was where I wanted to be.. or maybe even belonged. I remember going home and raving to my friends (Timmy!) about how awesome she was and how much I wanted to be just like her (ok lame underclassmen memories. but yeah. :D).
Today the Seniors had our final marching band exhibition (kind of like a show where the people in the stands are quiet, and we get judged but do not compete) at Brookwood High School. It was my second and final exhibition as a drum major. We have our first official competition this Saturday (the first out of two!), and we only have 3 home games left until the season is officially over (unless.. we somehow manage to make State.). It's beginning to dawn on me that this amazing part of my life will not last forever. I can't believe my high school band career is coming to a close. I remember asking Donnell this past summer if he ever felt withdrawl from not being able to conduct his band. The look on his face was so sad, and I felt really bad for him. I knew the thrill of being on the podium, and I learned to love the feeling of yelling at (hee hee) 140 people under the sizziling hot sun. But I couldn't connect with the reality that this moment would be lost forever so soon... and I didn't really understand how Donnell felt, because I was still in the midst of it all. I still am. But, I've come to realize that this whole thing is ephemeral and that it will be gone within a matter of weeks.
All I have to say is: I'm amazingly happy about the past two years of my life. I can't believe I've been given such a phenomenal opportunity to grow and to grow others. Once it is over, I'll cry and be sad. But, I will hope that the band has been touched the way I have and move on, taking these memories as a part of the new and improved (haha) me. I can't say how much this all means to me. But you probably already know from reading this.
You can see why I have ditched maybe 4 hours of homework in order to write about this. I'm having some unstable emotional moment..
Emily
Two years ago, I attended the marching band exhibition at Norcross as a clarinet player. I loved watching every school perform, and I loved that tingly feeling you got on the back of your neck when the cymbals rolled across a melodious brass line. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of this magic, playing beautiful and inspiring music with my peers. But the thing I remembered most was watching the Brookwood Band and watching their drum majors. So, I'll admit it. I was already entranced by the idea of conducting on a podium. I wanted more than anything to be able to mimic those amazingly musical gestures and stand before 200 people. But then, watching the Asian drum major on the podium (ok, I knew her. but, I know. get over it. how many Asian drum majors do you know?? :-P) inspired me so much that I knew conducting was where I wanted to be.. or maybe even belonged. I remember going home and raving to my friends (Timmy!) about how awesome she was and how much I wanted to be just like her (ok lame underclassmen memories. but yeah. :D).
Today the Seniors had our final marching band exhibition (kind of like a show where the people in the stands are quiet, and we get judged but do not compete) at Brookwood High School. It was my second and final exhibition as a drum major. We have our first official competition this Saturday (the first out of two!), and we only have 3 home games left until the season is officially over (unless.. we somehow manage to make State.). It's beginning to dawn on me that this amazing part of my life will not last forever. I can't believe my high school band career is coming to a close. I remember asking Donnell this past summer if he ever felt withdrawl from not being able to conduct his band. The look on his face was so sad, and I felt really bad for him. I knew the thrill of being on the podium, and I learned to love the feeling of yelling at (hee hee) 140 people under the sizziling hot sun. But I couldn't connect with the reality that this moment would be lost forever so soon... and I didn't really understand how Donnell felt, because I was still in the midst of it all. I still am. But, I've come to realize that this whole thing is ephemeral and that it will be gone within a matter of weeks.
All I have to say is: I'm amazingly happy about the past two years of my life. I can't believe I've been given such a phenomenal opportunity to grow and to grow others. Once it is over, I'll cry and be sad. But, I will hope that the band has been touched the way I have and move on, taking these memories as a part of the new and improved (haha) me. I can't say how much this all means to me. But you probably already know from reading this.
You can see why I have ditched maybe 4 hours of homework in order to write about this. I'm having some unstable emotional moment..
Emily
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Getting Organized
Three things this week: (Right now I'm just thinking in lists, so that's how I will write.)
1. mu alpha theta - I completely forgot to turn in my forms (due Friday, =/) on Friday, so I turned them in Monday morning. The teacher in charge was really mean about it and said she might not let me be on it this year even though I was on it last year. I talked to President Josh (yay)... and apparently I am on the list, but Hope says she didn't see me on it. Whatever. I'll just find the attendance secretary and see what the deal is. Anyways, if I have been kicked off, I should at least get my $10 dues back.
2. college stuff - I really need to narrow down my list of colleges and make a notebook of deadlines, extra requirements, and music tape possibilities. I can't believe we only have 2 months left! Ah!!
3. clarinet - all state auditions are December 13. so i better beast up the clarinet and make 1st clarinet. :D i'm going for it this year.
There's a Wash U seminar tonight!! I'm so excited!!! Yayyyy!!!
1. mu alpha theta - I completely forgot to turn in my forms (due Friday, =/) on Friday, so I turned them in Monday morning. The teacher in charge was really mean about it and said she might not let me be on it this year even though I was on it last year. I talked to President Josh (yay)... and apparently I am on the list, but Hope says she didn't see me on it. Whatever. I'll just find the attendance secretary and see what the deal is. Anyways, if I have been kicked off, I should at least get my $10 dues back.
2. college stuff - I really need to narrow down my list of colleges and make a notebook of deadlines, extra requirements, and music tape possibilities. I can't believe we only have 2 months left! Ah!!
3. clarinet - all state auditions are December 13. so i better beast up the clarinet and make 1st clarinet. :D i'm going for it this year.
There's a Wash U seminar tonight!! I'm so excited!!! Yayyyy!!!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Cute ^.^
Hooray! It is Saturday.
It's funny that school has already started. I feel like summer was just yesterday. But, I'm getting used to being a Senior. It really isn't all that weird.
We won the football game last night against Chattahoochee. And marching band went better this week than last week. I was pretty stressed last week. Emilee was pretty stressed this week. Maybe next week we'll both be normal. At the game, Magner's little daughter wanted to get on the podium and conduct Louie Louie. So, our color guard sponsor helped her up onto the podium in front of me, and we called the song. I conducted above her head and she waved her arms around. She's so cute!! :)
I'm glad everyone went to the game this weekend. It was super exciting to see them during third quarter.
Other than this... I have nothing to say.
Emily
It's funny that school has already started. I feel like summer was just yesterday. But, I'm getting used to being a Senior. It really isn't all that weird.
We won the football game last night against Chattahoochee. And marching band went better this week than last week. I was pretty stressed last week. Emilee was pretty stressed this week. Maybe next week we'll both be normal. At the game, Magner's little daughter wanted to get on the podium and conduct Louie Louie. So, our color guard sponsor helped her up onto the podium in front of me, and we called the song. I conducted above her head and she waved her arms around. She's so cute!! :)
I'm glad everyone went to the game this weekend. It was super exciting to see them during third quarter.
Other than this... I have nothing to say.
Emily
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Number stress and such..
We lost to Collins Hill 28-9. How pathetic. Great job class of 09 football. You're really making us proud.
You know when teachers, parents, students tell you life isn't about numbers? They tell you that you are more than just a ranking, an SAT score, or a test grade-- That no matter what chair you are, you are still a good musician? But... how can this be true? We count our lives by numbers: age, income, hours spent doing whatever. We are surrounded by it everywhere we go, and we wear it on our wrists. And yet, when they say that you are more than a number, why is it that those who have great character but not the test scores can't go farther in life than they already have? It doesn't matter what kind of a person or what things you have done as long as you have the numbers. It's just so frustrating. You can't even get numbers (scholarships) without it.
---
So today Murat called me a slacker...
He was completely right. I have failed to be diligent since sophomore year. That's almost two wasted years of laziness. I can't believe myself. I ought to be (and am) ashamed. No more of this slacking off. I'm bringing it back.
Emily
You know when teachers, parents, students tell you life isn't about numbers? They tell you that you are more than just a ranking, an SAT score, or a test grade-- That no matter what chair you are, you are still a good musician? But... how can this be true? We count our lives by numbers: age, income, hours spent doing whatever. We are surrounded by it everywhere we go, and we wear it on our wrists. And yet, when they say that you are more than a number, why is it that those who have great character but not the test scores can't go farther in life than they already have? It doesn't matter what kind of a person or what things you have done as long as you have the numbers. It's just so frustrating. You can't even get numbers (scholarships) without it.
---
So today Murat called me a slacker...
He was completely right. I have failed to be diligent since sophomore year. That's almost two wasted years of laziness. I can't believe myself. I ought to be (and am) ashamed. No more of this slacking off. I'm bringing it back.
Emily
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)