Let's Do This

The Start of May

I came believe it's already May.

For my school district, May is when our Spring Concert is, AND May camp...AND, high school band auditions.

The band auditions is one of the hardest thing I ever did. A lot harder than solo ensemble, region, etc...

Anyways, HECK YEAH! For the love of band, I couldn't wait for May Camp, though I know it won't be easy, it won't be the hardest thing to do. Every marching band nerd has gone through this in my school, so I'm not going to complain.

~

We got our band audition music right after the STAAR test in the end of April, a large test that we have to put everything we learn in the school year and use it in a test. This is how it went.

It was a Friday and we just found out the day before, we will get our audition music, and remembering how Cheyenne was freaking out about it, I was too.

I was waiting in the band hall for Niko and Anthony. Wondering what the pieces would be like. Whenever there is something for band, I have to wait for them so we can share our reactions at the same time.

Our band directors say that there will be a fast piece (oh no) and a slow piece (yay or nay?). And I was praying to myself for it to be doable.

I suddenly remembered that since this is HIGH SCHOOL band auditions, I'm also going to be competing with people older than us, people who has more experience, people who are used to difficult pieces.

I snapped back to reality when I heard Niko's and Anthony's voices.

We all grabbed a packet of music which has our instrument names on it, and opened it up at the same time.

Let's do this, I said in my mind as I opened my eyes to see the music.

"Um...No...I can't do this." I said to Niko and Anthony who had the same expression. I know they could do this, cause they have the help of private lesson teachers, but I don't, and I don't know how I will turn out.

They mumbled 'same', as we walked out of the band hall and head towards our buses. Suddenly there was a tap on my shoulder.

I turned around to see Ben.

"How's the audition music? Can I see?" He asks. I wonder what his expression would be when I show it to him...

Apparently, his expression was worse than mine.

"What?? Tempo 120 with 16th notes only? All hope is lost!" He said and I laughed. I gotta agree. There are too many octave jumps and many complex rhythms.

Realization struck. May is going to be filled with every morning, early, in the band hall practicing for the audition. Then there's the spring concert coming up, then there's going to be May camp for two and a half weeks.

This is going to be an interesting month...

~

Once again, I'm at school about 45 minutes earlier practicing with Niko.

It was Monday, I noticed a lot of eighth graders coming to practice. Well, of course since there's auditions in the third week of August, and next week starts May band camp, and also this week will be the Spring Concert.

I walked into our favorite practice room waiting for Niko. Whilst waiting, I mumbled to myself the list of what to practice.

"Concert E, A, B, G, scales... Fast étude, slow étude, rhythms, sight reading...." I stopped as the door opened and Niko walked in.

"Ready?" He asks.

"Nope, but lets get started." I replied.

~

The next hour or so flew by of him teaching me what his private lesson teacher taught him, and I learned about half of the slow piece (which isn't really that long) and the first score of the fast piece (if I played it slow). Then we end practice for school.

I think, will it be possible to get everything right in a couple of weeks?