Now that All County Band is over I am only doing regular school band and County Jazz Band. By the way the other night at the All County Band and Jazz Band Concert when I got to go up to improvise during Mcarthur Park I could not believe what came out of me. Some real fast notes and a high C at the end. I just closed my eyes and pretended that I was Arturo Sandoval the audience really liked it cause they stood up after my improv solo. So that was pretty cool. As far as for the regular county band I didn't mess up any of the solos (it would of sucked messing up in front of 500 people) I had a solo in Lion King, Strike up The Band, and in Die Meistersinger. Pretty cool concert which probably let everyone know that I'm not just some punk freshman that didn't deserve the chair. Now that All County Band is over with, I have lots more time to do my Claude Gordon SA. I am on Lesson 9. It went awesome today. Claude Gordon says that I should be able to hit a double pedal C (or the pedal C 1 8va below the 1st pedal C). Well I can only go down to Double pedal E so I am a little behind. My lip slurs are really coming along they are starting to sound like lip trills. And my K tonguing has really improved my triple and double tonguing. I am able to play some stuff from the Arban's that I wasn't able to play before.

Well I have been sick for the past two days but I am getting better. I haven't touched my trumpet or played any trumpet in the last 3 days. I haven't been able to do my Claude Gordon lessons in 2 weeks because of all county band and county jazz band and normal school band. I have no time to do anything. Hopefully when it's all over which should be this next Thursday I should be back to doing my lessons. This time off that I have had I have taken to think about the future. I am thinking of trying to go to one of those summer band camp programs. Maybe that will help me develop my musical skills. I am also looking into wanting to buy a flugelhorn and a Piccolo trumpet. But that all will probably be when I'm done with my Claude Gordon lessons.... Well just to let you guys know how my lessons were going before I stopped. I saw a little bit of improvement. Not much probably do to the fact that I was doing them improperly. I was done lesson 8 which I spent 3 weeks on. So When I get back on doing the lessons I should be starting lesson 9. I am starting to think that the reason I am not seeing improvement is because when I practice I stop at the point that I know I can do easily. I am not challenging my self.