Yuck!! I'm so mad at myself. Today I was doing the Clarke's first study for repetition in one breath and I kept running out breath. Then I looked at my self and I noticed how fat I've gotten. I'm no were near the phsysical condition and shape that I use to be in last year. I have dedicated 30 minutes of working out each day. If it doesn't help my trumpet playing it will still help me feel better about my self. Maybe I was running out of breath because I wasn't keeping the chest up or maybe I was just doing something wrong. But loosing the extra weight wouldn't hurt anyways. So it's a win win situation.

Today I dug up my Clarke's "Technical Studies" book and I've been working on that first lesson for 2 days now. I am back at playing it 10 times in one breath. I think that's pretty good considering I'm way out of shape so hopefully soon I will be able to play it 14 times in one breath or even 20 times. So far from practicing that exercise I'm starting to use my air more efficiently now. I screamed out a G3 today. The thing I hate about my range is that sometimes I'll be screaming B3's and stuff really high and some other days I can't even go past a high C. So I have learned to not get too excited when I developed good range, because it may only last for a couple of weeks, days, hours, or even minutes. We'll just see how this goes. Tuesday is my All county Audition. I feel pretty comfortable with the piece. Hopefully I can do a repeat of next year. Although I got 1st chair my freshman year I don't feel too confident this year. For some reason I don't think I can repeat what I did last year.

Today I had my band playing final. This is usually a big deal to me because it lets me know on what I have to work on to perfect my piece for the all county band try out. And today I def. found out that I have a lot to work on. I messed up my entire beginning. I had some sort of tempo problem. I started out in 4/4 and then I switched to the correct time 12/8. And although the teacher didn't pick up on it I also slurred some stuff that I shouldn't of slurred. And my attacks were nasty. So I still have a lot to clean up and only 1 or 2 weeks left.

Today I played the Star Spangled Banner for the school basketball game. I thank God that I didn't mess up any. I pretty much just played it straight forward. At the end I was surprise to hear the crowd clapping, I was just expecting for them to sit down and start the game like they usually do. So the applaud made me feel good that I was able to connect with them threw my playing to them and it made me feel like as if I had accomplished and done something good. Now all I have to worry about is All County band try outs and Solo and Ensemble. I will keep you guys updated.

Today was the big parade for the new governor. It was extremely cold and the 3 miles that we had to march plus the 1 hour long parade rest didn't help us any. But it did go pretty good. And it was a lot of fun getting to see the different bands. I do have to admit that when I was in the warm up room with the other 30 bands I did try to show off. I played numerous high F's. Maybe I had good range because I was so pumped and excited about the entire event. But over all I had a lot of fun putting the uniform on one more time. Now it's back to working on my Haydn Trumpet Concerto and my all county stuff. I am also starting to give a sax player some music lessons. Like the basic stuff how to read whole notes ext. Ever since what I did last year in teaching that trumpeter how to read music and get 2nd chair at all county junior band my reputation as a teacher has increased so I'll see how it goes with this wind player.

Today I started to practice the Haydn Trumpet Concerto and I realized that I'm rusty. I have a lot to work on specially those runs in the first movement. I'm confident that I can gain control of the concerto in one month. My all county etude is almost perfected and I'm going to keep perfecting it. My chops felt alright today, but not like they usually do. That probably has to do something with me not playing yesterday. I'm sure that I'll get my chops back in 2 days. I have also decided to just play the star spangled banner straight with no Ad Lib. It's a sacred song that doesn't need gimmicks.

Last night we had the rehearsal for the governor's parade. The trumpet section was pretty good. I was sort of expecting a little bit more but what can I do? I memorized my music and everything. And my chops felt great. They have been feeling really good lately. I was just informed today that this coming Friday I am playing the National Anthem. The band director told me to ad lib to it. I have never added lib to the anthem so I'm not to sure about how much is too much. Also I have been asked to play in a missionary band for the school play. I'm not much of an actor but whatever. I'm suppose to walk around stage playing this tune that she's gona give me. I hope I don't mess that up. I'm still practicing hard for my all county band audition piece and tomorrow I'll start practicing the Haydn.

The new year has come and new and exciting challenges are already coming my way. After the school concert the basketball coach for the boys varsity team liked my performance so much that he asked me to play the "Star Spangled Banner" for one of his home basketball games. I gladly accepted. I have been getting ready for my all county band audition. The music isn't very hard, but that drives me to perfect it even more. Also I have been forced to play the Haydn Trumpet Concerto for Solo and Ensemble festival. If I get a great score and make it to states and get a great score at states I will be featured at the school's spring concert, but the thing is that I only have one month to get ready for all of this. All county and Solo and Ensemble festival are in the same month. So I'm getting ready for 2 things at once. Also all the schools in the county are coming together to form one huge marching band and we will be playing for the governor in 1 week and 3 days. We will be playing the chart "Sing, Sing, Sing". It's not very hard but our band teacher in particular does want for us to memorize it. I am looking forward to the experience because I barely ever get to play with big bands. So it's going to be cool playing with a 200+ member band and a huge trumpet section with some of the best trumpeter's in the county. I'm really excited about everything. I will be keeping you guys up to date on how everything is going for me.