I suppose there are different levels of band-talented-ness...

or something... I'm having trouble coming up for a good word for it. it's like... there's the band elite, and then the people who are pretty good and will probably eventually become the elite, and there's the average, normal band person who's in it but doesn't care about it a whole lot, and then there's the complete slacker who's mom made him join, and won't let him quit.

Holy crap, I just shoved the entire musical program into the class system.

Elite, upper class, middle class, lower class... aha.

So, yeah. Anyway, back to what I was saying... I suppose I've made it to the top now, at least as far as West high goes. I made it into jazz ensemble (even though my audition was horrible... either everyone else sucks, or the Medds knew I could do better), I'm going to be one of the top chairs in the wind ensemble (now, the question is... which one?), I'm trying out for all state, I'm in the good time band, I take weekly lessons with Dennis (rumor has it he's the best trumpet teacher in the area), and... yeah. Marching band solo, "section leader"-type position (the only thing I lack is the title. Pickrell never takes attendance, or any of that stuff), and... yeah, I'm up there.

I wasn't last year, though... I was close to the top, but I wasn't quite there. The transition is more work than it should be...

I guess the whole 5 auditions in just about as many weeks (all-state pre-audition audition, sight reading, jazz band, wind ensemble, and all-state) kind of freaked me out... it's kind of a lot to worry about.

I'd been stressing about band a lot recently, just because... there's a lot to stress about.

But... 16 days, all-state auditions will be done, and it will all settle down... I proabably won't make it into all-state, but... I'll still be in the top bands, I'll still have good music to play... it will be less of wondering "what chair am I going to be? Am I even going to make it in? I'm horrible at sight reading," etc, and more "let's work on this music."

Which is definitely a good thing.

So... 2 more weeks... I just have to keep telling myself that... 2 more weeks. Then everything will be back to normal again.

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