Summer!!!

It has finally arrived! That's right, after a long weekend of playing seemingly endless processionals and sappy music, I can finally say that my summer break has come. I look forward to putting my brain to rest for a little bit and just concentrating on making money and practicing.

After everything that was the craziness of finals, and how much time I took off from practicing/playing horn (translation: WAY too much...), I'm finally starting to feel super into doing it again. I enjoyed having a couple days spent baking and spinning, but I'm all ready to re-prioritize.

Not long before graduation, I got to say goodbye to one of my good friends before he went off and graduated on me. As we hugged, he gave me one last verbal kick in the pants by reminding me to work hard, and that he had faith in me and my ability. It's hard to realize that next year I'm starting this journey towards being a professional musician by myself...not that I'm totally alone, but now that I'm facing my senior year of my undergrad, I can't let myself lose steam. I got told a lot this year that this was the first time that my professors and fellow musicians really saw me buckle down and do what needed to be done, and I have to keep motivated so that I don't lose that over the summer.

My goal is to be back up to three hours a day by July. That gives me about 2 weeks, and then one week of maintaining it before I head to Florida for the horn camp where I'm meeting my (hopefully) private teacher for grad school. Not only is this goal practical (has anyone else ever been to a music camp where you aren't expected to play several hours each day?), but it reminds me that this is a really big opportunity, and I don't want to blow it. If I treat this like my grad school audition, I hope that it will help me to keep from getting complacent.

It's crazy to think about how much being a musician is both being an artist and an athlete. At least being a brass player is. I took a week off, and suddenly it feels like my abilities are back to being those of a 6th grader. You don't think about it at the time, but after taking the days off, you do feel like kicking yourself for being so dumb and not taking care of those muscles. *sigh* Someone remind me I said this the next time that school has become overwhelming and I'm deciding to take the day off of practicing for a little more homework time. So not worth it.

On a happier note, I am very proud to announce that I baked my very first pie this afternoon! I haven't taste tested it, but it smells amazing. :D

The Beginning of the End

It's getting to be that time. I have an album of pictures on facebook with the same title, all of pictures taken in my last days of high school, and yet again, I'm getting ready to think about lasts.

I've registered for fall quarter for the last time.
This will be the last time I play for Ivy Cutting and Commencement.
The orchestra concert was the last time I got to play with some of my favorite seniors.

And it's not even my senior year yet. Nope, that starts in about...24 hours (unless you say that the last class has to graduate first, and in that case, that will be in about 4 days). So many people close to me moving into the next stages of their lives. I'm so happy for them, and so very selfish about my loss. There are a very small handful of people that I won't let get away though, and have made the goal to interact with them fairly often, because they're too good of friends to let go.

Meanwhile, the weather has decided to make me forget that summer is coming. Yup, thanks Seattle, but I didn't forget where I lived. (For those of you not here right now, it's dark, grey, and pouring...and it's June.) I've had two lattes today, one to get going this morning, and one this afternoon because it was cold (and because I was meeting with a friend to get coffee...welcome to Seattle!).

We're in the final push to the end of classes. I have just a bit more writing to do, and I'm done. About three or four hours of work stand between me and being done with my junior year. When I surface again, I'll have more to say, I'm sure :)

~Allie