when I listen to music I often observe what is going on around me. If I listen to a certain piece I can often remember a certain memory that is attached to that portion of that piece.
As as example. You all remember the Foreign Language plays? You've probably all seen them. last year I had the privilege of being one of four eighth graders to do the plays. At one point in Blanche Neige,(Snow White) right after she "dies" The dwarfs are in mourning. Sara and I sat by Comiskey's tape player and played a section of the William Tell overture. It's the slow section right before it goes into the galloping section. we played that so many times. Right as it gets to the galloping part the prince comes in. The Prince, Mitchell, had a horse, this horse was, is, on a dolly type thing and almost every single time he would try to come in there would be something in the way. a table, the door frame itself, or a chair. The wheels would always get stuck. It's just a memory I have every time I hear that song.
Another musical memory takes place way back in my childhood. Every night as we'd go to bed dad would sing to us. Often he would sing fun songs, some of which I remember. Even more often he'd sing A Poor Way Faring Man of Grief to this day that song reminds me of all the times dad would sing to us. I loved it! but many years ago he stopped, until a month or so ago, I didn't realize how much that song and those songs that dad sang as we were going to bed, impacted my life. When we tried out for Savior of the World, Dad sang A Poor Way Faring Man of Grief, it reminded me of all those evenings when he'd sing to us as we lay in our beds.
Music is such a wonderful thing, I love it and the emotions that stir when I hear it. Often of memory and love for my family, my instrument, and music!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Savior of the World
Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, at the moment that includes talking about religion. I honestly, at the moment, don't care what religion you are. No matter what religion you are, or are not, you should read this anyway.
My stake is doing the musical SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. My dad and I tried out in September and we made it, as did everyone else who tried out. My Trek sister Camille got the part of Mary the mother of Jesus, which is sooo exciting. My other trek sister, Laura and my Trek brother, Mike are both doing it as well. My dad got the part of John the disciple. I've been running lines with him a lot. At the end of UEA break we had a rehearsal of a scene where people are resurrected. Would you like to know who the majority of the people who showed up were? Teenage girls.
In my "family" it's a group of four girls from my ward, Emilee-15, Mary Ann-13, and Cindy-9. We had to come up with some plausible, or not so plausible reason for us all dying and then being resurrected together. this is our story, We lived in Jerusalem back in the time of Christ. We were driving the chariot home from YW's to which I had, for no apparent reason, brought my little sister Cindy. (warning the next part was all made up by Emilee I did not make up any of this.) Emilee saw a buff shepherd wrestling a lion, She wanted to watch this shepherd so she handed the reigns to Cindy, Apparently I was also transfixed by the shepherd. Cindy had know idea what to do with the reigns and Mary Ann tried to get Emilee's attention. We were about to go off a cliff you see. Right as Cindy was handing the reigns off to Mary Ann, it was to late and we sailed off the cliff.
As you can see I took some part in this but I do not in any way take credit for the buff shepherd wrestling a lion.
The resurrection scene is so sweet. We have a mother and her child being reunited by a friend. we have a mother and her 4 teenage-or almost teenage children being reunited. We have a family that comes in together. we have my group of teenage girls. we have an older couple. And Last but certainly not least, we have a young mother whose husband brings her their baby. It is soooo touching I almost always have tears in my eyes. Today we did a full run through of Act 2. In the finale tears ran down my face and even as I write this I have tears in my eyes.
The gospel is so dear to my heart, I love it and everything about it. I am a daughter of God and I know all of you reading this are a son or daughter of God as well. As I said before I don't care what religion you are I just care that you know who you are and that you are loved.
My stake is doing the musical SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. My dad and I tried out in September and we made it, as did everyone else who tried out. My Trek sister Camille got the part of Mary the mother of Jesus, which is sooo exciting. My other trek sister, Laura and my Trek brother, Mike are both doing it as well. My dad got the part of John the disciple. I've been running lines with him a lot. At the end of UEA break we had a rehearsal of a scene where people are resurrected. Would you like to know who the majority of the people who showed up were? Teenage girls.
In my "family" it's a group of four girls from my ward, Emilee-15, Mary Ann-13, and Cindy-9. We had to come up with some plausible, or not so plausible reason for us all dying and then being resurrected together. this is our story, We lived in Jerusalem back in the time of Christ. We were driving the chariot home from YW's to which I had, for no apparent reason, brought my little sister Cindy. (warning the next part was all made up by Emilee I did not make up any of this.) Emilee saw a buff shepherd wrestling a lion, She wanted to watch this shepherd so she handed the reigns to Cindy, Apparently I was also transfixed by the shepherd. Cindy had know idea what to do with the reigns and Mary Ann tried to get Emilee's attention. We were about to go off a cliff you see. Right as Cindy was handing the reigns off to Mary Ann, it was to late and we sailed off the cliff.
As you can see I took some part in this but I do not in any way take credit for the buff shepherd wrestling a lion.
The resurrection scene is so sweet. We have a mother and her child being reunited by a friend. we have a mother and her 4 teenage-or almost teenage children being reunited. We have a family that comes in together. we have my group of teenage girls. we have an older couple. And Last but certainly not least, we have a young mother whose husband brings her their baby. It is soooo touching I almost always have tears in my eyes. Today we did a full run through of Act 2. In the finale tears ran down my face and even as I write this I have tears in my eyes.
The gospel is so dear to my heart, I love it and everything about it. I am a daughter of God and I know all of you reading this are a son or daughter of God as well. As I said before I don't care what religion you are I just care that you know who you are and that you are loved.
Make the Connections
On my Dad's side of the family my Grandma has a blog, and we need to get my Aunt and Uncle out in Missouri one, because I never know what's going on in their lives.
On my mom's side of the family , my Tante Chelle , Tante Sarah, and Tante Maren all have blogs. isn't that just sooo cool.
Grandma is the only one who made hers because of me. until recently I didn't know Sarah or Maren had a blog, but Sarah's is harder to get into. Chelle has been keeping one for years. while they lived in California it was the only way I knew what my cousin Brittany was doing.
Hopefully soon we can all have blogs and I can keep up on everybody!
On my mom's side of the family , my Tante Chelle , Tante Sarah, and Tante Maren all have blogs. isn't that just sooo cool.
Grandma is the only one who made hers because of me. until recently I didn't know Sarah or Maren had a blog, but Sarah's is harder to get into. Chelle has been keeping one for years. while they lived in California it was the only way I knew what my cousin Brittany was doing.
Hopefully soon we can all have blogs and I can keep up on everybody!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Elect Women
There are several women in my life that have made a huge difference. Right now I choose to focus on one, My Grandma.
Picture this. Your newly married and you can't have children. what would you do? go out and adopt of course! Right about the time my grandparents were going to adopt their first child Grandma found out she was pregnant. many months later my Uncle Brent was born. about 2 and half years later with no luck in getting other children, they decided to adopt. In 1963 my Aunt Jeanne was born/adopted into the family. Finally about 8 years after Brent was born, my dad was born. The 2 years after him my Uncle Ed was born, but Uncle Ed was born with mental and physical challenges. Aunt Amy was born a year after Ed. Grandma has had many struggles in life. From raising 5 kids, to helping a disabled child. When her children began to grow up and it was time for a few to be married, Jeanne was the first to go. When she got married she got married to a man who my grandparents didn't really approve of. My grandmother has not seen Jeanne in 16 years, maybe more or less. She has never seen her grandson, of whom we know, and other grandchildren who may or may not exist. For years I believed I was the oldest grandchild on either side of my family, not so, Graham is older than me by a year. My parents were the last ones to see Graham and that was about 14 and 1/2 years ago when I was just a little baby.
Recently my Grandma's struggles have renewed. There have been times when it's just me and Grandma. I treasure those times. Oh! how I treasure them, though we mostly end up crying. Once I sat with my head in her lap and cried as she told me of her grievances sometimes we both laugh together or just have fun. I wrote a poem for Mother's day about her.
Picture this. Your newly married and you can't have children. what would you do? go out and adopt of course! Right about the time my grandparents were going to adopt their first child Grandma found out she was pregnant. many months later my Uncle Brent was born. about 2 and half years later with no luck in getting other children, they decided to adopt. In 1963 my Aunt Jeanne was born/adopted into the family. Finally about 8 years after Brent was born, my dad was born. The 2 years after him my Uncle Ed was born, but Uncle Ed was born with mental and physical challenges. Aunt Amy was born a year after Ed. Grandma has had many struggles in life. From raising 5 kids, to helping a disabled child. When her children began to grow up and it was time for a few to be married, Jeanne was the first to go. When she got married she got married to a man who my grandparents didn't really approve of. My grandmother has not seen Jeanne in 16 years, maybe more or less. She has never seen her grandson, of whom we know, and other grandchildren who may or may not exist. For years I believed I was the oldest grandchild on either side of my family, not so, Graham is older than me by a year. My parents were the last ones to see Graham and that was about 14 and 1/2 years ago when I was just a little baby.
Recently my Grandma's struggles have renewed. There have been times when it's just me and Grandma. I treasure those times. Oh! how I treasure them, though we mostly end up crying. Once I sat with my head in her lap and cried as she told me of her grievances sometimes we both laugh together or just have fun. I wrote a poem for Mother's day about her.
Grandma
Whenever I look into your kind, dear face
I’m reminded of times come before
When I, in your arms, or you when in mine,
When we were both comforted
as tears lined our faces
Or other times as our laughter bust forth
And then comes to mind
the concerts and plays
That we went to see
Some funny some sad
But all fun to see
Or History we discussed
When questions I had
And then comes to mind a term rarely used
that of Poem Master
for yes, it was you
who encouraged and pushed me
to write from the heart
to encourage, inspire
The poems lay dormant
within my locked soul
But you with the key
And released those old poems
That lay dormant
Poem Master
You are the
Poem Master
My Grandma
Yes my Grandma is the inspiration for writing my poems to be the me I am inside.
Recently, just back in March-May in fact, My Grandpa got very sick and was hospitalized. He was in the hospital for a long time. Though I couldn't go see him with my cold but my family went to see him. He had an infection in his leg from his diabetes. For a long while after word He couldn't do a lot. He'd sit on the couch in the family room and watch TV. This time was very hard on my grandma. soon after grandpa came home the basement flooded. by the time my family got there there was a team of Ward members working in the basement. For me I wasn't too concerned about what they were doing I had to check on my Grandma. I located her in an upstairs bedroom, laying out pictures to dry. She looked at me with a look so forlorn, so desperate, so sad. I came up and gave her a big hug. This is the only time I've ever seen an adult cry with heaves. she began to sob into my arms, and to fall apart in my arms. after a few moments I began to cry too and as I write right now, my eyes are filled with tears. My grandma had been through so much in so little a time. Just the fact that I hadn't seen her break down even once until then was amazing. I even wrote a poem right after the experience.
The Embrace
Crisis has come once again
If not sickness then tragedy
But crisis has come once again
A voice caught inside
Fails to call for the arms
It so desperately needs
In this time of trouble
And then come the arms
From one dearly loved
The arms circle round
And the tears start to flow
And the sobs rack the soul
Of the one that is troubled
The arms seem so strong
That encircle this soul
But then come the tears
That silently flow
Down the face of the comforter
Then as quickly as it began
The embrace is broken
Though to those who were there
The embrace lasts
Forever
Grandma is one of my many role models. she is an elect woman in my eyes. In my eyes a wonderful person whom I will love forever.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Grandma
You know that you have done something spectacular, or just plain new when your grandmother does it because you told her about it.
My 74-yr-old grandma created a shelfari account about two months ago, directly after I made mine. Then she got my great-aunts and great-uncles to do it and some of my dads cousins. She even got my Grandpa to do it. not saying they've done much with it but she signed up!
On October 3rd it was her birthday. We invited them down (they only live in Fruit Heights though you'd think that we'd see them more. They might as well live in Pocatello) for birthday dessert. At that time I told Grandma about my blog. only a little while later I sent her the URL. She said she'd tried before but never succeeded. Yesterday morning I got onto my e-mail and there was an e-mail from Grandma that said something like: now you can read my journal. so now my grandma has a blog too. She had to have my Aunt Amy help her set it up, but when you get to be a certain age sometimes you need a little help (no offense grandma!) If you are dying to see it the URL is http://souptownjj.blogspot.com I'm so excited for her. She loves anything technical nowadays. I want her to be able to keep up on my life as well!
Have fun Grandma!
My 74-yr-old grandma created a shelfari account about two months ago, directly after I made mine. Then she got my great-aunts and great-uncles to do it and some of my dads cousins. She even got my Grandpa to do it. not saying they've done much with it but she signed up!
On October 3rd it was her birthday. We invited them down (they only live in Fruit Heights though you'd think that we'd see them more. They might as well live in Pocatello) for birthday dessert. At that time I told Grandma about my blog. only a little while later I sent her the URL. She said she'd tried before but never succeeded. Yesterday morning I got onto my e-mail and there was an e-mail from Grandma that said something like: now you can read my journal. so now my grandma has a blog too. She had to have my Aunt Amy help her set it up, but when you get to be a certain age sometimes you need a little help (no offense grandma!) If you are dying to see it the URL is http://souptownjj.blogspot.com I'm so excited for her. She loves anything technical nowadays. I want her to be able to keep up on my life as well!
Have fun Grandma!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Davis Youth Symphony
This is where I finally get to post a whole entire post just on Davis Youth. On Monday October 20th I auditioned. I didn't know if I'd get in but all hope didn't die within me. I still hoped that I might do well. That next Saturday, the 25th, we got a letter in the mail of . . . acceptance!!!!! I jumped up and screamed, now you can tell how truly excited I was for this because I am NOT the type of person that screams and jumps. In the following weeks I waited with bated breath, our first practice wasn't until October 11th. On the 11th I left NAL practice early. I grabbed my dad and we headed out to the car. We drove over to Davis High and I didn't know quite where to go or what to do. It didn't help that I was the first cellist there. Finally another 2 cellists showed up and I just followed them to where we unpacked. I was not surprised in the slightest when Katie D. Showed up. She is an amazing cellist that I've never had the privilege of playing with before because she is two grades ahead of me and it's rather intimidating I might add, to be in the same orchestra with her now. We have eight cellists. Jen(our section coach) came around with an information sheet to make sure they had all our information right. Of course they had spelled my name wrong, even though it had been on my application spelled RIGHT(I do know how to spell my name right). Just from a glance I could tell I was the youngest cellist and the only 9th grader.
That first day we sight read music. After all I'd gone through that day, my stress level about burst through the top. Emotions were running high and with that music I felt like crying. Mr. W (the conductor) wasn't slow either. Oh no in sight reading we took it as fast as the real thing. I could hardly play a note. sure I could play them at about half the speed , and, at his tempo, maybe a note here or there. They were all sooooo much better than me. My thoughts as I left that day How did I make it in? They're all soooo much better than me. I should quit right now. With some comforting words from parents and a very nice note from Sara I almost felt I could go on and persevere. With many prayers in my heart and aloud I knew I would have help (Oh and have I mentioned I'm LDS? Now I have). When I went to my lesson that week I knew that I could get help from Blake, but the help I got wasn't what I expected, he penciled in a few fingerings but over all it didn't help all that much. I was in for it the next week.
Week 2: Once again I'm the first cellist to arrive. The room where I unpacked the previous week had stuff in it and I wasn't sure if I was to unpack in there. I asked Mr. W who just happened to be coming out of a nearby room, he said in that room, but they were trying to make it hard on us weren't they? I don't know who they is, but they are sure making life hard. Then Jen (section coach), Camille (fellow cellist) and I got chairs and stands for everyone. soon the others began to arrive. Paul, Katie, Sarah, Boyd, and Kyle. After we started to practice Sage showed up. All of these names I picked up in passing though I wish Jen would have had us introduce ourselves. After hour-long sectionals, we went into the main room and had our symphony rehearsal. I still couldn't play a lot of the stuff. However, I could play a lot of the music.
Once I realized we were going to have seating auditions the next week I realized that Blake was going out of town when we would normally have our lesson. Good luck on your interview for dental school Blake! But boy, what a week to be gone. Since there was no way to get any help from Blake I went second best, Mrs. Tuke. You know a teacher is a fantastic teacher when she'll come in to help you on her day at the High School. On Thursday Mrs. Tuke was scheduled to go to Davis High and teach there, but she came during intervention to help ME with my Davis Youth Music. She told me that she would ask one of the three Davis Youth members in her Chamber Orchestra to record the music so I could listen to it. Unfortunately none of them had there music. Katie offered to help me though. On Saturday Katie came over to my house. We worked on the music for over 2 and a half hours. Since this was the first time I'd actually met Kaitie we found some common ground and it was so much fun. I learned a lot about Davis Youth and our section itself.
Half of the eight cellists, are from Mrs. Tuke's orchestras, Boyd, Sarah, Katie and Myself. Boyd, Kyle, and Paul are all seniors. Sage, Sarah, Kaitie and Camille are all Juniors. Not only am I the only Freshman there aren't any sophomores. Dad says that says something about my playing. I think it says something about the fact that they're all older, wiser, and better players than me. Kaitie and I both didn't know Kyle's name that day. We named all the cellists and his was the only one we couldn't come up with. Today I picked it up. What fun we had, and Kaitie is forever a wonderful person in my eyes. Without her my audition today would have gone much worse.
Today, I was not the first one, thank goodness. Sarah, Katie and Kyle were already there. We did auditions and I was first to go, how wrong is that. Totally randomly she picked the end and I had to go first. It went okay but it could have gone better. Slowly, very slowly, every one went. while we were waiting we all practiced other songs. Katie even played the can-can with her foot doing the bowing, It was quite interesting. As Paul was practicing before he went out to audition he was playing the solo from Poet and Peasant. It brought tears to my eyes. I know I'm a baby, but the way he played it was so beautiful, so soothing, so wonderful. I hope he gets first chair just so I get to hear him play it again and again. Today went a lot smoother and I could play a lot more of the music. Thank goodness for people like Katie. now I'm not nearly as intimidated of her because she is such a sweet nice person.
Now Davis Youth is a little easier and I'm growing to be a better cellist too.
That first day we sight read music. After all I'd gone through that day, my stress level about burst through the top. Emotions were running high and with that music I felt like crying. Mr. W (the conductor) wasn't slow either. Oh no in sight reading we took it as fast as the real thing. I could hardly play a note. sure I could play them at about half the speed , and, at his tempo, maybe a note here or there. They were all sooooo much better than me. My thoughts as I left that day How did I make it in? They're all soooo much better than me. I should quit right now. With some comforting words from parents and a very nice note from Sara I almost felt I could go on and persevere. With many prayers in my heart and aloud I knew I would have help (Oh and have I mentioned I'm LDS? Now I have). When I went to my lesson that week I knew that I could get help from Blake, but the help I got wasn't what I expected, he penciled in a few fingerings but over all it didn't help all that much. I was in for it the next week.
Week 2: Once again I'm the first cellist to arrive. The room where I unpacked the previous week had stuff in it and I wasn't sure if I was to unpack in there. I asked Mr. W who just happened to be coming out of a nearby room, he said in that room, but they were trying to make it hard on us weren't they? I don't know who they is, but they are sure making life hard. Then Jen (section coach), Camille (fellow cellist) and I got chairs and stands for everyone. soon the others began to arrive. Paul, Katie, Sarah, Boyd, and Kyle. After we started to practice Sage showed up. All of these names I picked up in passing though I wish Jen would have had us introduce ourselves. After hour-long sectionals, we went into the main room and had our symphony rehearsal. I still couldn't play a lot of the stuff. However, I could play a lot of the music.
Once I realized we were going to have seating auditions the next week I realized that Blake was going out of town when we would normally have our lesson. Good luck on your interview for dental school Blake! But boy, what a week to be gone. Since there was no way to get any help from Blake I went second best, Mrs. Tuke. You know a teacher is a fantastic teacher when she'll come in to help you on her day at the High School. On Thursday Mrs. Tuke was scheduled to go to Davis High and teach there, but she came during intervention to help ME with my Davis Youth Music. She told me that she would ask one of the three Davis Youth members in her Chamber Orchestra to record the music so I could listen to it. Unfortunately none of them had there music. Katie offered to help me though. On Saturday Katie came over to my house. We worked on the music for over 2 and a half hours. Since this was the first time I'd actually met Kaitie we found some common ground and it was so much fun. I learned a lot about Davis Youth and our section itself.
Half of the eight cellists, are from Mrs. Tuke's orchestras, Boyd, Sarah, Katie and Myself. Boyd, Kyle, and Paul are all seniors. Sage, Sarah, Kaitie and Camille are all Juniors. Not only am I the only Freshman there aren't any sophomores. Dad says that says something about my playing. I think it says something about the fact that they're all older, wiser, and better players than me. Kaitie and I both didn't know Kyle's name that day. We named all the cellists and his was the only one we couldn't come up with. Today I picked it up. What fun we had, and Kaitie is forever a wonderful person in my eyes. Without her my audition today would have gone much worse.
Today, I was not the first one, thank goodness. Sarah, Katie and Kyle were already there. We did auditions and I was first to go, how wrong is that. Totally randomly she picked the end and I had to go first. It went okay but it could have gone better. Slowly, very slowly, every one went. while we were waiting we all practiced other songs. Katie even played the can-can with her foot doing the bowing, It was quite interesting. As Paul was practicing before he went out to audition he was playing the solo from Poet and Peasant. It brought tears to my eyes. I know I'm a baby, but the way he played it was so beautiful, so soothing, so wonderful. I hope he gets first chair just so I get to hear him play it again and again. Today went a lot smoother and I could play a lot more of the music. Thank goodness for people like Katie. now I'm not nearly as intimidated of her because she is such a sweet nice person.
Now Davis Youth is a little easier and I'm growing to be a better cellist too.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Music
Merely saying Music is not enough to convey the deepest of feelings within my heart. Music is the food for the soul. When asked my two hobbies I often say: Reading and Cello, and I cannot come up with anything less nerdy, the next best would be handiwork, cross-stitching, knitting, crocheting, etc. I know each of these things sounds slightly nerdy and/or old fashioned but I love each of these things, during the summer I'll sit with my handiwork and listen to a book on CD. Back on topic, however, Music.
Music is my passion, I've only recently discovered this. I love music, I love working on my music, except piano, which I hate. I think the only reason I hate piano is because I have to play out of the lesson books. With Cello my lesson books are fun songs, and I enjoy playing them. In Piano if I could play fun songs I'd do just fine.
Music is wonderful. I love it. Music can evoke such feelings of love (for whom or what I cannot say) , frustration, peace, and more. In Davis Youth (someday I'll write a whole post just about Davis Youth) we're playing wonderful music. The Montagues and the Capulets from Romeo and Juliet by S. Prokofiev, Poet and Peasant with a cello solo (that I definitely won't be doing) by F. von Suppet, Marche Militare Franciase by C. Saint-Saens, and Symphony No 2 in D Major Op. 73 Movement no 4 by J. Brahms. In order to play these songs more effectively I've put them on my Mp3 and I'm listening to them over and over and over again. This is highly effective and I've fallen in love with Classical Music. Incidentally with these four pieces, other wonderful pieces have entered my repertoire, pieces like, the William Tell Overture, Orpheus in the Underworld, La belle Helene, and Die Fledermaus to name a few. Classical music calms me down and sometimes puts me to sleep. Classical music also helps me to concentrate on my homework, be it math, English or French.
The fact that we even have music is a miracle in and of itself. How in the world did such composers as Brahms, Saint-Saens, Suppet, Prokofiev, Bach, Vivaldi etc. ever come up with the pieces they have come up with, it's absolutely amazing and breathtaking.
As I listen to classical music I wonder how and why they came up with these pieces, and my brain can hardly take it all in.
The wonderful melding of each individual instrument into a section of the same instrument, into the whole symphony, band, or orchestra. The melding of the Cellos with the Basses, and the Violins together with the Flutes. The Violas with the Cellos and basses, and the brass and drums melding together as well. The beauty of the melody, harmony and rhythm as one. The counting, dynamics and countless other technical things, that a group has worked for hours to get right, coming together and making the piece more beautiful than it ever could have been on its own.
The individuality of each piece that makes it its own piece, its own masterpiece. What a wonderful way to be, what a wonderful, magical, majestical thing to play, to be, to listen to, to become a part of.
Even Music that lasts forever and ever is amazing. A movement of a piece could be a half-hour long, and each new note is amazing, the melding of each note, and if you get bored of listening watch the musicians themselves. Watch the way they concentrate, the way they move their fingers and bows. The conductor, the way s/he moves his/her arms, the way s/he gets so involved they can't be broken away until the piece ends. Sometimes it's rather funny to see what they do. Watch, they might drop their baton or something else that is really very funny. Watch and listen, your perspective can slowly change and you will be amazed.
Music is not something to just tolerate, it is something to be enjoyed, to love, to be swept away in, to defend in the face of blaspheme against it.
Music in my church is so important, can you imagine a meeting without music, it would be soooo bland, so unfulfilled. Our Primary Children get up every October and Sing, yes SING to us, there are a few speaking parts but the majority is MUSIC. It is so important, and heart-touching. In The Doctrine and Covenants, we are told that music is a prayer. What a wonderful way to pray, to tell everyone what you believe and what you feel.
Music is my life, the way I think, All you need to touch my heart is beautiful music. Sunday in church choir practice we sang an absolutely beautiful song, that I don't think I'll be able to sing all the way through without crying. It's called Star of Bethlehem, and if you haven't heard it, you need to.
An interesting thought just came to me. If we didn't have any of that hard rock music and the darker sounding music or rap which isn't music at all, would we have any thieves, murders, any people doing anything wrong at all. Sure we might have the odd wacko here and there, but would we have any of that class which we consider criminals? Or did these poor people go wrong because they listened to the wrong music as a teen? Did they listen to classical music when they were teens, the way I am right now? Your probably laughing just reading this, but I'm honestly asking, Did they listen to beautiful uplifting music or did they listen to degrading, not-so-beautiful-music? Or did they participate in bands or orchestra's where they could hear that music? It's just food for thought but just think about it.
I love music with all my heart. Music is my way of life, with a dad who was a band teacher for 9 years it could hardly be anything else.
Cello music is so beautiful to me, our depth and range of sound is amazing and lovely!
Music is a passion and don't try to change my mind. Music will change your life if you let it. Just let it.
Music is my passion, I've only recently discovered this. I love music, I love working on my music, except piano, which I hate. I think the only reason I hate piano is because I have to play out of the lesson books. With Cello my lesson books are fun songs, and I enjoy playing them. In Piano if I could play fun songs I'd do just fine.
Music is wonderful. I love it. Music can evoke such feelings of love (for whom or what I cannot say) , frustration, peace, and more. In Davis Youth (someday I'll write a whole post just about Davis Youth) we're playing wonderful music. The Montagues and the Capulets from Romeo and Juliet by S. Prokofiev, Poet and Peasant with a cello solo (that I definitely won't be doing) by F. von Suppet, Marche Militare Franciase by C. Saint-Saens, and Symphony No 2 in D Major Op. 73 Movement no 4 by J. Brahms. In order to play these songs more effectively I've put them on my Mp3 and I'm listening to them over and over and over again. This is highly effective and I've fallen in love with Classical Music. Incidentally with these four pieces, other wonderful pieces have entered my repertoire, pieces like, the William Tell Overture, Orpheus in the Underworld, La belle Helene, and Die Fledermaus to name a few. Classical music calms me down and sometimes puts me to sleep. Classical music also helps me to concentrate on my homework, be it math, English or French.
The fact that we even have music is a miracle in and of itself. How in the world did such composers as Brahms, Saint-Saens, Suppet, Prokofiev, Bach, Vivaldi etc. ever come up with the pieces they have come up with, it's absolutely amazing and breathtaking.
As I listen to classical music I wonder how and why they came up with these pieces, and my brain can hardly take it all in.
The wonderful melding of each individual instrument into a section of the same instrument, into the whole symphony, band, or orchestra. The melding of the Cellos with the Basses, and the Violins together with the Flutes. The Violas with the Cellos and basses, and the brass and drums melding together as well. The beauty of the melody, harmony and rhythm as one. The counting, dynamics and countless other technical things, that a group has worked for hours to get right, coming together and making the piece more beautiful than it ever could have been on its own.
The individuality of each piece that makes it its own piece, its own masterpiece. What a wonderful way to be, what a wonderful, magical, majestical thing to play, to be, to listen to, to become a part of.
Even Music that lasts forever and ever is amazing. A movement of a piece could be a half-hour long, and each new note is amazing, the melding of each note, and if you get bored of listening watch the musicians themselves. Watch the way they concentrate, the way they move their fingers and bows. The conductor, the way s/he moves his/her arms, the way s/he gets so involved they can't be broken away until the piece ends. Sometimes it's rather funny to see what they do. Watch, they might drop their baton or something else that is really very funny. Watch and listen, your perspective can slowly change and you will be amazed.
Music is not something to just tolerate, it is something to be enjoyed, to love, to be swept away in, to defend in the face of blaspheme against it.
Music in my church is so important, can you imagine a meeting without music, it would be soooo bland, so unfulfilled. Our Primary Children get up every October and Sing, yes SING to us, there are a few speaking parts but the majority is MUSIC. It is so important, and heart-touching. In The Doctrine and Covenants, we are told that music is a prayer. What a wonderful way to pray, to tell everyone what you believe and what you feel.
Music is my life, the way I think, All you need to touch my heart is beautiful music. Sunday in church choir practice we sang an absolutely beautiful song, that I don't think I'll be able to sing all the way through without crying. It's called Star of Bethlehem, and if you haven't heard it, you need to.
An interesting thought just came to me. If we didn't have any of that hard rock music and the darker sounding music or rap which isn't music at all, would we have any thieves, murders, any people doing anything wrong at all. Sure we might have the odd wacko here and there, but would we have any of that class which we consider criminals? Or did these poor people go wrong because they listened to the wrong music as a teen? Did they listen to classical music when they were teens, the way I am right now? Your probably laughing just reading this, but I'm honestly asking, Did they listen to beautiful uplifting music or did they listen to degrading, not-so-beautiful-music? Or did they participate in bands or orchestra's where they could hear that music? It's just food for thought but just think about it.
I love music with all my heart. Music is my way of life, with a dad who was a band teacher for 9 years it could hardly be anything else.
Cello music is so beautiful to me, our depth and range of sound is amazing and lovely!
Music is a passion and don't try to change my mind. Music will change your life if you let it. Just let it.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
You might want to know
My new blog: http://mystiquelyspecial101.blogspot.com/ this is the address to my new quote blog. Since I've got all those quotes, I might as well put them SOMEWHERE!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Get to the Point!
I have a hard time with this though most of you in Honors don't. I kind of ramble with my posts which probably makes for a very disorganized post that the rest of you have to read, I hope, but I know it's kind of hard for me to read something that goes from one topic to the next in the space of one sentence.
I also have a hard time writing 500 words. I read some of your posts and you look like you have very interesting 500-word worthy topics. Mine are pretty much life posts. I mean there are a few. Like the one about Youth Conference and Trek that are probably over 500 words. But there are others that I could, most definitely do without. so don't read those because I won't stop writing them. I'll try to write more reading-worthy posts, but you never know what I'll come up with.
The other thing is that I post an awful lot. I'm on here posting something pretty much every day. It's not like I don't have better things to be doing, I do. I just enjoy blogging soo much. It might actually become an addiction.
–noun the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma
This might be happening with me (no not with drugs, I honestly wonder though, who is stupid enough to even think about using drugs?) An addiction to blogging is highly possible, I've blogged more that Anne has in an entire year. How sad is that. My mom has to force me not to get on here on Sundays, even sadder. I'm becoming addicted.
I just checked the word count and I only have 298 and I'm running out of things to talk about.
I have a feeling that coming onto my blog and seeing at least 6 posts that you haven't read every weekend when you think about getting on might be just a little bit annoying. But to me, you guys only getting on on weekends to blog or forgetting to do it 'til Sunday night is just a little bit annoying. Then when I get on on Monday(or, more likely Tuesday) I have to go through every single blog and read what you have written. The thing is I DO read your blogs. I don't comment however and when you complain about it on Shelfari, just realize at least one person reads your blog every week(well two, Mr. Thompson does too) but this someone doesn't always know what to comment so you don't always get a comment from me. just keep in mind I'm always watching (boy that's sounds more stalkerish than I meant it to) It is just kind of frustrating to go onto Shelfari and see: "me too! i think we should all not be selfish and read OTHER blogs for once." or "I agree with a bunch of you who think that we should read more of everyone else's blogs. People put a lot of effort into posting, and it is interesting to see all of the cool things that people have to say." I would like to ask some of you, are you hypocrites or do you read every ones blogs too, do you just want people to read yours and you don't want to read anyone else's? please don't be a hypocrite, everyone likes to receive a nice complement now and then it almost makes it all worthwhile. I've gotten a few comments from fellow students but the most recent have been from my Aunt and from Mads (Thompson's student teacher person) I shouldn't be complaining about this, and I'm not, I'm just saying, don't be a hypocrite and try to get people to look at yours if you're not going to look at theirs.
All done, I've completed my 500 words and then some.
I also have a hard time writing 500 words. I read some of your posts and you look like you have very interesting 500-word worthy topics. Mine are pretty much life posts. I mean there are a few. Like the one about Youth Conference and Trek that are probably over 500 words. But there are others that I could, most definitely do without. so don't read those because I won't stop writing them. I'll try to write more reading-worthy posts, but you never know what I'll come up with.
The other thing is that I post an awful lot. I'm on here posting something pretty much every day. It's not like I don't have better things to be doing, I do. I just enjoy blogging soo much. It might actually become an addiction.
–noun the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma
ʃən
This might be happening with me (no not with drugs, I honestly wonder though, who is stupid enough to even think about using drugs?) An addiction to blogging is highly possible, I've blogged more that Anne has in an entire year. How sad is that. My mom has to force me not to get on here on Sundays, even sadder. I'm becoming addicted.
I just checked the word count and I only have 298 and I'm running out of things to talk about.
I have a feeling that coming onto my blog and seeing at least 6 posts that you haven't read every weekend when you think about getting on might be just a little bit annoying. But to me, you guys only getting on on weekends to blog or forgetting to do it 'til Sunday night is just a little bit annoying. Then when I get on on Monday(or, more likely Tuesday) I have to go through every single blog and read what you have written. The thing is I DO read your blogs. I don't comment however and when you complain about it on Shelfari, just realize at least one person reads your blog every week(well two, Mr. Thompson does too) but this someone doesn't always know what to comment so you don't always get a comment from me. just keep in mind I'm always watching (boy that's sounds more stalkerish than I meant it to) It is just kind of frustrating to go onto Shelfari and see: "me too! i think we should all not be selfish and read OTHER blogs for once." or "I agree with a bunch of you who think that we should read more of everyone else's blogs. People put a lot of effort into posting, and it is interesting to see all of the cool things that people have to say." I would like to ask some of you, are you hypocrites or do you read every ones blogs too, do you just want people to read yours and you don't want to read anyone else's? please don't be a hypocrite, everyone likes to receive a nice complement now and then it almost makes it all worthwhile. I've gotten a few comments from fellow students but the most recent have been from my Aunt and from Mads (Thompson's student teacher person) I shouldn't be complaining about this, and I'm not, I'm just saying, don't be a hypocrite and try to get people to look at yours if you're not going to look at theirs.
All done, I've completed my 500 words and then some.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Davis Youth Symphony
Last night was the second practice of Davis Youth. Though it went better I still need to practice a whole lot. I can see right now that this will be a humbling experience. Up 'til now I've been the top cellist in orchestra and now I think I'm about the worst! Humbling to say the least. Today we took our term final and I only missed 3 on the whole thing! Yay! I got an A! this is big news. I did better on each successive test. That's a good thing right?
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Choir Concert
So on Wednesday night I went to the school choir concert. It was amazing!the seventh and eight graders were great but I'll be honest with you I didn't really listen to them because I was eagerly awaiting Rhapsody, I sort of listened to Concert Choir but still was awaiting Rhapsody. Concert Choir had a bit of a problem, I don't know who it was but either the sopranos or the pianist did not know what they were doing. Soooo Mrs. Miner stopped them and checked a note and then went on. Sorry concert I feel for ya! Rhapsody was fantastic. They sang a medley of Joseph and the Amazing Techno-Color Coat, though I think that some of the songs were from other Broadway Musicals. I couldn't believe how good they were and how many friends of mine are in there, I mean, practically all the altos are my friends. Any way, Love you girls in Rhapsody (and concert at that) to death! Keep singing!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Finished . . . Finally!
So for the past few weeks I've been reading The Yearling for Honors English.
Yesterday on the drive up to my grandparents (who live in Cub River, Idaho) I determined to finished it, and lo and behold I finished the last page pretty much as we drove into the driveway. Now I'm reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, the unabridged version which is about 1463 pages long and looks it. It should only take me about a month or so on a regular basis but with my schedule,I give it a month and a half at the least! HELP!
Though I shouldn't be complaining, I chose to read this book!
Yesterday on the drive up to my grandparents (who live in Cub River, Idaho) I determined to finished it, and lo and behold I finished the last page pretty much as we drove into the driveway. Now I'm reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, the unabridged version which is about 1463 pages long and looks it. It should only take me about a month or so on a regular basis but with my schedule,I give it a month and a half at the least! HELP!
Though I shouldn't be complaining, I chose to read this book!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thursday: Halloween day
Klarissa got a new costume to twirl in,
And Karlton couldn't stop eating the candy and frosting, then we got mad at him and he pouted but all's like that in a seven-yr-old's world!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Quote
So this need to go on my blog, and I don't have anything else to write right now, so there!
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Life Saver
So yesterday I ranted about my hard first day of Davis Youth. Sara, my great friend, read my blog and did something sooooo nice!
She took a little card and wrote a note in the middle. Then she taped starbursts and hershey kisses around it! it made me feel so loved and cared for.
Thank you Sara! my life saver! (at least from the horrors of going insane by incredibly hard music!)
She took a little card and wrote a note in the middle. Then she taped starbursts and hershey kisses around it! it made me feel so loved and cared for.
Thank you Sara! my life saver! (at least from the horrors of going insane by incredibly hard music!)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Davis Youth Symphony
Today was the first day of Davis Youth Symphony, and I felt like crying.
We got all of our music and we sight read. Everybody else was doing just fine, and me, me I was in the back(on purpose) trying just to keep up and read the notes,and play the right rhythm and speed. It was in Tenor clef and much higher, and it was very fast. I had a hard time playing, keeping up but I did my best whenever I could. It was so hard and I never had seen anything so difficult in all my music playing carrier. HELP!!!!
as I would say in french "C'est tres difficile"
Practice the one word that will live in my house for the next several months of my life!
We got all of our music and we sight read. Everybody else was doing just fine, and me, me I was in the back(on purpose) trying just to keep up and read the notes,and play the right rhythm and speed. It was in Tenor clef and much higher, and it was very fast. I had a hard time playing, keeping up but I did my best whenever I could. It was so hard and I never had seen anything so difficult in all my music playing carrier. HELP!!!!
as I would say in french "C'est tres difficile"
Practice the one word that will live in my house for the next several months of my life!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Youth Conference
In my ward and in my stake we don't do Youth Conference, or we haven't until recently. The Bishopric in my ward decided it would be good for the youth to have a youth conference. This has been in the planning for over a year.
On Friday at 4 p.m. I was at the Fairfield Church (the one on Fairfield, the red brick church) I was sitting in the Relief Society room and listening to my dad talk. We were in groups, mine was Sister Halvorsen, Caitie, and Shawn. We had to do an obstacle course. All of these different obstacles were set up, and we were told to face different teams every time. there were things like, sucking up skittles with a straw and taking them to a bowl about a yard away . or stacking 5 apples and getting them to stay for ten seconds. or a relay race, or having an oreo on your forehead and trying to get it into your mouth using only your face. Then we had activities where it was just our team and we were supposed to get through these challenges like, getting a bandanna from the top of a pole ,but we couldn't touch the pole or the tire it was on. I had to stand on Sister Halvorsen's shoulders with Shawn and Caitie bracing me on either side and grab the bandanna. The I was afraid I was going to crush Sister Halvorsen so I jumped off her and just lay on the grass laughing. then we had to walk across a beam, easy-peasy. Then our group had to help out My brother's group with the pole challenge. My brother, Isaak, was on top just like me. he fell too but his was a bit more graceful (isn't the girls supposed to be more graceful, just goes to show that we all need to know what we're doing cause when I did it I had know idea and Isaak knew full well) Then we had to get all our teamates through the "spider web" all using different holes and not touching the rope. then we had to cross two lines leaving only two sets of footprints. Then we had to lift a hula hoop using only our index fingers, pointed straight out no curling, and put it over a pole. Then we had to blindfold a team member and tell her how to draw a picture. Then we had to slack-line, with the "iron rod" !
Then we had dinner.
After dinner we did Cody's eagle project, putting together hygiene kits. after hygiene kits we played vampire's and zombies for Dad's enjoyment. Then we learned the swing and the hustle from Suzanne, my old elementary ballroom teacher. After that we had a movie night, we watched inspirational movies about being strong which was our theme. then we had solo time. after solo time we made our personal banners, and then we went home.
On Saturday, our leader's picked us up at about 6:50 a.m for breakfast and then we hiked Ensign peak. It was a pretty hard hike. Nomi and I were with each other the whole time, talking and laughing and even sometime singing. At the monument we looked out over the Salt Lake Valley and saw the beauty of the valley, we tried to picture it as Brigham Young might have seen it over 100 years ago. We talked about things that if we had gone any more in depth our brains might have exploded because it's just so large and forever. Atop that hill we sang "High on the Mountain Top" our theme song, which sister fry tweaked a little for our purpose. Then we hiked back. We drove back to the church and Sister Halvorsen and I had to go get our "lost sheep" Chandler and Kylie. Chandler didn't answer and Kylie wasn't ready for the day yet but she said she'd come. Then I slipped in late to the Dating Panel (Don't laugh, I'm trying to learn as much as I can in my youth and if that includes dating classes, so be it!)
Then I went to the one on Patriarchal Blessings with our stake patriarch, Brother Morgan.
Thenm i went to one with by Emil Harker on Stress and Anxiety, because I have too much of that in my life. After the mini classes we had a thought by President Craven and then Faith Factor. Our team could never get up there fast enough to answer the questions so we almost always had to do the challenges. there were many, like eating baby food, scooping skittles out of wheat germ, trying to get ice-cream into a cup held in someones mouth from chin level (someone on my team was about to kill the person who was trying to get into her cone because he could quite make it and it got in her hair, on her clothing, in her ears, etc.) There was a tug-of-war, and many, many others. after that we got into our Sunday clothes for our Etiquette dinner. Sister Lomax gave us a little lesson on Etiquette and we were randomly assigned tables. I was on a table with Brother Sparks, Brother Hawkins and Ashley.
We talked about Bagpipes and Etiquette while we ate dinner. Then we had a fireside by Gabe Adams and his dad. Gabe is from Brazil and when his mother found out that she was pregnant with him she attempted to abort. too late to stop the baby from growing the drug only stopped the baby from growing arms or legs. Gabe was abandoned and left in the hospital with no arms or legs. He was adopted into the Adams family who then had 11 children. Now they have 14 total. Gabe can walk, run, swim, roll, go up the stairs and he is very self-independent. After the fireside we had testimony meeting and then we all went home! That is the end of Youth conference!
On Friday at 4 p.m. I was at the Fairfield Church (the one on Fairfield, the red brick church) I was sitting in the Relief Society room and listening to my dad talk. We were in groups, mine was Sister Halvorsen, Caitie, and Shawn. We had to do an obstacle course. All of these different obstacles were set up, and we were told to face different teams every time. there were things like, sucking up skittles with a straw and taking them to a bowl about a yard away . or stacking 5 apples and getting them to stay for ten seconds. or a relay race, or having an oreo on your forehead and trying to get it into your mouth using only your face. Then we had activities where it was just our team and we were supposed to get through these challenges like, getting a bandanna from the top of a pole ,but we couldn't touch the pole or the tire it was on. I had to stand on Sister Halvorsen's shoulders with Shawn and Caitie bracing me on either side and grab the bandanna. The I was afraid I was going to crush Sister Halvorsen so I jumped off her and just lay on the grass laughing. then we had to walk across a beam, easy-peasy. Then our group had to help out My brother's group with the pole challenge. My brother, Isaak, was on top just like me. he fell too but his was a bit more graceful (isn't the girls supposed to be more graceful, just goes to show that we all need to know what we're doing cause when I did it I had know idea and Isaak knew full well) Then we had to get all our teamates through the "spider web" all using different holes and not touching the rope. then we had to cross two lines leaving only two sets of footprints. Then we had to lift a hula hoop using only our index fingers, pointed straight out no curling, and put it over a pole. Then we had to blindfold a team member and tell her how to draw a picture. Then we had to slack-line, with the "iron rod" !
Then we had dinner.
After dinner we did Cody's eagle project, putting together hygiene kits. after hygiene kits we played vampire's and zombies for Dad's enjoyment. Then we learned the swing and the hustle from Suzanne, my old elementary ballroom teacher. After that we had a movie night, we watched inspirational movies about being strong which was our theme. then we had solo time. after solo time we made our personal banners, and then we went home.
On Saturday, our leader's picked us up at about 6:50 a.m for breakfast and then we hiked Ensign peak. It was a pretty hard hike. Nomi and I were with each other the whole time, talking and laughing and even sometime singing. At the monument we looked out over the Salt Lake Valley and saw the beauty of the valley, we tried to picture it as Brigham Young might have seen it over 100 years ago. We talked about things that if we had gone any more in depth our brains might have exploded because it's just so large and forever. Atop that hill we sang "High on the Mountain Top" our theme song, which sister fry tweaked a little for our purpose. Then we hiked back. We drove back to the church and Sister Halvorsen and I had to go get our "lost sheep" Chandler and Kylie. Chandler didn't answer and Kylie wasn't ready for the day yet but she said she'd come. Then I slipped in late to the Dating Panel (Don't laugh, I'm trying to learn as much as I can in my youth and if that includes dating classes, so be it!)
Then I went to the one on Patriarchal Blessings with our stake patriarch, Brother Morgan.
Thenm i went to one with by Emil Harker on Stress and Anxiety, because I have too much of that in my life. After the mini classes we had a thought by President Craven and then Faith Factor. Our team could never get up there fast enough to answer the questions so we almost always had to do the challenges. there were many, like eating baby food, scooping skittles out of wheat germ, trying to get ice-cream into a cup held in someones mouth from chin level (someone on my team was about to kill the person who was trying to get into her cone because he could quite make it and it got in her hair, on her clothing, in her ears, etc.) There was a tug-of-war, and many, many others. after that we got into our Sunday clothes for our Etiquette dinner. Sister Lomax gave us a little lesson on Etiquette and we were randomly assigned tables. I was on a table with Brother Sparks, Brother Hawkins and Ashley.
We talked about Bagpipes and Etiquette while we ate dinner. Then we had a fireside by Gabe Adams and his dad. Gabe is from Brazil and when his mother found out that she was pregnant with him she attempted to abort. too late to stop the baby from growing the drug only stopped the baby from growing arms or legs. Gabe was abandoned and left in the hospital with no arms or legs. He was adopted into the Adams family who then had 11 children. Now they have 14 total. Gabe can walk, run, swim, roll, go up the stairs and he is very self-independent. After the fireside we had testimony meeting and then we all went home! That is the end of Youth conference!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Today, and Tomorrow
Our ward is doing its first ever youth conference so I'll be "gone" for the next two days!
Quote of the day:
New poem
Quote of the day:
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why we call it 'The Present'."
New poem
Heaven
Brigitte E Hugh 2010
a chorus of children
an angelic sound
what heaven must sound like
a new kitten
with soft downy fur
What heaven must feel like
a sunset all golden
on garden abode
What heaven must look like
melt away chocolate
creamy goodness, galore
What heaven must taste like
Mother baking in the kitchen
soft aroma’s in the air
what heaven must smell like
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