Monday, May 17, 2010

Redundant repetition

friday's playlist:

Come on Eileen by Save Ferris (i'm excited for abby to rock the singing part!)
Oh Canada by Five Iron Frenzy
Away From You by the O.C. Supertones
Chicago by Big D and the Kids Table
A Better Place, A Better Time by Streetlight Manifesto

so yeah. just working on these over and over and over and over and over.. they're fun songs, and that helps heaps. but my mouth is drying out. more agua!

45 min. 93.75 hours total. the 100th hour swiftly approaches!

Performance + practice

double p.

i played for ivn! which meant an hour of practice before church, and then playing for another half hour.

a small break, and then practice for battle of the bands this coming friday from 4:30-6pm.

so wow. 3 more hours.

i was encouraged because a lot of the people from church said nice (and perhaps too nice of) things about my playing. i was humbled. what a fun way to serve people by.. hopefully.. enhancing the music form of worship experience with my horn. or is it a woodwind? meh.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Part two

ivn practice.

they are playing the southern gospel classic--"there is power, power, wonderworking power. in the blood.. of the lamb!"

don't know what it's called, but i enjoy the spanish version. and the five other songs on the set list. i actually have something to play now, as i'm slowly getting the hang of it. erica said, "que bonita el saxophone!" which made me blush. praise Jesus for helping me understand how to play.

and they gave me a mic this time. hehe. it's fun!

1.5 more hours.

Part one

ska practice.

i seriously can't get over how fun playing streetlight is. it's difficult, but i'll get it. almost got big d's and the fif one. just need to perfect the rhythms. this weekend i think i'll have a little bit of time to figure it out.

2 hours of chaotic transposition. justin: "the alto sax is the one i have the most trouble with!"

yeah, no joke. even randy was getting frustrated.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Two to tango

i went to work to practice. blasted the 5 songs that we're playing next friday in the auditorium speakers and went for it. streetlight, you are hard. but you are crazy fun!!

randy scared me in the middle of this time, because he came in without warning. he decided to join me in figuring out the songs and that was a lot of fun! he's way better than me (he played through college), and yet we have the same saxophone. also, i let him figure out the notes we don't have to fif, because his ear is more trained for that sort of thing. i was at least able to help with the rhythms, since i had practiced the songs a lot by this time.

tomorrow is a legit band practice, followed by ivn. i look forward to adding more time!

1.5 hours today!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

3

practice was thirty minutes long. i worked on the ska songs for battle of the bands in two weeks. here's the catch. i have just about used up my reeds that are labeled 2s. i figured i could advance to 3s. easier said than done.

but i like the sound better from 3s, so i just need to get used to them. Away from You by supertones is sounding sick! also, who knew that i'd actually get to play a streetlight song? oh happy day..

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Someday

someday i'll be good at this instrument. today is not the day. i got to practice for an hour and a half with ivn again, and loved it. i remembered what my mentor said, "just have fun." and i've always found it funny when teenage boys try to impress the only girl in the room. i looked at the pastor who rolled his eyes. i just laughed.

the good thing is i'm getting a bunch of copies of spanish music for future playing opportunities. the bad is that when i'm there during practice, it's usually the first time i've ever heard the song. so i have to figure out the melody/what to play, play it (tweaking things that aren't right), and then try to remember the song when i go home and practice.

then again, as you can perceive, i haven't had the opportunity to practice at home for the last week.

so.. having band practice tomorrow with the ska band (possibly, i still don't know if i can make it), might increase my practice time this week. seriously, i had it on my laundry list on monday, but didn't get around to it until it was too late (must respect my host family after all!).

the key is, i AM having fun, and it is an honor to play with a praise team. someday i will be a pleasant instrumental addition..