Sunday, November 2, 2008

Time to Buckle Down

Hello All,

These next few weeks are going to be quite busy with the trombone. I have been preparing for months for the International Trombone Festival's Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize. This competition is a mock "audition" that is judged by some of the best professionals in the world, and trombonists all over the world with the same ambitions as myself enter the competition striving for the same goal. I entered the competition last year for the first time and scored below averages, so this year, I would like to score much better than last year (who wouldn't).

As I said much preparation has gone into playing these excerpts: recording, listening, outside trombone lessons. All of this has helped immensely, and now it is getting close to "gametime". The deadline for these excerpts to be turned in is December 5th. So from now until then much will be spent doing detailed listening and playbacks from the recordings and actual recording for the competition. I was talking to a friend tonight, and she feels that it's time to buckle down in the schoolwork after a break last week and some rest this past weekend. I feel the same way.

So these next few weeks I'm going to try work my tail off to do the absolute best that I can. I ask for your prayers that I will be focused on the task at hand, stay studious in my schoolwork, and above all, stay close to my Best Friend through all of this. Because of what He has done for me, I want to give back and give honor to Him by submitting the best possible work that I am physically and musically able to do. To my close friend, It's all for YOU.

I've been waiting a good while for this journey..........see you at the end of the trail!!

From
J-man (Psalm 31:14-16)