Citizen of Busytown

I seem to be averaging one post a month this year. I'll have to change that soon.

This month has been a whirlwind of weekend activities! All my weekends have had some kind of event. The first Saturday, I attended the Starlight Parade with my nieces and nephew. What an amazing time we had! Because of their mom, we had the opportunity to sit in reserved seating for the parade. The Starlight Parade is perhaps my all-time favorite parade because all the floats have lights. Even the bands had glow sticks on their uniforms and even on some instruments! We took a lot of pictures- practically every float except of the ones we missed as we ran down the street to keep listening to a band- and shared a lot of laughter!

The second Saturday was the Grand Floral Parade, and I was privileged (once again thanks to my sister-in-law) to sit in the Colosseum for the parade. Here's a fact I bet you didn't know. The Portland Grand Floral Parade is one of the only parades in the world to go through a building! It was a wonderful parade and a beautiful day. This year the Rose Festival was lucky to have such great weather for both big parades!

Last Friday was the bridal shower I threw for a good friend of mine. The shower was quite a success I am happy to report! The food was worth the lack of sleep for making it! However, I must say that my favorite part of the food display was the amazing center piece. The shower's theme was Kitchen and Recipes. For the center piece, I purchased a small colander and a bunch of chrysanthemums. We placed a bowl of water underneath the overturned colander and poked the flowers through the holes! I was so delighted that it turned out so beautifully. As the shower was wrapping up, the bride remarked to me that it was everything she had wanted for her shower! Success!!

This last Saturday held a wonderful event. I treated my niece, Bookworm, to a Portland Mormon Choir & Orchestra concert where the guest artist was none other than Jenny Oaks Baker! It was probably one of the best concerts I have ever attended! The music was so beautiful and inspiring that I can hardly wait to resume band in the Fall. I could feel the Spirit very strongly as Ms. Baker poured her testimony of Jesus Christ into her music. What struck me the most about her playing was how much she moved her body while playing. She conveyed emotions and dynamics with her movements. It was quite a sight and a great experience. Bookworm and I shared some great experiences that I will expound upon more when I post the pictures from that night.

This weekend holds the Regional Youth Dance Festival that two of my nieces are participating in. I've been hearing about this event for a while and am very excited to see the fruits of the youth's hard work. This week also holds the restart of my business. Hopefully, I can see the fruit of my labor as I get this business rolling.

That's all for now.

Hymn Humming

There are about four weeks left until my big move! It's so crazy to think I am actually moving to Utah and attending UVU. Someone pinch me. I'm afraid to wake up and find it never really happens.

Along with the excitement of getting ready to move, I've had a lot of scary realizations. This is a big, scary step in my life. I've double and triple checked with Heavenly Father that I am doing the right thing. So far, the answer hasn't changed, and it won't. I am more scared to move to Utah than I was to travel to Russia.

As I sat in the adult session of Stake Conference, a speaker read a verse of the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" (Hymn No. 85). It really stood out to me and has become my current motto. I found myself strengthened by the words as I listened to them read over the pulpit. I found comfort in them as I sang all seven verses while putting the dishes away. I know the Lord brought this hymn to my remembrance to aid me as I prepare to survive on my own in a far away place, with strange people.

The great adventure is about to begin!

Singing While Using Sight

I'm jumping back into being a music major this term, and it is HARD work! Seriously, I don't remember Ear Training being so hard! We had a sight singing quiz yesterday in class, and I was amazed at the miracle I was blessed with.

For those of you who are wondering, sight singing is just that- singing by sight. The instructor is being nice to us and letting us practice the several selections prior to our test; therefore, this wasn't true sight singing. When you sight read a piece of music, you play or sing it on the first try without having looked at it before hand.

My miracle is this: I made it through to the end of my test! That may not seem like a lot, but it is. I hadn't studied too hard for this quiz because I was studying for other quizzes from the same class- intervals identification, melodic dictation, rhythmic dictation, harmonic dictation. There is a lot to study!


Once again, Heavenly Father has blessed me with a crisp mind to remember the solfège for minor melodies and staying somewhat on pitch through my quiz. I am so grateful to have a keen mind that remembers what it has learned. I pray that I'll gain more confidence as I practice and study more this term.

Week of Concerts

Last week was my week of concerts! I had two Women's Choral Ensemble performances and a band concert. Most of the performances were good. There was one mishap during a Women's Choral Ensemble performance, but it can't be perfect all the time!

I'm really excited to continue performing next term in both Women's Ensemble and in Concert Band. I've had such a taste for both that I never want to give them up! Surprisingly enough, I love playing the piccolo! I almost would jump at the chance to play piccolo on any piece. Next term is going to have some tough pieces on flute and piccolo in Concert Band. Bring it on!

To Flute or Not to Flute...

is never a question! When the opportunity arises, always play the flute. Although, I find I always want to practice my flute AFTER I eat a meal! Go figure.

I had my first flute lesson this afternoon. Man, it was a tiring two hours!! Usually, lessons only go for one hour, but my teacher and I were having such a good time getting started that I think we forgot that time existed! I think I'm really going to enjoy this teacher. She is a WSU graduate and has a fun personality. She's a little scatter-brained, just like me! We should get on just grand. She actually is friends with one of my former flute teachers. The music world is certainly a small one!

I'm starting preparations for an audition at USU in February. It'll be a long, hard road full of wrong notes and learning. And I do mean every word of that. With only twelve weeks to learn two pieces, I am a little concerned I won't make it. However always the optimistic one, I'll work my hardest to get there, and that hard work will not be for naught.

Taking a break from music is not a good thing. Really, taking a break from any skill for a long period of time doesn't help in the long run. I've reverted back to some old habits and sloppy aspects in my flute playing. My teacher and I determined that I open my jaw too much to focus my sound. (Normally, it is quite the opposite in flute players; they don't open enough!) So, I have to consciously think about closing my jaw as I'm playing. On top of that, my teacher has me learning another tonguing technique. I had initially learned one way with another teacher, but my current teacher is having me switch back. I guess knowing how to use both will help me in the long run.

Who knew a flutist actually has to think about their tongue position while they play?! That is the hardest part; no one can see into your mouth to analyze the tongue position. I have to describe where I feel it to my teacher, and she, in turn, has to try to help me understand where it needs to be. Crazy and exciting stuff!

Things to Look Forward To

As the time to jump into music classes again approaches, I am again reminded of all the work I will gladly need to put into these classes. I have a lot of review work to do these next two months before I jump back into Music Theory and Ear Training! Fun, fun, fun!

I was driving home from the Adult Session of Stake Conference and I heard the song So You Want to Write a Fugue? playing on the classical radio station. This is a crazy song! It reminds me of what I have to look forward to in my theory classes- all the analyzing, making sure there aren't parallel fifths or other rules broken in my harmonizing.

Enjoy!

P.S. Just ignore the subtitles! Also, click on the first video. I couldn't figure out how to get rid of the second one. I'm still learning.

Wailings of a Sore Throat

As you know, I am singing with my school's Women Ensemble this year. My throat is not used to being used so much. After each rehearsal, I come out with a tired voice. No matter if I cut out on the high notes or if I belt out all my notes, my voice is almost gone. It's a good work out for it, though, and I'm learning a lot.

For instance, cold pudding is great on a tired throat! That is about the only sure thing that will give comfort to my throat after singing. However, it isn't so friendly to the waistline! So, I need to find something better to soothe my throat after rehearsals. Water works, but it doesn't really do much long-term. Hot chocolate is good, but my tongue always ends up burned because I lack the patience to let it cool.

Well, my brain is too scattered to write another cohesive paragraph!

Extra! Extra!

Some very exciting news is hot off the press!

I have been given a scholarship to take flute lessons next term! I was shocked to learn that I got it. I didn't really think I would, but I suppose it helps that I'm currently taking classes from two of the teachers on the decision board! :)

Also, I'm switching my major back to music. Crazy, I know! Music is one of the hardest majors because of all the "unfair" credit classes (i.e. ear training for two credits when the work is at least four credits). I'll be majoring in flute performance. I'll finish my first year music classes this year and transfer to USU eventually. My education goal is to double major in Flute and English when I get to USU. We'll see if that's what really happens. Hey- I'm a young single adult and a girl; I have the right to change my mind!

Have a great day!

Weekend Retreat

Saturday was the retreat for Women's Ensemble. That means we went to a location different than school, sang, laughed, sang some more. This is my first experience singing with a formal choir.

We spent the day at a local church rehearsing this term's music. We are singing seven pieces, and we worked on all of them. We started singing around 9:10am in a cold sanctuary room. The acoustics were phenomenal! We sang and sang. In fact, we sang so much that my voice was gone when we broke for lunch.


We broke for lunch around noon and enjoyed a variety of foods brought to share. There was more food than all 22 of us could eat! We certainly did not go hungry that day! After lunch, we had the chance to look through a few books of duet music. We have the opportunity to sing in some small groups at one of our performances this year. I am singing in one group and playing the flute in accompaniment for another group.


We finished off the day with a small performance for our friends and family around 4:00pm. I was impressed with how much of the songs I have memorized after singing them so much on Saturday! Of the seven songs, I have five learned enough that I can sing them from memory. The German song and the Latin song are the only two I still need the music for- mostly for the words and not the notes.

By the end of the day, my voice was very warm. In fact, I was hitting the high notes with a new ease after singing for about six hours. My throat was quite sore when we finished, and my voice was tired. It isn't used to being used so much in such a way!


I am really excited to be in Women's Ensemble the next two terms! I know I will be a better singer because of this experience. I am already a better speaker- I learned how to cheat at rolling my Rs! (I will no longer have an American accent when I say hello in Russian!)

A Hand in All Things

Today, I was again reminded that the Lord's hand is in all things. Earlier this week, I had received a call asking me if I would play the organ for a funeral. A man from my former stake had passed away. The people asking me to play had called several organists from the stake finding none that could play. They asked a high councilor if they had any suggestions, and my name was put forth.

I agreed to play and give of my talents. What I didn't know was that my grandpa would be in attendance at the funeral. I had thought he might be there, but I wasn't sure. It was good to see him afterwards. My grandpa knew the couple who had asked me to play, and they were surprised to learn I was his granddaughter. The wife commented, "Now, I know why you are so special!"

That just made my day! I love being my grandpa's granddaughter! I'd never deny being part of his family, and I am so thankful to have such a family legacy being left for me.

I love you, Grandpa!

First Penguin Report

I survived the first week of school!! Barely! :)

I'm really excited for this term. It'll be a tough term, but I'm sure I can handle it. I auditioned for Women's Ensemble and made it in! I sing Second Soprano. This is the first "real" choir I've sung in since Middle School. It's going to be a stretch, but I'm really going to enjoy it. I have three friends in the ensemble with me, and that helps A LOT!! Two of the girls came over this morning to work parts, and I found out that I need more practice in playing parts on the piano!

Also, I auditioned for a chair in band on Wednesday and for the piccolo part! You are reading the words of the second chair flute player and piccolo player!! I am so excited to be in band again! I've missed it terribly. If I had been able to, I would have joined last year. Alas, the timing didn't work out. C'est la vie!

I'm taking a fiction writing class that is really going to stretch me. I don't consider myself a writer, even though I can write. Some of the students in the class write just for fun as a hobby or a possible future career. I'm only taking it because my friend suggested it will give me practice in editing different writings. Speaking of fiction class, I need to look over my story for submission tomorrow!

Have a great week!

Musical Beginnings

Yesterday was such a wonderful Sabbath day! I had volunteered to play the flute with the ward choir during Sacrament Meeting. Yesterday was our performance. It was very uplifting. I could feel the Spirit strongly as we performed. We performed an arrangement of I Need Thee Every Hour. The number of the choir was fairly small, but I know the Lord blessed our performance; I heard more voices than what our number consisted of.

(This is a picture of my flute recital in 2003.)

I love the music of the Church! It uplifts, strengthens, consoles, glorifies... everything you can imagine that is good and righteous in the world! That may be why I feel so excited for my new calling! I have been called as the Ward Music Chairman. It's an entirely new experience for me since I've only been involved in the performing aspect of music- organist, pianist, chorister. I am very excited to serve the Lord through music. A goal of mine is to bring the Spirit to meetings through the hymns.

If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
D & C 136:28

The Start of a Busy Summer

Well, today marks the start of an ever-busy Summer! Rehearsals have started for the play With Mine Own Hand: The Musical Account of Nephi. I am so excited to be part of the play again. It's the account of Nephi and his family as they journey from Jerusalem to the Americas from The Book of Mormon. For more information, visit the WMOH website. This year, we will be performing two sets of performances during the month of August: one in Oregon and one in Utah.

I love the music of the show! Shivers ran up my spine the first two times the music was played tonight. The music sounds amazing and portrays the emotion during the play especially well! There is nothing like watching the scriptures come alive before your eyes! I gained a lot of knowledge last year as I pondered the scriptures and participated in the play last Summer. I am excited to view the play with "new" eyes. I've grown a lot over the last year or so, and I can feel my testimony being polished every day.

I am, by no means, a performer in the show! I am the Director's Secretary. This job will be a little different than it was last year because there will be different demands. So far, I am in charge of noting absences and late arrivals for rehearsals; I distribute promotional items to the cast. Tonight, I was a stand in for where bodies were needed. I even got to play the leading lady for one scene! Of course, I didn't say anything... I only walked from down stage to up stage with Nephi! I think the most accurate description for my job is to serve where I am needed at the moment!

It's going to be a fantastic Summer!

Is there a goalie in the house?

I have a goal! This probably sounds pretty dumb for those who don't know that I haven't been able to state one goal for my life for the past three months! Anyway, today I talked to a counselor at SVU, where I've been toying with the idea of attending. This counselor encouraged me to apply for a Talent Scholarship on the flute, so today I dusted off my flute for the first time since putting it way in May. I'm really excited to start working on the pieces I have chosen/will choose to showcase my playing. I already have one piece chosen, and I am in search of a second.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to work towards a goal. My hope is to have a polished recording of my pieces sent in by December or January (before I flee the country!). So, for the next four months, I'll be practicing and practicing. If I'm not available to do something, the reason will most likely be that I am practicing. I really want to finance my schooling without my dad's help, and a scholarship would be a wonderful start!

I'll keep you updated on my progress!