I have had a stressful week--so stressful I haven't had time to write. I'm glad it is over!
Last week was a week of fall concerts for bnlfan_1 and Scout. Monday was a choir concert that bnlfan had to attend. Her orchestra was asked to accompany the combined Layton High choirs as they sang Vitas Opera #2. They even had to wear the black hoods. Freaky. But it was awesome to hear those boys hit the high notes.
Tuesday was the orchestra concert for both girls. They sound so good and it makes me so pleased to hear them play. I am impressed with their talents. I was asked to accompany the 7th grade beginning orchestra on the piano. They were simple songs but I managed to mess up royally, stupid performance anxiety. And, of course, it was still dance day so we had to come late and leave early. Typical.
Wednesday was the band concert but fortunately the jazz band wasn't ready and theirs was canceled. Yeah! A night at home!
Thursday was a primary Halloween party and the dress rehearsal for the Relief Society Music Contest Winners concert. BNLfan_1 and I had to be there instead of the party because she was playing the cello during one of the songs. That was a 2 1/2 hour practice. I was beat!
Friday was the actual concert at the Assembly Hall. It was amazing. The music was so wonderful! And it was awesome to sing for the composers. Janice Kapp Perry was there, having won with a song she wrote for her mother. I couldn't sing it, for the tears. We are supposed to get a CD of the performance so I will post it when I get it because it was truly amazing.
Finally Saturday rolled around and I got a reprieve, of sorts. I remembered I was asked to play a special musical number in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I panicked and pulled out a song by Sally DeFord, "Come Follow Me". I practiced it so much I developed carpel tunnel. I got up on Sunday and was hit with the most severe performance anxiety panic attack I have ever had. I told BNLfan that she had to play the cello with me but she said, "Mom, this is a learning experience. Each time you do this, it will get better..." Guilt-ridden, I told myself I had to be the good example and I am really very grateful for the talent Heavenly Father has given me and I don't want to be the ungrateful servant and loose them all... So I took a bunch of Dilbert's herbs and had him give me a blessing. I was so calm all through Relief Society and Sunday School. I really thought it was going to be okay. But as soon as I sat down to play in Sacrament Meeting, I felt that flush of panic and everything began to swim. The notes looked totally foreign. I said my little prayer and messed up the very first note but I kept going. By the end of page 4 I was doing pretty well and was able to end with a flourish so all in all, it went okay. I was still shaking as I sat down, though. I hate that I am so debilitated by my performance anxiety! I know the song cold, but as soon as I am the focus of attention, I panic. At least I know I share my affliction with Donny gggg. My carpel tunnel is also improving as I avoid the piano for a few days.
So now I am fanatically working on the handbill for High School Musical (one week from Thursday) which has to be to the printer today, getting stuff together for M's 1st grade Halloween party and getting costumes reassembled after the Halloween party at Grandma Kay's on Monday. It is a typical week for me.
Last week was a week of fall concerts for bnlfan_1 and Scout. Monday was a choir concert that bnlfan had to attend. Her orchestra was asked to accompany the combined Layton High choirs as they sang Vitas Opera #2. They even had to wear the black hoods. Freaky. But it was awesome to hear those boys hit the high notes.
Tuesday was the orchestra concert for both girls. They sound so good and it makes me so pleased to hear them play. I am impressed with their talents. I was asked to accompany the 7th grade beginning orchestra on the piano. They were simple songs but I managed to mess up royally, stupid performance anxiety. And, of course, it was still dance day so we had to come late and leave early. Typical.
Wednesday was the band concert but fortunately the jazz band wasn't ready and theirs was canceled. Yeah! A night at home!
Thursday was a primary Halloween party and the dress rehearsal for the Relief Society Music Contest Winners concert. BNLfan_1 and I had to be there instead of the party because she was playing the cello during one of the songs. That was a 2 1/2 hour practice. I was beat!
Friday was the actual concert at the Assembly Hall. It was amazing. The music was so wonderful! And it was awesome to sing for the composers. Janice Kapp Perry was there, having won with a song she wrote for her mother. I couldn't sing it, for the tears. We are supposed to get a CD of the performance so I will post it when I get it because it was truly amazing.
Finally Saturday rolled around and I got a reprieve, of sorts. I remembered I was asked to play a special musical number in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I panicked and pulled out a song by Sally DeFord, "Come Follow Me". I practiced it so much I developed carpel tunnel. I got up on Sunday and was hit with the most severe performance anxiety panic attack I have ever had. I told BNLfan that she had to play the cello with me but she said, "Mom, this is a learning experience. Each time you do this, it will get better..." Guilt-ridden, I told myself I had to be the good example and I am really very grateful for the talent Heavenly Father has given me and I don't want to be the ungrateful servant and loose them all... So I took a bunch of Dilbert's herbs and had him give me a blessing. I was so calm all through Relief Society and Sunday School. I really thought it was going to be okay. But as soon as I sat down to play in Sacrament Meeting, I felt that flush of panic and everything began to swim. The notes looked totally foreign. I said my little prayer and messed up the very first note but I kept going. By the end of page 4 I was doing pretty well and was able to end with a flourish so all in all, it went okay. I was still shaking as I sat down, though. I hate that I am so debilitated by my performance anxiety! I know the song cold, but as soon as I am the focus of attention, I panic. At least I know I share my affliction with Donny gggg. My carpel tunnel is also improving as I avoid the piano for a few days.
So now I am fanatically working on the handbill for High School Musical (one week from Thursday) which has to be to the printer today, getting stuff together for M's 1st grade Halloween party and getting costumes reassembled after the Halloween party at Grandma Kay's on Monday. It is a typical week for me.
