Perfectly Glitter-Tastic

While I continue my Facebook rant, I will be inserting different posts from there. (Textual evidence and all.)

"I'm going to region, I'm gonna get first. I'm going to area, I'm going to make first. I'm going to make state and if I don't make state for some odd reason. It doesn't matter. I know I'm the best. And I'm going to work like I'm the best. NOTHING is going to get in my way. Its just a contest. Nothing more."


A status excerpted from one of my "good" friends (that I wish was punctuated more properly), it gives meaning to the colloquial phrase "like a boss". This guy is darn well prepared to rock some socks off of some judges. I wish cockiness like this could get me so far--I tried it sophomore year, and I practically flushed my dreams down the toilet. Oh, haven't I told you this story? I didn't? Here, impromptu blog post interruption!


Sophomore year: Second Friday of December 
(Region was pushed back a weekend due to ice on the roads) FLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACKfloatyfloatyfloaty....


I took my stunning new scarf and my black cardigan and paired it with my favorite pair of jeans, trendy flats, and my khaki trenchcoat. I was prepared to make the All-STATE Band, let alone the All-Region and All-Area Bands, and by golly, if I was going to make that prestigious group, I had to look the part. I dressed as the epitome of a flute player, and I had the stuck-up attitude to match. (Very similar to our above-mentioned friend, there.) 
I was a total JERK to everyone who told me I sounded so fabulous in my warm-up, etc. My neighbors SHOWERED me with compliments, but I didn't give a crap. I was mean.
I went into the audition room and fell flat on my face. Flat. On. My. Face.
My audition SU-UCKED. My body tremored terribly. The persona I'd built crumbled beneath my feet, and I ended up 7 chairs behind where I'd placed in the 9th grade. (I made the freshman group that year.)


26.
26.
26.


Twelve chairs between me and the last placing flute. (Yeah, I beat 50 other kids, but still.)
No Area for me. No Region for me.


10th grade SUCKED.
RETURNTOREALITYRETURNTOREALITYfloatyfloatyfloaty...


The next year, I placed 5th of 78 the first night, and 6th of 14 the second. (You get two rounds if you place. Go figure.) 2 away from Orchestra, I made the Region Wind Ensemble and Area. I placed 15th there. 


10 chairs between me and All-State.


10.
10.
10.


This year, I believe I can make All-State. (It's my last chance.)
But there's a certain sparkliness that is missing from my sound that is present in the sound of others whom I KNOW will be All-Staters (i.e., the 'status writer', and several other phenomenal musicians). When I obtain that quality, I will be sure of my success.
This time through, this first round, I don't need to be absolutely perfect.
Statistically, the flute section is not strong in my Region. We're decent, but the quality has definitely decreased. No one is phenomenal. Not like 2 years ago, when 2 flutes from my school made All-State.


2.
2.
2.


Will we have at least 2 Band All-Staters this year? I'm hoping for 4 (Flute, Alto Sax, Bari Sax, and French Horn) to add to the Choir's 2+ (I know we'll add more there, too.). 
Unfortunately, the lucky number has been 3.
3 All-Staters (maximum) from my school in a year.
We'll have 2 returning from the Choir, and my friend (up there) SOUNDS phenomenal. He'll make it.


What if 3 became MY lucky number?


I can live with placing 3rd at Region. I'm (not happy with) meh about conceding to two younger players, but the others are going down. With this, I will make Region Orchestra, Region Wind Ensemble, and advance to Area.
Then I'll have one month to clean. At Area then, my goal will be to place 3rd. (Although I will be perfectly complacent in placing 4th or 5th.)
I also received a confidence letter from a former All-Stater that will help get rid of the shaking. It's got 9 paragraphs. (Nine is divisible by 3, in case you were wondering.) I'd share it with you, but it's mine--sorry to be so selfish.
(Actually, I have 2 confidence letters. Both from All-Staters. I think I'm good. All I need is God to be with me now.) 


That's it. It's been decided. 3.
Three is a good number: The Holy Trinity, "The third time's a charm", etc.
Pray and wish me luck -- I'll keep you posted.


~Lisa
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You know what'd make some sense? Me removing myself from Facebook. It seems to be the source of all of my problems, right?