I'd use the word pown, but to say that he only practically owned me would be a flat-out lie.
So I've been playing the flute for the past 3 and 1/2 years of my life and quite frankly I've gotten bored and recently grown to hate it's high-pitched sound. I was considering learning to play the violin, and I acquired my sister's old and surprisingly in tune fiddle (as they're called in the maritimes). I was pretty excited about this but then my mom broke the news to me that we can't afford violin lessons right now, so I decided to stick to the band-class instruments.
Also as long as I've played the flute I've loved the sound of the Bass clarinet, which is basically just a giant, five-foot long clarinet. I talked to my band teacher about it and he let me borrow an old school one. It hadn't been touched in so long that the case was completley covered in dust and I had to soak the reed in warm water for about half and hour just so it was playable.
After about four hours of frustrating, near-tear filled practice I managed to get out a B flat major scale. I was so proud of myself as the Bass Clarinet is a hard instrument to play, especially if you've become so accustomed to the small, hollow rod I now think of as the flute.
My nephew Cole (I mentioned him in my first post) has always been facinated with my flute. I've tried to teach him to play it on countless occasions before. He usually just ended up hummin the tune to "spider-man" (Which I play for him almost every time he comes over) into the hole in the head joint. So today when he asked if he could play the bass clarinet (I don't yet feel comfortable calling it MY bass clarinet as I'm not even paying the standard fee for it yet) I figured it'd end up basically the same as it always did with the flute.
I was sorely mistaken. I showed him how to tighten his bottom lip and to put his teeth on a certain part on the headjoint and to blow as hard as he could. You should have seen the look I'm sure was on my face as this four-year-old (with little difficulty) managed to play a G (open). At that point I was embarassed, proud, amazed and disappointed in myself and didn't know how excatly to react. Without a word I fingered the notes for a B flat major scale and the kid played the notes with little difficulty.
Now you probably don't understand how freakish that is. I, a 5 foot 9 inch tall teenage girl of decent health was panting after my first attempt to play G, but this four-year-old with the combined lung capacity of his piggy bank played it better than I did.
I should have a video up soon if I can figure out how that will prove this to you.
My only comfort taken from this incident was that instead of continueing to try hard and conquer the musical beast that the bass clarinet is (like I did) he still ended up humming "spider-man" into the headjoint.
So on a slightly different note, I've been getting slowly better with the bass clarinet. Before I was actually getting worse every time I played it, but somehow I managed to keep my cool most of the time. I'm pretty sure I know why I was (and still kind of am) having so much difficulty is that the reed I'm using is, first of all extremely old and in horrible shape, and secondly it's a #3. Beginners are supposed to start on a #2. I'm thinking I'm going to buy a #2.5 and see how that works. Hopefully I'll stop sucking so freaking bad.
My main concern is not catching up fast enough. Playing the scale we usually use to warm up is one thing, but I don't think I could last an entire band class without throwing the entire band off just yet. I'm thinking I'll come in as often as I need to after school to get help from my badn teacher. I fel a little awkward doing it, but he's always offering everybody extar help so he'd better not mind it. I guess I just feel weird going up to my teacher and asking him the next time he's free after school this week.
Another concern, although I'm sure this one is illogical is the other bass clarinet player in the band. He's always ben the only one and he's really quiet. Personally I'm more comfortable around shy people, I don't know why. I usually enjoy just listening to other people talk since I'm so horrible at starting conversations. I asked my friend (who used to play the trumbone as usually sat right next to him) if he was a nice guy and she just said that he was quite. I guess at least he won't be openly annoyed by me, but he seems like the type of guy who'd help me if I asked him.
There's this thing after school called wind ensemble which is basically an after-school band class. You get credits for it and everything, so I'm thinking I'll play the flute for that and the bass clarinet for Band. It's kind of weird that now that I'm not trapped by my flute I'm okay with it. I suppose it'll be nice to have a mixture of melody and bass in my life.
The main question here though is; Can I play two (3 if you count the piano) instruments actively at once without becoming a band nerd? You'll just have to keep track of my entries to find out.
Or I suppose you could ask me later...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Why Exactly I Choose to only have one blog.
Most of the members of YFAIR have two blogs. One depicts them as just your average person, telling about day-to-day adventures and thoughts and the other contains the depth of their spirituality and shows them as some sort of super-mormon who thinks of nothing else but their religion. In other words one shows the activities of a human and the other of a person who simply doesn't exist. Even if the Prophet himself were to create a blog he'd still mention, or at least be tempted to mention some everyday occurences.
There's something warned against by our church and that is being Mormon sometimes and a "regular person" other times. I never think of myself as just another person. I think of myself as a Mormon, it is part of my iddentity, my past, my worldview and my personality. I don't think I could split my everyday adventures and my spiritual experiences into two definite descriptions as the two intertwine too much. I'm 100% Mormon 100% of the time and I don't think that I'd be able to accomplish what I want if I displayed myself as anything but.
The general reason that members of YFAIR are being encouraged to create these blogs is to get our message out there, gain some necissary popularity. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but I see that kind of as advertising. Of course advertising works and it's needed, but I've decided to spread the message on a completely different level. Whether this level is higher or lower you can be the judge, but I think it's what needs to be done; by me anyways.
What I want to accomplish through this blog is to gather some people who can follow my blog and realize that I am a person. Most of my friends view me as the innocent little Mormon girl who's off in some other level of life that they couldn't possibly understnad. Personally, I think this detatches us, no matter how much they may admire my solitary stand of perception.
What I want my blog followers and pass-by readers to see is that I am their equal. I am not some super-human, I am merely passionate about something they are not.
If I may give you a metaphor, a Mormon and non-Mormon are like a writer and a musician. Both are passionate about their work, but don't understand each other's professions. They don't think of each other as different levels of human though do they? If these two people are smart they will realize that they are both trying to reach the same destination and are merely taking different roads.
I want people to see that connection, I want them to think of me as an equal and not as an idol. I don't want people to try to be like me, I just want to make that connection. We're all human here, you can't deny it. We're all fueled by the same inner-strength that cannot be defined but somehow understood by those open enough to embrace it.
There was a quote that my friend showed me. For some reason (I think it's 'cause she's secretly a million times softer than she puts on) she temporarily carried around a "Book of Hugs" which held inspirational quotes in it last year. My favourite one was by somebody who's name wasn't interesting enough for me to remember.
"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be a friend"
I'm not saying we have to be friends, but I find myself in a state of life where I can't be lead or followed, but merely accompanied on my path.
There are some people in this world that need someone to lead. There are some who need someone to follow. There are so many other people in the world who can fill those rolls. I'm here to accompany those who are like me and just need that connection of equality.
There's something warned against by our church and that is being Mormon sometimes and a "regular person" other times. I never think of myself as just another person. I think of myself as a Mormon, it is part of my iddentity, my past, my worldview and my personality. I don't think I could split my everyday adventures and my spiritual experiences into two definite descriptions as the two intertwine too much. I'm 100% Mormon 100% of the time and I don't think that I'd be able to accomplish what I want if I displayed myself as anything but.
The general reason that members of YFAIR are being encouraged to create these blogs is to get our message out there, gain some necissary popularity. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but I see that kind of as advertising. Of course advertising works and it's needed, but I've decided to spread the message on a completely different level. Whether this level is higher or lower you can be the judge, but I think it's what needs to be done; by me anyways.
What I want to accomplish through this blog is to gather some people who can follow my blog and realize that I am a person. Most of my friends view me as the innocent little Mormon girl who's off in some other level of life that they couldn't possibly understnad. Personally, I think this detatches us, no matter how much they may admire my solitary stand of perception.
What I want my blog followers and pass-by readers to see is that I am their equal. I am not some super-human, I am merely passionate about something they are not.
If I may give you a metaphor, a Mormon and non-Mormon are like a writer and a musician. Both are passionate about their work, but don't understand each other's professions. They don't think of each other as different levels of human though do they? If these two people are smart they will realize that they are both trying to reach the same destination and are merely taking different roads.
I want people to see that connection, I want them to think of me as an equal and not as an idol. I don't want people to try to be like me, I just want to make that connection. We're all human here, you can't deny it. We're all fueled by the same inner-strength that cannot be defined but somehow understood by those open enough to embrace it.
There was a quote that my friend showed me. For some reason (I think it's 'cause she's secretly a million times softer than she puts on) she temporarily carried around a "Book of Hugs" which held inspirational quotes in it last year. My favourite one was by somebody who's name wasn't interesting enough for me to remember.
"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be a friend"
I'm not saying we have to be friends, but I find myself in a state of life where I can't be lead or followed, but merely accompanied on my path.
There are some people in this world that need someone to lead. There are some who need someone to follow. There are so many other people in the world who can fill those rolls. I'm here to accompany those who are like me and just need that connection of equality.
What is YFAIR?
First of all, if there are any terms I use that you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask me. Even if I did want to bite you I don't think I could pull it off.
Y outh
F oundation of
A pologetic
I nformation and
R esearch
This is a version of FAIR which is a group containing Latter Day Saints (Mormons) who wish to set straight any incorrect views on our religion, answer questions to investigators (people who are checking out our religion), and answer questions from Mormon people who are just confused about something related to religion.
YFAIR is FAIR but for youth (hence the Y), both LDS and not.
If you'd like to know more about YFAIR, FAIR, or the LDS church, you're completely welcome to go to our Wikipedia Page or our Blog. You can also ask me questions as long as you're not just trying to degrade me, in which case I'll politely tell you to get out of my face.
Wikipedia page - http://youth.fairmormon.org/Main_Page
Blog - http://youth.fairblog.org/
At the moment we're still in the process of creating a thriving organization, so you're welcome to check it out, but if you have immediate questions you might want to go to FAIR and try YFAIR later if you still have questions.
Y outh
F oundation of
A pologetic
I nformation and
R esearch
This is a version of FAIR which is a group containing Latter Day Saints (Mormons) who wish to set straight any incorrect views on our religion, answer questions to investigators (people who are checking out our religion), and answer questions from Mormon people who are just confused about something related to religion.
YFAIR is FAIR but for youth (hence the Y), both LDS and not.
If you'd like to know more about YFAIR, FAIR, or the LDS church, you're completely welcome to go to our Wikipedia Page or our Blog. You can also ask me questions as long as you're not just trying to degrade me, in which case I'll politely tell you to get out of my face.
Wikipedia page - http://youth.fairmormon.org/Main_Page
Blog - http://youth.fairblog.org/
At the moment we're still in the process of creating a thriving organization, so you're welcome to check it out, but if you have immediate questions you might want to go to FAIR and try YFAIR later if you still have questions.
Hockey Game.
Okay, you probably don't know this but I'm a total Hockey fanatic. Way more than normal for a sixteen year old girl but I've never been one to follow stereotypes.
So last Tuesday for our Young woman's activity we went swimming, but I was informed by my friends brother that the Young men were going to watch a hockey game the next day. I was totally jealous, of course, so I asked if I could come with them. Apparently the only extra tickets they had were stand-ups (when you don't actually get a seat, you're jsut allowed in) and I was kind of on the fence about whether I should even be asking so I decided I wouldn't go.
In my ward there are about thirty young men and eight young women. It's not as great as it sounds, but when I think about it I guess I preferre it this way. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if it were the other way around, with only eight young men. So, it's not that uncommon for there to be way more guys than girls at a youth activity. There was actually a hike where I was the only girl once. It was a little awkward and I had a lot of fun. To be honest with you the YM are way funner than the YW sometimes. The only thing I regretted from it was that I felt like I was getting in the way of their fun sometimes; mostly my presence prevented them from certain topics of discussion. In the end though there had to be the combined company of me and a Young Men's leader to prevent them from saying some stuff I really didn't want to hear.
Anyways, as upset as I was that I wasn't going to the hockey game, good news came today. My nephew ( Cole, who's a four year old Timbit) won a Minor Hockey Hero award provided by the friendly brainwashing of Wendys. This entitled him to several free hockey tickets to a WHL (Western Hockey League) game, and of course a twenty dollar Wendys gift card.
So I'm going to the game soon. Our team is playing the top team in the league, so we're not gaurenteed to win, but I hope Cole will still have fun, which will lead to me and my dad having fun.
Bye.
So last Tuesday for our Young woman's activity we went swimming, but I was informed by my friends brother that the Young men were going to watch a hockey game the next day. I was totally jealous, of course, so I asked if I could come with them. Apparently the only extra tickets they had were stand-ups (when you don't actually get a seat, you're jsut allowed in) and I was kind of on the fence about whether I should even be asking so I decided I wouldn't go.
In my ward there are about thirty young men and eight young women. It's not as great as it sounds, but when I think about it I guess I preferre it this way. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if it were the other way around, with only eight young men. So, it's not that uncommon for there to be way more guys than girls at a youth activity. There was actually a hike where I was the only girl once. It was a little awkward and I had a lot of fun. To be honest with you the YM are way funner than the YW sometimes. The only thing I regretted from it was that I felt like I was getting in the way of their fun sometimes; mostly my presence prevented them from certain topics of discussion. In the end though there had to be the combined company of me and a Young Men's leader to prevent them from saying some stuff I really didn't want to hear.
Anyways, as upset as I was that I wasn't going to the hockey game, good news came today. My nephew ( Cole, who's a four year old Timbit) won a Minor Hockey Hero award provided by the friendly brainwashing of Wendys. This entitled him to several free hockey tickets to a WHL (Western Hockey League) game, and of course a twenty dollar Wendys gift card.
So I'm going to the game soon. Our team is playing the top team in the league, so we're not gaurenteed to win, but I hope Cole will still have fun, which will lead to me and my dad having fun.
Bye.
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