DeLozier,+Jenna

Three Goals and How to Acheive Them __** 1. Keeping Pitches in Tune **__ I can acheive this by working on my various embushures to help keep myself in tune in diffrent registers. I have a bit of trouble with it since I switch between many diffrent instruments. Since I am in the pit orchestra this year, I play three things. It is challengeing to switch instruments quickly and to show improvement, I will be able to switch in the time alloted in my parts. This also goes for SWE. Although this important as a musician, I think you need to choose another goal. This doesn't improve your actual performing of these instruments. How about something with improving speed on your runs, or better accuracy with rhythms? __** 3. Posture **__ I currently slouch with my heavier instruments (such as bari) so I will work by sitting up straight for short time periods to build my endurance and strength. This can be measured qualitatively.
 * __ 2. Switching instruments quickly and safely __**

Very good essay!!

Band Essay Music has shaped my life in one major way: It taught me to be determined. When I joined band back in 5th grade, I remember I did so with my best friend Autumn. Both of us were big time hockey fans and together we decided to play saxophone. I remember going to the instrument faire at Longer Elementary and I really wanted to play sax. I picked it up and I could not get a sound out. I went to the french horn and I could get a beautiful sound out, but I could not get one from the saxophone. I was so determined to get a sound out, I rented my alto a month earlier than I needed to before school started. I tried to get a sound out every day because I was so determined not to look stupid for my first day of band. I did eventually get a sound out and was at the same level as everyone else. (On a side note, I remember since I was in orchestra I could already read treble cleft so when I would answer when we were learning to read music, Mrs. Ott was annoyed. :) )

This continued when I battled to be in the tenor saxes in 5th grade. I barely ended up with the spot because there were four tenors and because I rose my hand quickly, I ended up where I wanted, but not with one the best saxes. Even though in elementary school I didn’t always enjoy it, I never gave up because I heard of the light at the end of the tunnel called Junior High. I imagined it like a fairy tale. It had mythical instruments like bassoons and bari saxes and the king of the marchers King Laird. I worked hard and never gave up there, either. Only three tenor saxes moved on and we all wanted to move to different instruments. In after school jazz band I decided on trombone and that I would play with my best friend, Aaron. We had great times even though I struggled. I had to write in each position over the note but I overcame the issues enough to have learned that brass really isn’t that thing. (I lost a picture from one rehearsal where the both of us were decked out in weird outfits and made funny faces. I wish I still had it.) Next thing I know, I got to play the mythical bari sax. Being about 5 foot tall, it was definitely a challenge since the thing was a) as big as I was, b) it took more air than I could give, and c) the old player was a giant and very good at it. Also, I decided to move onto oboe for a year, so that presented it’s own set of challenges, being a double reed. I worked super hard at bari for the rest of my junior high career until SWE auditions in February.

I worked really hard on my solo audition piece mostly because I knew I had what it takes to be in SWE and with an alto solo and high schoolers also going for the spot. I got second chair between two seniors and missed out on a spot in SWE. Or so I thought. Instead, I was offered the spot of alto clarinet. Now this was a truly mythical instrument, because even I hadn’t heard of it. So, I needed to learn how to play a new instrument proficiently by September, in six months. I pretty much just blew off the whole learning thing during most of the summer because I was in the middle of doing my Girl Scout Gold Award project. So when September rolled along, I got a rude awakening when we played the Johnny Appleseed suite. (my part was in the key of F#, ouch!) So from that that point, I became motivated again to do what I do best, switch around on instruments. So I worked really hard until District band pre-auds. At first, I didn’t make the cut but that didn’t stop me. I continued to work at the solo and bugging until I was told that I was going the Friday before. As Caesar said, Veni Vidi Vici. I scored sixty points higher and got first chair at districts too. I also got second chair at regionals and this year I am determined to get farther. In band, I learned one major life lesson. Determination.