Now that I'm not playing piccolo with a purpose anymore, I'm at a loss as to what to practice. I'm keeping up my piccolo chops because I want to be ready anytime I'm needed. My highest notes are coming out with ease, simply because I'm working those muscles. Use 'em or lose 'em. Works for athletes, works for musicians ( Read more... )

After our last concert, my section leader contacted me to let me know that two of the four first flutes were unable to play our next concert, and would I like to move up to the front row temporarily? Sure! She said she'd get copies of the music for me and that was where we left it at the time ( Read more... )

Last fall, I started hearing about a flute orchestra from some of my band mates. Given my current commitments, I couldn't see joining a third group and giving up my precious Saturdays on a regular basis, but my curiosity was piqued, especially given that this isn't simply a flute choir, it's a full-on flute orchestra. The guy who started it also ( Read more... )

The stress is over for another year--I submitted my Fancy Band audition last night. I'll have you know it was a full 24 hours before it was due ( Read more... )

January hadn't been all that bad until this week. It snowed on Tuesday, then again today. Dad and I waited until 6 to shovel tonight, but we definitely wanted to do what we could today--there's likely to be more of it tomorrow, and then we get into the deep freeze again. It's supposed to be below zero come Monday night ( Read more... )

( I just took a DNA test. Turns out... )

My parents had an annual party to attend last night, on the lakefront, and decided they didn't want to drive all the way home; it's probably an hour and a half all told, and given the various shootings and carjackings and stuff happening as of late, they'd rather avoid the downtown area if possible. They came up with a plan to get a hotel room near ( Read more... )

Last night was our goodbye party for our second-chair flute, C. She'd been a member of the band for something like 30 years and this is one of the things she'll really miss about moving, but she is headed for Pennsylvania and the commute would be a killer ( Read more... )

This is over a week old, but I still have to share it:

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(Direct link in case the video doesn't loadI didn't see this when it happened, but I heard about it the next day. SNL had a sketch involving flutes. You know I am all over that. It's about how rap songs have that "weird little flute" in it. Now, not being a lover of rap, this was new ( Read more... )

I broke down and picked up some Milk of Magnesia at the store today. Nothing had really changed in my situation, and I just wanted to get things moving again. I was hoping to pick up a small, 8 oz bottle of the strawberry flavor, but all Woodman's had was the 12 oz size in mint. Good to know: The mint made it somewhat palatable. Oh, man, never ( Read more... )