Life is a train, all aboard! Being a conductor is so much fun.

I meant to write a blog yesterday, but I kind of fell asleep for five hours. Well, I woke up once in the middle when my cat knocked over my oboe case. Anyway, I'm going to try to write something of some interest for once, since I'm not in my Computers class this time.

I feel like, as a senior, there would be more things to do and/or going on in my life, but I've discovered that this is not the case. This past week, I have found myself doing all of my homework at HOME! This was unheard of for myself last year and even during sophomore year. What I'm trying to say is that so far, senior year has been the easiest year of high school for me.

I know I should probably wait longer than a week to judge, since things will get harder once clubs and Theory class start up, but I just feel like there's nothing really to do anymore. I think my new favorite thing to do is practice my instruments. I could have sworn that there was this one time I was practicing oboe during lunch and I told myself, "I wish I could practice forever." Yeah, it's pretty sad, especially since I managed to break two of my reeds yesterday in Symphonic Band (probably from playing on them so much). They weren't just chipped either, both of them were cracked straight down the middle.

So since I couldn't play properly, I volunteered to conduct "We Shall Lift Lamps of Courage," since Tianna didn't really want to and was kind of sick. I had to do it from memory and from what I remember from listening to the recording so many times. Even though I messed up a lot, it was still a lot of fun. It's awesome to be able to listen to the entire band play a cool song like this; it's something you miss out on by playing inside the band. In fact, conducting is the only thing I really liked to do during my time in Drum Major try-outs (except for maybe giving drill downs).

But yeah...conducting Symphonic Band is amazingly fun and surprisingly tiring, too. I wonder if conductors secretly build up massive amounts of muscle in their arms by conducting songs? But keeping the music going is what drives me through the pain. Also, I should have known better than to use the word "easy" around Mr. R. I'll have to keep that in mind when I conduct the next song I chose to do, even though it really IS easy (It's mostly half notes and is very slow). Regardless, I'm very excited to conduct it and maybe we'll even get to perform it at a concert! It's one of my favorite pieces of music of all time.

The Great Gate of Kiev