First Band Festival Ever!

Here we go! She looks so freaked out!
February 28, 2009 the 7th grade middle school band embarked on the first ever journey to Band Festival held at Carmen High school. The kids were all scared and very nervous about the whole day. Elissa had been complaining about how nervous she was for the past two days, she was so nervous that she didn't want to even go.

So if you don't know anything about what happens at a band Festival here is the run down..First, the kids dump their cases and coats into a class room that has been assigned to their school. So 80 students with instrument case and coats in a classroom made for less than 30. That was fun. Next, it's to the spare gym for warm-up, getting the instrument tuned up, that means each student, each instrument.. Then they are headed to the auditorium and this is a big deal because these kids always perform in the gym without the darkness and fading lights, up on a stage and all. Elissa thought that was a little nerve racking, but she did fine.

Next is the concert performance in front of three judges. These judges are rating their overall performance, sound quality, tempo, and many other things. They rocked!

Next, it's off to the sight reading room where the students are presented with a envelope that has two pieces of music in side, normally one is a march. After the reading of the rules and time limit the kids are then allowed to open up the envelopes and see what they will be playing. This is the part Elissa said she felt the most worried about. I have to say that she really is improving on her Flute skills she recently has been moved up from 7th chair to 4th, that puts her in the first row now instead of the second. The kids instructor prepared them well, the music that they had to sight read was very easy. After reviewing the music with their teacher they then played. They rocked! Once sight reading was over and the judge talked to them it was finally time to head over to the cafeteria to wait for their scores. In band festivals the goal is to get straight ones, each one comes from each judge, the 3 judges from the concert performance and one from sight reading.

So here they are:

What is completely awesome about the whole morning is to see the kids feeling the pressure to want to do good and then feeling so great when they did. All of the students were excited to have done so well..I'm very proud of my little girl who is growing up faster than I ever imagined she would. She is turning out to be a very wonderful young lady with tons of potential.. Mommie loves you..:)