1/9/02
Today sucked. Well, OK, it didn't suck that bad. At all. Let me run through my day for you. I woke up, ran downstairs to get some clean clothes out of the laundry room, and went back upstairs. Then I tried to put my contacts in. I tried for about 20 minutes and got so frustrated I just wore my glasses. Then I get to school at 6:40 and find out I forgot to bring my lucky bear (don't ask) and today is the day of the Honors Orchestra tryouts. I also forgot my Cassiopeia. Grr. Anyway, at like 7:50 we were dismissed from the commons and I put my stuff in my locker. Brad and I then went to the Orchestra room. We got out our cellos and set up in the storage room. Mr. Hale couldn't find us evidently. I think he was looking in the hall for us. Anyway, he listened to our audition music and critiqued it. Brad played really well. I did so-so. We finally got out of the room with about 1 minute left in homeroom. On to speech. Boring. We played a game that was extremely stupid. I'll refrain from explaining the rules because it isn't worth it. Then 2nd block is Orchestra. So we played and talked and blah blah blah. But the good news is that I got a new folder! :) My old one was falling apart. Literally. Mr. Hale was in a good mood today, so that's always nice. So, after 2nd hour Mr. Hale loaded my cello along with Brad's in his van (I'll explain later). 3rd hour was Comm Arts (English). That class sucked ass, as always, end of story. 4th hour is math. Easy stuff today. 5th hour is SAGE... I finished the puzzle thing in like 8 minutes. :-D *pats self on the back* Then I did research for the 5 page report paper. 6th hour was science. Mr. Manchion was in a good mood also. Score X2. He told me that he talked to the stupid chicks that are in the commons in the morning and now they'll let me down to his room to work on my bridge. Whee. After school ended I got on a different bus that took me to another middle school in my district. Welcome to the North Kansas City Middle School Honors Orchestra Auditions. Or, for short, HO. Since we had to ride the bus, Mr. Hale took the cellos with him in his van because he was going to meet us at the school. Which he did. So anyway, everyone was scared to death. The auditions are made up of an etude, 3 scales, and a piece they give you that you have to sightread. The etude and scales are given to you a while before (or in Mr. Hale's case, whenever you get around to it... lol) the actual auditions. The auditions are made up of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in our school district. The "best of the best" in middle schools. I tried out last year as a 6th grader and made it. Even when Mr. Hale gave Brad & I the music the day before tryouts. This year the tryout music was exactly the same. So it didn't take much practice. So Mr. Hale went around and tuned the kids from my school, left the auditorium (where everyone was) for a bit, came back and wished us good luck, then left. His dad's extremely ill and just got out of the hospital, so we weren't expecting him to stay long. Anyway, we went into the hall and signed our names on these signup sheets to see who would go first. I went 6th. Betsy said she did horrible when she did her viola audition, I messed some things up, and so did Brad. But the thing that really pisses me off is that when we signed up on the signup sheets we had to pick up this newsletter. I am so freaking pissed off that it says that the results will be posted Monday! It's always been posted the day after. Hopefully Mr. Hale will know by tomorrow. This is what the sheet said, word for word (except for the dates :):
Dear Honors Orchestra candidate:
Thank you for auditioning for the 2002 Honors Orchestra this afternoon. Try to relax and do the best job you can. I am proud of your hard work preparing for your audition. Below are some questions you may have and the answers to them:
How do I audition?
Make sure you print your name clearly on the registration sheet. The number on the registration sheet next to your name is the number that should be written in the upper right-hand corner or the audition sheet. The auditions will follow the order on the registration sheet. When it is your turn, give the sheet to the room monitor so they can give it to the judge. The judge will tell you when to begin playing. DO NOT talk to the judge during your audition. When you are done, leave the room and take a deep breath. Congratulations - you got through it.
When will the Orchestra be posted?
The 2002 Honors Orchestra will be posted Monday. Your orchestra director will receive a list of the 2002 Honors Orchestra members.
If I make it, when are the rehearsals?
*dates here*
What is expected of me as an Honors Orchestra member?
If you make the orchestra, attendance to rehearsals is required. If you miss more than three rehearsals for any reason other than illness or emergency, you will be dismissed from the orchestra. You are also expected to prepare the music we rehearse which means - yes - practicing.
Again, thank you for auditioning.
Henry Bullock
Director