Orchestra

Since the later part of January, I have been in the SBC orchestra. I wanted to give my voice a rest even though there's nothing wrong with it.

YES I went to the laryngologist and he says I strained my voice and I should take voice lessons to retrain the intrinsic patterns of singing. (Duh) I mean I could have diagnosed myself but I just wanted to be sure. 

This being said, I would like to keep singing to just Sundays and for only 5 minutes. This would be impossible if I were still in choir.

Even though I miss choir -- and mostly my field study of choice, the Choir Rehearsal -- I am really enjoying orchestra more than I thought I would. 

I've played keyboards in the band before with Sandee but in orchestra, we are on for 3 out of 4 Sundays. And since orchestra and choir are only there for two out of three services, that makes me part of the band. I'll need to learn 4 songs for corporate worship, learn the string reduction or harp part for the offertory, and the songs for communion later, or elder's fund offering, or baptisms. Some days we are up to learning 7 songs for Sunday. 

I am learning LOADS about chord structures, sequences, patches, part-playing, and voicing when playing the synthesizer or string reductions. I've become more familiar with the synthesizer I'm using -- even though it has tons of buttons.  

Until now, it has been Sandee playing the three keyboards (I think for the past 15 years) and now it's Sandee and Eve. I feel a bit bad for jumping in, and sometimes I feel like I'm not needed. But I'm learning a lot, and Sandee is going above-and-beyond to make sure I know what I'm doing.

Sandee took this picture during rehearsal and posted it on her Facebook (oh for cute). And that is Cristine in the back, she is part of the rotation sometimes too.

Our worship pastor and two of volunteer organists going on a tour of the new chapel site. Sandee is the one in sunglasses. 

Sandee and me playing on Sunday (morning rehearsal). I should I have raised my music stand a bit now that I think of it, I look like the hunchback of notre dame. 

Sandee says she will teach me a little bit of the organ when the chapel is built. 

I am so excited for that. Partially because I love the organ and partially because the organ we are getting is a hybrid -- with registrations sampled from organs from around the world. I have heard samples of these online and closing your eyes you cannot tell the difference. I am so psyched to hear sounds of majesty from the organ. 

So it's been really great getting to know Sandee and now serving with her on Sunday's. she's just one of many people at the worship ministry I have become friends with. I realize that my "colleagues" in my life right now are not my same age range or in the same major map or sorority as me. No, I'm in the school of life; my colleagues are directors, arrangers, singers, violinists, handbell ringers, percussionists, etc. and they're also parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, husbands, and wives. These people are my friends right now. I can't tell you the last time I hung out with someone my age anyway. 

sick of it. doing something about it

Honestly, I don't even know where I am right now. 

My thoughts are poison to me. I haven't been this way since spring 2010. I wouldn't go out and say the 'D' word. (depression) but I believe it's as close as I can get to it as a Christian.

I have to do something about it. Self-pity isn't helping. People are starting to get sick of my complaining. 

I'm going back to the way that helped me in the past:  writing down Satan's lies swimming around in my mind. The ones that keep me up for hours and play like a loop while at home. I don't want to be so introspective. I only want to focus on God.

When the lies are laid out on the page, I can really separate them from the truth that I KNOW, and the lies vying to become my reality. The next step is to find various scripture passages that combat each of these lies. This really worked out in the past. Spiritual warfare is so prevalent. 

So, for the next week or so, this is where I'll be. Writing, reading, and fighting darkness. 

Two songs that stand out this weekend:  "Be Thou My Vision" and, "In Christ Alone."

We sang "In Christ Alone" during church today. Being a part of Renew weekend was amazing. I can't wait for the 100th year anniversary. I wonder if I'll still be in choir. The worship at this church really leads you to the throne room. 

the next couple of months

Classes just became available today for Spring.
Registration begins October 29th.
It's looking like I'll have to take 8 classes next semester and be at ASU 4-5 times a week instead of 3 times.
But I don't care, because I'm sick of taking classes that have nothing to do with the things I enjoy.
At the same time, I don't know how I'm going to transition from the piano studio to a university. It's going to be very, very sad.
I still haven't gotten an official OK from Herberger, scheduling my audition.
I'm going to go to the Intro to Rowing event on December 8th at Tempe Town Lakes.
I'm looking forward to this! I've wanted to row for many years now.
We've just started rehearsals for Winter Wonder, the Christmas Performance at SBC. It's really challenging, but I love it. I've never been in a a church Christmas production before.
Here's one of the songs we're doing during the Nativity sequence.
Try to ignore the weird visuals in the video, but you get the gist of it. Such an amazing song.