I haven't written a journal in a long time. So here it is:

I never wrote anything about it, but I made the All-District Jazz Band in my area last fall. District Jazz is basically a jazz ensemble composed of the best players in the district (Missouri has 11 of them). If you make Districts you go on to State (the state band is like omgwtf incredible).

BUT ANYWAY. Last year I made 2nd chair tenor sax and felt like I totally shouldn't have gotten second chair because 1st chair sucked (couldn't improvise if his life depended on it). *cough* But this year I got 1st chair!

The band practices twice for like four hours each, the first just to get used to playing together, and then with a guest clinician. Well, this year our clinician was Jay Diversa (www.jaydiversa.com), a trumpet player. He's incredible. At one point he was the most sought-after trumpet player in Los Angeles, and a 30 minute lesson with him costs over $100, but we got four hours with him for free (although the school probably sponsered him or something).

AND OMG. He's a really small guy, really short and everything, but when he got out his trumpet and blew that first note it was LOUD. I cannot IMAGINE the air support he must have, andomg his improvisation is incredible. He played 'Round Midnight with us in the concert, and he did four-bar back-and-forth soloing with me in rehearsal on Stolen Moments! I was bouncing with excitement by the end of rehearsal.

And a few friends of mine in our school's jazz band are getting together to form a combo, and we talked to our director about playing Stolen Moments and he said yes.

I can't wait.