Dearest Concert

November 12th, a concert came by and I proudly participated, both Junior Band and Nightmare Band.

Intermediate Band performed first-and I had to admit, they were quite...awesome. We, the Junior Band, watched them from the balcony, forced to be complete silent or else...we'll get kicked out. 7:oo PM finally arrived and parents start walking into the theater and took their seats. I can't help but stare at the amount of people that are going to watch me perform! Once everyone took their seats and became a stoned statue, the audience welcomed the dear conducter, clapping, and the Intermediate Band started to play their first song. My eyes and ears were stuck on the band. All I could do was focusing on the band. They successfully finished their first song and I realized that they hardly make any mistakes! We stood up and walk to the backstage to get ready to perform. I can barely walk straight! My head started to get dizzy and my vision starts to get blurry. There I walked slowly, heading to the backstage while sweat ran down my face.

We arrived at the right-wing and lined up the way we supposed to and kept on squeaking. The Intermediate Band finished up and walked out slowly, taking their time. Okay, here goes. I thought as I took a deep breath and walked onto the stage slowly, trying to be as professional as ever. I stopped right infront of my seat, put the book on the stand and sat down as quietly as possible. We put our instrument on our resting position. This is honestly the position I dislike the most. Since I play the bass clarinet, it's really hard for me to put my instrument on my resting position. I tried not to bother about it so much and calm down.

Before we performed, the saxophone ensemble lined up together and got ready to play. I was amazed by what they played. They almost sound like one voice together! When they finished their first piece, You Lift Me Up, I couldn't help but to clap. I didn't realize that I was clapping until my friend that sat beside me, tapped my on my lower arm and whispered to me that I wasn't suppose to clap. I stopped clapping right away, hoping no one saw me clapping while I can feel my face turning red.

So they finished their second piece and it was our turn to perform to these people. I whispered everything that I have learned in music class to myself. Dynamics, tempo, beat, breathing-do not breath on the bar lines! count. slur... everything swam through my mind. I took another deep breath and put my eyes on the conducter, letting him know that I am ready for this. Ancient Spirits...I got the first 17 measure filled with rests. That's good enough. I thought again. And so I can barely even be heared for I was way too nervous. After that minute, I came up with an idea. I focused down into the book and played the notes, pretending to myself that I'm in the music room where there is no audience who will watch me.

I tried to stop panicking at least a little and I think it worked for a while. Once we finished Ancient Spirits, we backed down again to our rest position and flipped our books to Scandian Suite. Elephant March was the first movement, and I had a solo and asked to stood up infront of everyone. Now everyone can see my face real clearly. Perfect, just perfect. Even though I thought that, I felt happy too because everyone's eyes were on me and, I felt as if I was in display or something.

Once the Junior Band finish, everyone except me, left the stage. I had to stay on stage for the Nightmare Band Teaser. Just one song, that's it. I thought, walking to my seat which is like across the stage. I took my seat, put my music book on the stand, and got my instrument on resting position, trying to be as professional as I can. Alright, in 3..2..1. I played the first note as loud as I can. I slowly calmed down during the song, named 'This is Hallowe'en'. Luckily, no one made a mistake (not meee!) and everyone did awesome. I realized that-without the actors, the teaser wouldn't be as exciting that it had been.

After that was finished, I put my bass clarinet in the classroom and walked around the school, getting some fresh air. Honestly, I felt proud of myself. I may have made a little bit of mistakes but at least I did my best. Now, I REALLY can't wait 'til the play and let the stress off me. But if I was that nervous for the MS concert only, I wonder how nervous I will at the play......