One fun aspect for me about this month is preparing them for the contest. By this point, pretty much all of them have their solo learned, so we're working on musical details to help them stand out, perfecting their technique, working with their pianists, and discussing and applying the psychological aspects of performance. That's the hardest and most important part: the brain. How we approach the performance, how we trust ourselves, how we focus on the process while we play rather than the results, and how we deal with nerves (rather than try to eliminate them). I feel confident in my abilities to help them with the psychology of brass playing and performance because I've been through it all...the highs and the lows, and everywhere in between...heh, still trying to perfect it myself.
I'm really excited for my brass ensemble because they are sounding really good on their piece already. We all have a competitive mindset because we are confident...This group has played together since they were in middle school, and they really know each other well and play together so brilliantly. So we are raising the bar and working hard.
But I'm also a little worried...because of stupid COVID. There's a boom in cases here in the area, and even though a huge majority of them are with minor symptoms, I worry that because of the numbers of cases they're going to cancel the event, which happens on January 29. I worry that schools are going to shut down. I worry that I'm going to have to cancel rehearsals again and teach virtually. I don't know what I'll do if this happens. But it has definitely put rain clouds over me.
So, once again, I have to hope. Cancelling and lockdowns can't happen. It can't.
Take care and value music.