Regular Season, Week 1

I want to thank everyone who offered a word of encouragement and prayer for me after my last post. I'm very grateful for you all.

It seems like such a long time since last week, as I have played three major concerts, one worship concert, CHOPs, four chapels, one session of "jazz on the beach," and in one recital concert since last Saturday. But more than that, I'm feeling very different than I did last week when I wrote. God showed some amazing faithfulness and gave me an extra measure of grace this week--so much, in fact, that I hardly know where to begin.

Last Saturday, we had our first concert. Although I spent a good amount of time practicing for it, I wasn't really sure of myself. I thought I would be scared, nervous, and shaking the entire time. But I wasn't. I felt relaxed and determined to nail every last rhythm, note and fill. Before one tune I remember sitting at my kit and literally staring at my hands, wondering why they weren't shaking. The concert went by in a blur, but somehow during that hour and a half I found myself actually having fun and enjoying the music.

Since then I have felt much better in rehearsals. I feel more comfortable around the other music staff people as I have come to know them better, and found some really amazing people in this group. I have also received some very meaningful encouragement from Dr. John, the director, as well as several other music staff people regarding my playing. I'm beginning to relax and realize that I actually know what I'm doing and can be an asset to this staff of musicians.

Last Thursday night, we had our weekly recital concert where music staff members play solos, duets, small ensemble pieces (we had a string quintet and a brass quintet play). And of course, every recital concert ends with an offering from the jazz combo. I was sitting back during the recital listening to this incredible music being played by some of the most talented musicians I have been around and thinking, "Wow. I'm getting paid for this." Then it was my turn to play with the jazz combo, and we did a fun rendition of a Thelonious Monk tune called “Well, You Needn’t.” I actually felt like I belonged on the stage. It was a good time.

On Friday, we had our first impromptu "jazz on the beach" session. This is where the jazz combo sets up on a beautiful stone patio that overlooks the beach and call out tunes to play for an hour. Of course, I don't know as many tunes some of these players, I have found that God again has been preparing me for I need to do. I have my trusty Real Book, and through the hours and hours of playing piano, guitar, bass, and my good ol' sightsinging/eartraining classes, I have found myself being able to look over tunes quickly and hear a rough version in my head before I play. I'm really excited for this part of my week, as I will be learning a huge repertoire of jazz tunes.

This week at "jazz on the beach" we had the pleasure of having Walt, an elderly guest join us on keys. He had been asking when we were gonna play all week, although he was worried that he wouldn't know any of the tunes that we play, because he was "two generations behind us." But we let him call the tunes and he had a blast. Every time it was his turn to solo, he would usually just comp and sing the melody as loud as he could. He knew every word. At the end, he was so thankful to us for playing with him. It was obvious that this is a big reason why he comes to camp.

Now I am sitting here having completed my first Friday/Saturday consecutive concert weekend, and I feel really good about the way I played. At this weekend's concerts, I played on every song but one (that's eight of nine pieces, including one suite of excerpts from seven selections from the musical "Camelot"). I'm exhausted, but really excited about playing here for the rest of the summer. Tonight my fellow percussionist, our bassist, and I did a really cool version of "Black Orpheus" for vibraphone trio. Tyler, the vibes player, is AMAZING. I'm really hoping to get some free informal lessons from his this summer. I think I've learned more in the past week about playing jazz than I have in my entire life before this. I remember earlier this year longing to play with some really amazing jazz musicians that I could interact with and could teach me to interact with more sensitivity and musicality. God has not only met that need, but surpassed what I ever hoped for.

Right now I'm incredibly thankful to the Lord for the way he has allowed me to get comfortable with myself here and given me the grace I need to relax and stop thinking about myself. Right now I am just praying that he will continue to sustain me and help me to continue improving for the rest of the summer.