two people have complained thus far at my lack in up updates...so here's an update for you both to enjoy:

I've been realy busy with the new term starting and getting ready for my hearing and all of the stuff going on in the music department.
but now it is spring break

i'll address the music department issue now, since it was the last thing i talked about in my blog entires...
the music department is doing okay. everyone is working hard to keep on top of things. the music faculty is pulling extra full loads to make up for the loss...but we're going to be okay. i still do not understand cutting the instrumental department (brass, woodwinds, percussion) i do not see how that will help the enrollment problem one bit...but that is the descision already made and there is little i can do to change that descision....so i'm just going to keep going and help everyone keep their heads high.

as far as the new term goes...i have much to look forward to:
my class schedule includes: tennis(my only nonmusic course), chorale, counterpoint (16th and 18th century style..i believe), christian worship/music in worship and evangelism, voice, guitar, and strings (im playin the cello!)
The chorale is doing Mendelssohn's Elijah this spring..and i am very excited about that. Dr. Roberts, my voice teacher, has taken the role as the interim chorale director and she is doing a fabulous job of teaching us this music. solo auditions were held yesterday...we'll find out after the break who gets what.
due to the instrumental program being cut at the close of the year, mr young has invited all previous band members to play in the spring concert..so after my recital is completed, i promised him i would come play my flute with them as time allows.

my recital:
I passed my hearing ...in which i performed all my my recital literature for the voice faculty and they were allowed to critique it and say whether or not i am ready to do the recital. they asked that i perform three of the pieces on recital class two days following the hearing in order to add a few things they'd mentioned, and now i have done that as well and am ready to do my recital. the date is March 18th at 7pm. if you cannot make it, please at least think of me and say a prayer for my nerves and preparedness between now and then.

no other news as of now.....i hope you two boys are happy with this new entry...since it was given at request. ;)

i have no idea what to think right now...
i suppose after today some things will become more clear...but right now i'm just rather dazed by what i've been told thus far.

what i've been told is that Dr. Valentine-the dean of music and chorale director- is gone, Mrs. Fortenberry-adjuct piano and voice instructor, accompanist to many ...including myself- is gone, and Mrs. Stringer-piano class teacher- is gone. Mr. Young-instrumental head and band director- and Mr. Cameron-woodwinds and music literature instructor- will be gone after this year. what the heck?

this stinks.

recital preparations:
we're out of school this week...between trimesters. but i've stayed around to practice for my upcomming hearing.
(hearing=what must be passed at least 2 weeks before a music student can present a degree recital. during the hearing said student presents the full recital for all music faculty. they discuss whether or not the student is fully prepared to present the recital publically. they also are free to give any ideas or pointers or changes they would like to see made and the student is expected to apply these things in the recital if the hearing is passed. yes, it is quite possible to fail a hearing.)
my hearing is in one week. ack!
so...i've been practicing. yesterday afternoon i went to my voice teacher's home for a lesson. we put my music in order and went over ALL of it. she showed me what areas need work and made me feel a lot better about my progress. of course, i still have a lot of work to do...but i think that in a week i should be ready for this...as long as i work hard like i have this week.

in other recital news:
she says i cant be barefoot. i'll have to buy some slippers...maybe find some material that would match my dress and cover them.
mom and i both decided apart from one another that my reception should be a mini-coffee shop complete with a number of types of coffee, little bagles and little muffins, even bite sized cheese cakes :)

of course...with the hearing next week...shoes and food are the least of my worries

its a strange feeling to now be free to develop innocent little crushes on...pretty much anybody i please(within reason.) adjusting to that is strange. one wouldnt think it would be some big thing that would require adjustment...but i dont accept change very quickly.

i finally have time to begin reading The Scarlet Letter!

waaaay back in like...9th grade my friend Lori had to read this book for school..so she and i took turns reading parts of it to each other...however, lori had to finish the end of it without me due to time constraints. a few years ago i bought a copy of the book and just yesterday i finaly had time to sit down and begin the story all over again. i spent a little over an hour in the coffee shop reading it..and read some more last night before i went to bed. hoooray for long awaited stories:)

(also, hooray for coffee shops where i can enjoy a tall cup of dark roast, curl up in a chair, and read.)