Mommy's practice ethic

I'm sure this will come back to bite me in 5-10 years when Tobey and Eli don't want to practice their musical instruments.

I don't practice mine.

Part of the reason I took on playing in the church's Christmas musical, besides having a fun diversion for myself, was so that Tobey and Eli could see a real violin played at home whenever I practice. I practiced a lot for the audition for Pastor Dan, mostly because Tom scared me into thinking "What if I don't make it into the 30-piece orchestra?". I worked through excerpts of pieces I hadn't played since 12th grade and the practice was needed and worked. I made it in, the 6th out of 6 people he needed in the violin sections.

Then I was just waiting around for the music to arrive so the violin kept quiet. Then I got the music as well as a CD but did I practice? Not really. I did enough prep for the first rehearsal to know to tape my music together. I also played air violin to figure out some basic fingering for this one song that we have to play in the stratosphere. But I was basically doing the minimum to be able to sight read through the first rehearsal. Pastor Dan didn't require everyone to pick up their music before the first rehearsal anyway so I figured there'd be some people there sightreading too.

What happens? TWO violins show up -- the concertmistress and me, the only 2nd violin. Thankfully, she is a responsible adult (a violin teacher), knew what she was doing, and I was able to follow her lead 90% of the rehearsal. I did get lost a couple of times but I think I was sufficiently drowned out by the brass and the band. I even got a (positive) comment from the concertmistress that it's obvious that I've got orchestra experience. Whew! I haven't lost it all!

Did I learn my lesson about scraping by the first rehearsal? Apparently not because since that first rehearsal and tomorrow's second rehearsal, I've practiced once, maybe twice, and neither that long because of the kids. Most of my rehearsal prep was tonight after the kids went to bed in the form of sitting down with the CD and following along in the music (without violin) so I know how my part fits in the 16 songs we have to know. I've never played in essentially what is a pit orchestra but what I'm finding is that finding my place in the entire ensemble, especially with the jazzy and contemporary rhythms, is key. My glissandos and runs don't have to be perfect, but they need to be on time. I wrote in some choir cues so I know how we fit in with the vocals in the case I get lost. I think when we're always accompaniment, I might have the tendency to lose focus and count, especially in held notes that last 4 measures long or the part that says "vamp until dialog ends".

But back to my original point: I'm totally cramming for rehearsals, which is what I always did for my violin and piano lessons growing up. And a lot of the time, I got away with it (much to Tom's chagrin). So aside from the fact that I did all my prep while the kids weren't awake to see me prep, I have barely shown them a person who practices diligently. Even if they had the chance to see me prepare, my preparation isn't exactly how I want them to treat future final exams, papers or performances. I make excuses, like how Eli likes to come touch the music stand or when I do practice the real music, Tobey loses interest until I stop to play something he knows like "Old MacDonald". But I suppose I don't need him to be an attentive audience to my awful runs in E-flat or syncopated rhythms that don't make sense without the complementing swing band. At least I could show them that I am working towards a goal, even if they're next door playing with Tom in the playroom...but I haven't even shown them that.

Maybe if I remembered that in addition to being fun, it's also important for this performance to be of high quality for those coming as well as for my kids, then I'd take Colossians 3:23 more to heart.