The hills are alive!!

Zayn, Nathan, ______, ________, Corrina, ________, Tim, Bre, ________, Carly, Will, Ryan, Braedon and Mr. Todd.

Last year Ryan participated in his first year of All City County Honors band.  We were so proud of him!  7th grade is the earliest you can participate on the Middle School level.  Now that he is a Freshman in high school, he will compete on the high school level this upcoming year.  Assuming he is invited to participate.  Somehow I missed posting this back in January when it actually happened.  As always, we continue to be so proud of Ryan's musical accomplishments!!

This is the program that was given out to each person who came in to watch the performance.  The Honors band is comprised of middle school students throughout our area.  The four middle schools within our county and the middle schools of Harrisonburg City Schools and a local private school are included.  There are only a certain amount of kids who can participate from each school as there are only a certain amount of kids who can participate in the program.  It is quite an honor to make it at all.

This year when I opened up my program, as I got to my seat, I noticed that Ryan's name was listed first in the percussion section.  My son made "First Chair" Honors Band!  This is huge!  The chair you receive determines your level.  If you are first chair, you are the best of the ones you are seated with.  Second chair is the second best and so on.  6 schools.  He made first chair!  And the person who appointed him first chair, never met him before the first of the two days they spend at Honors Band.  So proud!!

At the same moment I realized he was first chair, the father of the kid who is listed just below Ryan's name (also a Ryan and second chair) happened to ask me if Ryan was part of District Band this year.  District Band is something that you also try out for, but the judges can't see you or know who you are.  They are not aware of your talent and what you could do up to the district band competition.  Therefore if you don't practice like you should, you basically have no chance of making it regardless how talented you are.  The student who belongs to the father who asked me, made "First Chair" for district band.  Ryan made "First Chair" for Honors band.  In front of the district band kid.  Ryan tried out for district band, but only practiced the song one time before going in to audition.  Needless to say, he didn't make it.  However, he made first chair over the kid who made first chair district.  This leads me to believe that he most certainly could have made first chair district if he had practiced.  He is so used to not needing to practice too often because this stuff comes so easily to him.  He will just hear something and just get it after a few times of playing it.  So he really didn't think he would need to practice until the very last minute.  Then it was too late.  Oh well, there is always this upcoming year.  He will make both I know it!!!

I am guessing he gets this talent from my Uncle Bill.  Mike and I have NO musical talent what so ever!!  :)