Just recently, I witnessed one of the most selfless acts I've ever seen. I know I've mentioned him on here, but I absolutely love my saxophone professor, Dr. Cipolla. He does so much for other people and always puts them first. Anytime you have a question or you're having trouble, he's always there. He's so genuinely loving and understanding. He's always busy doing things for other people, but not so busy that he's out of touch (that's a tough balance - I still don't know how he does it). He's even been giving me extra lessons to help me do improv solos for jazz band on top of everything else he does. He has high expectations, but he makes sure you reach them and he's someone I'm completely comfortable with. He's Secretary of the International Clarinet Association (clarinet isn't even his principal instrument, ironically), an Associate Professor at WKU and teaches both the saxophone and clarinet studios, and a renowned musician, but you'd never know it from talking with him. He is incredibly talented and yet so humble and down-to-earth. He's also a great father and husband and just a great person. He's Jewish, as well. Just to illustrate just how awesome Dr. Cipolla is, last spring when I was really sick, he called me to check up on me and to talk to me about what to do with my classes. He also contacted the Registrar's Office and Financial Aid for me, checked up on me every week for the rest of the semester, and offered to give me lessons over the summer to make up the ones I missed. He was also worried about how I was doing with my other classes and how I was progressing with my solo. In order to lessen the stress on me, he changed my jury piece to something that I was more comfortable with. He really is one of the best people I know.

Anyway, it was Dr. Cipolla's birthday last month, February 19th (a little late, I know...I've been busy, lol), and we were all planning to do something for him, like surprise him and decorate his door the night before. Well, that ended up falling through because all of us were so busy. The day of his birthday, Dr. Cipolla gets there early and brings two huge containers of cupcakes for us and sent out an email to everyone telling us that he had brought cupcakes for us for his birthday. He also let anyone have a cupcake that wanted one, not just his students. I was absolutely floored. Here's a man who does so much for others, and yet on his own birthday when most people expect to get stuff, he brings us cupcakes. I know it may seem trivial, but it's a smaller manifestation of a much larger attitude - one we all need to have. If anything, we should've brought him cupcakes!! Most people wouldn't even think of doing that, but it just proves that it's an attitude that we all need to work to attain. We should all give of ourselves liberally and expect nothing in return, just like Dr. Cipolla.

You know, it's funny how sometimes you learn the most about how Christians should act from people who aren't even Christians.

Oh wait...

I'm not in school...



HA!! :P

- Dr. Floyd said it during his lecture Thursday night quoting someone else that I don't remember

Thursday night, the Conductor's Clinic at WKU kicked off. I went to the first session/lecture that night to listen to Dr. Floyd (from somewhere in Texas - he's an awesome conductor) speak on "Being the Music." It was very interesting, and I loved it. :) He talked about how conducting is human interaction and how to use your body language to express the music and draw the expressiveness out. There were lots of things in that lecture that could be applied to more than just conducting. He talked about something that he called "Opening the Heart," which meant that you turn to face people with your heart when you're talking to them or conducting them. It was very good stuff. :)

Friday after my Western Civ class, I went to another lecture by Dr. Kraus about "Flow: Effective Rehearsal Strategies." It was based on a book about getting into what they called flow, which is more commonly called "the zone," where people are so intently focused on one thing and lose all sense of time. It's was based on a study of performance psychology, which is used in sports and performing arts and such. It was really interesting. I want that book, lol. The WKU Symphonic Band was the band that the conductors conducted for the workshop while Dr. Floyd gave them comments and suggestions on how to improve their conducting. We did this from 1 - 4:15, and then had a concert at 7:30. Talk about playing a lot...lol. The concert went well, though, I thought. Especially considering the fact that we only had 9 rehearsals to prepare for it.

Saturday, the WKU Symphonic Band did the same thing again for different conductors from 8am - 12. We all got free lunch, though! :) Then those of us that are in marching band loaded up the buses at 1:15 and left at 1:45 for the Owensboro Christmas parade. It was ok. Sorta blah. The parade was about a mile long. It was really hot, though. So much hotter than what I expected it to be. Last year, we about froze to death. We got back to BG about 7pm.

The highlight of my weekend was that Mr. D was at the conductor's workshop!! I had absolutely no idea he was coming. I was extremely excited. :) I haven't seen him since January, I think. I miss him a lot, and I think of him often. There are so many things that remind me of something that happened in high school band or something he said, or one of the other directors said. I actually had a chance to talk to him some Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I always love getting to see him (or anyone I haven't seen in a while), even if it does make me miss him more sometimes. I wish I had more time to talk to him and catch up, but that'll have to happen some other time. I wish there were words to make up for the lost time, but there never is. A genuine smile, a heartfelt hug (or two, or three... :P), and "how are you?" will have to do for now, I suppose. I was having flashbacks to high school when he was up there conducting. :) Good memories. He did a great job! I always loved his conducting. After he got done, he stood off to the side waiting for his private lesson with one of the conductors, and he looked up and smiled at me. Of course I smiled back. :) He also gave me a huge hug after the concert and before he left. Sometimes simple moments like that mean so much. :)

If that wasn't enough, I'll give you another example, lol. Last weekend was the WKU Jazz Band concert. It was awesome and so much fun. After it was done, I saw Mr. Morrison start walking up aisle toward the stairs on opposite side of the stage. I had absolutely NO idea he was going to be there. I quickly but gently (lol) sat my saxophone down and ran across the stage to see him. He was halfway up the stairs when he extended his arms out for a hug, so I hugged him back. I thought he was going to stop going up the stairs...but he didn't, lol. He picked me up, walked up the rest of the stairs, swung me back and forth, and carried me over to where our guest trumpet player was (it was about 5 feet from the stairs, so not far). That made my night. :D Mr. Morrison always gives the best hugs. :) Mr. Cecil was also there. I waved at him up on stage after Morrison hugged me, and he goofily waved back...probably picking at me. :P He came and gave me a hug, too. :) Seeing them made my night. :D

I love seeing people who mean a lot to you after you haven't seen them in forever. It's like you're reconnecting with huge pieces of your heart that you've left with them. They bring you back to who you really are. It's so refreshing and encouraging, especially at this time in the semester. It makes the time apart bearable. :)

Anyway, I wanted to share all of this with someone, lol. Hope you're all doing well!!

So, I'm pretty convinced that I made the best decision for me in going to WKU. I get to live at home and continue going to church at the same place I've been going my whole life, which I love. They've been a huge encouragement to me and a consistant throughout my life. We also have gotten a huge college crowd in recent years. I also have the opportunity to attend many Bible studies and grow spiritually. I thought about going to FC, but I decided against it. I have plenty of opportunities here to grow spiritually as well, and for me, I think it was the best decision.

I get to take lessons from the best teacher and performer I've ever met. He's definitely one of the best people I've ever met as well. Absolutely love him to death. I've made a ton of new friends that care about me and whom I have a lot of fun with. I get to be in the Big Red Marching Band (BRMB) and perform for people at the football games and make fun our football team. I also get to play in pep band at WKU Basketball games for our awesome basketball teams. Our Assistant Director of Bands (athletic bands director) is absolutely awesome and hilarious and such a great guy. He took me up stairs on a Gator... It was epic. I get many opportunities to grow as a musician at WKU as well. I'm in jazz band and next year, after the 2 seniors go student teach, I'll be playing in a lead spot...and I'm only a sophomore. I have an opportunity to be in Wind Ensemble next semester (the top band at WKU), and possibly section leader next year in the BRMB. I had the opportunity to work at a band camp this past year. The more I think about it, the more I love it at WKU.

I know a lot of people have problems with our school. No, WKU doesn't always make smart decisions, but I'm sure there's more that go into them than we realize. No, not all of our sports teams are amazing (our baskeball team definitely is!). No, the music department isn't perfect. Yes, it's hard to get the classes we need to graduate and maybe they should change the degree plan. BUT, the music department faculty really do care about their students and would do anything to help them succeed. That's all I can ask for. The rest is up to me. What a lot of people don't realize is that your college degree is what you make it (as with anything else, really). What you put in is what you're gonna get out, nothing less, but sometimes more. If you work hard, it will pay off. The people I hear complaining about WKU are the people that never do much or try very hard. I don't want to glide through. I want to be challenged and come out better because of it.

I love WKU. I always have and I always will. I will bleed red and be a proud Hilltopper until the day I die, and I am not ashamed.

"Stand up and cheer, stand up and cheer for dear old Western!"

So, I had Swine Flu.






It really stunk.







I'm over it.







And I'm still alive.







No big deal.



















oink