Its friday. YESSSSS! We survived America!! Another week done and gone! Speaking of which, I have been going to school at BYU-I for 1 month today! Crazy! Time has flown it seems looking back on the past four weeks. I only have 10 more weeks of this semester! AHHHH!!! Granted, that is a long time, but if they go by as fast as the last month, I won't complain.
Things have settled nicely, I have a routine and I'm good at keeping routine. Ive been spending almost 2 hours daily in a practice room trying to learn pieces to test out of my piano class next week. Piano is so much fun when you have the liberty to do what you want with your fingers. Truly, I wish that fingering wasn't such a big deal. I would pass that class in a heartbeat if I could play it however I wanted to. So if you wouldn't mind adding me to your prayers next wednesday, that would be very much appreciated. I really need to pass this test in order to be out of here in the next two years. If I don't pass, it adds another semester that I have to be here.
Along with this class that I am trying to test out, I also have my theory class that I am going to be taking the test out exam on monday. Im a little nervous for it considering that the mock exam I got 3 point under what you need to pass. Ive been studying to hopefully improve that score because I really don't think I could handle being in that class any longer. I think I would be miserable.
Its so crazy that I am almost done with all of this stuff that I have been working to test out of. I really would feel much better about myself and this semester if I test out of both.
Other awesome things that are happening is my mom and my grandma are coming up in just 19 days!!! I can't even begin to express how excited I am for them to be up here with me for a few days! Also, Ciera sent me a letter from home yesterday and it made my whole night. I miss that cute little sister that I have. This is now a plug to put my address in because I love getting letters and packages :P 140 West 2nd South Apt. 4 Rexburg, Idaho 83440. :)
Alaina and I had our first dance social of the semester and it was... an experience in itself. I think our class might be a little bit more ahead then the other classes that take social dance 1. I love the swing so much and Im planning on teaching it to some people when I get back home. :)
The snow never seems to stop here. It was snowing so hard here last night. It snowed about a foot and then its been trying to snow all morning. I can't wait for spring to come.
I'm finally making friends....YAYA!!!!
Next weekend two of my room mates including Alaina will be gone... What am I gunna do??! I think next weekend will be a little lonely. :P
Well thats all that has been going on with my life. I'm busier than ever! Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Happy Singing!
Courtney Griggs
Friday, January 31, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
A Day of Wishings.
I think eventually everyone goes through a part of their life when they move away where they feel like they just can't pick up all the pieces that keep falling. I just feel like I have a pile of things that I have to do and I just can't seem to succeed at any of them because Im trying too hard on the other things. I'm learning more and more about myself daily and lately I'm learning that I am more of perfectionist then I realized. Being a perfectionist is a good thing to a point but when it starts eating you alive, its almost impossible to bear. I want to just succeed now! And I just can't.
I've spent hours in the practice room in the past 4 days... I think I have been working solely on piano music for at least 9 hours for the past four days. I haven't even begun working on the instrument that Im here for; my voice. I have not been able to sit down in a practice room and feel comfortable singing. I just know how important playing the piano is right now. It's whatever I guess. I wish that I could turn down so many things for church but I can't bring myself to do because then I fail. And I'm not comfortable with failing in someones eyes. I want to prove to everyone here that I am here to work. Why then won't my work pay off?
Today I played in Sacrament Meeting in our ward for a duet and a flute. They couldn't find a time to practice within the three days that they gave me the music (they gave it to me friday) and so this was our full run through was our performance. As I mentioned above, I have been practicing. Hard! But once you add singers and a Flute for Heaven Sakes, and don't practice, then its obviously just not going to be perfect. It wasn't perfect. It was a C+ performance for me at best. I was really frustrated with myself and the hours that I had put into practicing that piece. It was just an all around bummer and I beat myself up for the rest of the meeting. What's worse is that then I got comments afterwards about how they could hear all of my mess ups. And I just beat myself up more. I just can't win lately! With anyone it seems! Ive never felt this alone before. So after church, I ran to my practice room at the Snow Building and I knocked out that song and played it perfectly. Note for note. it made me feel better but I am still so frustrated with myself and that I couldn't bring it when it mattered most.
Feeling alone made me miss my beautiful mother. I miss her beyond words. Why is it that when you don't live with your mom anymore that you want them more? Ive realized since being here how much my mom is my best friend. I texted her to tell her I missed her and she had cut her hair!! She has retro bangs! She looks beautiful. I miss being at her home with her a lot.
I also miss my dad. I spent a good hour and a half on the phone with him trying to fix my computer. I miss his hugs that he would give me when I felt lonely or frustrated with myself.
I wish that home was closer so I could go see them all. It's harder then I even imagined to live this far away. I know I'm here to start my life but I am such a nostalgic person and miss the memories there. I don't do well with change (Does this surprise any of you) So I struggle trying to make new memories that I can cherish.
Anyways, that enough of a depression blog I think for today.
Happy Singing!
Courtney Griggs
Thursday, January 23, 2014
I just need to get things off my chest and rant.
I'm really really done with a lot of things right now. I know that my last post was about being positive but I am really to the point that tears are inevitable every time I even think about doing productive things.
To start, if you don't want to hear me rant, STOP READING. I am probably going to say something that offends someone and then hurt people's feelings. But I really need to write and scream into my computer to feel better about myself.
1. I AM NOT A PIANO GENIUS. I am SO beyond SICK of the people in my ward assuming that I can learn any piece of music in a short amount of time. Along with being the ward pianist, I apparently am also the choir pianist, the relief society pianist and the special musical number pianist. I don't EVER get to sing. ISNT THAT MY MAJOR!?! Singing????? I just really am beyond frustrated. I did not accept this calling to be stuck behind a piano all the time. It really isn't what I even came to school to do. If I wanted to do that, I would have signed up for that major and not one for my vocal chords. I spent two hours yesterday and an hour and a half today solely working on piano stuff. Granted, today was mostly devoted to my class that I am trying to test out of in a couple of weeks but I still feel like I can't really even focus on that because I have to focus on my calling at church. It doesn't help that everyone just assumes I am really an outstanding player and I can play anything in front of me. Im working on that slowly. But I can't just jump right into that. I barely have the skill to play the hymns for sunday let alone accompianment. Last night was rough realizing how far behind I am and feeling very very unskilled. I just wish that there was an easier way to gain flawless fingers and skills.
2. I AM WORKING HARD. Don't you DARE tell me I'm not. I am working my butt off trying to stay in the game. People are always commenting on how easy it must be to be a music major when in reality its one of the toughest majors out there. If I see one more person give me the funny look when I say I haven't been sleeping because I am studying music, I WILL THROW A FIT. #sorrynotsorry
3. I REALLY REALLY DONT GET THE BREATHE FROM YOUR DIAPHRAGM THING EVERYONE HERE IS RAVING ABOUT. Im sorry. My body just has a tough time figuring this out. Its probably from my lack of good posture but I truly have the toughest time with this concept. I stand in front of the mirror trying to figure it out and I just end up feeling very upset and frustrated.
4. STOP TELLING ME I HAVE A SPOT ON MY FACE. ITS A ZIT; I KNOW AND I REALLY CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I AM STRESSED. And I eat too much chocolate... But I REALLY NEED the chocolate. It tends to calm me down just a little bit.
5. I HATE FROZEN. I really dislike this stupid movie. I don't care how cute it was. Find a different song to sing because my ears are bleeding from listening to you sing it.
Im sorry. I really truly will be... Tomorrow. But I am so tired and frustrated I just needed to get this all off my chest.
Dont strain your vocal chords.
Courtney Griggs
To start, if you don't want to hear me rant, STOP READING. I am probably going to say something that offends someone and then hurt people's feelings. But I really need to write and scream into my computer to feel better about myself.
1. I AM NOT A PIANO GENIUS. I am SO beyond SICK of the people in my ward assuming that I can learn any piece of music in a short amount of time. Along with being the ward pianist, I apparently am also the choir pianist, the relief society pianist and the special musical number pianist. I don't EVER get to sing. ISNT THAT MY MAJOR!?! Singing????? I just really am beyond frustrated. I did not accept this calling to be stuck behind a piano all the time. It really isn't what I even came to school to do. If I wanted to do that, I would have signed up for that major and not one for my vocal chords. I spent two hours yesterday and an hour and a half today solely working on piano stuff. Granted, today was mostly devoted to my class that I am trying to test out of in a couple of weeks but I still feel like I can't really even focus on that because I have to focus on my calling at church. It doesn't help that everyone just assumes I am really an outstanding player and I can play anything in front of me. Im working on that slowly. But I can't just jump right into that. I barely have the skill to play the hymns for sunday let alone accompianment. Last night was rough realizing how far behind I am and feeling very very unskilled. I just wish that there was an easier way to gain flawless fingers and skills.
2. I AM WORKING HARD. Don't you DARE tell me I'm not. I am working my butt off trying to stay in the game. People are always commenting on how easy it must be to be a music major when in reality its one of the toughest majors out there. If I see one more person give me the funny look when I say I haven't been sleeping because I am studying music, I WILL THROW A FIT. #sorrynotsorry
3. I REALLY REALLY DONT GET THE BREATHE FROM YOUR DIAPHRAGM THING EVERYONE HERE IS RAVING ABOUT. Im sorry. My body just has a tough time figuring this out. Its probably from my lack of good posture but I truly have the toughest time with this concept. I stand in front of the mirror trying to figure it out and I just end up feeling very upset and frustrated.
4. STOP TELLING ME I HAVE A SPOT ON MY FACE. ITS A ZIT; I KNOW AND I REALLY CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I AM STRESSED. And I eat too much chocolate... But I REALLY NEED the chocolate. It tends to calm me down just a little bit.
5. I HATE FROZEN. I really dislike this stupid movie. I don't care how cute it was. Find a different song to sing because my ears are bleeding from listening to you sing it.
Im sorry. I really truly will be... Tomorrow. But I am so tired and frustrated I just needed to get this all off my chest.
Dont strain your vocal chords.
Courtney Griggs
For my Dad.
My dad asked me two nights ago if I just liked complaining on here.... Apparently I do. :P But he then said he wanted to read a positive blog post and then challenged me to think of three things that were good. Considering the week I'm having this week, this is going to be insanely difficult. So I'm going to try really hard not to complain and to talk positively this whole blog. Yippie. Wish me luck.
1. I'm really thankful for laughing cow cheese. Sales at Albertson's that make it super cheap and easy to buy makes my life! This is literally my go to snack... I come home from school and I pull out my crackers and cheese and study and snack.
2. Im grateful for headphones. Especially on the way to school in the morning. Its a cold lonely walk in the morning and so having that extra boost of Tommy Sparks or Daft Punk can make anyones morning. I can make it as loud as possible and I can feel like a model walking to the beat of the music. And then people don't even realize how cool you are.
3. I am grateful for my phone so that I can keep in contact with all of my family. Life can be lonely up here at times and it is nice to have my family just buttons away from me. I wish they were closer so I could see them more often and I could go home monthly but thats just not very plausible. Sigh. I miss my family a lot. I miss my mom a lot. I miss my dad a lot. I miss sitting at home at dinner with everyone. I miss saying prayers together and sitting together at church.
So there Dad! I AM grateful for things!
Happy singing!
Courtney Griggs
P.S. But seriously, if you could keep me in your prayers this week, I would really appreciate it... This week has been brutal and I am just really stressed and tired. Thank you.
1. I'm really thankful for laughing cow cheese. Sales at Albertson's that make it super cheap and easy to buy makes my life! This is literally my go to snack... I come home from school and I pull out my crackers and cheese and study and snack.
2. Im grateful for headphones. Especially on the way to school in the morning. Its a cold lonely walk in the morning and so having that extra boost of Tommy Sparks or Daft Punk can make anyones morning. I can make it as loud as possible and I can feel like a model walking to the beat of the music. And then people don't even realize how cool you are.
3. I am grateful for my phone so that I can keep in contact with all of my family. Life can be lonely up here at times and it is nice to have my family just buttons away from me. I wish they were closer so I could see them more often and I could go home monthly but thats just not very plausible. Sigh. I miss my family a lot. I miss my mom a lot. I miss my dad a lot. I miss sitting at home at dinner with everyone. I miss saying prayers together and sitting together at church.
So there Dad! I AM grateful for things!
Happy singing!
Courtney Griggs
P.S. But seriously, if you could keep me in your prayers this week, I would really appreciate it... This week has been brutal and I am just really stressed and tired. Thank you.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Diction will be the death of me.
Apparently, I don't know how to talk. This diction class will truly be the death of me. Why? Because I, along with everyone in my apartment, say butter wrong. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Today as I was studying Diction I realized that English is really really REALLY dumb. People that speak english are dumb and people who ever want to learn english is dumb. English is just really dumb. I have no other words for it aside from the fact that we all don't know how to speak english. Trust me. You as an english speaker speak about 80% of the language correctly. But 20% of the language that you speak, you speak incorrectly. Take butter for example. Butter has a couple different sounds. The B at the beginning of the word is formed by exploding the air through your mouth (Plosive Articulator). This is a voiced consonant meaning that you need to add your voice to produce the sound. The R at the end of the word is the same way aside from the fact that it is a retroflex articulator. Here is where the issue is. Say the consonant T. Is this voiced? Or unvoiced? T is actually an unvoiced consonant. Now say Butter. Did you notice that you actually said Budder? You are voicing the T! Which turns the T consonant into a D consonant! Why do we do that?! We ALL say budder unless you think about it and then say butter. What a shame! We all can't even speak the language that we have. I just find it so odd and sad. We have this beautiful language that we have each learned but we butcher it all the time. I wish that our language were much easier to understand. I feel so bad for those foreign people who have to learn English. What a hard task!
Diction is going to be the death of me. I have terrible habits that I have to break within the next two weeks. I feel like when I talk, I have to talk with perfect diction. I am always thinking about where my tongue is when I am forming words and I am always thinking about how to make more space in my mouth to form clearer words. Truly, I never knew how much your mouth is moving and working to form words. It's a lot more work then you are giving credit for.
The sad thing about this is that I have to start to focus on how my mouth works when I sing. I have never thought so hard when I sing. There is a lot of things to have to think about when singing. I miss the days that I just sang. There aren't many days left like that any more. Is it sad that I wish that music was simple and easy? Is it sad that I think some of this is like wayyyyy over the top? Am I in the wrong degree? This is all I think about. Did I chose the right path? I love music. LOVE MUSIC! But why then, do I feel like this whole degree is more work then it should be. Am I cramming too much music in one semester and is that why I feel discouraged?
I know that doubts are normal. I know that in the end this is virtually the only thing I truly want to do with my life. So I'll do the work! :) Because I love music :)
But I still think its weird that we all say Butter wrong.
Happy singing!
Courtney Griggs
Today as I was studying Diction I realized that English is really really REALLY dumb. People that speak english are dumb and people who ever want to learn english is dumb. English is just really dumb. I have no other words for it aside from the fact that we all don't know how to speak english. Trust me. You as an english speaker speak about 80% of the language correctly. But 20% of the language that you speak, you speak incorrectly. Take butter for example. Butter has a couple different sounds. The B at the beginning of the word is formed by exploding the air through your mouth (Plosive Articulator). This is a voiced consonant meaning that you need to add your voice to produce the sound. The R at the end of the word is the same way aside from the fact that it is a retroflex articulator. Here is where the issue is. Say the consonant T. Is this voiced? Or unvoiced? T is actually an unvoiced consonant. Now say Butter. Did you notice that you actually said Budder? You are voicing the T! Which turns the T consonant into a D consonant! Why do we do that?! We ALL say budder unless you think about it and then say butter. What a shame! We all can't even speak the language that we have. I just find it so odd and sad. We have this beautiful language that we have each learned but we butcher it all the time. I wish that our language were much easier to understand. I feel so bad for those foreign people who have to learn English. What a hard task!
Diction is going to be the death of me. I have terrible habits that I have to break within the next two weeks. I feel like when I talk, I have to talk with perfect diction. I am always thinking about where my tongue is when I am forming words and I am always thinking about how to make more space in my mouth to form clearer words. Truly, I never knew how much your mouth is moving and working to form words. It's a lot more work then you are giving credit for.
The sad thing about this is that I have to start to focus on how my mouth works when I sing. I have never thought so hard when I sing. There is a lot of things to have to think about when singing. I miss the days that I just sang. There aren't many days left like that any more. Is it sad that I wish that music was simple and easy? Is it sad that I think some of this is like wayyyyy over the top? Am I in the wrong degree? This is all I think about. Did I chose the right path? I love music. LOVE MUSIC! But why then, do I feel like this whole degree is more work then it should be. Am I cramming too much music in one semester and is that why I feel discouraged?
I know that doubts are normal. I know that in the end this is virtually the only thing I truly want to do with my life. So I'll do the work! :) Because I love music :)
But I still think its weird that we all say Butter wrong.
Happy singing!
Courtney Griggs
Thursday, January 16, 2014
What I Have Learned From BYU-I.
After two weeks of being at this place I feel like there is a lot of things that I have learned about myself and others. I think your eyes open up when you have to do things out of the ordinary and that are foreign. So here is a list of things that I have learned about myself and others! Enjoy!
1. People really enjoy the movie Frozen. Like, to a point thats nauseating. I swear every time someone says anything in my vocal anatomy class about letting go of your diaphragm and larynx that a chorus of people have to sing let it go from frozen. That movie is going to haunt my dreams forever and ever.
2. Everybody is either getting engaged, just married or going on a mission. It's so weird! I met a girl in my Theory class who has been here for two semester and is married.... Oh did I mention that she's younger then I am? Yeah. She JUST turned 18 like over christmas break. I was floored! Mom, could you imagine me being married at 17?!?! NO. Just NO. The other thing about this is that you start to have those feelings. I have never ever in my life wanted to be married until I after I graduate from college but seriously, I swear its the air here and the fact that everyone my age now is married. That's mormons for you I guess. Also in this category is the fact that my choir teachers keep saying how numbers are shrinking in choirs because of missions! My women's choir is 60 girls and last semester it was 112 girls. About 30 of those were due to being off track but the other numbers are from missions and just not taking choir. Thats like 20 girls lost from choir to go on missions! What the heck?! Missions are good things but everyone is going on missions! At least that air isn't getting to me yet, still haven't felt the pressure of going on a mission.
3. Sleeping is a reward. I haven't had a full 8 hours of sleep since Ive been here except last saturday. Ive been averaging about 6 hours nightly. Mentally, I am exhausted. Physically, I am exhausted. Every time that I hop into bed to go to sleep every night, I want to cry because it feels so good to be finally laying down and getting to go to bed. It is probably the best feeling a college student can experience. Sleep is good.
4. Bunk Beds are never comfortable except when sleep deprived and exhausted. So bunk beds are actually quite comfortable.
5. The boys can treat girls like meat. It seems like the common goal here is to get married. Why? When you figure that out, let me know. Some guys here are really bad. You'll see them point at you from across class, you'll see them check you out as you are walking past them. Its disgusting! but the flip side is thats not every guy. Just most.
6. Pasta is good. Really good. If you don't like pasta, don't go to college.
7. People will ask what you're name is every time you see them. Thats not that big of a deal but its really funny when they act like this is the first time you've ever met and this is the first time you have talked when in reality, you've probably introduced yourself 3 times.
8.Studying is an all day thing. I come home, work on school work the minute I walk into the door and BAM! its 9:30 and I still have 3 hours of work to do. This is bound to happen if you are taking 15 credits which equates to 10 classes. It is a lot of work. Dedication is key and seeing the long term goal of the experience.
9. Sacrificing social time becomes very familiar. When I didn't want to hang out with someone back home, I would just make up an excuse and not hang out... Here, I have to find excuses to go hang out with people! I have to tell myself, this assignment will only take you ten minutes later tonight so why don't you go out? IM JUSTIFYING SKIPPING STUDYING.
10. Headphones are a beautiful creation to drowned out everything from Frozen, to drowning out your room mates. I adore headphones.
There is probably more, but this is a good place to stop at the moment I think.
Stay positive, Happy Singing!!
Love, Courtney Griggs
1. People really enjoy the movie Frozen. Like, to a point thats nauseating. I swear every time someone says anything in my vocal anatomy class about letting go of your diaphragm and larynx that a chorus of people have to sing let it go from frozen. That movie is going to haunt my dreams forever and ever.
2. Everybody is either getting engaged, just married or going on a mission. It's so weird! I met a girl in my Theory class who has been here for two semester and is married.... Oh did I mention that she's younger then I am? Yeah. She JUST turned 18 like over christmas break. I was floored! Mom, could you imagine me being married at 17?!?! NO. Just NO. The other thing about this is that you start to have those feelings. I have never ever in my life wanted to be married until I after I graduate from college but seriously, I swear its the air here and the fact that everyone my age now is married. That's mormons for you I guess. Also in this category is the fact that my choir teachers keep saying how numbers are shrinking in choirs because of missions! My women's choir is 60 girls and last semester it was 112 girls. About 30 of those were due to being off track but the other numbers are from missions and just not taking choir. Thats like 20 girls lost from choir to go on missions! What the heck?! Missions are good things but everyone is going on missions! At least that air isn't getting to me yet, still haven't felt the pressure of going on a mission.
3. Sleeping is a reward. I haven't had a full 8 hours of sleep since Ive been here except last saturday. Ive been averaging about 6 hours nightly. Mentally, I am exhausted. Physically, I am exhausted. Every time that I hop into bed to go to sleep every night, I want to cry because it feels so good to be finally laying down and getting to go to bed. It is probably the best feeling a college student can experience. Sleep is good.
4. Bunk Beds are never comfortable except when sleep deprived and exhausted. So bunk beds are actually quite comfortable.
5. The boys can treat girls like meat. It seems like the common goal here is to get married. Why? When you figure that out, let me know. Some guys here are really bad. You'll see them point at you from across class, you'll see them check you out as you are walking past them. Its disgusting! but the flip side is thats not every guy. Just most.
6. Pasta is good. Really good. If you don't like pasta, don't go to college.
7. People will ask what you're name is every time you see them. Thats not that big of a deal but its really funny when they act like this is the first time you've ever met and this is the first time you have talked when in reality, you've probably introduced yourself 3 times.
8.Studying is an all day thing. I come home, work on school work the minute I walk into the door and BAM! its 9:30 and I still have 3 hours of work to do. This is bound to happen if you are taking 15 credits which equates to 10 classes. It is a lot of work. Dedication is key and seeing the long term goal of the experience.
9. Sacrificing social time becomes very familiar. When I didn't want to hang out with someone back home, I would just make up an excuse and not hang out... Here, I have to find excuses to go hang out with people! I have to tell myself, this assignment will only take you ten minutes later tonight so why don't you go out? IM JUSTIFYING SKIPPING STUDYING.
10. Headphones are a beautiful creation to drowned out everything from Frozen, to drowning out your room mates. I adore headphones.
There is probably more, but this is a good place to stop at the moment I think.
Stay positive, Happy Singing!!
Love, Courtney Griggs
Monday, January 13, 2014
Finally Fitting In.
Oh we are finally into the meat of our classes! It is finally the time that I can get to work and learn so much from this place. I've been ready for this for so long and now its finally here! The work I did in high school has really paid off this first semester for sure. I feel very ahead of the game in most of my classes aside from Diction for Singers. But I really do feel like this is what I need to do with my life. This is the work that I am passionate about and enjoy doing.
Today in theory we went over how to transpose music. Our teacher, who I am not all the impressed with, is making us (Us as in them because I learned a MUCH easier way.) count intervals to transpose. It sounds like that is easy but how easy is it really if people don't even understand the construction of a major scale? No!! It makes NO sense to count intervals if you don't even understand how scales work. So I raised my hand after people struggled with trying to realize that concept and said, "Can't we do this by solfege? Everyone in here understands solfege and not the construction of scales." Then without being told, I ran up to the board and notated both. I have been so frustrated with how he teaches and how he NEVER explains anything in a simple way. If I had not taken theory before, I would be so frustrated and mad!! Im paying you tuition to take your class and to learn and understand. That goes both ways, and I feel like he's not holding up the other end of the deal. Anyways, at the end of class some people said they really appreciated what I said and that it helped them out a lot to think about it in that way. I also got two peoples numbers so that they could call me if they needed help. That at least means I understand it, right? I am counting down the days until I can take the "Test Out Exam" and get out of that terribly terrible class. I just pray that those kids will figure it out on there own or that Bro. May becomes an easier teacher to understand.
BoM is going well as is both of my choir classes and I'm excited for the progress I have made already from that class. I love both of these teachers and really enjoy going to there classes.
Tonight I had my first group vocal lesson with Sis. Ashby and also my first master class for vocal methods. This is all apart of the Music 155 class. There are four parts to this class; 1. Monday Master Classes which is basically a chance to perform in front of your classmates to be critiqued. 2. Wednesday, which is a vocal anatomy class. 3. Group lessons. These happen every other week with a group of three and one faculty member. 4. Individual vocal lessons which happen once a week for a half hour. Today was my first group lesson which was fun I suppose. I met some friends in my major (Finally!!) and worked on forming vowels. We also worked on expanding our diaphragm as we sing. I apparently have a big issue with this and this is mostly from my TERRIBLE posture. It's frustrating to have to spend so much time getting my body in place so that I sing correctly. I am going to guess that 94% of the time that I sang in high school and the past was incorrect. It's beyond frustrating for me. But I knew when I got here that that would be something I really struggled with fixing and I hope that as the semester continues and I work more diligently on it, I will get better. We also had master class for the first time and today because no one was prepared to sing a solo, we each sang a verse from our favorite hymn. I picked hymn #100 because I mostly like how it resonates for my voice. I went first so that I could just prove my worth. This is kinda a side note, but since being here, I have been very compelled to prove that I deserve to be here. So I felt like I just needed to get up there and sing! So I went first said my name and where I was from (Which BTW, everyone like freaks out about where I live. I never knew Walla Walla was so foreign to people.) and then I sang! And boy did it feel good to be praised! Everyone shared with me how much they loved my voice and one boy in the class even asked if we could sing a duet in church. It feels so good to be praised. Twenty people went after me and I don't want to be vain, but I think I am sitting in a good place right now. It just feels good to finally feel like I belong here.
It's been a long day. We stayed up WAYYYYY too late last night talking and bonding with my wonderful room mates and so today has been insanely hard. I'm ready to take a nap and sleep tonight for sure!
Happy singing!!
Love, Courtney Griggs
Today in theory we went over how to transpose music. Our teacher, who I am not all the impressed with, is making us (Us as in them because I learned a MUCH easier way.) count intervals to transpose. It sounds like that is easy but how easy is it really if people don't even understand the construction of a major scale? No!! It makes NO sense to count intervals if you don't even understand how scales work. So I raised my hand after people struggled with trying to realize that concept and said, "Can't we do this by solfege? Everyone in here understands solfege and not the construction of scales." Then without being told, I ran up to the board and notated both. I have been so frustrated with how he teaches and how he NEVER explains anything in a simple way. If I had not taken theory before, I would be so frustrated and mad!! Im paying you tuition to take your class and to learn and understand. That goes both ways, and I feel like he's not holding up the other end of the deal. Anyways, at the end of class some people said they really appreciated what I said and that it helped them out a lot to think about it in that way. I also got two peoples numbers so that they could call me if they needed help. That at least means I understand it, right? I am counting down the days until I can take the "Test Out Exam" and get out of that terribly terrible class. I just pray that those kids will figure it out on there own or that Bro. May becomes an easier teacher to understand.
BoM is going well as is both of my choir classes and I'm excited for the progress I have made already from that class. I love both of these teachers and really enjoy going to there classes.
Tonight I had my first group vocal lesson with Sis. Ashby and also my first master class for vocal methods. This is all apart of the Music 155 class. There are four parts to this class; 1. Monday Master Classes which is basically a chance to perform in front of your classmates to be critiqued. 2. Wednesday, which is a vocal anatomy class. 3. Group lessons. These happen every other week with a group of three and one faculty member. 4. Individual vocal lessons which happen once a week for a half hour. Today was my first group lesson which was fun I suppose. I met some friends in my major (Finally!!) and worked on forming vowels. We also worked on expanding our diaphragm as we sing. I apparently have a big issue with this and this is mostly from my TERRIBLE posture. It's frustrating to have to spend so much time getting my body in place so that I sing correctly. I am going to guess that 94% of the time that I sang in high school and the past was incorrect. It's beyond frustrating for me. But I knew when I got here that that would be something I really struggled with fixing and I hope that as the semester continues and I work more diligently on it, I will get better. We also had master class for the first time and today because no one was prepared to sing a solo, we each sang a verse from our favorite hymn. I picked hymn #100 because I mostly like how it resonates for my voice. I went first so that I could just prove my worth. This is kinda a side note, but since being here, I have been very compelled to prove that I deserve to be here. So I felt like I just needed to get up there and sing! So I went first said my name and where I was from (Which BTW, everyone like freaks out about where I live. I never knew Walla Walla was so foreign to people.) and then I sang! And boy did it feel good to be praised! Everyone shared with me how much they loved my voice and one boy in the class even asked if we could sing a duet in church. It feels so good to be praised. Twenty people went after me and I don't want to be vain, but I think I am sitting in a good place right now. It just feels good to finally feel like I belong here.
It's been a long day. We stayed up WAYYYYY too late last night talking and bonding with my wonderful room mates and so today has been insanely hard. I'm ready to take a nap and sleep tonight for sure!
Happy singing!!
Love, Courtney Griggs
Friday, January 10, 2014
Ending the First Week.
Wow. Can I just say this has been the busiest and craziest week of my life! I am beyond exhausted and already ready for a vacation.
Being a Music Major is not as easy as you may think it is. It is a lot of work. It's a good work though, it's very enjoyable. I feel very small here sometimes. Walla Walla is such a small town and has a much smaller community of musically inclined people. Here, it's a very competitive and everyone is talented. I used to feel very talented in Walla Walla, not in a snobby way, but I knew the insides and outsides of the music community. Here, I feel very lost. Today as I was walking home from choir, I felt a little discouraged just because I really don't know what I'm doing. When you become a music major here, you kinda have to learn the ropes by yourselves. I miss knowing what I am doing all the time. It's just going to take some getting used to I think. There are going to be days when I get discouraged I'm sure, but at the end of the day, I love what I am doing here. I love what I'm learning and I love this place! It's where I'm supposed to be.
Anyways, today was a pretty chill! I have two classes on friday and both are choir. I love my fridays. And I adore my choir teacher. She's phenomenal. She really pushes you to be your best. And she's always positive. My first choir class of the day has about 135 people and she manages to have a positive attitude even though half of the class could care less. I wish more people appreciated the hard work that music teachers put into there job. My poor Music Exploration teacher gets absolutely no credit for being a good teacher. I feel bad for him because, true, he does teach the most boring class but he also has the same passion for music that all of us have. Appreciation is something that I PRAY people will have for me when I become a music teacher. It's a very hard occupation and since being here, I have gained a whole new respect for music teachers.
My diction for class has been insanely difficult but really informative. I think it will be easier once I understand IPA. I think I am slowly getting there. It's a lot easier once you take the thinking out of it and just write how the word sounds. This is what my name looks like in IPA!
kɔrtni grɪgz
I've been working on a lot of Hymn Transcription this past week for theory. It's SUPER tedious and a waste of time but it gives me the chance to practice notating. I don't really need the practice for transposing but I definitely need the practice for notating music. So I've been spending time on that as well.
Im happy that the easy week is finally almost done. I'm ready for the meat of the semester to begin. It's about time to get started! Because once I get started the sooner I can teach!! AHHH!! Can the future be here now? :)
Until next time,
Love, Courtney Griggs
Being a Music Major is not as easy as you may think it is. It is a lot of work. It's a good work though, it's very enjoyable. I feel very small here sometimes. Walla Walla is such a small town and has a much smaller community of musically inclined people. Here, it's a very competitive and everyone is talented. I used to feel very talented in Walla Walla, not in a snobby way, but I knew the insides and outsides of the music community. Here, I feel very lost. Today as I was walking home from choir, I felt a little discouraged just because I really don't know what I'm doing. When you become a music major here, you kinda have to learn the ropes by yourselves. I miss knowing what I am doing all the time. It's just going to take some getting used to I think. There are going to be days when I get discouraged I'm sure, but at the end of the day, I love what I am doing here. I love what I'm learning and I love this place! It's where I'm supposed to be.
Anyways, today was a pretty chill! I have two classes on friday and both are choir. I love my fridays. And I adore my choir teacher. She's phenomenal. She really pushes you to be your best. And she's always positive. My first choir class of the day has about 135 people and she manages to have a positive attitude even though half of the class could care less. I wish more people appreciated the hard work that music teachers put into there job. My poor Music Exploration teacher gets absolutely no credit for being a good teacher. I feel bad for him because, true, he does teach the most boring class but he also has the same passion for music that all of us have. Appreciation is something that I PRAY people will have for me when I become a music teacher. It's a very hard occupation and since being here, I have gained a whole new respect for music teachers.
My diction for class has been insanely difficult but really informative. I think it will be easier once I understand IPA. I think I am slowly getting there. It's a lot easier once you take the thinking out of it and just write how the word sounds. This is what my name looks like in IPA!
kɔrtni grɪgz
I've been working on a lot of Hymn Transcription this past week for theory. It's SUPER tedious and a waste of time but it gives me the chance to practice notating. I don't really need the practice for transposing but I definitely need the practice for notating music. So I've been spending time on that as well.
Im happy that the easy week is finally almost done. I'm ready for the meat of the semester to begin. It's about time to get started! Because once I get started the sooner I can teach!! AHHH!! Can the future be here now? :)
Until next time,
Love, Courtney Griggs
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Day 2; I'm tired.
I thought I would have time to blog last night but I have been so tired and busy that this has been my first break for a while. It's insane how crazy being a music major is. It's fun work, just a lot of work as well.
Yesterday started with theory again... Joy. I have the homework for that class done until next friday night. And I have a hundred percent. Its awesome, it just seems like such a big waste of my time. I just feel like I should have been able to test out so that I could actually be spending my time on learning new things instead of suffering through stuff I learned in middle school choir. An interesting thing happened in that class though. Bro. May, our teacher asked our 63 person class who knew what solfege was. About 30 of us raised our hands and the rest looked so confused. I was literally shocked and my jaw dropped. Ive just grown up with solfege under my belt. I felt so bad for the kids that didn't know what that is. Its so crazy to me! I thought it was the universal language. Today though, we were in class and talking about intervals and one of the girls sitting behind me was asking about perfect intervals. The teacher didn't know how to explain other then that it is tradition. I was taught that yes, it is tradition but also that those are the tones that while singing they become overtones. Also, whether they are inverted or in there original chord state, they will always become perfect and they won't be switching between major and minor. Anyways, they just said it was tradition and I felt like there was so much more then that.
Next I had THE DUMBEST CLASS IN THE WORLD. Music Explorations. This class is basically just an informational class about music and what a music major entails. IT IS LITERALLY THE DUMBEST CLASS EVER AND REALLY DUMB AND I HATE IT.
At ll:30 I had a diction class and let me tell you, this is going to be the hardest class of the semester. It is ridiculously hard. In two weeks we have the whole IPA language (Phonic Language) memorized! This class is a class that is usually only offered to kids after there first semester. So this is a class wayyyy ahead of where I am, and although I can TOTALLY do it, it will just be a lot of work. It's a very interesting class and I am excited for what I get to learn in that class.
Then we had dance and.... That will be interesting is all I am going to say.
Side notes: I am singing Second Soprano in University Choir and First Soprano in Women's Choir!!! Beyond STOKED!! YAY SOPRANO!!! I just got done with the call back audition and I can tell you that I feel VERY out of practice as a first soprano... Im just a little nervous about it all but I am finally done singing alto for awhile :)
Well thats all for today. I'm exhausted and have IPA to memorize.... Here begins the foretold no social life for Courtney.
Love you all,
Courtney Griggs
Monday, January 6, 2014
Day numero uno: Completed!!
College is all about firsts. And today I completed one of the many firsts I will have; My first day of the semester! Although I didn't have all my classes today, I figured I would write in depth about the classes I did have so that when I have classes tomorrow; I can give them as much credit as I give these ones. :) So as I listen to my favorite Eric Whitacre pieces, I will write :)
The day started early at 9:00 AM. I am still not used to that time.... It's much to early for my liking. I started with Basic Musicianship. This is a beginner theory class that you can't test out of you annoyingly. A lot of the material was stuff I knew before I even took choir. Luckily, if you have an A or A- by the end of Week 4 you are allowed to take a test to let you skip the rest of the semester of this class. This could mean that I wouldn't have to wake up so early anymore! :) Along with this class being so early, I had to sit by a kid who told me that the: "Music program here is super competitive and I will so beat you out of the opening spot for the major." and he kept asking me questions ALL of class like where do was and what 8va meant and like really stupid questions that you should know before you decide to invest your life in music. I just want to be there to pass, not to be a free tutor. So pray that I don't flunk this class for the sole reason so that I can sleep in later. :P
After that I made my way up to the Taylor Building where all of the religion classes are at. I have a teacher that is very strict about Cell Phones not being used and attending his class. We pick our grade at the end of the quarter. He said he doesn't give grades because it doesn't benefit him, Jesus is the one for grading. I thought that was funny.
11:30 was my first choir of the day. This choir is University Choir! This is the big mixed choir and has about 140 people. I really love Sis. Ashby. She is very good at what she does and very good at handling the class. We just did some basic singing to figure out what part we would be singing for the semester. After that we were handed our first piece of music for the semester! The pirates of Penzance chorus!! We sing it all in February; just 6 weeks away!! We will be having soloist come from New York to sing with us. I just can't even express my excitement. It will be great. :)
Usually I would have a second choir class at 2:00 but it wasn't held today so that Sis. Ashby could finish auditions for this choir. So you will just have to wait to hear about that one later. :)
I had a break then after University Choir and got to sit around and be lazy and talk to my Mom and Nathan. Being lazy is still one of the best things in the entire world. :)
Finally, my last class is Music 155 which is a combination of voice lessons and the anatomy of how your voice works. It's apparently a very hands on class. Tonight was just an information meeting and we got to get to know some of the vocal coaches that will be teaching us.
The day is coming to a close thankfully because I am definitely tired after such a long day. Im trying to be a really good student and do my homework every night because getting behind in the music program is insanely hard to catch up. I have to be on my A game at ALL times. No being lazy anymore in classes.
Thats all for now :) Im sure that I will have stuff to talk about because my schedule is COMPLETELY different tomorrow. :)
Happy singing!!
Love, Courtney Griggs
The day started early at 9:00 AM. I am still not used to that time.... It's much to early for my liking. I started with Basic Musicianship. This is a beginner theory class that you can't test out of you annoyingly. A lot of the material was stuff I knew before I even took choir. Luckily, if you have an A or A- by the end of Week 4 you are allowed to take a test to let you skip the rest of the semester of this class. This could mean that I wouldn't have to wake up so early anymore! :) Along with this class being so early, I had to sit by a kid who told me that the: "Music program here is super competitive and I will so beat you out of the opening spot for the major." and he kept asking me questions ALL of class like where do was and what 8va meant and like really stupid questions that you should know before you decide to invest your life in music. I just want to be there to pass, not to be a free tutor. So pray that I don't flunk this class for the sole reason so that I can sleep in later. :P
After that I made my way up to the Taylor Building where all of the religion classes are at. I have a teacher that is very strict about Cell Phones not being used and attending his class. We pick our grade at the end of the quarter. He said he doesn't give grades because it doesn't benefit him, Jesus is the one for grading. I thought that was funny.
11:30 was my first choir of the day. This choir is University Choir! This is the big mixed choir and has about 140 people. I really love Sis. Ashby. She is very good at what she does and very good at handling the class. We just did some basic singing to figure out what part we would be singing for the semester. After that we were handed our first piece of music for the semester! The pirates of Penzance chorus!! We sing it all in February; just 6 weeks away!! We will be having soloist come from New York to sing with us. I just can't even express my excitement. It will be great. :)
Usually I would have a second choir class at 2:00 but it wasn't held today so that Sis. Ashby could finish auditions for this choir. So you will just have to wait to hear about that one later. :)
I had a break then after University Choir and got to sit around and be lazy and talk to my Mom and Nathan. Being lazy is still one of the best things in the entire world. :)
Finally, my last class is Music 155 which is a combination of voice lessons and the anatomy of how your voice works. It's apparently a very hands on class. Tonight was just an information meeting and we got to get to know some of the vocal coaches that will be teaching us.
The day is coming to a close thankfully because I am definitely tired after such a long day. Im trying to be a really good student and do my homework every night because getting behind in the music program is insanely hard to catch up. I have to be on my A game at ALL times. No being lazy anymore in classes.
Thats all for now :) Im sure that I will have stuff to talk about because my schedule is COMPLETELY different tomorrow. :)
Happy singing!!
Love, Courtney Griggs
Sunday, January 5, 2014
The first weekend is almost over!
Thats right! Its finally almost over! I have been beyond swamped this weekend with moving in, orientation, auditions and so much more! I am so incredibly blessed to be here in this BEAUTIFUL place. I feel like I haven't even had a moment to breathe. Every day I feel more and more exhausted but it has been a fun exhaustion. :)
I know that I have family that wants to know everything that I have done this week so here is the blog post to get you most informed. :)
We got here Thursday night around 6:30 and went straight to the rental house that is right down the street from the Snow Building (Music Building). We went grocery shopping, and also went down to the Snow Building to get me signed up for the many auditions that I had this weekend. I swear the Snow Building is a maze!! You can get lost so easily in there its insanity!!
Thursday night was a little emotional. I was nervous for the day ahead and missing friends back home. I'm very attached to all of my friends back home and I feel like I've lost all of them. The blessing of it all though is that we live in a day and age that allows us to still talk even from hundred of miles away. :) It makes everything feel less lonely.
Friday started bright and early when we moved me into my very own apartment!! I live at the pines (My address is 140 West 2nd Street South Apt 4. Rexburg, Idaho 83440) with my best friend Alaina Weimer! We are suffering on bunk beds every night and we hit our heads every morning trying to get out of the worst possible invention of man kind; bunk beds. I unpacked all of my clothes into our walk in closet and JUST finished unpacking the rest today... Don't judge we had a very busy weekend! Friday continued with a lead into the "Get Connected" Program here on campus. We started by meeting our I-Team and then went to the welcome talk by President Clark. That was my favorite part!! Then I had to rush over to the Snow building and auditioned for Choir! Sister Ashby and she will be my choir director for both choirs I am in. The audition went well and I sang, "When I Have Sung My Songs" which is the second song I sang at state. She enjoyed my singing and how I tell stories when I sing. I also did some ear training stuff with her and some basic sight reading. After the audition was over she told me that I for sure had a spot in Women's Choir (Im in two choirs; University which is non audition and Women's Which is audition. These Choirs are similar to Concert choir and Treble Ensemble back home) but she was unsure which voice spot she wanted me to sing. She said that she tends to have lots of people singing 1st Alto and 2nd Soprano and that the parts she had a hard time filling were 2nd Alto and 1st Soprano. She said I will probably be singing one of those parts. So who knows! Ill either be singing the bottom or go back to singing my favorite part; first soprano. :) After that we had some time to ourselves for dinner and I ate a sandwich.... I haven't been the best eater since Ive been here. :P Finally we attended the New Student Talent Show and I literally almost passed out from exhaustion. Its been insanely busy! So, we came back home showered and jumped right into bed.
Friday night also happened to be the night that I said goodbye to my parents. My dad gave me a blessing and then with tears in all of our eyes we said goodbye. Missing them all very much but I know again, that we have the technology to talk and see each other all the time if need be.
Saturday came early and I honestly did not enjoy Saturday's activities but did enjoy talking to the head of the Music Department and asking her a couple of questions. She kept saying all the things that I have heard countless of times about my major and what to expect and that it is HARD! She said people who choose a music major will live in the Snow Building the entire time they are here at BYU-I. I felt a little like a music nerd during that class because I tended to answer all of her questions and knew what was going on. I was shocked by how many kids wanted to be performing majors or education majors in the music program that don't know how to play the piano. Here, you are required to take a piano class every quarter. This will be quite challenging to them I think. The other part of Saturday that I really enjoyed was my Audition for Voice Lessons!! Because of the limited amount of practice space and limited teachers, each person signed up for vocal lessons must audition to get into vocal lessons. I was a little bit more nervous for this one just because it seemed like the pressure was so high. I went into the audition room and Brother Olsen is exactly like Mr. Rossi!! Like, almost to a tee. He was very kind and we chatted about my background of music. After we chatted I handed my music to the Pianist (Again, I sang the same song as last audition) and sang for him. After I was done singing he said that he had sang that at his wedding! How nerve-racking!! He said that I had a well trained voice and that I was well ahead of where I needed to be freshmen semester. He recommended that if I had room (Which I do!!) to take a class about diction and such which is usually only offered to third semester kids. At this point I was already BEYOND thrilled with what he had said but he added that he usually coaches the older kids but that he takes a couple freshmen under his wing and he was going to consider taking me!! AHHHH!!! I was so excited and floored! I hadn't even really warmed up or anything and felt really good about it all :)
Saturday night was I-Night which is basically a giant party much like my senior graduation party... Just bigger. I was so exhausted by this point that I don't really remember much of what went on there and what I enjoyed. It was a good one time thing :P I don't think I'll be going next semester :P
Today has been my first day of church in the YSA 77th Ward! And let me tell you, it was SO NICE not playing piano. SO NICE. I got to sing for the first time in a longggggg time. Im excited to be here with these people. They all seem to have open welcoming arms. :) Aside from church we have a had a pretty lazy day finishing unpacking and sitting around.
Im so excited for tomorrow and the adventure that I'm going to have!! Music is awesome and i just can't get over how right it is for me to study music here. :)
Love you all!
--Courtney Griggs
I know that I have family that wants to know everything that I have done this week so here is the blog post to get you most informed. :)
We got here Thursday night around 6:30 and went straight to the rental house that is right down the street from the Snow Building (Music Building). We went grocery shopping, and also went down to the Snow Building to get me signed up for the many auditions that I had this weekend. I swear the Snow Building is a maze!! You can get lost so easily in there its insanity!!
Thursday night was a little emotional. I was nervous for the day ahead and missing friends back home. I'm very attached to all of my friends back home and I feel like I've lost all of them. The blessing of it all though is that we live in a day and age that allows us to still talk even from hundred of miles away. :) It makes everything feel less lonely.
Friday started bright and early when we moved me into my very own apartment!! I live at the pines (My address is 140 West 2nd Street South Apt 4. Rexburg, Idaho 83440) with my best friend Alaina Weimer! We are suffering on bunk beds every night and we hit our heads every morning trying to get out of the worst possible invention of man kind; bunk beds. I unpacked all of my clothes into our walk in closet and JUST finished unpacking the rest today... Don't judge we had a very busy weekend! Friday continued with a lead into the "Get Connected" Program here on campus. We started by meeting our I-Team and then went to the welcome talk by President Clark. That was my favorite part!! Then I had to rush over to the Snow building and auditioned for Choir! Sister Ashby and she will be my choir director for both choirs I am in. The audition went well and I sang, "When I Have Sung My Songs" which is the second song I sang at state. She enjoyed my singing and how I tell stories when I sing. I also did some ear training stuff with her and some basic sight reading. After the audition was over she told me that I for sure had a spot in Women's Choir (Im in two choirs; University which is non audition and Women's Which is audition. These Choirs are similar to Concert choir and Treble Ensemble back home) but she was unsure which voice spot she wanted me to sing. She said that she tends to have lots of people singing 1st Alto and 2nd Soprano and that the parts she had a hard time filling were 2nd Alto and 1st Soprano. She said I will probably be singing one of those parts. So who knows! Ill either be singing the bottom or go back to singing my favorite part; first soprano. :) After that we had some time to ourselves for dinner and I ate a sandwich.... I haven't been the best eater since Ive been here. :P Finally we attended the New Student Talent Show and I literally almost passed out from exhaustion. Its been insanely busy! So, we came back home showered and jumped right into bed.
Friday night also happened to be the night that I said goodbye to my parents. My dad gave me a blessing and then with tears in all of our eyes we said goodbye. Missing them all very much but I know again, that we have the technology to talk and see each other all the time if need be.
Saturday came early and I honestly did not enjoy Saturday's activities but did enjoy talking to the head of the Music Department and asking her a couple of questions. She kept saying all the things that I have heard countless of times about my major and what to expect and that it is HARD! She said people who choose a music major will live in the Snow Building the entire time they are here at BYU-I. I felt a little like a music nerd during that class because I tended to answer all of her questions and knew what was going on. I was shocked by how many kids wanted to be performing majors or education majors in the music program that don't know how to play the piano. Here, you are required to take a piano class every quarter. This will be quite challenging to them I think. The other part of Saturday that I really enjoyed was my Audition for Voice Lessons!! Because of the limited amount of practice space and limited teachers, each person signed up for vocal lessons must audition to get into vocal lessons. I was a little bit more nervous for this one just because it seemed like the pressure was so high. I went into the audition room and Brother Olsen is exactly like Mr. Rossi!! Like, almost to a tee. He was very kind and we chatted about my background of music. After we chatted I handed my music to the Pianist (Again, I sang the same song as last audition) and sang for him. After I was done singing he said that he had sang that at his wedding! How nerve-racking!! He said that I had a well trained voice and that I was well ahead of where I needed to be freshmen semester. He recommended that if I had room (Which I do!!) to take a class about diction and such which is usually only offered to third semester kids. At this point I was already BEYOND thrilled with what he had said but he added that he usually coaches the older kids but that he takes a couple freshmen under his wing and he was going to consider taking me!! AHHHH!!! I was so excited and floored! I hadn't even really warmed up or anything and felt really good about it all :)
Saturday night was I-Night which is basically a giant party much like my senior graduation party... Just bigger. I was so exhausted by this point that I don't really remember much of what went on there and what I enjoyed. It was a good one time thing :P I don't think I'll be going next semester :P
Today has been my first day of church in the YSA 77th Ward! And let me tell you, it was SO NICE not playing piano. SO NICE. I got to sing for the first time in a longggggg time. Im excited to be here with these people. They all seem to have open welcoming arms. :) Aside from church we have a had a pretty lazy day finishing unpacking and sitting around.
Im so excited for tomorrow and the adventure that I'm going to have!! Music is awesome and i just can't get over how right it is for me to study music here. :)
Love you all!
--Courtney Griggs
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