Keeping complete focus during a two to three hour music rehearsal isn't always easy. Many times, our minds go off the beaten path and start to think of some things that aren't that important.
1. Is a perfectly in-tune ensemble even achievable?
2. Do-Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-Sol-Sol-Fi-Sol.
3. Is that oboe player looking at me? Do I smile? Wave?
4. Wait. No, they were looking at the person behind me. I look lame, now.
5. What would happen if I put my mouthpiece on a bassoon bocal?
6. Oh, I missed my entrance. Time to get focused.
7. Stay focused. Music. Eighth notes. Rhythm.
8. What can be subdivided, must be subdivided!
9. Is that a staccato on the page, or just a weird smudge on my music?
10. Do I have theory homework due tomorrow?
11. Oh, the conductor wants my section to play a feature for the ensemble. Let's show them how it's done.
12. Well, I just screwed that up.
13. (Forgets key signature while playing).
14. One-two-three-four, two-two-three-four, three-two. Wow, I'm so good at counting. Wait, where am I now?
15. That's a really pretty melody, why can't I play that?
16. Are the percussionists putting on a full stage production back there?
17. Is the tempo really that hard to keep?
18. How can my lips vibrate at high velocities? Was I placed on this earth to play horn? What is the meaning of life? (Has existential crisis).
19. My stomach is about to growl in this really quiet part. Why now, of all times?
20. When was the last time I oiled my horn? I think it was like a month ago. Oops.
21. When's my next lesson? I probably should practice later.
22. (sings preamble song from "School House Rock").
23. Wait. Why did I sing that? Stay focused, brain. Almost there.
24. Why is there a page turn right in the middle of a moving part? That makes my life so easy...
25. I have to make it through 40 more minutes. Two 20 minute segments. Ten minutes, four times...
26. My section should make up nicknames for each other. We could even make section shirts!
27. That clarinet player is kind of cute.
28. (Thinks of lame band puns).
29. That rehearsal went by really fast!
30. I love being a musician so much. All of my hard work really does pay off.
