More Stress in February

I received an email while on vacation from Brett Dupree, who is Band Director at our local LinnMar Middle School. He asked if I was able to accompany some of his kids at a solo festival on Feb 25. The kids would pay me $15 for my services. I replied and said I would be happy to, but I'm not great so don't give me any hard pieces, and please may I possibly have more than one student if the schedule allows.

Tuesday I picked up my pieces. Brett said he gave me the most and sent me on my way. Bryn and I walked back to the car, I buckled her in, and I started sifting through the music right away because I was so anxious to see what I got. TWENTY-THREE pieces!!!! Gulp. I started feeling nauseous. I thought I would get 5 or so. I really thought that I might throw up. How am I going to do this?? And, note to self: ask more detailed questions before saying yes to anything!!

I picked up A&C from school and sat down at the piano. Some were way easy and I could play the first time through. Some will require some time from me, which I don't have much of since oh, Sunday, and how much time can I devote to one piece since I have 23??

The next day, Wednesday, I just had to give 2 pieces back, there was no way I could do them. Then Brett said, "Have you accompanied before?" "Yes," I said. "Is it okay to skip the middle note of a chord, stuff like that?" "Crystal," he said, "it's okay to skip every third chord."

Oh. Now I feel better. But really, it's been a LONG TIME since I've really played the piano. I only started playing again because of my Primary Pianist calling. It had been 5 years before that really since I had touched a piano. Yowza.

So the last 2 days I have been spending hours on the piano, in between hours on the computer & phone doing Primary stuff. I need someone to come and clean my bathrooms. Just let me make it through February!