Another State music contest is over and done with. I had to leave at about 6:45 to get to Eau Claire in time to be ready for an 8:00 performance. So I was up at about 5:45 to work out. But that way I was nice and awake by the time the thing started. And a bit sleepy by early afternoon!

The kids all did great. Jamison Wendlandt got another “exemplary performance recognition”  for his vocal solo. He got one two years ago, too. I played for 13 events and when I left at almost 4:00, only the ones up until about 10:30 had results posted. So I don’t know how over half of the kids fared. But it really doesn’t matter all that much. They were well prepared and all did their best. If the judges didn’t like them, what difference does that make anyway? My two piano students each got a first, so I was very proud of them, particularly Jamison, since he went from having me really worried after Christmas vacation, when he didn’t have hardly any of it hands together, to getting a first at state. He played Claire de Lune. David played Golliwog’s Cake Walk and he had his totally learned before Christmas vacation, so the trick was not letting it get too fast and sloppy.

I went to the school play last night and it was hilarious. Most of the kids I played for today were also in the play. It was called “The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes,” and it was the first case Sherlock Holmes had, before he was any good at it. I actually went because I thought the guy cast as Sherlock would be great, and he was. But everyone else was so good, too. Really a strong performance all around because the lesser characters put all their heart into their roles, too. And the story was just SILLY. Sometimes we need SILLY. Like when all the characters come in one door and run across the stage and out the other door and you just know they are going to come back in and do the same in the other direction, and they do. Bob Rogers and Rachel Westberg were the co-directors. This is Bob’s first one at school. Pastor DeYarman’s wife, Nicole, used to co-direct with Rachel, but she has moved, so I guess they asked Bob. Good decision.