Every dream has it's days!

Every moment of creating the dream in my head and heart was amazing. It was exciting and creative and joyful. Once I started the process of getting others on board with me, I had discouraging days. In your head you send out all these emails and you think everyone will contact you right back. You think everyone will be as excited as you are. When that doesn't always happen, it makes you wonder why? Then you get to learn..... "why" if you are lucky! I learned that I contacted people in a very busy time for orchestra teachers. I also learned I scheduled auditions during spring break, but I didn't know it was spring break because my kids graduated and it has been a while so I didn't even think of it. Realty came a knocking and I didn't want to open the door, but it was a must. Success doesn't come by letting it get you down, but by overcoming every hurdle "with joy" and moving onward and upward. We don't beat ourselves up in our learning curve. We celebrate that the awareness came, that we are capable and competent in solving the problems that arise and that we are blessed to have opposition because it helps us appreciate more fully the times when it clicks. Great things will happen even if its a step at a time.

Journal Entry-

"I woke up in a panic tonight. Everything that wasn't working hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized how big this really was and wondered if I had the ability to do it. I was including LOTS of people in "my dream" and I didn't want to let them down. I woke Evan up, I was in tears. He told me just what I needed to hear. He told me that I was perfectly capable of doing this and that it would turn out great because that is how I do everything I do. That if anyone could do it, it was me. His confidence in my ability meant a lot. I went back to bed and changed my thinking and started overcoming the obstacles in my head and decided to start moving forward again. Do I think there will not be any future opposition. No, I know there will be.

My biggest fear, that when we come to the actual day of the concert that I will have only a small all cello orchestra because when I scheduled the date a year back and there were a lot of unknowns, like prom dates in 3 school districts, orchestra tours, ensemble festivals, foot ball games etc fell on the same date. I saw that the cellists would have to choose and I didn't want them to have to. I cannot let that happen. I think a blessing from Heavenly Father to know this so that I could plan better. Big task to find it all out though. I can do big tasks.

My second fear is that I cannot make that many cellos sound good. Can I get that many cellist tuned and playing in tune. I don't want the people to see 100 cellos and then be discouraged once they start playing. I have heard an all cello group play really well and I have heard one play out of tune. I am nervous though because it will take practice and I already have students, teachers and parents wanting to know how much time this is going to take and I am nervous about how much time I will have to rehearse the orchestra. Mr. Keyes and other music staff have to be at the building when I am there rehearsing and they don't get paid for that time and they have families and are busy too. Not sure how to solve all of these yet, but feel blessed to know about them in my head not. Knowns, we can be working on solving. Go climb your mountains Janice."

Needing to find a new location for rehearsals

I have been using a room at the Orem City government offices because Orem High is in transition. I have a few more things left there, but got a call from Dawnie the Orem City managers executive assistant telling me that the room I was using was no longer available. A pipe had frozen, broken and flooded the room. She said the everyone scheduled to use it would need to find a new place, that their was going to be some construction going on for a while.

This caused me stress because I had a lot of cellos coming to a rehearsal in a few days and I have learned from previous experiences that when you cancel things at the beginning, it is hard to get the momentum back up so that was not an option to me to cancel the rehearsal. I had to find a new place. As I was brainstorming, I only had one idea come. I started thinking about asking a High School teacher that I had met with their cellists. Perhaps they would let me use their room this time in a crunch. I didn't really like the idea because, I didn't really want my problem to become any orchestra teacher's problem. They would have to be there with us. I just didn't want to ask any more of them. I did have one teacher who was super supportive and her school was in Orem and the location couldn't of been any better, just off a freeway exit. I decided to email her and was so delighted with her response. She told me of course I could use her room, that it would be free during the Tuesday and Thursday rehearsals from 3:30-5:30 but that I did need to run in by the assistant principal just to make sure. I emailed him immediately and didn't hear back. I was under a time crunch so I sent another email. He responded back to me that I couldn't use the room in the evening. I thought for sure that he had missed my time request for the afternoon and so I emailed him back the correct time again. He emailed me back this time telling me that the choir and band rooms were not available those nights. By this time, I was about to scream. He must of been so busy he was skimming my messages. I found myself ticked off at him because I knew that the "orchestra room" was available, the teacher whose room it was, told me it was. I also was so frustrated that I needed the afternoon and he told it was busy at night. Aaargh. I wondered if I was getting the run around, but decided that he was just a busy assistant principal with everything going on the end of school and to let go of that place. I was really frustrated though, because of what the teacher had told me about it being available, that I didn't look at other places and with waiting for the man to get back to me, I was know hurting for time to find a location.

I made a lot of phone calls and couldn't find one opening. Things were booked up already with this short of notice. I knelt by my bed and told God that I had explored everything I could think of and that I needed His help. A few hours later, I told Evan that I needed to go for a drive. I drove down State Street in Orem just hoping something would jump out at me. As I was driving, I had an impression to go to a music store that I had purchased some music at. I remembered they had a recital hall. I drove there and asked them, but they were booked already for the times that I needed, but I did find out that they were willing to let any of my groups rehearse there for free the rest of the year. Wow! That ended up being a major blessing. They told me about a few other places to check, but they were not really good options to me, but I was grateful for their offerings. As I was driving home, I drove slowly, just looking at every store, every building. As I was turning off State Street onto the street that takes you to my house, I passed the library. I had an impression come to me that they had a room in the basement of the library near the media center that could work. I turned my car around and went and asked. The man told me that it was not an option. That the room was used for library use only. My nature is to accept that kind of answer and move on, but for some reason that day, I pressed him a bit. He kept telling me the same thing, but I just kept on it for some reason. The man finally wrote down the name of the Library director and told me I could ask her. When I received the piece of paper with her name on it, I had goosebumps. I knew the person from many many years ago. I had no idea she had been promoted to the library director. I went directly to her office, we hugged and told her my situation and though she said this was not normal, that she would gladly help me out. She told me I could use that room or another idea she had. In the story telling wing of the library, there is an area where we could rehearse. I liked it better and she scheduled me for the month of June. She also asked if any of my groups would perform at the library on one of the nights they do that in the future. I said of course. I took all my smaller groups after the first date over to the music store recital hall, but kept my big group here since the recital hall wouldn't fit them all. Wow, when one door closes, amazing doors open. The really neat part was that the library is right next door to the Orem City offices where we were originally scheduled. The reason that was so awesome is that people coming from all over the county, already knew this area. God is watchful over our needs. I acknowledge His hand in this because I was I had exhausted my own resources..... literally. He truly blessed my dream to continue moving forward.

Let the challenges begin......

Group rehearsals began and with the first one in each group, there was excitement. Having been in adulthood with experience under the belt and having raised 2 teenage boys, I had some anxiety about what the summer would bring. I knew that now that the rubber was hitting the road, like the fun and excitement of the dream of the concert would connect now with the reality of all the work required to pull it off. I knew coming to Orem to rehearsals, getting them to practice their parts, working through the bugs of the music etc. would not be the fun part and I waited to watch what all this put together was going to unfold. I have to tell you that often I had knots in my stomach sometimes everyday waiting to see what might go wrong. Little things started too, like, rehearsals and summer schedules made it a challenge scheduling times the entire groups could meet, at times group leaders didn't do their reminder contacts so attendance was small and at times canceled. Some rehearsals we had missing cellos, music stands, and even music. I also realized that I had another learning curve. I had thought that I could get the groups started and then let them do their thing. I realized only after 2 rehearsals that leadership was needed. I started attending every single rehearsal and will continue until all the baics are in place. I also realized that some of the kids needed help with the counting, fingerings and high notes. I soon realized that parts that were challenging were okay for kids in private lessons, but other kids needed help. I found myself needed to learn almost all the cello parts and then teaching some kids one on one so the group could move forward faster since we only have the summer to really get the music learned and do some choreography. I had planned using the spring to get all the cellos and get them auditioned and in groups and ready to go. Then the summer for me to get all of my personal parts for the program ready to go. The fall to get the entire large orchestra moving forward and then January - March to fine tune everything. I am so glad I started this early. We are going to need it. And though, I at times get nervous that this might all fall apart........... mostly, I feel positive and happy and joyful that this is going to be an amazing experience. I try to remember the big picture and it excites me. I try to remember how amazing these cello players are and how sitting next to them playing, I feel so blessed to have such amazing cello players to do this with. I also try to remember their words to be about how excited they are to be in this. I know that cellists are not given many opportunities to add this whole creative element to their playing, I know that this is offering opportunities that will enhance their musical experience in their lives. I know to stay positive, to be uplifting and building, yet let others know my expectations in a kind and caring way. I also pray that God will help see and do what I may be lacking in for it is a great responsibility to associate with others and to have them commit some of their valuable time away from their own goals, dreams, families and lives. My only wish is that this is an uplifting and edifying experience for those that participate. What's the next big challenge, I don't know. But we'll make it through each one, one step at a time if we need to.

Keeping the Possibilities at the forefront

Whenever you have a dream, you must keep the vision of it at the forefront. These are some of my favorite thoughts and quotes that have helped me.

"Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will."

~ Dr. Robert Anthony

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

~Bil Keane

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. "

~ Helen Keller

"I take nothing for granted. I now have only good days, or great days."

~ Lance Armstrong

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. "

~ Unknown

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

~ André Gide

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."

~ Helen Keller

"Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible. "

~ Cadet Maxim

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I... I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

~ Robert Frost

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. "

~ Leonard da Vinci

Sharing the cello experience with children

My largest group practices at the Orem Library. One rehearsal, a group of preschool age children came to where we were practicing and sat on the floor in the back and listened. I remembered that group of High School students who came and showed me their instruments when I was in fourth grade and felt like we needed to take a few minutes and let these little ones experience the cello. We were into the rehearsal only about 45 minutes and we had much to do still, so I went back to their teacher and invited all the children to sit right up front facing the cellists. They sat and listened to us practice about 45 minutes. I couldn't believe they just sat there. They were very interested, it was awesome. Then, at one point, only the group of cellists doing the rhythm needed to work out a part of the music so the other cellists offered to let each child that wanted to, come and play their cellos. I was really moved watching this. It was wonderful watching the cellists work with children, and wonderful watching children have that experience.

Summer cello rehearsals are in full swing. Besides learning the music we have been working on coming up with professional names for each group, costuming ideas and choreography. Some of the names so far are "The Reduced Quartet- because there is only one cello." This name is one that came up for the group that has 4 players and 1 cello. The group playing the rock and roll final countdown have come up with "The Red Hot Cello Peppers" and thought they could all wear red tuxedos. They also thought "Impact 5" might be a great name. There are 5 in that group. The other groups are still working on ideas. The Mission Impossible group plays show tunes like Missoin Impossible, Pink Panther etc. They are thinking that each person who stars or has the solo part will wear a hat that match their song and perhaps sunglasses. I want that group to add in some Victor Borge humor if it fits.






The Reduced quartet is a group of 4 girls. They are thinking white flowing dresses with updos. I am hoping by the end of July we have all final names and costume ideas complete.

The choreography has been interesting. I never knew that turning a bunch of cellists loose with creative freedom could actually make me nervous at times. LOL. Let us just say that there is such a diverse group of kids and adults and ideas from flying with cellos from the ceiling of the stage to hearing screams and wearing duct tape suits to black lights, masks etc. My hardest thing has been how to tone it down a bit without stopping the creative process. My philosophy is that there are no wrong ideas during brainstorming time. Everything is allowed on the table and no one can put the idea down. All ideas are welcome. Then the group can vote. At this point the largest group is farthest along. There choreography is exciting. The other groups are learning music and just beginning the choreography process. I am glad we had summer to get these groups ready to go before school starts. It has been a blast.

The brand new auditorium at Orem High

I have been waiting for months for the new auditorium to be completed enough that the fire marshal would let me come in and see where I would be able to have the concert. I have awaited this day with great anticipation. Mr. Keyes said the stage would fit 100 cellos and that I had to see. I had been emailing Mr. Keyes for several weeks and we arranged the second Monday in July at 10:30 am. I asked my husband Evan and my son Riley to come with us because I knew that my future time in the auditorium would be limited with all that still needed completed, so I knew I needed to be organized and have as much information collected while there as possible. I do not know very much about sound and lighting and wanted to make sure I had family there who knew about that so we could have the most benefit. I remember entering the main area of the High school and walking down the hall to the music rooms. This is a huge school.



We met Mr. Keyes in his office and asked questions like how many cellos can I amp, how many voice microphones would be available, how much creativity with lights for my rock and roll number, how the fog machine exactly works, who I hire for sound and lighting technician etc. Then he showed us the auditorium. It was seriously breathtaking!



The auditorium was amazing and the stage huge. The actual opening to the stage was blocked off so as they finished the wood floors, the dust wouldn't spread to the chairs etc. Evan and Riley measured the opening so we know what kind of spacing we have for some of the choreography.



They also measured the pit that will be covered with a floor so we have more room. It is huge. We have good space. He showed us the bathrooms that have dressing areas with entrances to the stage, entrance area of those coming. I needed a wall area to put the pictures of the stars of my show on. I have 2 walls that are options. One in the large foyer area and one the wall just as they enter the auditorium.

I asked him if we could have like a cast party at the end. He said we could in the big lobby area and that the building closes at 10:00. The concert goes from 7:00- 8:30 so that works fine.


We then went back stage. They were laying the flooring so all we could do was look through the entrance from where the cellos would enter.



I had goosebumps today experiencing such an amazing auditorium. I think God blessed me to have the desire to have it hear, so it could be all that it could be. I hope I get it on film watching all the cello players eyes when they see where they get to play.