Mis Canciones Favoritas

Música es mi vida. Pues, música es muy muy MUY importante en mi vida. Por eso yo voy a hablar sobre mis diez canciones favoritas y un poco a cerca de cada canción. Pero, estas canciones no en un orden determinado, son aleatorios.

1.Counting Stars (Contando Estrellas) Este canción es unos de mis favoritos porque me recuerda de mis amigos por dos razones. El primero razón es porque la canción es un favorito de mi amigo Nicholas. El segundo razón es porque un día mis amigos y yo fuimos a Ice Cream Renaissance y escuchamos a Contando Estrellas todo el camino. ¡Es una canción fantástica!

2.Madly in Love with You (Locamente Enamorado Contigo) Este canción es sobre Dios y su amor para las personas en la tierra. Es una canción muy bonita, con la guitarra y la voz hermosa de Sean McConnel. Es una canción mágica y profunda.

3.Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (¿Quieres Construir tú un Muñeco de Nieve?) Es una canción de la película de Frozen (una película fantástica) y lo me fascina porque es linda. También, esta canción es muy divertida para cantar a mis amigas. Especialmente cuando nosotros somos en un autobús a Bellevue para un competición de banda. (pregunta a Nick Bever si tú quieres oír la cuenta en todo).

4.Let It Go (Déjalo Ir) También de la película Frozen, este canción es muy potente. La cantadora de Déjalo Ir es Idina Menzel. Ella es mi favorita cantadora. Idina Menzel ha sido en Broadway y tiene una voz de un ángel.

5.Defying Gravity (Desafiando Gravedad) Este canción es de Idina Menzel también porque ella fue la primera mujer quien ser Elphaba en el teatro Wicked de Broadway. Esta canción es muy potente también, y me fascina cantarla todo el tiempo.

6.On My Own (Siempre Solo) Es de la musical Les Miserables y me fascina esta canción y la musical Les Mis porque es bonita y fantástica y perfecta. Es lo suficientemente para decir sobre esta.

7.King of Anything (Rey de Alguna Cosa) es de Sara Bareilles. Me gusta porque es picara y bonita. La me gusta también porque es otra canción que yo canto mas fuerte en mi carro.

8.Someone Like You (Una Persona Como Tú) es una canción HERMOSA. Me fascina esta canción porque todos los tiempos que yo la canto, yo canto la armonía parte. ¡Es muy divertido! También, es de Adele y me gusta la voz de Adele mucho porque su voz es única.

9.Which to Bury Us or the Hatchet? (¿Cuál Enterrar, Nosotros o la Hacha?) Esta canción tiene un tono un poco enojado. Pero me gusta porque yo la escucha cuando yo estoy corriendo para ejercicio. La canción es buena para corriendo porque tiene un rápido ritmo. En adición yo recuerdo un tiempo con Alissa cuando ella y yo escuchamos la canción una y otra vez porque la nos gustamos mucho.

10.Último, pero no menos: You Belong With Me (Tú Perteneces Conmigo) de Taylor Swift. La canción ha estado mi favorita por muchos años. Me gusta porque es cómica y es sobre una chica en la banda y una chica que es una animadora. Es muy estereotipada por eso es cómica. Y, por supuesto, es una otra canción que yo canto muy fuerte en mi carro, a la escuela y todos los lugares.

¡Pues, espero que tú vayas a escuchar a estas canciones porque todas son fantásticas y bonitas!

~Lily Rose (Esperanza)

Where is the Good in Goodbye?

Looking for the good things in life can be hard. Especially recently. I haven’t only had to keep myself looking at good things, but I’ve been given the responsibility of helping other people see the good things too. I’ve felt like people have been looking to me to be strong and to fight, but I’m just surviving. I got the news two weeks ago today. One of my dearest friends texted me while I was in rehearsal, telling me he needed to talk to me, that it was bad. I didn’t read these messages until after rehearsal, but when I did I quickly texted him back, wanting to make sure that everything was okay. Of course it wasn’t. He told me that he needed to tell me in person. I panicked. Was it cancer? Did someone die? Was there an accident? I rapidly typed out the message “Are you dying?”, really meaning it. “Not physically” was his reply. That’s when I knew. His dad traveled a lot for his job, they had had to move a lot in the past. Unlike me, who has lived in Hockinson my whole life, he hadn’t moved here until he was in fifth grade, and that was after he lived in two other states. He was moving. That had to be the answer.

The rest of the night drug on as I waited, worrying for when I could talk to him. I made it through my saxophone lesson even though the 30 minutes seemed like hours. Then I drove to his house and picked him up. When he got in the car I could tell he had been crying. I asked him what was wrong, and sure enough, his family was moving. But not just moving. They were moving across the country, to the east coast. One of my best friends was leaving. My heart broke and we just sat in my car and cried. I tried to encourage him, but it seemed like nothing I said was convincing either of us.

Now fast forward three weeks. Here I am, writing a blog post after three weeks of conversations leading back to the dreaded subject. No matter what I do or say, nothing seems to cheer anyone up enough. Our tight-knit group of friends is being torn apart by two of us going to college, one being stuck in high school alone, and another being transported across the country. Whenever we hang out the subject comes up. Someone is always sad about it, whether we say it or not. I can’t even talk about it without tearing up. But I feel like I’m supposed to be the strong one, helping my friend get through this. It has been a rough three weeks, constantly going back and forth between trying to stifle my own sadness and trying to believe that everything will be okay.

But the thing is, I do know that everything will be okay. Our friendship is wonderful, and thanks to technology we can text everyday, talk on the phone or Skype often, and even resort to snail-mail if we want to. No one is losing anyone. We will be best friends forever, because you don’t spend all your time with people that don’t matter to you. We care about each other, we want to stay in touch, so we will. It’s as simple as that.

Have you ever noticed that “good” is in the word “goodbye”? Maybe it’s because “goodbyes” don’t have to be a bad thing. Maybe they can be more like “see ya laters” rather than some permanent separation. Maybe we have all been missing the “good” in goodbyes. And in these next couple months, I hope I can find it again, and that I can show it to other people. Because life is hard, full of tough times and goodbyes. But I’ll keep searching for the good in goodbyes and for the sweet silver lining in the clouds.

~Lily Rose

Just Breathe

My heart was pounding in my chest, fingers flying over the keys. Breathe in, breathe out. There is one sharp in the key signature. Those notes are on off beats. Don’t crush the triplets or the sixteenth notes. Drop the volume here, crescendo up there. Lean on this note, slur those ones. Make sure that note is short. Don’t squeak. Keep your throat open, have a nice round tone. Don’t fumble your fingers. Keep the eighth notes even. I breathe in deeply, feel a pat on the back. It’s over. I finished.

Yesterday, I had my audition for Clark’s band. This audition was for scholarship money, and I need as much as I can get. If I don’t have to pay for any school for the next two years, I will be able to save up so that when I’m ready to transfer, I have some money at my disposal. I had been dreading this audition all week. I had been vigorously practicing for days leading up to it. I knew I was ready, but I also knew so much could go wrong. I had to play a prepared clarinet solo, then sight read music. The same for my jazz audition on tenor sax.

Clarinet was first. I played my solo well. But when sight reading came, my nerves really set in. For people who aren’t band nerds, let me explain what this consists of. I am given a piece that I have never seen before in my life, I have about 2 to 3 minutes to look it over and then I have to perform it. My sight reading has definitely improved over the years, but I was still nervous. Would it be college level music? Would I even get through the whole thing? But, lucky for me, the piece wasn’t as hard as I expected. Even more to my surprise, I nailed it. I messed up in only one or two measures, but I got right back on after my mistake. That, was good sight reading, thank the Lord!

After my clarinet audition, I had to quickly switch to saxophone, warm up, and get my mind in jazz mode. No more pretty releases, no more round dark tone. It was time for brightness, with sharp cutoffs. I had to remember jazz tonguing, and ensure that the soli I had been preparing would go smoothly. I must admit, it wasn’t my best performance. But the director told me it was wonderful. But then sight reading happened. I did not play very well. I knew that if I would have been a little more focused it would have gone better. However, right before my sight reading, Mr. Inouye was telling me I need to work more on jazz tonguing, which is tonguing every other eighth note in a line. Because he had just gone over this with me, I made sure to incorporate it in my sight reading. When I finished he said “That’s impressive! I just taught you that and you did it!” So, even though my sight reading wasn’t very strong, I was okay because the director was, once again, very happy with the result. When all this was done, he told me to pack up and meet him in his office.

This was it. The moment of truth. Would he give me any scholarship money, or did I blow it? As a whole, I thought my audition went well. But at the same time, he didn’t betray much. He could just have been kind to make me feel better. When I finished, I grabbed my instruments and music and slowly walked to his office. My hand hesitated right before turning the handle. Then, with the last bit of energy I had, I turned the handle, and pushed open the door. He told me to sit down, I did so with shaky legs. Then he told me the result of my audition. Mr. Inouye was unaware how much money he was able to give me, but he would be offering me a (hopefully) large amount of money. I wouldn’t know the exact amount until I receive my formal offer in a month or two. The minute the words left his mouth a weight lifted from my shoulders. Finally, all my hard work paid off. Finally, I could breathe steadily again.

That is until Saturday.

You see, on Saturday, our jazz band has a competition in Bellevue where I have to play the hardest clarinet solo and tenor sax solo I have ever played. Not only are they extremely difficult, but I only have 4 measures to switch from tenor to clarinet. Every time I have to play this I feel as if my legs are going to give out or like my heart is going to beat straight out of my chest. I have been working just as hard on these solos as I did for my audition, yet, I still feel as if anything could go wrong. I pray for similar results as my audition, that everything will go well. But once again, I could freeze up, I could forget how to play, my reed could break. Anything can happen.

One weight lifted, another added even more heavily. This week has been oh so hectic. But I sincerely hope that my nerves will give me the adrenaline I need to remember everything I need to tomorrow. Be thinking of the jazz band tomorrow, while you’re sleeping, we will be loading the bus at 6:15 am, we perform at 11, so please send your thoughts skyward, and hope that we do well. I hope this week of performances can end as well as it began yesterday.

~Lily Rose

Transformation

I was once cynical. I was once forever alone. I was the “official third wheel” the one always scrambling for a date to dances. I said phrases like “it’s okay, I’m sure I’ll find someone in college” and “I don’t have time for a boyfriend anyway”.

But that was before Duncan showed up at my house at 11:30 at night to ask me to be his girlfriend. After he terrified me of course. Maybe I just watch too many crime shows, but when someone knocks on my window I automatically assume it must be a murderer, rapist or burglar. Yes, because that thought is so logical since all murderers, rapists, and burglars knock before breaking in somewhere. But anyway, after I realized that it was Duncan (thanks to his text asking me to come outside) I crawled out of bed, threw a sweatshirt on over my band t-shirt that I wear to sleep in, and snuck out the front door.

There he was grinning, holding a bottle of Dr. Pepper (my favorite!) with a rose tied to it. Then he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes, of course!! But only after we had been standing there talking did it hit me. I was in my pajamas, wearing absolutely no makeup and I FORGOT TO TAKE OUT MY RETAINER! The amount of embarrassment was unreal. But hey, he asked me to be his girlfriend after he saw me like that. So I guess it all worked out in the end.

Not only do I have a great story to tell, but I have a great guy in my life! I’m so thankful for him, and I can’t wait to see where this goes!

Alas, it is true, the cynic has been transformed.

~Lily Rose

One

I wrote this poem today and decided to post it, which freaks me out, but here it is. I wrote it partially for a dear friend of mine who struggles with confidence because of bullying that they were, and still are, put through. I kind of forced my friendship on this person, but they are now one of my closest friends. It breaks my heart what they have gone through and I strive to be that “one” for them, to help them and be there for them. And in return, they have become that “one” for me. Anyway, without further ado, here it is.

One

A word can change anything.
One word can turn cheeks red,
bring tears to the surface,
rip a heart to shreds.
All it takes is one.

You don’t know their life, their story.
The facade is too easy to keep up
the smile permanently fixed
the act perfected.
But don’t let it fool you.

Every word you say
everything you do
Is remembered.

Every scoff, every name
that is suffered through everyday
is written on their heart.

You call it a joke
act like it’s nothing
You carry on laughing,
living your charmed life

While they cry.
Day after wretched day;
Feeling worse, worse
Heartbroken. Alone.

No matter what they do
they are never enough.
No matter what you say
the wounds don’t heal.

Everyday the message is repeated.
They are not enough
but they are too much.

They are not smart enough,
Talented enough, pretty enough
Good enough, tall enough
Nice enough, strong enough.

And yet, they are too loud
too skinny, too short, too shy
Too nerdy, too needy,
Too crazy, too emotional.

What do you want from them?

Hard work? No.
That makes them a nerd.
Laziness? No.
That makes them stupid.
Kindness? No.
That isn’t “cool”.
Cruelty? No.
No one likes a rude person.

Cruelty is only accepted if you’re popular.
Kindness only cool every once in awhile.
Laziness is alright if you ace your tests.
Hard work is only recognized half the time.

We can never please.
We are never enough
and always too much.

What do you want from us?

Because of this remember:
What you do matters.
Your actions can change a day.
Your words may alter a mood.
Your smile can lift a spirit.

Let your words change someone.
Let them make cheeks blush
bring tears of laughter
and fill a heart with joy.
All it takes is one.

One person to change a life.
One person to spread the love.
One person to tell them
that they’re just the right amount.
Is that person you?

~Lily Rose

Day One is Done

I was tired, nervous and scared. I didn’t want to go. I had half a mind to say that I felt sick, (which wasn’t too far from the truth) because I really didn’t want to go. I was terrified. What if they laughed at me? What if they suddenly realized that I don’t know what I’m doing as much as they think I do? What if my voice dies out on me?!? These thoughts were bouncing around in my mind over and over, discouraging me, scaring me.

It was the first day of musical theater rehearsal. I found out the day before that it would be a vocal rehearsal, which meant I would be in charge. I thought I would have time to ease into this, but I had no such luck. My first day of being part of drama rehearsals was to be my first day teaching as well. I listened to the song we were going to work on that day all morning on repeat. It was in my head throughout all of my classes, even though I barely knew the words. I was a wreck all day, worrying about what was to come after school. But, I should have known, it wouldn’t be half as scary as I had made it out to be.

Once again, my friends came to the rescue. Brian Dillon is choreographing the musical. He’s a hard core theater kid. He lands the lead roles the majority of the time, and has a very strong passion for what he does. He is wonderful. I told him how nervous I was, how I didn’t really know what I was doing yet, and I asked him for help. Being the kind guy that he is, he of course said yes! He led warm ups for me and started the rehearsal so that I didn’t have to. As time went by, I started getting more and more comfortable. I was able to give my input, and start giving direction. But then, we had to split up.

I was to take the girls and work with them on their part, while Brian worked with the boys. Once again, my anxiety set in. I knew I could do it, I just didn’t know if it would work. However, I proved my fears wrong again. I had an absolute blast working with the girls. Their energy was fantastic, they took direction well and sounded pretty good. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised both by the singers and by myself. I didn’t know if I could actually pull this off, but I believe that as time goes on, I will get more comfortable with the people, the music, and being in charge.

Overall, I am very pleased with how day one of rehearsal went. I am indebted to a lot of people that helped me get more comfortable with this new position. Brian’s help was fantastic, and the girls I worked with were very gracious when I was unsure of what to do. I was absolutely horrified to start rehearsals for the entire show, but I’m glad I did. I’m already excited for the next vocal rehearsal!

~Lily Rose

And So It Begins

As of Wednesday I have completed three hours and twenty-five minutes of my senior project. I know, it’s a small start, but it began on Tuesday, so for two day’s worth I’d say that’s pretty good; especially considering my project will not be ending until the second and third weekends of May. My part in the musical has been more than I imagined it would be. At first, I wasn’t sure if either Mr. Saum or Mr. McEnry would allow me to be part of the audition and decision-making process. I found out the first day that I was at auditions, that my fear was not valid.

The first day of auditions were dance auditions. Since I am the vocal coach for the musical I was not needed on this day. So, on Tuesday, when vocal auditions began I was super excited and ready to go. I got to sit at the “judges table” in comfortable chairs next to Mr. Saum and Mr. McEnry. I felt super official even if it was just auditions for a high school musical. I listened as person after person went up and sang their songs. Some from Broadway musicals others from Disney movies. I took copious notes on each performance and was quite shocked by some. For example, Hyrum Reese has the voice of an angel. He will probably punch me if he sees that I wrote this in my post, but it’s worth it. I sat poised with my pencil to the paper ready to write down everything about his voice like I had with everyone else. But the moment he began my pencil dropped, and the room was completely silent. When he finished singing Joanna from Sweeney Todd all I wrote on the page was “MAGICAL”. There were other’s that did well too. Collectively the vocal auditions went very well.

This week rehearsals begin. I have to admit I’m pretty nervous. I don’t feel qualified to be doing what I’m doing, because I’ve never taught vocal stuff. However, I’m sure in the end it will go better than I expect! Plus, I have some lovely friends who will help me through it, and try to make my life easier. I can’t believe my senior project is starting, but I’m super excited about it! Once Upon a Mattress is good to be a great show!

~Lily Rose

Best Song Ever for the Best Weekend Ever

This weekend was probably the craziest one I’ve had in a long time. Tolo started everything off on Saturday.

An entire day of preparing started at 9:30am at Alissa’s house. It started with cleaning, then grocery shopping, cooking, hair, nails, makeup, dresses, jewelry, shoes, and finally it was 5:30 and our dates were arriving. Parents came along to take pictures. It was at this time that I discovered my lack of knowledge on how to pin on a boutonnière. But luckily, my date Duncan, was gracious, (and I didn’t stab him with the needle) so we were all happy! Pictures seemed to take forever but finally we ate dinner, and prepared to leave. Duncan opened the car door for me and then we were off! We had the privilege to listen to the beautiful sound of Sam and Alissa bickering the whole way to the high school. Duncan and i enjoyed that more than we should have. But the dance went by quickly and soon we were headed back to Alissa’s for a night of games. After the boys left, us girls stayed up debriefing about the dance and eventually fell asleep around 3am.

Sunday began with waking up with friends before I had to leave for church. Katie and I got coffee before, and the actual service was wonderful. After church I had to practice both instruments quickly before the Seahawks game started. I cheered loudly with my older sister and dad as the Seahawks beat San Francisco!!!! Then just like that I was at Sam’s house for another fun night with friends. It felt like an extension of tolo, considering a lot of the same people were there. We hung out, ate some good food, and played a game called Quelf. This game is insane and slightly embarrassing. But I am proud to say that, with the assistance of my lovely partner Duncan, we won Quelf! That was a big accomplishment! And to end the party, we all squeezed onto the couch and watched part of The Emperors New Groove. For the second night in a row I had a wonderful night.

Today was a little slower paced. I woke up at 9:45, sleeping in more than I have in weeks! Later Vivian and I went to Dutch Bros and sang Best Song Ever to some pedestrians on the ride home. Those middle school boys may be scarred for life. Later I had a saxophone lesson, which Ari attended with me so that she could hang out in Beacocks. On the way home we rocked out to Best Song Ever and stopped at Dutch Bros. Yes, I was privileged enough to get Dutch Bros twice today!

After dropping Ari off, I went home and did homework, talked to my best friend about bridesmaid dresses, read, watched Criminal Minds and am now writing this detailed description of my life this weekend. Why? Because this was a wonderful weekend and I don’t want to forget a moment of it. Every day is a gift. Plus, after having a not-so-great week, that weekend was just what I needed and forgetting it would just be sad. I’m so thankful for the wonderful people I got to spend this weekend with, they make my life better everyday!

So bring it on Tuesday that is pretending to be Monday. Tomorrow will be wonderful, because after the weekend I had, how could it not be?

~Lily Rose

The Joys of Les Miserables

The story of the miserable ones, the ones who were mistreated, the ones who died in vain. Les Miserables is one of the saddest stories, but one of the most beautiful too. And all I want to do right now is watch Les Mis, read Les Mis, and listen to the music from the Broadway version of Les Mis.

Saying that Les Mis brings joy sounds a little ridiculous, but it makes sense. Every character in Les Miserables makes a sacrifice, but it was all for love. Some sacrificed so that others could have true joy, but in giving up their own wants they brought joy to their lives as well.

Eponine is a prime example of this. She is in love with Marius. The only good part in her life is Marius. But, this wonderful boy that she knows loves another. Eponine knows this, but instead of trying to put the attention on herself she helps Marius. She leads him to his love, Cosette, protects Cosette and her father from her own crazy father. And in the end, Eponine’s love for Marius is what causes her to give the ultimate sacrifice. She dies for the man she loves.

At the time as I watched Eponine dying on the screen at the theater, I was angry at the injustice of it all! This girl, so in love, that she was willing to die, had the worst ending of them all. I kept waiting for her to reappear, but I knew she never would.

But afterwards I knew that while Cosette had the happily ever after, Eponine was the true heroine. She loved Marius. All she wanted was for him to be happy, so much so that she was willing to watch him fall in love with someone else, that she was willing to die. This love made her happy. She got what she wanted: Marius was happy.

It is because of people like Eponine that Les Miserables is such a tragic, beautiful story. But if I had to choose, I believe I would rather be Eponine, even if her life didn’t end in the perfect happily ever after.

~Lily Rose

“Never know you love her til you let her go”

“Only need the light when it’s burning low, only miss the sun when it starts to snow, only know you love her when you let her go. Never know you’ve been high til you’re feeling low, only hate the road when you’re missin’ home, only know you love her when you let her go.”

This song is wonderful, and beautiful. Every time it comes on the radio I belt it out in my car. But today, it made me think a little.

Why does he only know he loves her when he lets her go? Why do you only miss the sun when it starts to snow? This song made this question repeat through my mind: Why is it that humans take everything for granted?

It’s like we don’t know what we have until it is gone. But why? Are we just so caught up in ourselves that we don’t take the time to understand the wonders in our lives? If everyone just took a minute out of their busy lives to thankful for what they had, I think we would all be happier.

And once we understand what we have, won’t we use the blessings in our lives to bless others? We will thank the people that help us by helping others, befriend the friendless because someone befriended us first, and love others because we first were loved.

Being content could change a lot. Taking a moment to look around at the beautiful earth we live in, smiling at someone walking by, praying for someone we don’t even know or like, all of this will make a difference. It will make a difference in us and in those around us. Take a second to be content. Tell your family you love them. Tell your friends you appreciate them. Change the world by being content with the blessings you have. Break the streak that the song I quoted talks about. Stop taking things for granted. Be thankful for everyday you live.

~Lily Rose