It’s here at last – state solo & ensemble at Northview MS this Saturday!  My colleagues have written great blog posts about preparing mentally and making sure you have everything you need, so I thought I would just add a few notes from past experiences:

  1. Parking can be a bit brutal!  Make sure you leave yourself PLENTY of time because you might be parking offsite and walking to the building.
  2. Tom May from our Paige’s repair department will be on site for emergency repairs and supplies.  I genuinely hope you don’t need his help, but he’s there if you do!
  3. Depending on the time of day, the lobby of the school can be extremely busy and a bit intimidating if it’s your first time.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions and figure out which way you need to go.
  4. Try to relax and enjoy the moment. The judges are truly rooting for you to do well and this is a chance for you to do more than just prove you can play your piece…it’s a chance to share something beautiful with the world.  Attempt to focus more on the sharing and less on the proving – if you do that, it tends to take care of both of them!

Have fun!

(make sure your violin doesn’t look like this before you leave the house…)