2010 in Review

Wow.  I really do think that I need to write in this thing more often.  I don't really do the whole resolutions thing, but it is definitely a goal of mine to keep this thing up to date.

I am going to dedicate my first post of 2011 to looking back into the past and reviewing 2010.  I am going to try and keep this brief, even though it is arguably the most eventful year of my life thus far.  Enjoy.

I started the year 2010 by moving back home.  I began student-teaching in North Richland Hills in January and I thought that a commute from Coppell was better than from Denton.  I also used this semester to try and save as much as I could because I knew that I would be moving in August.  I got the opportunity to work at North Richland Middle School and Richland High School.  In the beginning I was dreading the student-teaching process.  Band directing was not my career objective and the thought of "working" four months as a band director didn't exactly thrill me.  Well, it was tough at first, but I warmed up to the job and the students.  It was the students that made everything worth while.  I got the opportunity to work with some of the best kids that I have ever worked with (especially at the high school).  They were enthusiastic and made my job enjoyable.  It was an eye-opening experience and I will treasure my time there forever.  My student-teaching experience made me realize that band-directing would not be such a bad gig.  Also, I got the opportunity to work with excellent staff.  Bill Watson, Jason Bird, Brian Lowe, Melodianne Mallow and Jessica Maus were exellent mentors to me.  They encouraged me to become a better teacher and musician.  I am indebted to each of them because they made me a better person.

During the Spring semester, I was also traveling to four different schools in order to audition for graduate programs.  It was tricky trying to do this while student-teaching, but my mentors were understanding and allowed me some time off in order to make audition dates.  Each audition went well and I learned a great deal from each of the professors.  Just for grins, here is how I ranked the schools following my audition: UCLA, University of Miami, SDSU, and USC.  I really wanted to go to UCLA and USC was always at the bottom of my list.  However, once the offers came in, I changed my tune.

I graduated from UNT in May with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and a minor in Professional Education.  I also passed my certification tests and I am now certified to teach music in the state of Texas.  It was an exciting time in my life because I had a diploma from a prestigious music school and I was looking forward to where I would be going next.  At this point, however, I had no idea where I would be going in August.  My number one choice, UCLA, would not be accepting Master's students for the 2010-2011 year.  This really upset me, but I knew that God was in control.  Miami wanted me, but did not offer any money.  USC offered me a very nice scholarship back in March and I had to ask for two extensions in order to deliberate further my decision.  I was waiting for SDSU to come back with a counter-offer.  At the end of May I got the offer from SDSU.  They offered me a tuition scholarship, a teaching position, and a tuition waiver (which granted me in-state tuition).  I would be paying next to nothing for a Master's Degree!!  On paper, the decision seemed easy.  Go to San Diego State.  However, I felt that God was directing me to LA (read my first blog post for more information on that).  Even though the offer from SDSU seemed incredible, I felt that there would be more opportunity for growth as a musician in LA.  I finally made my decision in early June that I would attend USC (isn't it funny how God works?).  The next step was to get ready for the big move.

Throughout Summer of 2010, I was teaching guitar lessons, working at my Mum's office and rehearsing/gigging with my band RealEyes.  I spent most evenings with Julie, knowing that our days of being in the same state were numbered.  I had a really wonderful summer and I didn't want it to end.  In July, my Mum and I flew out to LA in order to check out apartments.  We spent two full days traveling all over LA!  At the end of two days, I was really conflicted.  The apartments that were in my "price range" were not that safe-seeming and didn't feel like places where I wanted to live.  I finally made my decision and chose to live in a really nice apartment just north of campus.

When August rolled around, the excitement and enthusiasm that I was feeling dissipated.  I was finally realizing that I was leaving home.  During my undergraduate years, I did live in dorms and apartments, but I spent most of my weekends at home.  I never had the chance to "fend for myself" and I was realizing that I would be on my own for this next phase in life.  The month of August was full of goodbyes (actually I prefer "see you soon") and it was tough.  In my final week home, I played my last gig with RealEyes and we also completed some studio sessions.  It was really hard to say goodbye to a band that I had helped to create.  I hope to tour the world with this outstanding group of musicians someday.  On August 11, I spent my last night in Coppell by packing up everything that I needed from my room.  This included most of my clothes, my instruments and my bed.  The place looked empty when I was done.  It was really weird to see my "entire life" fit into one mini-van and a small car.  Julie came over to help me and it was so nice to see her that night.  Our "goodbye" really was a "see you soon" because she was coming out to visit at the end of August!

On August 12, my parents and I began our journey across the country.  We arrived in LA and my parents stayed with me for a few days in order to help me get situated.  It was so great to have them with me in order to ease the transition into living on my own.  They left to go back home and I started school on August 23.

Classes, rehearsals and lessons were excellent!  I also managed to get two teaching jobs and an accompanying position which really filled up my time.  I began recording my own music with a friend from high school, Grayson Palmer.  He has also helped me to get involved with a few other projects which is really exciting.  I began attending Pacific Crossroads Church and I have found a great body of believers there.  I leave each Sunday feeling spiritually refreshed and energized.  I have also managed to get in touch with another really great high school friend.  Clayton and I hang out every now and then and reminisce about old times.  It is great to have a close friend living in the same city.  My Mum came out to visit at the beginning of October.  It was awesome to spend time with my Mum and she also made some truly incredible food (seriously, it was so good).  We went to Malibu and I showed her around my neighborhood.  She also came to church with me.  My dad also came out to visit at the end of October.  He displayed some seriously machine-like abilities by driving all the way to LA from Dallas by himself!  I think that he drove close to 18 hours in one day!  He spent close to a week here and it was awesome to have him here for my birthday.  We had a great time setting up speakers and a mixer in my room.  Now I can practice singing with a microphone.

During the Fall of 2010, I was visited twice by my beautiful girlfriend, Julie (again, you can read earlier blog posts in order to see what we got up to).  In November, I was flown home for a weekend.  Julie paid for my airfare as a Birthday/Christmas gift to me.  It was an unforgettable weekend.  I spent Thanksgiving here in LA with my uncle and two cousins.  It was so nice to spend time with family and I am very thankful that they live nearby.

In December, I wrapped up my finals and headed home for a three week Christmas break.  It was very busy, but I loved every second of it.  I played at Julie's office Christmas party, attended Julie's Tacky Christmas Party, went to see TSO, played a benefit concert with my brother, provided music for many Christmas services, spent time with high school friends, spent time with Julie, and helped my brother move into a new apartment in Waco.

Well, there it is.  My 2010 in review.  Actually it was more of a play-by-play.  I am so sorry for mis-leading you and I hope that you are not thinking that you have wasted your time.  If you have read everything up to this point, I want you to know that you are an important person in my life and a big reason of why I am still here.  It is you, my support system, that keeps me going.  I could not have made it through 2010 without you and I wish to thank you with all of my heart.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2011.  May God bless you.