Jeff’s Blog

I have four days to finish three Java assignments for my computer science course this year. These are all on GUIs, but they're easier than they seem. I'm just having some trouble aligning things right, but I bet I'll be able to finish everything in time.

This course consists of 16 units, and each focuses on something. But the final unit is where you create your own project. I'll be doing something cool, that's for sure.

Edit: I found out I have until June 12th. But as of now, I only have one assignment left to do so I'm not too worried anymore. Now I can work on a Powerpoint for US Society and reading for LA.

Today I found out that I won the Outstanding Soloist Award for middle level at the Skyline Jazz Fest! It was a week ago that I found out I made it into Monarch Jazz 3, and now I found out that I won this award! I got an awesome plaque that has a red background with gold text. It doesn't have my name on it, but that doesn't matter. I still know it's mine, and so does the whole 8th grade band because my band director announced today that “I'm hesitant to do this in fear of Jeff getting an even bigger head, but he won the Outstanding Soloist Award!”

Today was the Monarch Jazz Fest. Five or six bands from the area came and played, and Mr. Jones (the Monarch band director and today's clinician) had quite a few things to say to the other bands. However, our band didn't have to work on very many things, which is definitely a good thing. We played God Bless America, Riffology and Hot Hot Hot. Despite some technical difficulties in the warm-up room, we got warmed up successfully and went out and played.

After a lunch of free pizza and soda, we came back into the auditorium to listen to the Monarch Jazz 3 band play. They're incredibly good, and one of their members (a Tenor Sax player) got a full four-year scholarship to the CU school of music. That is quite an accomplishment, and according to Mr. Jones, it doesn't happen.

Once they were done, it was time for the jam session. Everybody who wanted to be part of it got onto the stage, and our combo, DCM Jazz started off with Work Song. Then we opened it up to solos, and there were over 30 of them! Then we went back through the head and ended the song.

When we got back to school, it was band time (my last class of the day). We were having sectional time to work on a piece we will be assessed on for the state standardized band test. However, the piece isn't very challenging, so I played Work Song solos on my clarinet the whole period. Then the sub said to me, “Since you've been screwing around the whole time, why don't you play the prepared piece for me?” I'm sure she expected me to not be able to play it, because I was “screwing around” (soloing) the whole time. I nailed it, and played the whole thing perfectly. She didn't bug me again, and I doubt she'll be doubting me in the future.

I found out today in band class that I made it into Jazz 3 at Monarch, the best jazz band! At my audition, I didn't think I did that great, but apparently I did, because I'm going to be playing with people four years older than me! This is awesome.

Yesterday I went to school at 8:00 am, on a Saturday morning, and got into a school bus. Our first stop was Englewood High School, where we played two songs, The Legend of Danny Boy and Fortress. We got the highest rating possible, which came with a trophy! Then, we went to Six Flags Elitch Gardens until 5:15 pm. I rode like 6 rides total, strangely enough. We spent a lot of time getting soaked by the wave that the log flume thing makes, but we also rode the teacups, Twister II, Thunderbolt and some other water ride.

Last night my family and I went to a fifth- and sixth-grade band concert. My brother is in fifth grade, and plays trombone. At that level, all the songs pretty much sound the same, but for their age level they sounded good! They're gonna be one of the better bands when they get to seventh and eighth grade.

The sixth graders were quite a bit better. Some of my friend's younger siblings are in there. It's amazing how much they improve when they get two to three periods a week of band as opposed to twenty minutes twice a week. My brother will be in there next year, and I'm looking forward to hearing him play then! Plus, he can be in Jazz 2, which would be cool.

And then in seventh and eighth grade, band has rehearsal every day, and the improvement is phenomenal. And at that age level, you can audition to be in Jazz 1, the top jazz band. I bet my brother will make it into there.

Anyway, after the hour-long concert, we went to Goodtimes hoping to get a fast dessert. We ended up waiting at least a half hour for them to make four cups of ice cream, and it took us about five minutes to completely eat them. Goodtimes is great during the day, during the lunch rush, but at night after-hours it's not very good at all.

I just got a brand-new Kensington keyboard for my computer! The 's' key cover on my laptop keyboard is broken, and it's very hard and annoying to type with it. But now I have an awesome new one with a great feel and a plethora of media buttons, so I'm very happy.

All day today was our day to attend the Skyline Jazz Festival! Our Eagle Jazz One was the only group of people who went, and we did extremely well. We got a 1 rating (the best) from every judge! Steve Christopher (another school's band director) watched us, and best of all, there were no shootings.

For lunch, we had fast food in an area where there were a lot of restaraunts. I had KFC and Taco Bell. After that, we watched some bands play, and then got back five minutes after school was over.

On Friday, we will be going to Skyline High School to participate in the jazz festival that will be taking place there. Both the other pianist and I will play two songs each, and hopefully, our band will get a high rating. The concert band I'm in got an almost-perfect rating at our contest.

However, there have been rumors of walkouts due to Cinco de Mayo. The thing we're worried about, though, is a possible shooting occuring then. The administrators have been deciding whether or not to go there, worrying about safety. Right now, though, the plan is to go.

And then, 11 days later (the 16th) will be the Monarch Jazz Fest, which we'll definitely go to. My combo will perform there, and might even lead the jam session!