Getting Jazzy in the Eifel (J-Lo Style)

The past three days my brain has been stuck on one ear worm of a CD, which features "Eye of the Tiger," selections from The Sound of Music, "In the Mood," and "The Lady Is A Tramp" to name a few. I just got back from a Viktoriaschule band/orchestra trip out in the Eifel. Not only did we get to play music several hours per day, but it turned out to be Winter Wonderland: Part II.

Snowballs at the ready!

The whole excursion felt almost like a micro, German version of YMA. Fifth through twelfth graders all came together to make music and have fun in between. We played a few group bonding games, which got pretty silly and cozy. Although we didn't sing "The Meal Song" before eating, there was a great, communal feeling amongst everyone. Well, until we went out in the snow Friday...

Our teachers managed to snap a group photo before the chaos broke out.

All of Thursday evening and Friday morning we were inside rehearsing. In Big Band we were positioned so that the players had a prime view to the outside and I felt like I was inside an American Greetings e-card looking out at the gently, yet perfectly formed, snowflakes fluttering to the ground. 

How typical-- trumpets always in the back.

So naturally, when all of us finally got a chance to get some fresh air, a snowball fight immediately broke out. The trumpet players against the trombone players against the directors against the string players against everybody. It was a wonderfully chaotic, childish scene.

My classmates downed this much carbonated water in less than 24 hours.

And also akin to YMA, I can already feel my trumpet callouses coming back. Just in time, too! Tomorrow morning is the start of my next trip. It'll be a lovely week of playing classical music in a symphony made up of students from all the Protestant Gymnasiums in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Out in the Eifel I perfected my snowball game and warmed up my chops. Now, let's get loud!