Congrats Girl!!!!!

Girl has been practicing her viola tirelessly for the last several months - as soon as her teacher told her that she might have a shot at making IMEA this year (Illinois Music Educators Association). For those of you unfamiliar with this, it happens once a year. I did it as a vocalist in high school. One Saturday, kids from multiple schools, playing many varieties of instrument, descend on one high school to play their scales and a piece chosen at random from the practice pieces. If the student excels, he or she is then chosen to participate in the IMEA festival. The festival consists of a day-long practice followed by a concert late in the afternoon. The kicker is that the musicians don't get their music until the morning of the concert. I am so proud of her! She's been working so hard. Once her teacher told her that if she really really practiced hard and put her heart and soul into it, like she does with sports and academics, that she could play in the chamber orchestra at school, she picked up her viola and hasn't put it down - except of course to watch her favorite shows. Then, when she found out that she had a shot at IMEA this year, she buckled down and practiced ALL the time - oh wait, get this - without being told! Girl, I am so proud of you! I told you you could do it!