300th Reflection💬

“The disadvantage before my eyes, how to take❓”

Fix my gaze at the faraway goal that the Lord has prepared for me.

…….

04/10/2023 (Wed) 20:15 Hong Kong Music Institute

Teacher arrived.

Teacher said, “Alright, let’s start.”

I said, “Moon River?”

Teacher said, “Later, Recuerdos de la Alhambra, now.”

I said, “Any transposed score for clarinet?”

Teacher said, “Oops, nope. Sight-read and transpose it right away.”

I said, “What? No, I can’t.”

Teacher said, “Take the bell then.”

I said, “Not clarinet?”

Teacher said, “You said you can’t work it out on your clarinet without a transposed score. Then ring the downbeats with the bells.”

I got the bells.

I said, “Alright, let’s start.”

The ensemble practice on Recuerdos de la Alhambra was completed.

……

Teacher said, “Next.”

I said, “Moon River?”

Teacher said, “Later, Yesterday, now.”

I said, “What?”

Teacher said, “Keep ringing the downbeats with the bells.”

I said, “OK.”

The ensemble practice on Yesterday was completed.

…….

Teacher said, “Next.”

I said, “Moon River?”

Teacher said, “Later, Autumn Coming, now.”

I said, “What?”

Teacher said, “Keep ringing the downbeats with the bells.”

I said, “OK.”

The ensemble practice on Autumn Coming was completed.

…….

Teacher said, “5 minutes left, Moon River.”

I picked up my clarinet.

Teacher said, “Keep ringing the downbeats with the bells.”

I said, “But I’m prepared.”

Teacher said, “You’re new. Try it next lesson. They’re about to perform. Let me hear how they play first.”

…..

Another me said, “Do you play the clarinet?”

I said, “Yes, I do.”

Another me said, “So why did your teacher keep asking you to ring the bells?”

I said, “I’m weak at sight-reading. I can’t transpose the score right away.”

Another me said, “Then why were you allowed to play the clarinet in the final 5 minutes?”

I said, “They’re about to perform, Heard it?“

Another me said, “So no clarinet! I’m a clarinet player. I don’t ring bells.”

I said, “Fine, but I do.”

Another me said, “Why are you so cheap?”

I said, “The teacher asked me not to play the clarinet but ring me he downbeats with the bells only today. We need to practise the downbeats for every piece, right?”

Another me said, “This advantage before my eyes, I can’t take it.”

I said, “Fine, I can.”

Another me said, “Why can you?”

I said, “Look forward, to the far-away goal and you won’t mind taking it.”

Another me said, “What is over there?”

I said, “The faraway goal that the Lord’s prepared for me.”

Another me said, “What faraway goal has the Lord prepared for you?”

I said, “A successful ensemble.”

Another me said, “How do you know it is the faraway goal that the Lord has prepared for you?”

I said, “It’s been only 2 months since I learnt the clarinet that the Lord sent me to this ensemble group. Isn’t it quite enough to believe this is the faraway goal that the Lord has prepared for me?”

Another me said, “Fine. You enjoy taking the advantage. Keep taking when back to your band room tonight.”

I said, “No more when back. I get to practise the clarinet, heading for the faraway goal that the Lord has prepared for me.”