Ch.5

It was the day of the chair test. Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest as she fidgeted in her seat. Mr. Countryman, as always, looked calm and relaxed. They warmed up, and then started. He went down the row at a moderate pace. To her, it felt like an eternity before it got to her.

Soon however, she was up. He nodded to her and she played her warm up note. Her sound was shaky due to her nervousness. Here was her chance. To show she could be at the 8th graders level! She would go JUST as fast as them. Just then, he looked up, slightly smirked, and said, "Tiffany, just because those 8th graders went fast, doesn't mean you have to go fast too. Do the tempo you're comfortable with." She was inwardly shocked. However, she briefly smiled, and began.

After she finished, she didn't realize it, but her hand was shaking slightly. Mr. Countryman looked up, nodded, jotted some more notes down, and continued down the line. She realized just then, that he was going to be one of those people whom compliments were hard to get. She got more determined than ever. "I WILL get his praise. Whatever it takes." She said to herself.

The rest of sectionals went like a rollercoaster for her. They were playing 'Secret Agent Man'. However, she got lost in the music, and felt terrible. Mr. Countryman was even counting the part she had, and she got lost. She sighed and took a deep calming breath. One of the 8th graders nudged her in the ribs. "Hey, great job today." He said, and smiled. Tiffany looked up at him, and smiled back. "Thanks." Her mood lifted slightly after that.

At home, she got out her horn once again, and started practicing. There were two more months until the Region Band Auditions. And she WOULD be ready.