On Saturday, the Elizabethtown College Concert Band will be rehearsing Patrick Burns's Hometown (mp3) and Flight of Years (mp3) with -- guess who? -- Patrick Burns!

This piece was written for Scott Sharnetzka and the Bel Air Community Band. Mr. Sharnetzka has been our interim band director for the last year, and while the beginning seemed a bit bumpy, the year has been awesome

Under Mr. Sharnetzka's directing, I have doubled my skill and experience as a trumpet player. I wish he were staying longer. I wish I could learn more from him. I wish I had the time to really focus on the trumpet.

I need to sit down with him sometime and ask him about life as a musician. I am always torn between three great loves: music, writing, and computing. Of the three, music is probably the most enjoyable, the one I connect the most with. Would it change if it became more than a hobby? But I have always assumed that it was out of my reach, impractical. Is it?

Today, Dr. Adams suggested that growing up in an immigrant family tends to lead people to low expectations in their estimation of what their skills will get them. Dr. Kanagy has suggested this as well. Is it true in my case?

(That's just what I need. Another four years in college :P)