Days to go: 936 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 64: Yesterday both attempts at improvising short passages were "successful" according to my present severely limited definition of success, which is: NOT obviously stumbling in front of the poor captive assembly. I closed my eyes and listened for the first, and that helped. For the second, I was watching a procession so that I could time the ending, and that also worked. Qua'pla!

Fr. Charles wrote a nice note on music for the bulletin...

Music is anything but background sound to the liturgy of the Church. It assists and enhances personal and congregational prayer; it moves us to greater and deeper contemplation of the mysteries of God; it can be a conduit through which our God speaks to and moves our hearts; it reflects God's power, love, mercy, tenderness and presence and can inspire joy, praise, conviction, thanksgiving and self-examination.

Days to go: 945 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 55: Spent most of this evening at St. Leo's preparing for tomorrow, my first Sunday "on the job," as it were. My pastor, Fr. Charles, wanted to practice singing the Eucharistic Prayer with the organ. What a gift, at this stage, to come across this marvellous person, a priest who loves music!

There was a pleasant surprise waiting for me on email when I got home a few minutes ago. Anthony wrote! He writes so well. Always encouraging, he wrote, "Hope you get a chance to just play in the world of G-d's sonorities." Lovely. I wonder if he enjoys poetry, too?

Anyway, I will get the chance "to just play the world of G-d's sonorites" tomorrow as Fr. Charles prays during Mass. He wants a bit of musical backup as he speaks. What better time and place to begin my public improvising -- surrounded by grace.

Actually, I'll be playing a little trumpet descant (without a net!) for one of the hymns tomorrow. It worked well in rehearsal...

Tomorrow: a poem for teachers by a master teacher -- and a very sweet man.