3 letters today.

Letter #1
Hi guys,
This is really fun!!!
I am so happy!
I miss you a lot.
I got my luggage the morning after I called and am saved. :-)
We had an Assembly and fire drill. At the assembly, one of my cabin mates, Coco, told me she knew how to flip people by the wrist! She is really fun! Another cabin mate, called Pooh Bear, is sooo funny! I get my name tag tomorrow.
Anyhoo, I love you and it's getting late.
Write you tomorrow,
Piano Girl

Letter #2
Hey Guys. I feel homesick. I really want to see you soon. I had my first private lesson and it went well. I want to see you soon. I had organ and I learned how to pedal. I was so not late today, I had enough time to watch the people clean the fish pond at the chapel where I take piano. I almost caught one of the fish.

I am not as excited as I was in my last letter. I feel sad. I still don't have my tag. I miss you! :-( We had a little better food for dinner, but it still sucks. I really really really really really really miss you! Love,
Piano Girl.

Letter #3
Hello guys and goyls, :-)
I have not been late at all today! I am loving organ. I also like Into to Acting. My instructor's name is N. We played a getting to know you game. It was fun. There is an Ice Cream Shop near acting class called Melody Freeze. I still don't have my ID card!!

It is rest hour. I am writing instead of sleeping. During our cabin inspection, we got a 93/100! :-) There was a contest for the best cabin lawn. We didn't win, but we had fun, and that is what is important, right?

Anyhow, after this, in order, I have piano skills, acting, and a leson. Yesterday, I was soo stinkin' bored! We had lunch before this. The cafeteria can't afford really good food, so we have kinda crappy stuff, like hard-boiled scrambled eggs, and overly cheesy mac n' cheese. But I find stuff.

My friend Coco is a vegetarian, and one day she tried some cheesecake that was aid to have gelatin in it. Since gelatin sometimes is made of hooves, she got sick. She has been vegetarian for three years, and she thought it had all gone down the drain. She loves animals, so imagine how she felt! *shudder* That would make me sick! Another cabinmate, S, is "very clean*".

I can't think of anything else to write, so bye.
Love you. P.S. I really (x 8) miss you and love you!
*from the movie Help

Proud Mama,
and yes, I will call and find out about the "stinkin' ID card".

One more day!

She leaves tomorrow. No, we are not ready. But we will be. I will catch you up later.
Proud Mama

Email from Interlochen

Hey all, I got this email from Interlochen today. Just spreading the word and the love.

Proud Mama

Hi Mrs. Needleroozer,

Thanks for providing such great information to us about Piano Girl’s quest to attend Interlochen Arts Camp. I know she will have a wonderful time, and we will all take very good care of her.

I write grant proposals to foundations and corporations, seeking scholarship and other financial support for Interlochen’s programs. Although I do not seek support for any individual student in particular, the success of my proposals does increase the amount that we can offer for student scholarships. The reason I am glad to receive your information about Piano Girl is that I am looking for stories showing how hard campers work in order to fulfill their Interlochen dream. These stories are very compelling to donors of all kinds, including those with whom I work. The immediacy of a journey like Piano Girl’s helps hammer home how vital a donor’s gift can be, and how meaningful. And when a child works so hard to attain an Interlochen experience, we know that s/he will get the most out of it, which is also important and heartwarming for many donors.

I will be sure to look for Piano Girl when Camp starts—just a few days away!

Thanks again for your time and effort in helping us tell the Interlochen story.

Ms. D.

P.S. My daughter, 13, and my son, 11, will both be starting their 3^rd summer of Interlochen Arts Camp on Saturday; as a family we’re delighted with the Interlochen experience. In fact, my husband and I met at Interlochen as Intermediate Campers way back when, and we both returned for subsequent summers. It really is a special place!

4 Days till Take-off!

Piano Girl and I overnighted all the paperwork and checks to Interlochen today- better late than never! We made enough to cover her admission fees, and some of the other expenses, and it is really ok that we will be eating rocks for awhile- this is so worth it!

We ordered a bunch of clothing from Interlochen (I guess this fall, PG will be advertising for Interlochen wherever she goes, because I am not going to be able to spend any money on new clothes!), and bought a bunch of stuff at Sears and Penney's (read here to see how I feel about mall shopping!). We still have a bunch of stuff to buy- phone cards, linens, travel sized shampoos, etc, but I think I can do all that at our local Fred Meyer. Now we have started washing and packing! We need another suitcase, as the Papa Dude is going to be traveling at the same time as PG, not sure if I want to buy one. It will all work out.

I am getting anxious about her flying alone, so by Saturday, I ought to be over that- always do my worrying ahead of time!
Talk soon,
Proud Mama

The Piano Girl Story

The admissions department at Interlochen requested that we write up the whole story of Piano Girl and her fundraising adventure. I know y'all know this story, but thought I would post it anyhow, as it took me a couple of hours to get it written up! What do you think?

Proud Mama LB

I suppose it all started when Piano Girl was two years old, and we found her plucking out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the toy piano-not with one finger, but with both hands on the keys. She begged us for piano lessons as a three and four-year-old, and began lessons at the tender age of five. She took lessons for about 6 months before her then teacher pulled me aside one day and told me she was unsure how long she would be able to teach our daughter, as she seemed very talented, and even at this young age, was a very driven pianist. If she didn’t sit at the piano for at least an hour every day, she would become cranky.

When she was 9 years old, she came to her father and I and told us she had decided when she grew up she wanted to become a professional pianist. Piano practice took up more and more of her time, and she thrived.

At the age of 11, she told us she had amended her life goal. We both experienced a sharp intake of breath, wondering what she would say. “I have decided that I don’t just want to be a pianist, I want to be the best pianist in the whole world.” With the determination and dedication she had shown up to this point, we had no doubt she could achieve this goal.

Piano Girl was accepted at Interlochen last summer, but she was unable to attend due to a lack of funds. Undaunted, she applied again, and was determined to attend. With the award of a merit scholarship from Interlochen Center for the Arts, the fundraising began. Piano Girl was determined to do whatever it took to make it to Interlochen, and we were committed to supporting her goals.

Piano Girl raises chickens and sells their eggs, and has many regular customers. She also chicken-sits regularly for a family who own 30 chickens, her payment being that she can sell their eggs also. She has recently begun teaching piano lessons to two young students and is currently seeking more. Last summer, she held a very successful first solo recital. She is currently investigating options for future fundraising, from getting more chickens, to earning money by recording piano pieces for a digital recording studio.

Following the success of last year’s recital, she decided to hold another one this summer. With the support of her current piano teacher, she prepared and presented an hour long program, playing pieces from Bergmuller to Granados. This became a community project involving over 400 people,with the community pulling together to support Piano Girl. Everyone went out of their way to donate time, effort and money, providing everything from food for the recital, to frequent flyer miles. The internet community became involved as well, with donations accepted through the blog we created to keep people updated, as well as a friend hosting a raffle on her company website, all profits going to the Piano Girl Fund. The whole event was a huge success, and all of her expenses have been covered.

Through this experience, Piano Girl is learning that she in control of her life and can make her dreams happen. We are so proud of her and can’t wait to see how she grows during her stay at Interlochen. She is looking forward to being surrounded by a community of musicians, where others live and breathe music as she does. She tells us it looks like a nurturing and safe environment. “I hope I can be an inspiration to others who want to pursue their dreams.”

I think we have done it!

I think we have just barely made it! Today I am doing some work on the Piano GIrl project, so I will post an update later, but I *think* we have made just enough to cover the entrance fees.
Proud Mama

Another Update

Well, monies have been trickling in from folks who were unable to attend the recital, and Piano GIrl has her first piano student! She has been trying to find pupils for the last year, and finally did! The good news is that the mama of this new student was willing to pay for 2 months of lessons in advance in order to help bring in some more funds for project Interlochen. Yay!

We still need at least $800. to cover the admission fees, and I haven't even begun to think about ordering all the camp clothing and other necessaries. First things first. So again, if any of you haven't yet donated to this cause, or if you have one of those rich patron of the arts uncles, you still have time!

Proud Mama

Recital update

We had beautiful weather, lots of good food, and many wonderful supporters show up yesterday. Piano Girl played well, and fun was had by all.

Many of the folks who came yesterday had already pledged or purchased a key, so it was wonderful that they came to support Piano Girl. We collected almost $600. yesterday. Amy finished her raffle yesterday, and drew names for prizes. She raised $350. We totalled up all the checks and cash, and with egg money, raffle money (Thanks Amy, and thanks to all of you who bought raffle tickets!), and all, so far we have raised a grand total of $1900. How cool is that? I will be sending this to Interlochen by Tuesday.

Special thanks to Mattanata Studios, Puget Sound Digital and the Banner Team, The Foil Hat, and the Food Team (You know who you are, I didn't want to post names). Thanks to all who came and supported Piano Girl.

There are 3 more weeks till the Piano Girl is scheduled to leave for Interlochen. We still have over 50 blank keys on her banner. There is still time to donate to her Music Fund. I am still determined that she will be attending. If anyone has any quick fundraising ideas, or a rich aunt or uncle who would love to be a benefactor to a talented young musician, let me know!
Proud Mama

Raffle update, and heeeeerrrrreeeee we go!

Because Paypal was down most of the day yesterday, Amy at The Foil Hat has extended the raffle-ticket-purchasing-deadline to 2:10 pm PST or 5:10 CST. You still have time to purchase tickets and win an awesome prize! I hear Libi's washcloths are worth their weight in gold, let alone a few raffle tickets! Head on over and check it out.

I will check in here later this afternoon, right now it is time for hairwashing, and then the putting-on of a fancy recital dress, a run-through on the piano, and then we head out!

Think calm, confident thoughts for Piano Girl.
TTFN,
Proud Mama

1 day left!

Hey all,
One day left until the concert event of the season! Come one, come all, and pledge your support to this amazing young artist! Use the Paypal button! Buy raffle tickets! Plan an impromtu trip to Bellevue, Washington! Just kidding on that last one, but I do wish you could all be there tomorrow.

Everything (except for plastic tablecloths) is ready for tomorrow. I am excited, and a little anxious, so I know the Piano Girl must really be a bundle of emotions today. I will be gentle with her, and not expect much in the way of chores or schoolwork today. She can just sit at the piano and play all day today, and you won't hear me complain!

Wish her luck, and we hope to see you there if you are local.
Proud Mama LB