Icy.

Back to school today. I arrived at quarter to 8, to do some piano practice, and had a chat with Ms Caldwell about various things. Then, I was locked in my form room for an hour and a half. The door was actually locked. Playing cards gets very dull, so I analysed MacMillan's "Missa Brevis," which I had in my bag.

Seeing all the everyone again was great. I forgot how much my friends make me smile. Honestly, my cheeks are hurting now from a combination of that and too much singing this evening. The only downer was not seeing Becky at all today (and that's a big downer). It makes me all the more glad I saw her yesterday. The other notable thing about today has been how slippery it is. Everywhere. Not only in school, where the sport we did in PE was ice hockey, even though it was supposed to be regular hockey, but also walking through a dark, cold, slippery Over to and from my piano lesson. That was unpleasant to say the least. It says something when you hold on tight to a scale book for warmth...

It suddenly hit home today just how frighteningly close my grade 8 piano is. I have 2 months of practice left, and only one of my pieces is distinction standard yet. My scales will come, but that will mean a lot of note hammering. I have to get my fingers properly around the Bach Prelude and Fugue. This particular piece is more maths than music, as you discover when you have to pour over it, analysing every detail of every countersubject and recapitulation. You get my drift. 

Anyway, I know I'll pull through the exam. I can achieve a merit easily. What I have to do between now and March is take my playing to the next level, the level where the examiners consider you special, and give you a distinction. ABRSM Grade 8 Distinction is the most advanced award given before diploma stage, and now that I think about it, this is what I've been working towards for the past 8 years. More hours of my life than I would wish to count have been spent playing the piano. The keyboard feels like an extention of my fingers, and when I play I feel very happy. I just have to prove myself one more time. I've done it seven times before, but there is so much more pressure at grade 8, it's unbelievable.

I've finished my art homework now, which is good. I'm looking forward very much to playing for Becky's choir in the morning. Well, actually, I'm looking forward very much to seeing Becky in the morning. Who cares about small matters like accompanying a choir... xD