Oh, no.... I can't believe I did that!

It happens to the best and most organized people. You've just gotten to rehearsal and realize you left your bow at home. You froze on your audition and forgot what note you start on. Those little things that can make you crazy, but can also be embarrassing, frustrating, or just downright irritate the crap out of you. You've had the WORST day, and this was the very last thing you needed, and you don't think anyone has EVER done anything as stupid as that. Guess what.... You're not alone! Here's a few stories and quotes that will make you feel better about your musical faux pas....

"That moment in your first recital when you decide to go all out for that harmonic zinger at the end – and miss." --Jackie H.

"On my way to a high-pressure rehearsal with a new ensemble, I left my dampit in my cello. (It was a very cold, dry night.). By the time I arrived, of course the dampit had fallen into my cello. I spent the first 20 min shaking my cello over my head to get my dampit close enough to my f-hole that I could fish it out. I’m sure I made a terrific first impression." --Kathy A.

"During our christmas concert last year. One of the pieces we performed was oh holy night. It was divided into different parts. In some parts only us in the orchestra played and in other parts only the singer and a pianist played...And...During one of his solos my cello decided it had had enough, slipped, and made a really loud noise against the stone (metal endpin scraping against stone tiles ). Ever since then, I always hug my cello when it's not my turn to play to prevent this from happening again." --Casandra N.

"Once on a concert I forgot to tight my bow. I relaize it once I started to play the first piece of music, so I played it so...." --Robert C.

"I was asked to play a gig with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band... The concert was being recorded for a live video. It was the full band plus me, a guitarist and a keyboard player. We had a couple of brief rehearsals and we had chord sheets so what I was doing was kind of semi improv. On the day of the gig we were on stage, to the left of the band, right next to the drum core. If you've ever been in an enclosed space with a full pipe band you'll know how loud it is. Of course we (the other musos) were amplified so the audience could hear us, loud and clear, but at the concert it turned out that our monitors weren't working. I couldn't hear myself or the guitarist / keys at all. Nothing. I did the whole gig with my peg stuck in my ear trying to hear something but I was dying. I hate to think what it sounded like. Turns out they never released that live DVD. I wonder why..." --Seylan B.

"Once, I forgot my endpin holder and had to remove one of my shoes and use the invigilator's luggage to stabilise things." --Jeremy T.

"My first competition when they called my name early (out of order), I wasn't prepared, and the judge – THE JUDGE – had to tune my cello for me." --Jackie H.

So you see, even the best of us can have what we think is the most mortifying moment, but at least you know you're not alone. I remember once during my freshman year of high school, it was the night of my Christmas concert for my band. I got dressed, my mom did my hair, and everything was beautiful! I got to the concert right on time, only to realize... I had forgotten my FLUTE!! Thankfully, the band director had spares, but I was so embarrassed! I couldn't believe what I'd done. If you haven't been lucky to enough to experience anything like this, you will. With a little luck, you'll have time to fix it before things really get bad, but if not, rest assured, it happens to the best of us at the positively worst times. Then come back and read these again...you'll feel better.

**A very special thanks to my friends from The Apprentice Cellists Club on Facebook for all the wonderful stories and memories. This blog couldn't have happened without you!**

Happy Cello'ing! #celloislife