Dear Lord, help me to play my parts well, have the ability of a virtuoso,
and by some miracle to be able to play top C's in pianissimo while (insert
MD's name) is looking at me menacingly over the top of his glasses. When
he gives me that evil eye stare, please give me the strength to not wobble
off the note, but play it clean and pure and in tune.

Dear Lord, never let me lose my cool, even when (MD's name) tells me to
scribble out parts that I shouldn't play, only to be questioned the next
rehearsal why I hadn't played those parts. Let me always understand where
he is starting from, and never let me forget my sharps and flats.

Give me the intelligence of a musical maestro, although my musical
education is limited to high school band training.

Help me to read (MD's name) mind, follow his beat, and carry out all
instructions without explanation. And never let my valves stick, or
momentarily forget my fingering.

Let me always know exactly where jobs are being performed, where to park
the car so that I don't have to walk a mile and know what time the job
finishes. Let me juggle my life around and always be on time, even though
we are told to be there one and a half hours early.

And Lord, when the year ends, please give me the foresight not to just
finally take a long earned rest during the Christmas break, but to continue
home practice right through, so that I don't start the new year like a
complete beginner.

I ask these blessings Dear Lord, in the name of band members everywhere.

AMEN

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