Days 3-5: Music Training

During this quarantine, I decided to pick up guitar. Those who followed me last year knows that my team last year was very musical,and I really missed the sound of a guitar, hence I took it upon myself to create that sound again. Music is such a vital part of NET. It is a way to impact the youth in such a unique way, which is why I wanted to attend music training. NET during the three days would show us how to lead our team and the youth closer to Christ through music, which is beautiful! I also have the pleasure of doing it with two of my teammates: Sarah and Monica! All of us learned how to play within the past year, which is so amazing to me. I got dropped off at 10:45am by Adam, since he had some errands to run, so I was the first one to the NET Center!! Which also means I was the first Netter to experience the new setup of the social distant NET training. Everything is spread out 6ft, and whoever your small group is will be who will sit with for sessions, meals, and dorms. I’m not worried about a fire small group, since all of the small groups will be fantastic in their own way. Yet to see all the rooms spaced out, it breaks my heart. I loved when we were so close and tight-knit. But for everyone’s safety, this is surely the way to go. People started slowly arriving between 12-5:30pm. There are 25 musicians, including 15 second-years, so I got to see many familiar faces for the first time in eight months! Oddly enough, it felt like it hasn’t been that long, more like two days. NET time can be stereotypically weird, but nonetheless, I am happy to see many people again. That night, we did introductions, and a praise and worship session. This is my first session with others in person in at least five months, and I had chills the whole night. Music is huge to me, and to share it with other people in such a way was intense. I am so happy to be back in this community. . . I don’t remember much about day 2 if I’m honest. So much happened and it was all a blur to me. I remember certain interactions for sure, so I’ll try and recall what I remember. First off, in my small group, where we will do pretty much everything together with, there were two other people also attending music training: Joe D. (Chaska, MN), and Mario (Brooklyn, NY). Joe just graduated high school, while Mario is a second year who I got close with last year playing basketball with. So far we’ve been bonding very well, and I’m excited to spend the next couple weeks with them before being put on teams. It’s unfortunate since some people do not have other small group members at music training, hence they are alone at meals and dorms. In terms of interactions, there was lots of frisbee, a reuniting conversation with one of my best NET friends Melanie (Homer Glen, IL, 2nd year), and jam sessions with two groups: first Christy (El Paso, TX) and Monica, then Rachel D. (Stayton, OR, 2nd year) and Maria G. (Woodbury, MN). For the actual training, we relearned basic music skills like chords and how to take care of ourselves, found our vocal range, and learned the principles and practicals to leading our team and others towards Christ through music. It was a jammed-packed day, but that’s NET training for you. Shoutout to the Music staff for leading us, Greg (CA), Dan, (England), and Ali (Dallas, TX), for giving their time and talents to us. . . The final day before official arrival day, where musicians bond with the 24 others before having to bond with 140 others. For morning session, we learned about vocal health and how to apply leading team prayer by going into large group. After picking songs, they asked me to lead! It was a group of 9, including Amanda L. (Lewisville, TX, 2nd year), Marie S. (AL, 2nd year), Catherine (IL?), Brendan (Moreno Valley, CA), Zach (Grand Rapids, MI), Monica, Mario, and Joey D., and I was super honored. For the afternoon, we had 1-on-1’s with the Music Staff. In my meeting with Dan, he was very impressed with my progress! Who knows, maybe I am called to be a music leader. From there we just practiced any song in the given chordbook given to us. I practiced with many people I’ve already mentioned, but others who I have not shouted out are Amanda B. (Omaha, NE, 2nd year), Bella (Sunbury, OH) and Cole (Springfield, OR, 2nd year). The evening was chill, as we watched a movie called The Sea in Between, about an artist named Josh Garrels and his journey creating his music independently with no label. Its definitely fascinating, highly recommend watching. It also takes place in Vancouver, BC, and gave me a small taste of the PNW again. Tomorrow is going to be a crazy day: 120+ people, many like me, all coming into one building at once. It sounds extremely absurd in this time, but that is the beauty of our ministry. This country needs us now more than ever, and we will do what it takes to do it (while also following the rules). Here we go.