i just realised that while I dont have time for normal posting habits, I have time for little snippets of my life here and there:
First class accompanying in festival went off without a hitch, I was there from the beginning... my singer sang 20'th, I knew it woul dbe a waste of time.. but oh well.
Lesson makes mikey sad. First time playing PDQ Bach for David.. and it wasn't all that secure... also another first... Running my recital from start to finish... eeep!
Therefore, not feeling so hot about today, but I know it's within grasp.
my assignment from now til recital is to run through the entire program every night and forcing myself to stay engaged the entire time, on top of practicing regularly and festival stuff.
I clarified myself earlier today when they called me crazy for having my recital during festival... BUT I corrected them and proclaimed I was stupid, not crazy.. at least I can still have my dignitty dag nabbit!
Composition still not finished... but teacher really likes it and was surprised at how much i had done of the fourth movement..
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
tomorrow it starts.
My week of Wonderful, as I have named it.
Far too busy in advance... and i really need to finish this composition so I can ignore it and let them learn it....
So m uch accompanying and soo much practicing still to be done!
I probably won't have much time to post this week, but no one cares enough to comment anyway
My week of Wonderful, as I have named it.
Far too busy in advance... and i really need to finish this composition so I can ignore it and let them learn it....
So m uch accompanying and soo much practicing still to be done!
I probably won't have much time to post this week, but no one cares enough to comment anyway
Friday, February 24, 2006
Brendan's band played tonight at the optimist festival. They got really good commentary and performed very well! GOOD JOB!
all I have to offer is fickle commentary...
What the hell was with that tie@>? yuck! and frickin A)Hem your pants and B) pull them up to your waist or get a belt or something, and you really have no excuse cause tux pants usually have those adjustable waists....
enough of that
The book I'm reading now, and on the bus home tonight, is about Music and the Emotions.... very heavy reading. It's a philosophical examination of different theories about the relation of the two. I find it very interesting, but a thorough examinatoin into exactly what constitutes an emotion at 8:30 in the morning the other day was a little much for my wake up reading.
Lesson and Masterclass this week both went well.. David is giving me the impression that he feels confident that I will be ready for my recital... yay. At least he hasn't been implying the freakout that I should be more prepared. I wish I had the same confidence... but that will come with the excessive practicing this week and yay!
I HAVE to HAVe to Have to finish my composition this weekend... I need to get it to the singer/pianist.. and once festival starts, I have no time to spare from accompanying and recital practicing... so I'm working on that as we speak... I finished the editing of one of the 4 songs... I will edit the other 2 tonight, and then I just ahve to finish the bulk of one of the songs and then tidy up the ending of another and then edit the last one, and YAY, all done. It actually is a lot of work, but I have to get it done, so think positive michael!
all I have to offer is fickle commentary...
What the hell was with that tie@>? yuck! and frickin A)Hem your pants and B) pull them up to your waist or get a belt or something, and you really have no excuse cause tux pants usually have those adjustable waists....
enough of that
The book I'm reading now, and on the bus home tonight, is about Music and the Emotions.... very heavy reading. It's a philosophical examination of different theories about the relation of the two. I find it very interesting, but a thorough examinatoin into exactly what constitutes an emotion at 8:30 in the morning the other day was a little much for my wake up reading.
Lesson and Masterclass this week both went well.. David is giving me the impression that he feels confident that I will be ready for my recital... yay. At least he hasn't been implying the freakout that I should be more prepared. I wish I had the same confidence... but that will come with the excessive practicing this week and yay!
I HAVE to HAVe to Have to finish my composition this weekend... I need to get it to the singer/pianist.. and once festival starts, I have no time to spare from accompanying and recital practicing... so I'm working on that as we speak... I finished the editing of one of the 4 songs... I will edit the other 2 tonight, and then I just ahve to finish the bulk of one of the songs and then tidy up the ending of another and then edit the last one, and YAY, all done. It actually is a lot of work, but I have to get it done, so think positive michael!
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
tee hee
wow, it's hard to even think along the same lines as last night.
I get pissy like that sometimes, and i know its not productive, but oh well.
Today was much better. I was cheerful allday and did some good practicing both before and after my lesson. Lesson was good. The Brahms are starting to settle... Im glad I still have 3 weeks almost to keep them getting settled. The Bach was ok... but I need to fix up little spots., there were quite a few stumbles today, so getting rid of those would be helpful. I was too energetic/frantic though in my Bach playing, so he told me to play somewhere between this weeka nd last weeks renditions and I'll be fine. After my lesson, I learned the notes of the prelude securely up to 120 bpm.. only a little shy of the performance tempo. Theres a tricky bit in the middle, really the only hard part of the prelude, and I just have to work super hard at that. It's really logical, so I think the memory is already there. BUT the fugue I need to work a lot on. I think I'll use the same method as with the other Bach and prelude (sectionalizing into small parts and then eventually smacking them together).
Oh ya, I had to change my lesson next week due to festival and I tried the best I could to not let him know the extent to which I am involved with accompanying. He told me "I don't even need to tell you what I think about doing lots of accompanying 2 weeks before a recital".... to which I said "i know, i know" and silently thought...' i wonder what you would say about excessive accompanying the week OF and the Day OF a recital?!?" eep!
I know I'm crazy... but thats alright. Im feeling good about it all, and when its over with.. I will not have to worry about my recital or rehearsals, and I will have money enough to get myself good and drunk on wine and celebrate a week of succesful merriment!
I calculated the current value of my festival binder based solely on the rehearsals I have done so far... and it's worth 200$ and I still have more rehearsals and that doesn't include the rate for the actual classes! That's right Michael, just think of the money and it will all be fine..
ANyway, still SOO much to do for next tuesday which is my next lesson.... I have to relearn or polish up Mozart and Scriabin... the Brahms and Bach are still good and improving as we speak... and I have to learn and memorize PDQ. Oh yes, and I also have to finish composing and editing my piece... I need to have it in the hands of pianist and singer next monday so they can learn it. It will probably still see some revisions and editing things before i get it printed as a fancy final copy...
yay fun!
I get pissy like that sometimes, and i know its not productive, but oh well.
Today was much better. I was cheerful allday and did some good practicing both before and after my lesson. Lesson was good. The Brahms are starting to settle... Im glad I still have 3 weeks almost to keep them getting settled. The Bach was ok... but I need to fix up little spots., there were quite a few stumbles today, so getting rid of those would be helpful. I was too energetic/frantic though in my Bach playing, so he told me to play somewhere between this weeka nd last weeks renditions and I'll be fine. After my lesson, I learned the notes of the prelude securely up to 120 bpm.. only a little shy of the performance tempo. Theres a tricky bit in the middle, really the only hard part of the prelude, and I just have to work super hard at that. It's really logical, so I think the memory is already there. BUT the fugue I need to work a lot on. I think I'll use the same method as with the other Bach and prelude (sectionalizing into small parts and then eventually smacking them together).
Oh ya, I had to change my lesson next week due to festival and I tried the best I could to not let him know the extent to which I am involved with accompanying. He told me "I don't even need to tell you what I think about doing lots of accompanying 2 weeks before a recital".... to which I said "i know, i know" and silently thought...' i wonder what you would say about excessive accompanying the week OF and the Day OF a recital?!?" eep!
I know I'm crazy... but thats alright. Im feeling good about it all, and when its over with.. I will not have to worry about my recital or rehearsals, and I will have money enough to get myself good and drunk on wine and celebrate a week of succesful merriment!
I calculated the current value of my festival binder based solely on the rehearsals I have done so far... and it's worth 200$ and I still have more rehearsals and that doesn't include the rate for the actual classes! That's right Michael, just think of the money and it will all be fine..
ANyway, still SOO much to do for next tuesday which is my next lesson.... I have to relearn or polish up Mozart and Scriabin... the Brahms and Bach are still good and improving as we speak... and I have to learn and memorize PDQ. Oh yes, and I also have to finish composing and editing my piece... I need to have it in the hands of pianist and singer next monday so they can learn it. It will probably still see some revisions and editing things before i get it printed as a fancy final copy...
yay fun!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
MUMBLY!
grr mumbly,
argh!
oi vay...
so mild freakout today when I realised that festival is next week starting, so class attendance will be to a minimal. This freakout has led me to make sure that I know at least all the notes of the festival pieces, which leaves me at the Poulenc piece C. grr. I hate it and I love it. It's coming veryvery slowly, but I am forcing the notes into my fingers and brain.
Tonight = practice. I am not feeling confident about tomorrow's lesson. The Brahms are much more together, yay, only one week behind the needed schedule. Bach has probably even taken a little step back from last week. Adding in things like energy and concentrating extra on the voicing make the piece harder.. so whatever.
I am so filled with antsy and pissy and grrr right now. mumbly!
It seems everyone is sick now... which is fine, unless it interferes with my schedule... yesterday it resulted in me taking an extra hour of bussing from univ to downtown and back, today I lost 30 bucks of income.... geez, why can't people stay healthy if not for their own sake, at least for my benefit!
argh!
oi vay...
so mild freakout today when I realised that festival is next week starting, so class attendance will be to a minimal. This freakout has led me to make sure that I know at least all the notes of the festival pieces, which leaves me at the Poulenc piece C. grr. I hate it and I love it. It's coming veryvery slowly, but I am forcing the notes into my fingers and brain.
Tonight = practice. I am not feeling confident about tomorrow's lesson. The Brahms are much more together, yay, only one week behind the needed schedule. Bach has probably even taken a little step back from last week. Adding in things like energy and concentrating extra on the voicing make the piece harder.. so whatever.
I am so filled with antsy and pissy and grrr right now. mumbly!
It seems everyone is sick now... which is fine, unless it interferes with my schedule... yesterday it resulted in me taking an extra hour of bussing from univ to downtown and back, today I lost 30 bucks of income.... geez, why can't people stay healthy if not for their own sake, at least for my benefit!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
So reading week and all that jazz is now completely over.
Parents got home today, so now I am not completely bus tied. I don't mind the bus, but it was a little tough this weekend combining sickness with needing extra time to bus and whatnot(whatnot being sleeping in).
Oh so much to talk about.
Today, waiting for the bus, I talked with a man named Brian. I suppose I was in his way when I was reading the bus schedule, so he yelled at me in what I assume to be a drunken slur of words. I moved away and he continued to yell. A few minutes later he came over me and appologized and introduced himself. We talked for a few minutes before my bus came. I try not to be prejudiced, and I do give downtown folk the basic respect of decency/dignity. Today this required more effort than usual. He smelled of liquor when he was close enough.... even through the cold air. Unfortunately that is not something uncommon at bus stops downtown. I felt off when I shook his hand, because his eye was shut and he had blood just off the side from his left eye. Dried blood is one thing, but this was still wet. He asked if he could ask me a question, then immediately justified it by telling me that he used to go to bible school. I informed him that I was not Christian... but he asked me anyway. Something about a part of scripture relating to how 'one day a thousand years will be the same as one hour' or something. Pardon my lack of Chrisitan knowledge, but I don't know what that refers to.
He asked me what I thought it meant....
I said it probably meant that time in life shouldn't be such a concern, because it won't be in the life eternal.
He pondered for a moment, then I asked him
what it meant to him?
he responded that he can't tell someone that until they give him the right answer.....
I jovially said"well then I guess I didn't get the right answer...."
"Well... you were close".
So, I don't really know what to make of this, but I'll add to it my list of life experiences. I could have easily walked farther away or just blatantly ignored him like others were doing. But I'm glad he came over and we chitchatted. Maybe it got him to think about his question, maybe it got me to think. Either way, I got something valuable from it.
This weekend was pretty much a write off... my voice was shot, so singing didn't really happen well. I didn't practice really much at all. Although I did spend some time tonight working on the things that i should have done sooner after my lesson. Im still not done my composition.. although I am finished 3 of 4 songs now (almost). My comp lesson is cancelled though tomorrow, so I have reason to postpone it a week later anyway. No exercise this weekend part because I was lazy, but justified because I was sick... so the exercise kick of last week has seemed to die away already... but im sure it will come back here and there...
I've been thinking too much about grad school lately... but its good. I've recieved emails back from a couple people who are associated with piano and improvisation outside of the jazz realm. I might end up doing a masters in Collaborative piano as a Dance specialist... it depends on whether they would let me create my own degree or not... I still have to look around, but its a possibility. So much to do, so many questions, so many people to ask.
Parents got home today, so now I am not completely bus tied. I don't mind the bus, but it was a little tough this weekend combining sickness with needing extra time to bus and whatnot(whatnot being sleeping in).
Oh so much to talk about.
Today, waiting for the bus, I talked with a man named Brian. I suppose I was in his way when I was reading the bus schedule, so he yelled at me in what I assume to be a drunken slur of words. I moved away and he continued to yell. A few minutes later he came over me and appologized and introduced himself. We talked for a few minutes before my bus came. I try not to be prejudiced, and I do give downtown folk the basic respect of decency/dignity. Today this required more effort than usual. He smelled of liquor when he was close enough.... even through the cold air. Unfortunately that is not something uncommon at bus stops downtown. I felt off when I shook his hand, because his eye was shut and he had blood just off the side from his left eye. Dried blood is one thing, but this was still wet. He asked if he could ask me a question, then immediately justified it by telling me that he used to go to bible school. I informed him that I was not Christian... but he asked me anyway. Something about a part of scripture relating to how 'one day a thousand years will be the same as one hour' or something. Pardon my lack of Chrisitan knowledge, but I don't know what that refers to.
He asked me what I thought it meant....
I said it probably meant that time in life shouldn't be such a concern, because it won't be in the life eternal.
He pondered for a moment, then I asked him
what it meant to him?
he responded that he can't tell someone that until they give him the right answer.....
I jovially said"well then I guess I didn't get the right answer...."
"Well... you were close".
So, I don't really know what to make of this, but I'll add to it my list of life experiences. I could have easily walked farther away or just blatantly ignored him like others were doing. But I'm glad he came over and we chitchatted. Maybe it got him to think about his question, maybe it got me to think. Either way, I got something valuable from it.
This weekend was pretty much a write off... my voice was shot, so singing didn't really happen well. I didn't practice really much at all. Although I did spend some time tonight working on the things that i should have done sooner after my lesson. Im still not done my composition.. although I am finished 3 of 4 songs now (almost). My comp lesson is cancelled though tomorrow, so I have reason to postpone it a week later anyway. No exercise this weekend part because I was lazy, but justified because I was sick... so the exercise kick of last week has seemed to die away already... but im sure it will come back here and there...
I've been thinking too much about grad school lately... but its good. I've recieved emails back from a couple people who are associated with piano and improvisation outside of the jazz realm. I might end up doing a masters in Collaborative piano as a Dance specialist... it depends on whether they would let me create my own degree or not... I still have to look around, but its a possibility. So much to do, so many questions, so many people to ask.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
http://kevan.org/nohari?name=mikeyjpark
I know not many of you cared to do this the first time, but this time its a listing of my negative personality traits... so feel free to outline just how I am a bad person!
Please do.. it'll be fun!
I know not many of you cared to do this the first time, but this time its a listing of my negative personality traits... so feel free to outline just how I am a bad person!
Please do.. it'll be fun!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Random spatter of topics
Ok, so apparently people don't comment anymore... FINE!
your lack of dedication to my blog has its counterpart in my exercise routine...
I was good mon-wed but then thursday I had my lesson and there just wasnt time unless I were to wake up disturbingly early, and then this morning/today I've been feeling like shit... so much so that I called the pharmacy and ordered the repeat on my sterroids... I'm putting myself back on them cause at least they made me think I was healthy......
We are finally getting that taste of Winnipeg that we know oh so well. It was nice to have a mild/beautiful winter up til now, we can only hope that this bitter part will last but a short time.
Happy Birthday Tiffy. A couple of days ago, yes, but tonight we went to Moxies to celebrate. So much food and good times... I wish that I didn't have such a headache and whatnot, else I would have been more pleasant/social.
Parents are out of town. I like the fact that I have the house to myself so that I dont need to wear pants and I can stay up late and practice as much as I want, but since my parents took the car, I have to do all the crazy running around by bus and foot this weekend. Why couldn't it have been one of the warmer weekends... oh well just remember Michael.. they went up North.. where it's colder!
As much as I say I'm a spiteful person, I'm not really that much. It's fun to joke, but I actually had a real taste of my mild spite today. I don't like hearing about peoples' misfortune, especially when it could have been prevented. Appologies for being cryptic, but here goes: I learned my lesson about a certain scenario and someone was there in the background to call my attention to it. I deserved what I had coming to me, and thus I've learned. Now that person experienced a similar situation, but the outcome was much more serious than mine, and it probably wasn't quite as warranted. While I do sympathize with him, I can't say that I take some joy in the irony of the situation.
This weekend needs to be super productive... I still have lots of composing to do and practicing to be done. Tomorrow is going to be busy.. choir rehearsal all morning, then ballet in the afternoon. I suppose it takes up the same time as any other saturday, but I have to worry about transport before, after, and during the day. I have a feeling that tomorrow evening will be spent at my place doing the afformentioned productive things.
I need to remember to get my mom something for her Birthday which is tomororw, this weekend. She's out of town til Sunday, so I guess that means I have to shop tomorrow.... oi,
This time of year Im finding far too much crap to worry about, and far too little time to spend worrying.
your lack of dedication to my blog has its counterpart in my exercise routine...
I was good mon-wed but then thursday I had my lesson and there just wasnt time unless I were to wake up disturbingly early, and then this morning/today I've been feeling like shit... so much so that I called the pharmacy and ordered the repeat on my sterroids... I'm putting myself back on them cause at least they made me think I was healthy......
We are finally getting that taste of Winnipeg that we know oh so well. It was nice to have a mild/beautiful winter up til now, we can only hope that this bitter part will last but a short time.
Happy Birthday Tiffy. A couple of days ago, yes, but tonight we went to Moxies to celebrate. So much food and good times... I wish that I didn't have such a headache and whatnot, else I would have been more pleasant/social.
Parents are out of town. I like the fact that I have the house to myself so that I dont need to wear pants and I can stay up late and practice as much as I want, but since my parents took the car, I have to do all the crazy running around by bus and foot this weekend. Why couldn't it have been one of the warmer weekends... oh well just remember Michael.. they went up North.. where it's colder!
As much as I say I'm a spiteful person, I'm not really that much. It's fun to joke, but I actually had a real taste of my mild spite today. I don't like hearing about peoples' misfortune, especially when it could have been prevented. Appologies for being cryptic, but here goes: I learned my lesson about a certain scenario and someone was there in the background to call my attention to it. I deserved what I had coming to me, and thus I've learned. Now that person experienced a similar situation, but the outcome was much more serious than mine, and it probably wasn't quite as warranted. While I do sympathize with him, I can't say that I take some joy in the irony of the situation.
This weekend needs to be super productive... I still have lots of composing to do and practicing to be done. Tomorrow is going to be busy.. choir rehearsal all morning, then ballet in the afternoon. I suppose it takes up the same time as any other saturday, but I have to worry about transport before, after, and during the day. I have a feeling that tomorrow evening will be spent at my place doing the afformentioned productive things.
I need to remember to get my mom something for her Birthday which is tomororw, this weekend. She's out of town til Sunday, so I guess that means I have to shop tomorrow.... oi,
This time of year Im finding far too much crap to worry about, and far too little time to spend worrying.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Lesson day
Im realising how much I use my lesson days as a landmark along my development... but no stopping now! It's not a bad thing at all.
The lesson was pretty much exactly like I expected it would be:
Brahms- David said there were some really good things going on. At the same time, they were both not settled and a little insecure. I had gone there not knowing why, so I was not effectively fixing the situation. David's assessment was that they are not secure enough in the fingers... and memory is a mix of both finger/muscular and intellectual memory. Therefore, I can also fix the tidiness issues at the same time! I just need to play them more and use specific practicing methods. Quel surprise! So yes, thats what i need to do, as per usual. Basically... Michael, learn your notes! haha
Bach- I played it memorized for him and it was better than I expected, at least I thought. 2 misconceptions:
1) I thought I was playing it grossly undertempo... but apparently I was playing it at performance tempo:
2) Because I thought it was supposed to go much faster, I was playing it lightly cause otherwise it wouldn't go faster...... David told me that I played it in completely the wrong character, and that it needs to be much more weighty and bold. A rolicking gigue!
The best part of the lesson was when I had to play it again, in the new character... he was inspiring me by actually dancing!! HAHA! it was the most delightful thing ever.
I did my best to play it in the style, but it was such a drastic change that it wasn't perfect and the first thing to go was the voicing...
That was the other big criticism... I need to voice the fugue subjects more clearly... of course I do... it's frickin BACH! thats what you do with Bach.
ANyway, thats something I started to put thought into lately, but hadn't implemented completely.. especialyl in the sections where I am more concerned with getting accurate notes.
all in all, I felt good about the Bach.. it wasn't perfect so David wasn't satisfied, but Im happy with the work I've done and it's effect. I feel comfortable now with a change in the style... I'm gonna keep working on the notes hardcore, but now add in the element of voicing and ENERGY!!!!!
After the lesson, I showed David my professional poster small version(4*6) and he was very impressed, he thought it looked very good. Then, I decided to show him the fun one......
I was worried what he would think... I'm constantly surprised that my view of David is often wrong.... He LOVED it!!! He actually asked to make sure he could keep the copy... he said he'd post the other one on his door and that one would go in his archive...!
I also showed it to a bunch of other people at the school and, while some people were shocked... the majority of people really enjoyed it. I'm so happy.
I'm going to get a big copy printed out and perhaps frame it as a keepsake! I for sure want to do that with the professional version, and I need big copies for putting up around school and other places for advertising...
anyway, thats all folks for now!
The lesson was pretty much exactly like I expected it would be:
Brahms- David said there were some really good things going on. At the same time, they were both not settled and a little insecure. I had gone there not knowing why, so I was not effectively fixing the situation. David's assessment was that they are not secure enough in the fingers... and memory is a mix of both finger/muscular and intellectual memory. Therefore, I can also fix the tidiness issues at the same time! I just need to play them more and use specific practicing methods. Quel surprise! So yes, thats what i need to do, as per usual. Basically... Michael, learn your notes! haha
Bach- I played it memorized for him and it was better than I expected, at least I thought. 2 misconceptions:
1) I thought I was playing it grossly undertempo... but apparently I was playing it at performance tempo:
2) Because I thought it was supposed to go much faster, I was playing it lightly cause otherwise it wouldn't go faster...... David told me that I played it in completely the wrong character, and that it needs to be much more weighty and bold. A rolicking gigue!
The best part of the lesson was when I had to play it again, in the new character... he was inspiring me by actually dancing!! HAHA! it was the most delightful thing ever.
I did my best to play it in the style, but it was such a drastic change that it wasn't perfect and the first thing to go was the voicing...
That was the other big criticism... I need to voice the fugue subjects more clearly... of course I do... it's frickin BACH! thats what you do with Bach.
ANyway, thats something I started to put thought into lately, but hadn't implemented completely.. especialyl in the sections where I am more concerned with getting accurate notes.
all in all, I felt good about the Bach.. it wasn't perfect so David wasn't satisfied, but Im happy with the work I've done and it's effect. I feel comfortable now with a change in the style... I'm gonna keep working on the notes hardcore, but now add in the element of voicing and ENERGY!!!!!
After the lesson, I showed David my professional poster small version(4*6) and he was very impressed, he thought it looked very good. Then, I decided to show him the fun one......
I was worried what he would think... I'm constantly surprised that my view of David is often wrong.... He LOVED it!!! He actually asked to make sure he could keep the copy... he said he'd post the other one on his door and that one would go in his archive...!I also showed it to a bunch of other people at the school and, while some people were shocked... the majority of people really enjoyed it. I'm so happy.
I'm going to get a big copy printed out and perhaps frame it as a keepsake! I for sure want to do that with the professional version, and I need big copies for putting up around school and other places for advertising...
anyway, thats all folks for now!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
4 weeks, less a day
It is officially less than 4 weeks until my recital!
I am experiencing both excitement and worry.
I have a lesson tomorrow, it's been 2 weeks since my last one... this will test what and how I have been working on my own.
The Bach fugue is making great strides and it doesn't need to be ready til next week. I already have it memorized. This next week will be spent making that memory more secure and bumping up the speed as we go along... I need to spend some more attention on the prelude.
The Brahms is memorised ish today. Im worried because absolutely nothing about it feels comfortable. Tonight I will go through and fix the little corners where the memory isn't 100%. I feel comfortable with the tempos I am working at, so we'll see what David has to say.
Enough of that!
Yesterday was Valentine's Day and Tiffany's birthday. Happy day to everyone!
Deena and I went out for dinner to this place that I had never heard of... it was amazing! The food was great, and the bread service.. WOW!!! best bread I have ever had!! YUMMY! We went all out, with an appetizer and meals and a bottle of wine. I refuse to acknowledge the cost of this experience, but it was well worth it!
When I got home, My mom told me that she and Dad had gone to the hospital because she was having a pain in her stomach. As per usual with the hospitals in Winnipeg... they went and waited for a long time and then the pain was lessening, so they came home. Today she stayed home from work to go to a walk in. I don't think the pain has come back as strong, but I worry about her. She has been doing great lately. Having been diagnosed with borderline diabetes(early Type II), she has changed her lifestyle, exercising lots and regimenting her eating. She's managed to lose quite a bit of weight and is quite an inspiration to me both to lose weight as well as to gain better control of my diabetes.
Illness aside, nothing was to stop her from filling me in on every detail of her condition and her thoughts on the world and gossip, and the icing on the cake: complaining about the lack of nutritional information on hot-cross buns at the grocery store.... When I half jokingly suggested she call and complain... she did!
I always feel bad for the person on the other end of the phone with my mother... She is forceful and on the phone, there is missing that interpersonal guidelines.. so she often forgets theres someone else there, and just complains.. then gets offended when they try to say something in their defense... and really is this such a huge deal...?!?
Alas, today is day three of reading week and I'm still 3 for 3 on exercising in the morning. Today the music was 'Los togros del norte'. It was a cd from the days I worked at Jack Andrews. Every summer, some 30 of the migrant workers from Mexico on Manitoba Farms would come and send money to their families through Western Union. As thanks for their business.. Western Union would send the store 'presents' for us to give to them. There were hats, pens, tamarind juice, more hats, and one year... CD's! It was heartwarming to see them still wearing their hats the next year, albeit quite beaten up.... Anyway, the Mexicans worked ona farm and they didnt have luxuries.... so of course they didn't need the 50 CDs that were sent. I made sure to acquire a copy for myself... Not the best workout music, but a delightful mix of accordian and Mexicans nonetheless. Maybe I'll make a mix cd of good music for random flailing tonight for tomorrow...
I am experiencing both excitement and worry.
I have a lesson tomorrow, it's been 2 weeks since my last one... this will test what and how I have been working on my own.
The Bach fugue is making great strides and it doesn't need to be ready til next week. I already have it memorized. This next week will be spent making that memory more secure and bumping up the speed as we go along... I need to spend some more attention on the prelude.
The Brahms is memorised ish today. Im worried because absolutely nothing about it feels comfortable. Tonight I will go through and fix the little corners where the memory isn't 100%. I feel comfortable with the tempos I am working at, so we'll see what David has to say.
Enough of that!
Yesterday was Valentine's Day and Tiffany's birthday. Happy day to everyone!
Deena and I went out for dinner to this place that I had never heard of... it was amazing! The food was great, and the bread service.. WOW!!! best bread I have ever had!! YUMMY! We went all out, with an appetizer and meals and a bottle of wine. I refuse to acknowledge the cost of this experience, but it was well worth it!
When I got home, My mom told me that she and Dad had gone to the hospital because she was having a pain in her stomach. As per usual with the hospitals in Winnipeg... they went and waited for a long time and then the pain was lessening, so they came home. Today she stayed home from work to go to a walk in. I don't think the pain has come back as strong, but I worry about her. She has been doing great lately. Having been diagnosed with borderline diabetes(early Type II), she has changed her lifestyle, exercising lots and regimenting her eating. She's managed to lose quite a bit of weight and is quite an inspiration to me both to lose weight as well as to gain better control of my diabetes.
Illness aside, nothing was to stop her from filling me in on every detail of her condition and her thoughts on the world and gossip, and the icing on the cake: complaining about the lack of nutritional information on hot-cross buns at the grocery store.... When I half jokingly suggested she call and complain... she did!
I always feel bad for the person on the other end of the phone with my mother... She is forceful and on the phone, there is missing that interpersonal guidelines.. so she often forgets theres someone else there, and just complains.. then gets offended when they try to say something in their defense... and really is this such a huge deal...?!?
Alas, today is day three of reading week and I'm still 3 for 3 on exercising in the morning. Today the music was 'Los togros del norte'. It was a cd from the days I worked at Jack Andrews. Every summer, some 30 of the migrant workers from Mexico on Manitoba Farms would come and send money to their families through Western Union. As thanks for their business.. Western Union would send the store 'presents' for us to give to them. There were hats, pens, tamarind juice, more hats, and one year... CD's! It was heartwarming to see them still wearing their hats the next year, albeit quite beaten up.... Anyway, the Mexicans worked ona farm and they didnt have luxuries.... so of course they didn't need the 50 CDs that were sent. I made sure to acquire a copy for myself... Not the best workout music, but a delightful mix of accordian and Mexicans nonetheless. Maybe I'll make a mix cd of good music for random flailing tonight for tomorrow...
Monday, February 13, 2006
RECITAL POSTER
This is the serious poster that I'm gonna have a large version made of.
There still might be some minor tweaking before its printed, but yay!
Jon is still working on the super awesome fun one...
I've been really picky about these posters... so I hope Jon doesn't hate me...
JON IS WONDERFUL!!!!!
wait til the fun one is done... you'll see why!!!!
First day of Reading Week
It's not even noon, and already I've woken up and exercised! I feel so productive. Now I get to practice until its time to accompany dance class at the contemporary studio for 5.... such an awkward time. I only have to pay for 30 minutes of parking, cause its free after 5:30, but its always so busy downtown, so I have to allot myself extra time to find parking. Nevertheless, I always enjoy getting there a few minutes early and chatting with my friend Dale. We always have something interesting to say.
I practiced last night, but Im sorry to say it was one of my less productive evenings. I didn't have music for Mozart or Scriabin, but I decided I needed to run them through anyway, cause I haven't touched them in a week or more.... (Bad Michael). They were in predictable shape for my lack of attention. That's something I need to attend to. At the same time, the Mozart had gelled in it's offtime. It's an odd thing that after leaving a piece alone for a while, your subconscious gets used to it... so now if I spiff up the notes, it will be in ship shape. The Scriabin was not so gelled.... I need to work hard on the notes again and make them comfortable.
I worked some more on brahms and Bach last night. I worked on the memory and notes of the first 2 pages, and played the other 2 for Deena, there was one spot that I flubbed, but I feel confident in them as a whole. I felt the other pages coming into my memory, so Im sure that whole piece will be ready and set for my next lesson... thursday I think.
I didn't really work on the Capriccio, although I played through the problematic middle section for Deena, she agreed with me that it should go any faster than I even played it, but recordings tell me differently... we'll see what David says. Nevertheless, that middle section is not memorized, so I need to fix that STAT. The outer sections are fairly present in my memory banks, but the piece as a whole feels a little uncomfortable.. not good cause this is one of the pieces that I've had in my binder for the longest...(I will get a lecture about it not being prepared enough, Im sure). But the plan is still to work as hard as I can until the lesson and thereafter. Nevermind, I just listened to the recording, and he plays the middle just the tempo I play it at... but I don't like the recording.. I'll play it better and more stylistically... so I feel better.
Bach is coming along quite nicely, though I need to start forcing it to be stayed in my memory. There's one 4-bar section that is the devil. It takes me 3 times as many times playing it to succesfully move up the metronome, but still it's not secure.. and its 20 metronome markings slower than the rest of it.... I have been spending more time on it alone than any other part of the fugue.... I'm still gonna work at the P and F and get them as fast as I can get them.. which still won't be fast enough, but I'm fine with that. I'm really enjoying them, though... which is good cause I wasn't a super big fan. I had told David to pick any one for me, because I wasn't picky and I respected and love all Bach. He picked a fast one.. and I've only ever done slow Bach... so its good for contrast, but ya... it's grown on me, and now Im excited to play it! yay!
anyway, off to productivity!
I practiced last night, but Im sorry to say it was one of my less productive evenings. I didn't have music for Mozart or Scriabin, but I decided I needed to run them through anyway, cause I haven't touched them in a week or more.... (Bad Michael). They were in predictable shape for my lack of attention. That's something I need to attend to. At the same time, the Mozart had gelled in it's offtime. It's an odd thing that after leaving a piece alone for a while, your subconscious gets used to it... so now if I spiff up the notes, it will be in ship shape. The Scriabin was not so gelled.... I need to work hard on the notes again and make them comfortable.
I worked some more on brahms and Bach last night. I worked on the memory and notes of the first 2 pages, and played the other 2 for Deena, there was one spot that I flubbed, but I feel confident in them as a whole. I felt the other pages coming into my memory, so Im sure that whole piece will be ready and set for my next lesson... thursday I think.
I didn't really work on the Capriccio, although I played through the problematic middle section for Deena, she agreed with me that it should go any faster than I even played it, but recordings tell me differently... we'll see what David says. Nevertheless, that middle section is not memorized, so I need to fix that STAT. The outer sections are fairly present in my memory banks, but the piece as a whole feels a little uncomfortable.. not good cause this is one of the pieces that I've had in my binder for the longest...(I will get a lecture about it not being prepared enough, Im sure). But the plan is still to work as hard as I can until the lesson and thereafter. Nevermind, I just listened to the recording, and he plays the middle just the tempo I play it at... but I don't like the recording.. I'll play it better and more stylistically... so I feel better.
Bach is coming along quite nicely, though I need to start forcing it to be stayed in my memory. There's one 4-bar section that is the devil. It takes me 3 times as many times playing it to succesfully move up the metronome, but still it's not secure.. and its 20 metronome markings slower than the rest of it.... I have been spending more time on it alone than any other part of the fugue.... I'm still gonna work at the P and F and get them as fast as I can get them.. which still won't be fast enough, but I'm fine with that. I'm really enjoying them, though... which is good cause I wasn't a super big fan. I had told David to pick any one for me, because I wasn't picky and I respected and love all Bach. He picked a fast one.. and I've only ever done slow Bach... so its good for contrast, but ya... it's grown on me, and now Im excited to play it! yay!
anyway, off to productivity!
Sunday, February 12, 2006
weekend
the best thing about this weekend is that it just won't end...
next week is reading week so I don't have school! yippee!!
I practiced last night in the hall at the school. The piano was so perfectly in tune, it was wonderful... auditions are on so i guess thats an event worth tuning it for. It sounded great, and it's rewarding to practice on a piano thats in tune. My piano at home isn't, I need to get that fixed SOON! But I suppose that it's probably closer to the music Bach intended... ya thats it, my piano is out of tune enough that it could classify as well-tempered rather than equal-tempered. Nevertheless, practicing was productive last night... the Bach fugue is in good condition now, better than it had been. Im starting to have some issues with the speed of the prelude, but I'll keep working at that.
Brahms is coming along, slow but sure. The memory is appearing to be there. So I know it can be done. With the Intermezzo.. it's a matter of getting the first 2 pages securely memorized and then having more freedom with it. It's slow and luscious... so much room for musicality and I'm excited about that. The Cappriccio needs more speed, especially the middle section. It's supposed to be a little slower than the outsides, not to the extent that I am doing. It's full of awkward jumps and large reaches. I can only practice it for a little while before my hands hurt from over extension. "Hard-practicing"is great for bach and mozart and lighter textures and contrapuntal stuff, but not so good for chordal stuff that is just plain massive.
In terms of that practice schedule, I'm behind, theres no other way of putting it. I have readapted my schedule to have me prepared a week later than planned, but that is still a full 2 weeks before my recital, within the paramaters David set! I'm not feeling confident yet about preparation, because I know there is still a lot of work ahead of me. Yet it seems withing grasp.. a good thing cause if it didn't I would be freaking out!
Last night, I also looked at all the music I have to play for accompanying in festival... Why is it that the hardest pieces are on the day OF my recital. Im in the process of seeing if some of these are possible. One of them is on the fast-repeated notes level close to the Erlking. Another one has 7 flats. Alas, I will go and see how much of them I can learn/play tonight, and then make a decision based on that. I don't want to be the kind of accompanist that keeps turning work away, but at the same time I need to keep my recital as priority number one.
Here we go!
next week is reading week so I don't have school! yippee!!
I practiced last night in the hall at the school. The piano was so perfectly in tune, it was wonderful... auditions are on so i guess thats an event worth tuning it for. It sounded great, and it's rewarding to practice on a piano thats in tune. My piano at home isn't, I need to get that fixed SOON! But I suppose that it's probably closer to the music Bach intended... ya thats it, my piano is out of tune enough that it could classify as well-tempered rather than equal-tempered. Nevertheless, practicing was productive last night... the Bach fugue is in good condition now, better than it had been. Im starting to have some issues with the speed of the prelude, but I'll keep working at that.
Brahms is coming along, slow but sure. The memory is appearing to be there. So I know it can be done. With the Intermezzo.. it's a matter of getting the first 2 pages securely memorized and then having more freedom with it. It's slow and luscious... so much room for musicality and I'm excited about that. The Cappriccio needs more speed, especially the middle section. It's supposed to be a little slower than the outsides, not to the extent that I am doing. It's full of awkward jumps and large reaches. I can only practice it for a little while before my hands hurt from over extension. "Hard-practicing"is great for bach and mozart and lighter textures and contrapuntal stuff, but not so good for chordal stuff that is just plain massive.
In terms of that practice schedule, I'm behind, theres no other way of putting it. I have readapted my schedule to have me prepared a week later than planned, but that is still a full 2 weeks before my recital, within the paramaters David set! I'm not feeling confident yet about preparation, because I know there is still a lot of work ahead of me. Yet it seems withing grasp.. a good thing cause if it didn't I would be freaking out!
Last night, I also looked at all the music I have to play for accompanying in festival... Why is it that the hardest pieces are on the day OF my recital. Im in the process of seeing if some of these are possible. One of them is on the fast-repeated notes level close to the Erlking. Another one has 7 flats. Alas, I will go and see how much of them I can learn/play tonight, and then make a decision based on that. I don't want to be the kind of accompanist that keeps turning work away, but at the same time I need to keep my recital as priority number one.
Here we go!
Friday, February 10, 2006
This is a self-awareness type thingy. It could be interesting to see how much or little my views of myself are with yours...
Go here and describe me...
thanks
Go here and describe me...
thanks
Post #121
for those of you keeping track, I've been posting a lot... somewhere between every day and every second day.... Wow! I even impress myself...
also with the number... if I grouped my posts in elevens, this would be the eleventh eleventh post I've written! A lazy bakers gross... if you will.
Today was a good day. It was the last day of classes before reading week! It was also a midterm exam for our 20'th century class! I'm still glad I took the time I did to learn/study the material, but i didn't need to do that. We were all pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.
We celebrated by going for lunch and wine/beer at the restaurant on campus. Good times. It was actually really good times, kicked back and relaxed for a long while. I left when it was close to time I needed to leave to get to ballet class tonight.
This means, that i didn't practice today at all, but thats excuseable because its reading weekend....and I'll be productive soon anyway.
Thats right, as opposed to those who will be relaxing this week, I have some major things to get done:
I need to prepare both my Brahms and Bach pieces for this week and then the lesson once we're back at it. I also have to make sure the other pieces(Scriabin and Mozart) are still in good shape, something I have been neglecting lately. With academic stuff and business in general, I haven't been getting much practicing done. While this isn't good in general, I have been as efficient as I could be with the time I have had. Once I'm finished here, I'll practice some tonight, then who knows. Lordy, its already 9pm.... gee golly where does the time go.
Aside from my personal rep, I need to take the time to really learn the pieces I am accompanying in the festival. Since a lot of them are right around/within hours of my recital, I don't want to have to be worrying about practicing them, when I should be devoting my time to recital preparedness! Most of the little kid stuff is fine, but the stuff for older people/classmates will take some effort to learn. Effort that needs to be spent now, rather than later.
I need to finish my composition... thats right: FINISH IT! we had set the first lesson back after reading week to be the due date. Even though this means nothing, I want to stick to it, so I can get it to the performers in enough time, and so I can keep on track and make sure it isn't interfering with my other stuff like recital.
I need to force myself to exercise everyday this week. I don't really have time committments, and if I can stick to it for a week, then I'll have less trouble keeping at it, when things are a little busier.
I also want to get a bunch of reading done. I'm back on the improvisaton kick, so I have source books, and I want to do the research groundwork so that I don't have to reread stuff, or re-search when it comes time to compiling info and sources.
also with the number... if I grouped my posts in elevens, this would be the eleventh eleventh post I've written! A lazy bakers gross... if you will.
Today was a good day. It was the last day of classes before reading week! It was also a midterm exam for our 20'th century class! I'm still glad I took the time I did to learn/study the material, but i didn't need to do that. We were all pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.
We celebrated by going for lunch and wine/beer at the restaurant on campus. Good times. It was actually really good times, kicked back and relaxed for a long while. I left when it was close to time I needed to leave to get to ballet class tonight.
This means, that i didn't practice today at all, but thats excuseable because its reading weekend....and I'll be productive soon anyway.
Thats right, as opposed to those who will be relaxing this week, I have some major things to get done:
I need to prepare both my Brahms and Bach pieces for this week and then the lesson once we're back at it. I also have to make sure the other pieces(Scriabin and Mozart) are still in good shape, something I have been neglecting lately. With academic stuff and business in general, I haven't been getting much practicing done. While this isn't good in general, I have been as efficient as I could be with the time I have had. Once I'm finished here, I'll practice some tonight, then who knows. Lordy, its already 9pm.... gee golly where does the time go.
Aside from my personal rep, I need to take the time to really learn the pieces I am accompanying in the festival. Since a lot of them are right around/within hours of my recital, I don't want to have to be worrying about practicing them, when I should be devoting my time to recital preparedness! Most of the little kid stuff is fine, but the stuff for older people/classmates will take some effort to learn. Effort that needs to be spent now, rather than later.
I need to finish my composition... thats right: FINISH IT! we had set the first lesson back after reading week to be the due date. Even though this means nothing, I want to stick to it, so I can get it to the performers in enough time, and so I can keep on track and make sure it isn't interfering with my other stuff like recital.
I need to force myself to exercise everyday this week. I don't really have time committments, and if I can stick to it for a week, then I'll have less trouble keeping at it, when things are a little busier.
I also want to get a bunch of reading done. I'm back on the improvisaton kick, so I have source books, and I want to do the research groundwork so that I don't have to reread stuff, or re-search when it comes time to compiling info and sources.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
hello!
i got a letter from the CDA today, just as I expected, I am not a good enough volunterr/youth activist and advocator to go to South Africa. Alghouth I would have loved to go, I didn't think I would be chosen as national representative. Nevertheless, I actually got a personalized letter of response... not just with my name plunked in. They took the time to let me know what they liked about my application and the likes. Kniowing the amount of applicants, I have reason to believe that when they said my application was given serious consideration, I was one of the top considerants.
Oi, what an academic time.. I'm doing a paper which Im going to finish soon, then I have to study for my 20th century exam on friday. Luckily after that, its READING WEEK!!!! which means:
PRACTICE practice practice, and compose, and read and stuff!!! more school based than most would aim for.. but I have a recital coming up soon!
I was just expressing to my friend tiffy the other night how I am finally excited about music again.. for a short while.. I was getting down because of competitions, and I actually let thoughts of not going to grad school get into my head. craziness, but now all is well again, and I'm inspired about making a difference in the world through music!
I went to a book sale today and bought some books... there weren't too many good music ones.. oh well. I did however buy the first volume of Goethe's poetry!! IN Deutsche!, what a gem!
Im getting a little worried aobut hte Ottawa Job opportunity... I haven't heard anything backfrom that woman as to whether or not she has recieved the cd I sent her. It's been almost 3 weeks... I want to know if I should even think of this possibility, or should I be trying hard to find something else. If I can afford it, theres an opportinuty for a summer program for free if I go with a predetermined group... Im sure my chamber group would be willing.. Sarah lives in the place where it is... apparently its free and free room and board and tuition and everything if you go as a group.... this is why its so appealing... its just a matter of: 'can I make enough moeny to live off of next year just working a month at the factory before I run off?"
My priorities for the summer are 1) if I can work in Ottawa 2) Run away to the chamber music thing and 3) work for a short while at the factory and then do music jobs around the city for the rest of the summer.
who knows what is to come.
Oi, what an academic time.. I'm doing a paper which Im going to finish soon, then I have to study for my 20th century exam on friday. Luckily after that, its READING WEEK!!!! which means:
PRACTICE practice practice, and compose, and read and stuff!!! more school based than most would aim for.. but I have a recital coming up soon!
I was just expressing to my friend tiffy the other night how I am finally excited about music again.. for a short while.. I was getting down because of competitions, and I actually let thoughts of not going to grad school get into my head. craziness, but now all is well again, and I'm inspired about making a difference in the world through music!
I went to a book sale today and bought some books... there weren't too many good music ones.. oh well. I did however buy the first volume of Goethe's poetry!! IN Deutsche!, what a gem!
Im getting a little worried aobut hte Ottawa Job opportunity... I haven't heard anything backfrom that woman as to whether or not she has recieved the cd I sent her. It's been almost 3 weeks... I want to know if I should even think of this possibility, or should I be trying hard to find something else. If I can afford it, theres an opportinuty for a summer program for free if I go with a predetermined group... Im sure my chamber group would be willing.. Sarah lives in the place where it is... apparently its free and free room and board and tuition and everything if you go as a group.... this is why its so appealing... its just a matter of: 'can I make enough moeny to live off of next year just working a month at the factory before I run off?"
My priorities for the summer are 1) if I can work in Ottawa 2) Run away to the chamber music thing and 3) work for a short while at the factory and then do music jobs around the city for the rest of the summer.
who knows what is to come.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
What a wonderful day!
No school today, cause it's tuesday. Also, because it's tuesday, Fi and I went to Perkins for tea and knitting... which has become diet coke and studying. She did reading and I did Beethoven Analysis. I've decided it will be done for friday. I spent this evening and some time this afternoon doing just the harmonic analysis... it took much more time than I had expected... however I also ended up paying attention to the thematic aspects at the same time.
I need to wake up earlier on tuesdays and actually start working sooner. I've gotten in the habit of sleeping in til 11 or noon, and then not actually getting any work done til 1 or later... When I had to leave the house at 3:30 today, it didnt leave me nearly enough time to be productive.
The reason I had to leave today was that I was accompanying singers at their rehearsals in preparation for festival. It went well and gave me a good idea of what to expect. There's such a huge difference in accompanying young singers.. sometimes I forget just how much university student's know and have experience in. With younguns, you have to find a balance between following them(allowing them some control) but also keeping the tempo up or helping with notes depending on the particular weaknesses.
One of the teachers I was playing for tonight wasn't able to be there due to a family crisis (she had to have her doggie put down). Her student's still came so that they could meet with me. As a result, I got to give voice lessons/coachings. It was an interesting and exciting experience for me.
The first girl was quite young.. maybe 11 or something.. I dunno... She sang very very well.. which is good, cause I wouldn't dare do anything technical with a voice so young. The first song, she did everything well and told the story very convincingly. The second song, she didn't have the same connection with. It was "little lamb, who made thee", so before I went on to explain the text, I asked her mother if they were religious... the girl answered "my father is a minister" so I chose my words very wisely and was always watching for her mothers head to perk up if I was treading bad lines... All went well, and without preaching, I was able to bring her attention to the major ideas of the piece and got her to treat the lines differently and it really added to the colour and shape of the song.
The second girl was quite a bit older and we had fun. Her songs were going well. We worked on some tricky areas with counting... and who better to help with rhythm, than someone who isn't a singer..... (tee hee hee). With her, I worked a little more on technical things... sorta. I was trying to get her to relax, which apparently is no new concept to her... she said all her teachers have told her that. I tried, probably the same way all the others tried. It was sorta working and there were some much nicer colours when she let them out.
Anyway, this was a great experience.
On the bus ride home, I finally finished my book I've been reading: Paul Hindemith's "A Composer's World"! This is the first long book I've finished in a long long time. Alice in Wonderland was a step in the right direction, but now with this one down, I'm officialy off my reading hiatus. The book has been causing me to think of my role as a musician, and the worlds relatoin to music... And this last chapter really brought it all together and has inspired me. It has reaffirmed the importance of the music generalist.
I felt like it was speaking right to me when it talked about amateur musicians. It talked about how as an amateur singer or violinist or whatnot, there are community bands and choirs to take part in, but as a pianist there isnt really anything. An amateur pianist can never be satisfied, because they know how the music should sound, but don't have the technique to make it happen. This has strenghtened what David has been saying about how even if I'm not going to be a performer, I need to be professional in my pianistic endeavours. This will save me from the fate of an amateur who will never be satisfied.
The book also talks about the dissappearance of the true musical amateur... It used to be that 100 years ago, almost everyone know how to play piano or fiddle, or something. And those who didn't didn't know anything about music. That was how people experienced music, they coulnd't just listen to it. Now, you don't need any skill or knowledge to 'experience' music. We as a culture have delusioned ourselves into thinking that people know music because htye listen to it. We have poisoned ourselves with constant noise, be it in a store, or on the radio, or mp3 player... The blazing majority of people don't actually know or understand the musical elements of what they are listening to. Hindemith warns that this will develop into (currently it may well have) music PURELY for entertainment and explains why this is so detrimental to society.
his solution is that composers need to know their place, and need to create music and opportunities for amateurs, as the professionals are elite and far removed from the real world. As I've been reading this, I'm seeing examples of it all over the place and it's frightening... his predictions are quite accurate, and I worry as to the extent that the ramifications are destined.
I would love for people to read this book. There are sections for every type of musician, and I feel it is an invaluable resource for getting an idea of the importance, role and risks of each aspect of musical life; be it educator, performer, composer, academic... you name it. Talk to me about it, theres more to say but not here.
The only downside of the day is that, because of Beethoven, I didn't really get much practicing done... althogh I had half an hour at the Conservatory between soem lessons and I can now play all the notes in the brahms intermezzo... which is a good accomplishment.never mind the fact that I'm behind on thepractice goals schedule.. but we'll find out just how much tomorrow, at my lesson.
I need to wake up earlier on tuesdays and actually start working sooner. I've gotten in the habit of sleeping in til 11 or noon, and then not actually getting any work done til 1 or later... When I had to leave the house at 3:30 today, it didnt leave me nearly enough time to be productive.
The reason I had to leave today was that I was accompanying singers at their rehearsals in preparation for festival. It went well and gave me a good idea of what to expect. There's such a huge difference in accompanying young singers.. sometimes I forget just how much university student's know and have experience in. With younguns, you have to find a balance between following them(allowing them some control) but also keeping the tempo up or helping with notes depending on the particular weaknesses.
One of the teachers I was playing for tonight wasn't able to be there due to a family crisis (she had to have her doggie put down). Her student's still came so that they could meet with me. As a result, I got to give voice lessons/coachings. It was an interesting and exciting experience for me.
The first girl was quite young.. maybe 11 or something.. I dunno... She sang very very well.. which is good, cause I wouldn't dare do anything technical with a voice so young. The first song, she did everything well and told the story very convincingly. The second song, she didn't have the same connection with. It was "little lamb, who made thee", so before I went on to explain the text, I asked her mother if they were religious... the girl answered "my father is a minister" so I chose my words very wisely and was always watching for her mothers head to perk up if I was treading bad lines... All went well, and without preaching, I was able to bring her attention to the major ideas of the piece and got her to treat the lines differently and it really added to the colour and shape of the song.
The second girl was quite a bit older and we had fun. Her songs were going well. We worked on some tricky areas with counting... and who better to help with rhythm, than someone who isn't a singer..... (tee hee hee). With her, I worked a little more on technical things... sorta. I was trying to get her to relax, which apparently is no new concept to her... she said all her teachers have told her that. I tried, probably the same way all the others tried. It was sorta working and there were some much nicer colours when she let them out.
Anyway, this was a great experience.
On the bus ride home, I finally finished my book I've been reading: Paul Hindemith's "A Composer's World"! This is the first long book I've finished in a long long time. Alice in Wonderland was a step in the right direction, but now with this one down, I'm officialy off my reading hiatus. The book has been causing me to think of my role as a musician, and the worlds relatoin to music... And this last chapter really brought it all together and has inspired me. It has reaffirmed the importance of the music generalist.
I felt like it was speaking right to me when it talked about amateur musicians. It talked about how as an amateur singer or violinist or whatnot, there are community bands and choirs to take part in, but as a pianist there isnt really anything. An amateur pianist can never be satisfied, because they know how the music should sound, but don't have the technique to make it happen. This has strenghtened what David has been saying about how even if I'm not going to be a performer, I need to be professional in my pianistic endeavours. This will save me from the fate of an amateur who will never be satisfied.
The book also talks about the dissappearance of the true musical amateur... It used to be that 100 years ago, almost everyone know how to play piano or fiddle, or something. And those who didn't didn't know anything about music. That was how people experienced music, they coulnd't just listen to it. Now, you don't need any skill or knowledge to 'experience' music. We as a culture have delusioned ourselves into thinking that people know music because htye listen to it. We have poisoned ourselves with constant noise, be it in a store, or on the radio, or mp3 player... The blazing majority of people don't actually know or understand the musical elements of what they are listening to. Hindemith warns that this will develop into (currently it may well have) music PURELY for entertainment and explains why this is so detrimental to society.
his solution is that composers need to know their place, and need to create music and opportunities for amateurs, as the professionals are elite and far removed from the real world. As I've been reading this, I'm seeing examples of it all over the place and it's frightening... his predictions are quite accurate, and I worry as to the extent that the ramifications are destined.
I would love for people to read this book. There are sections for every type of musician, and I feel it is an invaluable resource for getting an idea of the importance, role and risks of each aspect of musical life; be it educator, performer, composer, academic... you name it. Talk to me about it, theres more to say but not here.
The only downside of the day is that, because of Beethoven, I didn't really get much practicing done... althogh I had half an hour at the Conservatory between soem lessons and I can now play all the notes in the brahms intermezzo... which is a good accomplishment.never mind the fact that I'm behind on thepractice goals schedule.. but we'll find out just how much tomorrow, at my lesson.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
wow, fast paced day,
MRMTA is finally done with for this round. I felt good about it. The majority of it was really quite good. I made sure to be paying attention to the broad picture of the piece as well as to shape each individual phrase in realtion to others and whatnot. There were a few places of less than gracious playing... I was not at all happy with my final variation in the first movement... it's supposed to be this rollicking finale, and i truly mucked it up. But I did learn something from my last lesson. David told me that I needed to make sure that no matter what, you play things with finesse, so always round off phrases and whatnot... so I did. Despite the badness that had just occurred, I played the last 4 bars with confidence exuding from every pore of my body; had I just heard that bit, I would have regretted missing a great performance.. (hahaha sucker).
The minuet and trio went better than normal.. everytime I play it it gets better, so I'm glad to have played today, at the very least to have had a chance to improve.
In terms of the third movement, the only mistake I can recall was that on one of the reprises,or maybe the repeat on the first time, I didn't terrace the dynamics the way I normally do... but thats nothing. Definately a strong close!
I found out that apparently there are only 3 prizes to go out at my level... only 5 people of all the pianists and instrumentalists will get to go on to the next round... for fricks sake, thats not worth it. At least the adjudicator gives commentary, so I'm told. heres hoping I will get that and have the feedback before my recital.
As soon as I finished playing, I had to head off to some sort of unnamed activity downtown. That unnamed activity ended at 4:30, and I had to get to my pharmacy before it closes at 5... so I booked it back to St James and actually made it in good time. I got my drugs and chocolate and came home.
BEST PART OF THE DAY!
I walked in the door and I smelled supper. Not only just supper, but my mom made my favorite thing for dinner. Something she's never made before,m and they turned out super well!
Chicken Fingers. Thats right, homemade chicken fingers. and they were even healthy cause they were baked not fried! MmMmMmMmmm Delicious!
So that's been the day. Now I have to prioritize for the next things on my list. For tomorrow I need to have a substantial amount of composing done... to show that I haven't wasted these past 3 weeks... I also have to get the bulk of my analysis work done on this Beethoven String Quartet so that I can get it typed up and stuff. I'm gonna hand it in on Wednesday, but I don't want it to be last minute and interfering with my practicing.... which is the other thing on the list. Apparently Brahms is to be completely learned and memorized and up to tempo for wednesday. I will pretend like thats possible, but ya... not likely... what I will be able to do is have iut securely learned and on the road to being memorized, not quite up to tempo. But who knows, anything is possible.
MRMTA is finally done with for this round. I felt good about it. The majority of it was really quite good. I made sure to be paying attention to the broad picture of the piece as well as to shape each individual phrase in realtion to others and whatnot. There were a few places of less than gracious playing... I was not at all happy with my final variation in the first movement... it's supposed to be this rollicking finale, and i truly mucked it up. But I did learn something from my last lesson. David told me that I needed to make sure that no matter what, you play things with finesse, so always round off phrases and whatnot... so I did. Despite the badness that had just occurred, I played the last 4 bars with confidence exuding from every pore of my body; had I just heard that bit, I would have regretted missing a great performance.. (hahaha sucker).
The minuet and trio went better than normal.. everytime I play it it gets better, so I'm glad to have played today, at the very least to have had a chance to improve.
In terms of the third movement, the only mistake I can recall was that on one of the reprises,or maybe the repeat on the first time, I didn't terrace the dynamics the way I normally do... but thats nothing. Definately a strong close!
I found out that apparently there are only 3 prizes to go out at my level... only 5 people of all the pianists and instrumentalists will get to go on to the next round... for fricks sake, thats not worth it. At least the adjudicator gives commentary, so I'm told. heres hoping I will get that and have the feedback before my recital.
As soon as I finished playing, I had to head off to some sort of unnamed activity downtown. That unnamed activity ended at 4:30, and I had to get to my pharmacy before it closes at 5... so I booked it back to St James and actually made it in good time. I got my drugs and chocolate and came home.
BEST PART OF THE DAY!
I walked in the door and I smelled supper. Not only just supper, but my mom made my favorite thing for dinner. Something she's never made before,m and they turned out super well!
Chicken Fingers. Thats right, homemade chicken fingers. and they were even healthy cause they were baked not fried! MmMmMmMmmm Delicious!
So that's been the day. Now I have to prioritize for the next things on my list. For tomorrow I need to have a substantial amount of composing done... to show that I haven't wasted these past 3 weeks... I also have to get the bulk of my analysis work done on this Beethoven String Quartet so that I can get it typed up and stuff. I'm gonna hand it in on Wednesday, but I don't want it to be last minute and interfering with my practicing.... which is the other thing on the list. Apparently Brahms is to be completely learned and memorized and up to tempo for wednesday. I will pretend like thats possible, but ya... not likely... what I will be able to do is have iut securely learned and on the road to being memorized, not quite up to tempo. But who knows, anything is possible.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Good day! productive and the sort
long day, but it didn't really feel like it.
ballet from 9-11:30 then to the school for MRMTA accompanying.
Got to school, and ran through pieces with Jason, then rehearsed and then spent some time alone fixing some parts.. not enough time doing this i suppose.
I felt really good about 2 of his songs. I knew the notes well enough to concentrate on listening to him and whatnot... I have such respect for professional accompanists, and the collaborative pianists in this world. The other song was a terrible arrangement of Handel, I really doubt it was his writing for piano.. it might have worked better on harpsichord, but not so hot on piano. I was trying to find a balance of altering the notes and stuff, but because I was changing the notes, there was room for it to have been cleaner. Regardless, my playing didn't cause any problems or uncertainties with the singer, so Im good on that account.
After Jason, I had many hours before the next singer: 3 hours. I did some sitting, for a short while, but I practiced the hell out of my Bach. I decided that I would put in the effort to get the fugue to last week's tempo expectation.... It was more work than I would have thought... in the 2 or 3 hours of work I did on it, I got HALF of it reliably to the tempo I needed. Still more work to do! oi!. I was feeling rather inspired to finish the whole fugue, but I realised that I have to play a sonata tomorrow. Deena and I went to Frisco's for some dindin and then we practiced this evening. The sonata is feeling pretty secure, but I went over and over the tricky bits so that, with any luck they will be cooperative tomorrow!
Back up a second, the second singer I played for was also a good time. everything went well, although she was nervous, but that happens. She sang beautifully, and our ensemble was pretty damned good!
Later this evening, ca. 11:30pm, I played the viola along with an impromptu trio of heart and soul. Last night was the first time I ever played a string instrument and it was pretty scary... mostly for the people around me. The viola experience was pretty cool.
SPeaking of viola, I think that is the instrument I want to write my other piece for, for my comp course. I was suppposed to think of instrumentation for a piece.. keeping the option open for a solo instrument... I want to do viola cause Sara plays it, and its a cool instrument. The good thing about string instruments is that they are predominantly melodic instruments, but through the use of double/triple stops, you can achieve chords and polyphony. Lots of exciting options! yay
ballet from 9-11:30 then to the school for MRMTA accompanying.
Got to school, and ran through pieces with Jason, then rehearsed and then spent some time alone fixing some parts.. not enough time doing this i suppose.
I felt really good about 2 of his songs. I knew the notes well enough to concentrate on listening to him and whatnot... I have such respect for professional accompanists, and the collaborative pianists in this world. The other song was a terrible arrangement of Handel, I really doubt it was his writing for piano.. it might have worked better on harpsichord, but not so hot on piano. I was trying to find a balance of altering the notes and stuff, but because I was changing the notes, there was room for it to have been cleaner. Regardless, my playing didn't cause any problems or uncertainties with the singer, so Im good on that account.
After Jason, I had many hours before the next singer: 3 hours. I did some sitting, for a short while, but I practiced the hell out of my Bach. I decided that I would put in the effort to get the fugue to last week's tempo expectation.... It was more work than I would have thought... in the 2 or 3 hours of work I did on it, I got HALF of it reliably to the tempo I needed. Still more work to do! oi!. I was feeling rather inspired to finish the whole fugue, but I realised that I have to play a sonata tomorrow. Deena and I went to Frisco's for some dindin and then we practiced this evening. The sonata is feeling pretty secure, but I went over and over the tricky bits so that, with any luck they will be cooperative tomorrow!
Back up a second, the second singer I played for was also a good time. everything went well, although she was nervous, but that happens. She sang beautifully, and our ensemble was pretty damned good!
Later this evening, ca. 11:30pm, I played the viola along with an impromptu trio of heart and soul. Last night was the first time I ever played a string instrument and it was pretty scary... mostly for the people around me. The viola experience was pretty cool.
SPeaking of viola, I think that is the instrument I want to write my other piece for, for my comp course. I was suppposed to think of instrumentation for a piece.. keeping the option open for a solo instrument... I want to do viola cause Sara plays it, and its a cool instrument. The good thing about string instruments is that they are predominantly melodic instruments, but through the use of double/triple stops, you can achieve chords and polyphony. Lots of exciting options! yay
Friday, February 03, 2006
Wow, from chocolate cake and a wonderful flute recital earlier this evening.. the tone of thought has gotten heavy and darker....
1) found out that my school has implemented a huge program cut, accounting for a large number of students within the faculty which they brought in specifically for the program. I'm not surprised, they knew they couldn't afford the programming, and they needed to boost funding, so how else were they gonna get billions of new students. They can't even afford to put a frickin new battery in a clock, how could they expect to fund 2 full time faculty and other associate profs.?!? It's obvious that they are using the students, and not aiming to provide the best education. Grr, the roots of political upheaval are dwelling in me.
2) on a friend's blog, theres developed a heated posting type conversation thing about GMO's and whatnot. I'm not informed enough to have an opinion about that, I can't even control the postharvest happenings of my food, why I eat so muhc processed garb, how can I expect to care about what happens before that.. howeverm it's good that people are thinking and actually presenting well informed arguments. Heavy reading, thats all... not complaining.. just mumbling,.
I practiced tonight, and things will be good for MRMTA. Still work to be done, but now I needn't be nervous, and it's great to have these performance opportunities to prepare me for my recital.
I've reached a new stage in formal design within improvisations. Up until now, I have struggled with being able to recall much more than a melodic line and the style of accompaniment. However, tonight, the last thing I played was a classical style improvisation in Rondo form. I set up a theme that was longer than normal, in AABA form so it had a secondary theme type thing to keep in mind. I was able to remember it clearly each time I brought it back. I did make changes to the accompanimnet, but this was a concious decision, compositionally to make improvements. I also made an effort to work on the art of transition, and I actually successfully used my own thematic material to work my way back to the Reprise material...
I think the aspect of this that I'm enjoying most is the fact that everything I'm learning has it's applications to improvising. Im using things I'm learning from Advanced analysis as well as technique from Mozart and Beethoven stuff to improve my improvisations.
1) found out that my school has implemented a huge program cut, accounting for a large number of students within the faculty which they brought in specifically for the program. I'm not surprised, they knew they couldn't afford the programming, and they needed to boost funding, so how else were they gonna get billions of new students. They can't even afford to put a frickin new battery in a clock, how could they expect to fund 2 full time faculty and other associate profs.?!? It's obvious that they are using the students, and not aiming to provide the best education. Grr, the roots of political upheaval are dwelling in me.
2) on a friend's blog, theres developed a heated posting type conversation thing about GMO's and whatnot. I'm not informed enough to have an opinion about that, I can't even control the postharvest happenings of my food, why I eat so muhc processed garb, how can I expect to care about what happens before that.. howeverm it's good that people are thinking and actually presenting well informed arguments. Heavy reading, thats all... not complaining.. just mumbling,.
I practiced tonight, and things will be good for MRMTA. Still work to be done, but now I needn't be nervous, and it's great to have these performance opportunities to prepare me for my recital.
I've reached a new stage in formal design within improvisations. Up until now, I have struggled with being able to recall much more than a melodic line and the style of accompaniment. However, tonight, the last thing I played was a classical style improvisation in Rondo form. I set up a theme that was longer than normal, in AABA form so it had a secondary theme type thing to keep in mind. I was able to remember it clearly each time I brought it back. I did make changes to the accompanimnet, but this was a concious decision, compositionally to make improvements. I also made an effort to work on the art of transition, and I actually successfully used my own thematic material to work my way back to the Reprise material...
I think the aspect of this that I'm enjoying most is the fact that everything I'm learning has it's applications to improvising. Im using things I'm learning from Advanced analysis as well as technique from Mozart and Beethoven stuff to improve my improvisations.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Went to the funeral today. It was beautiful, and hearing/learning things about my great aunt was wonderful. I knew the basics about her: that she was a strong hearted and headed woman, with a warm heart and grace. The things I heard today didn't surprise me because they fit into her personality, but they were inspiring little tidbits such as:
*when she was 16, she lied about her age so that she could be admitted to the women's army something or other, during the second world war.
*10 days before her death, she was hospitalized and informed that she had terminal pancreatic cancer. Rather than showing fear and being self-pitying, she accepted her fate with maturity and wisdom, showing and providing strength for those around her. She helped make arrangements for her funeral, and was apparently an excellent, even helpful patient at the Hospital where she was staying. After just a few days in the hospital, they allowed her to return home. Apparently she died very peacefully in her bed with a warm smile upon her face just after a beautiful sunrise, with loved ones at her side.
There is a beauty and inspiration in that and everything about her.
The funeral was in the same church as my grandmother's was, just a short while ago. The same organist and scenario were very reminiscent.
I really feel that funerals are one of the most beautiful practices in our culture.
I took the rest of the day off. I could have made my second class, but it was nice to have a day to relax. Im going to practice a bit now, then eat and then it's off to the school for Charmaine's flute recital.
Indeed it has been a good day.
*when she was 16, she lied about her age so that she could be admitted to the women's army something or other, during the second world war.
*10 days before her death, she was hospitalized and informed that she had terminal pancreatic cancer. Rather than showing fear and being self-pitying, she accepted her fate with maturity and wisdom, showing and providing strength for those around her. She helped make arrangements for her funeral, and was apparently an excellent, even helpful patient at the Hospital where she was staying. After just a few days in the hospital, they allowed her to return home. Apparently she died very peacefully in her bed with a warm smile upon her face just after a beautiful sunrise, with loved ones at her side.
There is a beauty and inspiration in that and everything about her.
The funeral was in the same church as my grandmother's was, just a short while ago. The same organist and scenario were very reminiscent.
I really feel that funerals are one of the most beautiful practices in our culture.
I took the rest of the day off. I could have made my second class, but it was nice to have a day to relax. Im going to practice a bit now, then eat and then it's off to the school for Charmaine's flute recital.
Indeed it has been a good day.
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