Post # 402!

I always seem to miss the hundred mark by just a few...
To make it up, I have something special for you all!
I'm going to head out the door in a short bit to practice for the evening. I practiced for an hour or so this afternoon.. but even more importantly, I made this:
Keep in mind that this is only the rough copy... I have all the information and wording the way I think I want them to be...but I am definitely going to be tweaking the positions of everything and I might even experiment with some text colour... crazy, I know!

I don't think I'm going to put effort into even making a serious poster this year. I'm happy enough with this one... although I might hear something different from my piano teacher.
Anyway, comments and suggestions would be appreciated!

Note to self (and to whoever reads), I think that between regular work, accompanying festival, marking midterms and assignments as well as the struggle to fit practice time in... I might be doing too much to be productive enough... oopsie! Nevertheless, I continue that struggle!

Saxophone = not so much death

Our first rehearsal went super well today!
She's taking the piece a bit under the tempo indicated, which is well appreciated by me.
Our ensemble is really good.
It seems like a completely different world when I think back to first and second years, in the accompanying class; it was always a struggle to stay together with the singer/instrumentalist. I didn't know how to listen to their tempo and how they played around with the rhythm and tempo.
now that's like second nature to me. It's somewhat frustrating to think that it's something I actually tried to work on.... in the end, I remember that one day it just clicked.
anyway, now it's there and that's all I care about.
At the end of the rehearsal, it was just a consensus that we both just need to brush up our own individual parts and then when we get together again, it will be spectacular!

I came home and napped. It was wonderful!

I practiced for an hour and a half this afternoon and then there will be more this evening. As for now, I should run off and watch a lesson and then accompany someone in the festival!
Fun
Fun
Fun

My aunt left on her cruise today, oh ya, My aunt had been staying at my house for a few days. It was nice to spend some time with her... even though I was barely around the last few days...

Saxophone Music is the Death of Pianists-
this is a general rule.
It's really hard, bastards!
Generally fast and hard, and it's reductions of Orchestral accompaniments... and because the saxophone is quite the loud instrument, when its loud, it really needs to be loud...

This is me rushing to get this damned saxophone piece up to tempo for our first rehearsal tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning is that rehearsal.. and right before that is a meeting with a prof so that I can get the midterms I have to mark this week... I have a feeling I have something to do between festival classes now... Unfortunately, today was the only day I had classes two in a row such that I probably should have stayed at the church in between.
Today was mildly frustrating.. so much stuff spaced so far apart.. yet not far enough apart.... oh well.

Tomorrow will be better, after the rehearsal in the morning.. I have the whole afternoon to practice my own piano music. Evening = observing a piano lesson and accompanying.

I'm Hardcore!

I put in an 8 hour day of pianoing today.
4 hours of playing for Musical Theatre and then at least 4 hours of actual practice, maybe more.
I spent most of that time on Bach, a little working on a saxophone piece I'm accompanying. Except for the opening movement and the last 2 movements which I didn't get to today, I'd say the rest is pretty much ready to perform. Up to tempo and memorized. The first movement is over half memorized and almost up to tempo. I made some pretty substantial strides in that one tonight.
I swore a lot tonight. The people practicing around me were actually scared because I was so vehement in my angry swearing... I think I need some Valium to induce chilling out...
Tomorrow, the craziness starts.. for example tomorrow here's the schedule:
10-12 am accompanying a visiting Dance Choreographer... probably a modern class, but I don't really know what to expect.
12:30-1pm quick rehearsal for singer I'm accompanying at....
1:30 pm I'm not sure which song.
3pm accompanying a different singer at the same location, French song
5-6:30 pm Ballet class.
Evening - I need to find the motivation to practice. I slacked enough this weekend already, I can't afford to take any evenings off.
Luckily, even though the day is pretty full, the middle stuff doesn't really involve a lot of playing.. the individual songs are only 5 minutes...actually less. it's just a pain that I have to make the whole time available.. because I don't know where in the timeframe they actually perform.
The dance related stuff.. ya, I'll play for the entire time... so I guess I will have about 4 hours of playing in total for the whole day anyway...

My goal for this week... to not get stressed beyond reason.

I had plans to have been super productive on the practicing front this weekend, but once again.. things got in the way. Friday I got a little done, and tonight I practiced about an hour between dinner and a movie. I was productive during the time I spent.. So far Beethoven is in far better shape. So much more work to do...
I could have stayed up later on friday to practice more, but I needed the sleep- and i'm glad I did.. Saturday didn't plod on like it sometimes does. And saturdays are difficult.... I play for 6 hours of the day.. it's hard to stay motivated to play more... PLUS I don't want to overdo things and cause injury. Everything in moderation.. even hardcore practicing.
I went for Sushi with Heather and Gareth tonight. I was adventurous and tried some new things.... mostly they were pretty damned good.. but the last one was too adventurous for me... Squid.... it smelled bad.. so I was off to a bad start.. and then the texture... far too much chewing involved. but it wasn't terrible.. just a little queasy felt my stomach.
Anyway, tomorrow is another wonderful afternoon of musical theater and then I'm going to practice my ass off in the evening. I will most likely take all my stuff when I go to the ballet and then head straight to the school for practice-o-rama thereafter. I think it's reasonable to aim for 4 hours of practice tomorrow.. that would take me to about 9 hours of piano playing tomorrow.... we'll see!

well, McGill didn't want me, I'm not surprised UBC didn't either. And theirs was one of the later applications... just over 3 weeks since their application deadline and I already know that I've been rejected.
At least that's out of the way, the two schools I really really wanted to go to have made their decisions. Now I'll just wait to hear from the other schools that I'm not as excited about.
And these two schools were consistent; they both gave the same reason for not accepting me... "because your qualifications are not competitive with other applicants".

I'll admit that I'm pissy as a result of this, but i'm not going to let it actually effect me. I am focussed on my recital right now and I'm going to practice tonight. I had a rehearsal just before this, and I have another rehearsal tonight with the singers that I am accompanying this upcoming week in the music festival.
Speaking of.. I probably won't be going to many classes this next week.. Not that I have many to begin with.. but just another excuse to not go... as if I need one.

Right now I wish I had a fair but of sustainable disposable income.
Approximately $800 plus $375 per month onwards....
I have never wanted an insulin pump, it's a tube that sticks inside you to deliver insulin from this box thing that you attach to your belt or something... it's always seemed so yucky to be attached to something like that. To use it, you still have to carry a tester around with you, seems like too much technology to have me.
Anyway, I've come across something I want, but I can't have a) because it's not available in Canada yet and b) it's too much damned money
the OmniPod system. The only thing actually on your body is the pod thingy, which has the insulin in it. The other part is a handheld PDA thing from which you control the pod. Anyway, being sans tube is really what I find attractive about the system. I know now that if I was going to change from Multiple Daily Injections, it would be to this system, or the others like it which I hope will soon follow and then be available to me.

yep, lesson today was pretty bad.. mixture of not having practiced the days before and not sleeping the night before. I really have to change the morning lessons, they're not good for anyone... I'm not just using that as a random excuse.. it's a really good excuse. I just don't function in the morning.
The good side is that the disheartening aspects of my lesson actually inspired/convinced me to practice on the day of my lesson. I do want to be prepared and I'm going to work very hard from here on in. it's going to be difficult next week with all the extra accompanying.. as well I will have a fair bit of marking to do for a midterm and some theory assignments too I'm sure. Nevertheless, I don't have any assignments of my own to worry about before my recital.. Dare I say it's all practical stuff for the next little while.
Tonight I practiced Beethoven. I reacquainted myself with the first movement to a degree that it actually sounds like I've played it before.... The march is getting closer.. I pushed the whole thing forward a good 10 metronome points just tonight alone.. it's at a hundred now(more or less) and I'd be thrilled to get it to a solid 140... to say nothing of the160 wanted by the recording I have.... it's memorized too! but the trio is not so much.. and I'll push that tempo too...
I got to the final movement later int he evening.. it's getting closer to a reasonable tempo. Anyway, I'm happy with the work and progress I made tonight, and that's what I'm aiming for each time I sit down to practice from here on in.

I got to listen to one of my school mates play her piano pieces tonight as a run through for a competition tomorrow, I couldn't really express to her how wonderful it sounded and how much she has grown as a musician even from the last time I heard her perform. So many of the people in her year are amazing musicians! I'm very excited to hear their recitals the week before mine!

ok, assignment done
I made it funny... as in unprofessional... but in a cutesy... and I covered all the important stuff,, just phrased in an interesting way.
whatever, I'm making it sound far worse than it actually is.

I practiced a little too.. ish maybe 45 minutes.. now I have decided to go out with a friend in place of a good night's sleep. anyway, I'll practice a few minutes more while waiting

i already know tomorrow's lesson will not be reassuring.. just over 2 weeks before I need to be prepared (as in the two week before rule) THATS SCARRRRRRRRRRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hating this assignment.
I can't tell whether I'm hating it because it is a ridiculous assignment and we haven't actually been taught the pedagogical skills that we are being called upon to know and use for the assignment...
or
whether it's because this is my only academic course this term, and it is really the only thing right now preventing me from practicing and being very focussed on my recital.

It is both.
mostly the first one out of spite and malice

Speaking of things that take away focus from my recital:
Music Festival starts next week.
I have nowhere near as much business as last year, BUT it still looks as busy on my schedule.. well not really, but ya. I would love to just only have one focus to worry about.. my oh my that would be wonderful.. but apparently that never happens... ever!
Somehow I wish I had more festival accompanying to do for more money, but I really shouldn't and I won't.
but yes, I need to get on learning that rep.. most of it is simple, but there is a sax class I'm accompanying for, and saxophone repertoire is always insane!
For now, I should be done this project in under half an hour, then I will be able to reasonably get in about an hour and a bit of practice for my lesson tomorrow while leaving time to get a good night's sleep!

yuck, I started an assignment due thursday today... I should have started earlier, but then it just would have taken up three nights of my life instead of 2...
It's a stupid assignment that just takes up far too much time...
taking away far too much time from practicing..I did a bit of that today, but not enough.., and I wont do enough tomorrow either... but it's been a while since I had a lesson, so who knows what the verdict will be on.
Holy shit, I just looked at a calendar and my recital is coming up VZERY SOON! agrhgrh!
anyway, no stress. I'll do this assignment and then I'll be back on track in no time... . yes, thats what will happen.

Oy,
reading week is coming to an end quite quickly.. and I barely practiced...
I was in toronto this weekend for a Diabetes Youth Advocacy Convention, I got to TO a few hours early, so I wandered and found a practice room at U of T for all of 58 minutes of practicing ish. I was actually quite productive, only working on the most difficult sections. Luckily, the difficult passages are hard enough that I have to watch my hands rather than the sheet music.. so they're already memorized ish.
Anyway, the conference:
In reaction to the UN passing a resolution on Diabetes (recogognizing that access to supplies for diabetes should be considered a basic human right) the CDA is supporting a movement of Diabetes advocacy. We had a great day today gathering together and, in the end, identifying the 3 key difficulties and issues for canadian youth living with diabetics.
The issues are:

Funding - currently diabetic supplies are not regulated in how they are funded in different provinces. While manitoba covers the basics and then some, some provinces like Sask and NewFoundland don't cover them at all, leaving many diabetics with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expense just to live.

Access - Access to the basic supplies, endocrinologists and networking and social resources is also widely variable among provinces. One of the advocates lives in Regina, and she has to travel all the way to Edmonton just to see a Diabetic Specialist that is willing to treat a patient on an insulin pump.

and the one I feel the most strongly about:
Education - From every level! There is so much information out there currently about diabetes, yet the majority of the population remains ignorant as to the requirements, needs and problems faced by the youth of Canada with diabetes today.

With the United Nations recognizing these key areas as basic human rights, Canada needs to step up and be the leader in health that it traditionally has been in regards to diabetes.
Anyway, I've been filled with inspiring talk all day by motivational speakers, but yaI just wanted to say some stuff there...

My sleep this afternoon was acceptable, though not long enough.
I woke up and then went to accompany a singer's lesson with an absolutely delightful teacher with the most beautifully kind and gentle dog ever.
After that, I ate fast food out of desperation and lack of time - realizing I hadn't eaten since 9pm the night before. It left me feeling a little gross, but oh well.
Then it was to the concert hall. I played piano with the improvised electronic improvisation ensemble from school. It was very very successful. Then we got to watch the new music festival concert. I rather enjoyed the piece that was played at the concert, but I was bored and slightly nauseated by the inane chatter/discussion that was made part of the show.
I came home and watched Heather's wedding on the internet, the video turned out quite well. Then I've been practicing Bach. Memory is coming along...

Tomorrow I have to meet with the Theory prof about the midterm. I actually have it marked already. I made use of the waiting and downtime on my travels... I had almost finished marking it just on the way to Vegas. I finished it up during my layover in Edmonton.
Also on the list of things to do tomorrow are having lunch with a friend,and more piano practicing.
As for tonight, I'm going to get a head start on sleeping. If I can get a good 9 hours, I should be caught up for tomorrow.

JUST, got home.
Well over 24 hours since sleeping, so it will be a short update.
Long stories short... I wasted good luck in Winnipeg, therefore I'm poor again.
Wedding was marvelous and spending time with sister and brother-in-law was even better.
Overall, great time, Fi and I climbed a mountain yesterday...well 2/3rds up. Flights on the way back were looooong. and the 1am-6am layover was baaaaaaad, except for the other person in the same situation. Neither of us could sleep so we talked and passed the time away.
Today I have to get around to doing stuff.... I really need to sleep.. but I have to be somewhere in less than the 8 hours that i want to sleep.
Now I will sleep for a few hours and then go and do stuff, and then sleep tonight! then I will be all caught up and feel better tomorrow...
so yes, great trip! glad to be home, albeit somewhat sleep deprived!

"and we're goin to the chapel and we're.. gonna get ma-a-a-ried..."
well, not the royal we, but we as the Park family are marrying the Gill family on Sunday afternoon.
I'm quite excited. And the surprise that I have for them that I've worked very hard at keeping secret... well it's going to be just perfect! uh oh, I may have said too much. ANYWAY....
If any of you out there have nothing better to do on sunday afternoon and feel like being voyeurs... go here:
Treasure Island Live Weddings
and you can watch the wedding as it happens, or anytime after.
Wedding time is 2:30 their time, so 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
If that link doesn't work, just go to Treasure Island dot com and find the live weddings link.
I'm excited for every aspect of this weekend; the wedding, the drinking and general celebrations, the getting out of cold-ass Winnipeg, going to the desert, seeing a Cirque du Soleil show, winning a lot of money, losing a lot of money, sitting at a blackjack table for hours getting free liquor.. being together with so much family under such happy circumstances, meeting the rest of Gareth's family, possibly going to a medieval times type dinner.. meaning I will get to reenact the "silence of the lambs" scene from CableGuy.
So ya, I work tomorrow morning a 9, and then at noon, I rush to the airport. moral of the story is that I'm signing off of Winnipeg now, and getting some shut-eye!
I'll be sure to update you all when I'm back from the excitement!

great news,
I went to casino tonight to practice for Vegas... I hope I didn't waste my good luck tonight... but ya, I 'm up 250$, which is not bad at all for only going with 40$.
I started practicing what I call additive gambling... every time I won, I added another chip to my bet. At one point my betting pile was up to 9 (5 dollar chips) and I doubled down... and won! once you lose, you start back down at one chip again.. or more if you feel lucky...
anyway,i had a lot of fun with Gareth tonight
I saw the bastard old man at the casino again... but he didn't come near!

Updates on the earlier day:
Cookie piece - this went quite well. It is possible to sing!! There's always the possibility that you will write a piece for choir that just isn't possible, but ya - the choir seemed to be ok with it. Yes there are certainly challenges, but it is a great feeling to know that something you wrote will actually come into fruition.

Recording - the session was quick, done in half an hour. The runthroughs got progressively better and I'm quite happy with the final copy that I cut and pasted together. I'm certain that it will be received very well!

So ya, basically I got the things I needed to do done today. Tomorrow there are things to do too of course. My hand is feeling better, so tomorrow, depending on how I feel after afternoon rehearsals, I just might actually do some practicing before I throw the next few days out the practice-opportunity window...
Oh ya, comments on lesson on tues. David reminded me of how to practice... not in terms of the physicality, but rather, the mental organization... As I had done last year... he pointed out that I needn't actually practice running through the pieces.. or even movements... rather there are specific small sections/cells that contain the technical problems. Overall , my Bach sounds good, but those tiny sections get in the way of the rest of it sounding perfect. This doesnt apply to memory work or speeding pieces up...but it will save me a lot of time on some of the pieces.
Thinking about it.. this week isn't a total loss. I will be able to practice wed thurs, sat and sun nights.. pending some things.. it's felt odd not having marking or composing to do the last few days... but ya, marking will be back soon, and I also have some assignments coming up for my academic course.
ANyway, enough jibber jabber
gnite

It felt good to do basically nothing today. I didn't go to school cause I only had one non-credit class. I subbed for a ballet class this evening, but since I'm having some pinky pain in my left hand, I decided that I would not play today unless absolutely necessary. I also had no homework or marking that was at all urgent. Also, my soon to be brother in law came in town tonight
The wedding is so soon!
Anyway, tomorrow is a busy and full day! thank gosh I don'thave a lesson early in themorning, or I woul dbe tuckered by the end of the day!
After recording my other choral piece tomorrow, I still have to edit it and make it sound extra good and make a cd version of it!
Tomorrow is going to also give me some honest direct feedback about my cookie piece... I'm interested to see how difficult it is to actually sing. Also, I want to see/hear people's reactions to how ridiculous it is... I must admitt that I'm quite intimidated to be in the choir that is singing my piece. Nevertheless, I have no problem giving complete control of the piece to the director, that way I will see how well I did on the composition end; preparing and communicating my ideas and concepts for the performers.

Last night my friend Diane and I had a party...
well not a party..
we marked theory assignments at the school on the couches until 2:30 am!
Not so much fun... and it was pressing because theory midterms are on friday, so they needed to get back to students today if they were going to learn anything from the countless mistakes that they make!
I made it to a flute recital last night of one of my friends last night, wonderful!
Anyway, It's almost reading week.. which doesn't mean relaxing, but excitement...
Tomorrow is a busy busy and important day!
No Piano Lesson due to teacher's other obligations
Piano Ped-I'm teaching an inclass student
Cantata- First rehearsal of "Baking with Momma"
AfterCantata - Recording the other choral piece

that reminds me of things I have to do today, I need to:
Burn a midi copy of the cookie song to help with learning
print off copies of the other choral song with the piano part written in.
Practice/look at the piece I'm teaching tomorrow

Happiness is not having to be at school at 9am tomorrow

And so it begins...

I woulnd't say that I'm suprised, but I'm still somewhat dissapointed; I am officially not good enough for the MMus program in composition at McGill.
I love how they barely even put any effort into sugar coating it, by telling me that "[my] qualifications were not at a level comparable with other applicants."
I can't tell whether that means that my portfolio submissions were riteously crappy compared to what they normally see, or if they weren't even willing to look at my application since I don't have a BMus in composition.
In conclusion, I will spend the rest of the time between now and next rejection letter waffling between those two possibilities.
Let's take a look at my success rate thus far:
I have submitted applications to 5 schools and a SSHRC scholarship.
I have received rejection letters from 2 of those.
Of responses, I have a 100% rejection rate,
Overall, 29% rejection rate.

To continue with the generally negative tone of this post. I'll fill you in on my relation to McGill. about 5 years ago, when I first decided I wanted to study music in university, I decided that I was going to take a year to prepare myself and apply at McGill. My teacher at the time told me that I shold always aim for the brass rings, so I set McGill as my brass rings. I think that's the reason I applied for composition there this time around. To be honest, I didnt' know much about their programming. The first time around, I was refused entry into their performance program, but accepted into their other piano program, but I couldn't justify paying more and moving away to get a second rate degree, so I convinced myself to stay at home and live for free while getting (what I considered to be) a third rate degree.
As it stands, McGill will remain to be those brass rings that i will never grab hold of.
I see the similarities here with the other situation... once again I am underprepared for a degree program, and I will most likely have to make a similar choice between different programs that aren't what i am aiming for....
Regardless, I am going to choose to be optimistic, as I still have 4 more rejection letters to come in the mail.. which are hopefully worded nicer!

I was always planning on practicing tonight, but after looking at my schedule today, I realized that since my lesson this thursday is cancelled for teaxcher's rehearsals.. I shall be practicing with renewed vigour tonight... in preparation for a lesson... TOMORROW!
off we go!

Great weekend.
Workalicious!
Ballet, regular Saturday, PLUS rehearsals for 4 hours today for the Dance Festival Musical Theatre entries.
Marking- I totally got caught up with the marking for Theory.. only thing was that it took up my Friday and Saturday nights... nevertheless, I'm proud of that accomplishments.
Because of marking, i was not so hot on the practicing, BUT tonight I got some good work done. I fixed and sped up some of the Bach that had been unattended lately. I even got a few of the dance movements memorized...
I shan't speak too soon, but I have a feeling I will even feel prepared enough at the end of this week to not feel super guilty about not practicing all reading week. In terms of tempos, the Bach is pretty damn close...
I took the cookie piece in to the printers today to get the copies made, but I didn't have enough time to wait around, so I'll have to pick it up tomorrow. I also finished notating the piano part for the other choral piece, so in terms of everything composition related, I'm finished!
For the rest of the year, for composition, I'm working on an orchestral piece, but at a slow pace. I put restrictions on myself... basically it's not allowed to be concept driven. Only musical material; harmony and melody and form. Everything else I've written, those things have been just a function of the concept...in this piece, I guess the concept is to make just absolute music. The assingment from my teacher for the next couple of weeks is just to think about and sketch out some ideas of any of those musical ideas. mostly think about what harmonic language I want to use.
Basically, all I have to do this week is practice my recital rep.

Holy Shit, I fucking hate the process of printing out my compositions!
and all I'm doing is printing out 2 copies... from these two, I will make the copies tomorrow... one of them I'll get a few copies made and then have them all bound. From the other, I will have the 25 copies for the choir printed and then hole punched.
But this printer is frikin taking forever.. im going to be stuck here at the computer for at least half an hour more! bah!
nevertheless, I am being productive, working on the piano part for the other choral composition.

Good news, I did manage to find a coupon for 10 bucks off on the printing job that I need to get done tomorrow! That actually helps a lot.... and it's 10 bucks off when you spend at least 20... so that's a potential of 50 % savings. This job will cost me more than that anyway, so i will be saving money on it, which is always a good thing.
Oh yay, the printing is now halfway finished... BAODIWDHKS

It finally happened.
I'm surprised it took this long...
It is nearing the end of my 5th year of university, and only now have I started to drink coffee.
I'm not really drinking coffee persay, but since Heather and I bought my parents the magic coffee/hot beverage system, I've tried the various things it makes...
For the longest time, my sources of caffeine have only been diet coke, and tea.
I've tried the coffee that the machine makes, and I can't handle just straight up coffee... and I can't stand the way adding sugar or cream makes tea taste, so I don't like it in coffee either. However, this machine makes a nice cappucino, and when I add a tablespoon of hot chocolate mix, it actually tastes really good.
In all honesty,. I think that will be the extent to which I will drink coffee... just at home from the magic machine... as I can't afford to be spending 2 bucks for a cup of coffee at one of those expensive coffee houses. I've always been a cheapass in terms of drinks.. as in I prefer just water, as it doesn't cost anything. otherwise I drink whatever I can bring.(good ol diet coke... travels well in a backpack).

Last night, I spent my entire friday night alone at a restaurant marking papers... I got 4 hours of work done!
Today went by much more quickly than the average saturday, until I had to do all my photocopying for my substitutes for the next week. So complicated.... there's 4 different people, maybe 5 covering my 7 classes total between the 2 saturdays. In some cases, I only had to refer the sub to a specific book of ballet syllabus music, others I had to write out the counts and styles of the exercises, for another I had to photocopy all of the music that I have been using for the person who is covering that class.
So much effort, but it was worth it. All the classes are covered now, so I don't have to worry about it anymore, I can just go to Vegas and Toronto without a care in the world.
Tomorrow is going to be a long one too... I have ballet/musical theatre again all afternoon and then a performance in the evening that I have to go to the univeristy for, right after finishing downtown. As of now, I'm planning on doing some practicing after that, but we'll see how that pans out.
Tonight... who knows... probably a mix of marking and practicing. I should also finish writing the piano part for my new choral piece., that needs to be recorded and thus finished by thursday.

Today, the librarian at school gave me the best present that anyone could ever give me:
Bubblewrap!
And its the good kind, with medium to large sized bubbles that make a nice noise!
It's sucha joyful thing, and there's nothing like the satisfaction that you feel having popped the last bubble!
That was a very pleasant aspect of my day. The chamber rehearsal I had was very good. The piece goes SO fast, so there's lots of room for improvement there, but ya, it's fun and a very good ensemble.
Only two assignments to mark for Theory and then I'm completely caught up!
That means, I'll actually have time to practice this weekend.
Also, concert for Cantata concert on sunday.
I have to edit my choral piece and then get 25 copies made.... eeek!

Finally, I actually had a full length lesson today. well, just 4 minutes short...
After Liszt, teacher ran to bathroom, and I noticed it had already been an hour and a half! I played through the whole thing for him and he was quite happy. The fast bits need more speed and confidence/accuracy, but he was very glad to hear me play that way.
I also played the final movement of the Beethoven and he was satisfied with it, though it always needs more speed.
Quote of the day/lesson "This is good Michael, now I can see more than a glimmer of hope for this recital". There's something sweet about his sarcasm.

I got ahold of and talked with all the members of my recital panel. I explained in more detail what will be happening with the improvised dance element. One was worried abut my repertoire balance, but I explained that it was balanced in my jury and New Music Ensemble. All of them are excited about the dance element in my recital, which is nice and reassuring.

now that the pieces in my recital are getting up there in tempos, it's time to start forcingt he memory into place. The Liszt is well on it's way, I was barely looking at the page today, but still, it is completely different when you know there is no page at all to look at. Bach won't be too bad, it's a lot of little movements. even the big fugue will make sense, but ya, that will be more complicated.
Uh oh Beethoven first movement... where have you been hiding... I certianly haven't been seeking.... I really need to kick it back into shape and memorize it. I thinkt he mach is already there, just making sure it'sreliable.... the third movement will take some work to get it in memory, and the fourth... hmm. right now, the non fugal bits are sitting comfortably, I think they'll fall in place, but the fugal bits might be a challange.

enough babbling about my recital and the specifics...blah blah blah