K, so I just posted this as a comment in a friends LJ, but as most of you don't read that one... or mine either apparently.... I'll put it here. I didn't really take the time to put my thoughts together well, but I'd like to hear your views...
Oh, Im extra ranty tonight cause I had to sit through a concert with 12 other choirs, the majority of which were un-auditioned elementary and middle school choirs. I realise that young people need to have an opportunity to make music, but ARGH, I don't want to be part of that opportunity!

THE RANT:
what is the value of music in life when it confronts us with a stark contradiction of whether to pay attention to music with the mind of a musician, or to attend to those things which are pressing, but tainted by the background music.
It's not so cut and dry, as to say that music no longer has the respect it deserves; as classical opera was often talked over, used as a social gathering. BUT does our society know where to draw the line. Those same audiences would shut up for the big aria and pay attention because that was the "worth-while" music. Nay, when you hear a Puccini aria in the background at a coffe place, or a Bach Prelude and Fugue, does anyone stop, or even shift more attention to it, or has our societies musical ear lost its ability to discriminate anything of quality in music, leaving those who care about music, or the good of the world to ask, "Is music completely subjective?!? does the effort we put in really only count if the audience is aware of it?!?"
Mumbly! Many composers have referred to music as the way we decorate silence or soemthing like that, so why are we so afraid of it. I think it completely diminishes the value of noise and sound when it is used with purpose. 20th century music often aims to encorporate all noises around us to become music, which begs the question of 'when does it become music'? on the same wavelength.. if we encorporate music into every moment of our lives, "when does it become not-music"?

mmmmmmmmassage

mmmmmmmmmmmasochism.
mmmmmmassage is so painful, but so
mmmmmmmmmmarvellous, relaxing, comforting, and
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmman did I ever need it. It was something I promised
mmmmmmmmmmmyself as soon as recital was over.

Now, the goal is to keep doing stretches and relaxation exercises so I don't get so damned tense in the first place. Tonight is a choral concert and then maybe practice for a bit. Who knows!?!

I think it's safe to say that things are going well for my post-recital life. I'm still waiting for marks and comments from that, but I'm not worried.
I wasn't needed at the dance studio today, which i was informed when I got there... I ended up sitting in on a bit of a modern dance class, trying to figure out how that class structure works and what kind of music can be used.... the answer is ANYTHING. They are so open and accepting there. I realise that I won't have any problem playing for modern classes...
Im almost done the book I got from the library on Saturday about modern dance. Im super impressed at having read over a hundred page book, and I only started yesterday (maybe a bit on saturday...). Interesting stuff, and it's got some creative juices flowing, I'm really looking forward to some collaborating with modern dancers.
After the dance place, I had about an hour before my chamber coaching, so I used it to practice the piece.... such a good idea. and I was so productive!
The members of my group and also the coach/teacher were inpressed with the improvement.... and that was only about an hour, without looking at it since weeks ago... imagine if I spent more time on it.... actually, that is the plan. Havign turned down that musical accompanying gig, my only 2 playing things are the jury sonata, and this chamber piece. I'm gonna really learn it well cause it's not too easy, and I really want to do a good job.
The Scarlatti is coming along nicely too. I think this will be the most prepared for a lesson I will have ever been. I've used the practice methods and whatnot, and I will play the sonata for David perfectly, though not up to tempo. I'm doing well to play the notes accurately, but I'm also going for stylistic goodness and shaping; all of which are coming nicely into play. I also want to learn more rep over the next while so that I can write it down on my rep list, which should be beefed up. I want at least a few more pieces to write down, even if I don't learn them to completion.
The piano faculty want to see that you have worked on other things, besides that which you play in recital and jury: So far, I have a Grieg lyric piece and a Brahms Intermezzo, both of which I played for David once... which is all I need to have done to write it down. I'll talk to David and get him to suggest maybe another Scarlatti sonata or some character pieces, or anything really. Oh, there was also aMozkowski etude that I played for him at the beginning of the year, which I had worked on over the summer. Anyways, I need to keep busy...
but also I need to keep in mind that CMC is comign up and I need to keep the Brahms, Bach, and Scriabin in good shape for that first round.
So ya, in terms of playing piano, I think that I have made that extra bit of shift that will help me to be more professional and learn rep faster. The approach to this Scarlatti and Beethoven lately is a good thing, and I need to keep up that momentum so that it becomes habit.
I had my composition lesson today, and we vaguely talked about preparation for the 2nd piece... which I really need to get going on. We only had a short talk and then decided that we could wait til I had made a good start on the piece before we'd meet again... leaving next week's lesson hanging in the wind. My other, first composition is now in the rehearsal phase and I'm so excited to hear it performed/rehearsed and to get the feedback from the performers. They've invited me to sit in on some rehearsals, which i will, but I still want to leave it much up to them, so more than anything, it will give them opportunity to ask questions of me and clarify things.
Oi, theres more to say, but i'm out of words

Wow, post number 151!

I always miss the milestones along the way. Oh well.
So I've had a nice relaxing weekend. I haven't really caught up on sleep, but I haven't really done a lot of anything. It's been nice.
Nevertheless, It certainly isn't relaxing time of year. Tonight I'm going to officially start back at practicing. Projects needing to be worked on directly are the Scarlatti sonata a bit and definately my chamber music piece. I have all but ignored it over the past month, but I think the string players in my group have at least had one or 2 rehearsals without me, so I have some catching up to do. I don't think the ensemble work was our main concern, rather tuning within the strings, and my individual part; there are lots of notes to learn! Now, I can afford to apply the focus I need to tidy it up so that we can have a presentable Piano Quartet.
I was approached/ I offered to play for a middle school musical during april. It's the 8-12'th, so after classes end, and I don't have any direct conflicts with exams or whatnot, so I think it's a possibility. This afternoon I should get to see the music and then make my final decision. From what I hear the music will be quite reasonable, and it's at least some money, and I think it will be a good experience.
Also, I finally got to talk to the modern dance teacher at the RWB and we talked about different opportunities for experience in dance collaboration within the city, so that was good. She is also interested in collaborating with me on a personal level, which will be immensely helpful for understanding the nature of modern dance, as she also has a strong communication vocabulary, thanks to her teaching experience.
This tuesday evening, I will be performing in the Winnipeg Music Festival's evening of Choral Excellence out in a North Kildonan Church type thing(long name, can't remember). I think it should be a good show, also involving a guest choir, the Winnipeg Philharmonic... so yes, ask me for details if you are interested.

It's all all all over!

YAY weekend.
Now, recital is completely over. Music festival is completely over. All that was stress in my life over the last month is GONE!
Yesterday was a good day, I played for the last two festival classes, which was the same easy song twice. Although it wasn't as easy as I make it out, the piano was so loud and the voices are so tiny that it's a huge challenge to play quietly enough, and still have some semblance of musicality.
After those were over, I had still almost 2 hours before I had to be at the contemporary dancers for ballet class. I stopped by there to double check that I did in fact have to be there and they said yes, then gave me my cheque, then I went on a journey across downtown to the bank and deposited that as well as 3 cheques from the singers I accompanied. It always feels so good to actually have money to put into the bank.
I also went to the library and looked around, taking out some books on dance. I had to get a new library card, cause I haven't been there since 1997, at which time I had acquired $5.10 in late fees. I didn't have to pay for the new card cause it had been long enough, but I had to pay off the late fee. I remember the last 4 times I went to the public library, I managed to get away with, "oh, I don't have any cash one me, can I pay that next time I'm in"..then there just wasn't a next time. Anyway, now I have a new shiny card and books to read, I've already started in and read some helpful sections talking about the relation of music to dance and choreography. Now, I'm reading a general book on modern dance. So much to learn.
Today is back to normal, and I'm planning on relaxing a fair bit this weekend, but not too much. I want to make a good start on the Scarlatti sonata I've chosen before my first lesson. I want to keep up the momentum that I started with the preparation for my recital.

It's all over!!!!

YAYAYAY!
I am so happy!
I think it's safe to say that the recital last night was a success.
I maintained my focus through almost the whole thing, I lost it a bit in the last movement of the Mozart, but apparently my Mozartean style was bang on.
Overall, I feel good about the recital as a whole.
I have mixed feelings about the PDQ: The speech went very well and the audience was super responsive, which made it easier and super comfortable. Their energy really made it much easier to perform the piece with energy and I let the way I performed it be slightly dictated by their reactions. That part was all good, BUT the accuracy just wasn't there. I wish I had been more prepared with the notes for that one, but I felt I performed it well, given the level of preparedness.
Most importantly, I really enjoyed performing last night and it seems people really enjoyed my performance.
While I may not be planning on pursuing a performance degree, I don't think I will ever not be a performer. There is just something so rewarding about preparing something like a recital and then presenting it to an appreciative audience. But at the same time, you can't always count on having the ideal situation in place.
Alas it's onwards and upwards from here.
I have to pick one more piece for my jury at the end of April. I think it will be Scarlatti. I have printed one out and I think it will be the one. At my next lesson, David and I have lots to cover: we'll talk about my recital and he said he has some suggestion for those pieces because they are good for me and I should use them in the future for competitions and whatnot. After that little recital wrap-up, we will discuss the repertoire for the jury in April. After that the big two topics are choosing repertoire for next year's recital and jury as well as looking into graduate school options. Those last two are huge topics which I will be glad to just touch upon.
So much to think about! yay! but I still have to do festival stuff this week, so I'll wait til thats done before I celebrate...

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!
less than three hours to go.
Im leaving the house in an hour and then getting used to the piano in the hall!
The food is ready, the posters and the programs are going to be there.
I have butterflies in my stomach, but the good kind.
I'm still going over the details in my pieces, some bigger than others.
Im going to eat a (small) banana right before I go on, cause potassium is good for calming the nerves. I really hope my speech for the PDQ goes well, I think thats the thing I'm most worried about.
ANyway here goes; there will be a certain new relaxation starting tomorrow! even though I have 3 festival classes.
But for now, i need to concentrate on being prepared and relaxed for tonight!!
YAYAYYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAY!!!!!

When I wake up tomorrow, it will be the day of my recital, and you know what... I feel good about that. I am not nervous, rather excited and anticipating both the act of playing the recital as well as the relief that will come very shortly after.
I really should try and get some sleep now, so I won't ramble. Tomorrow I accompany one singer in a huge class of under 10 years old girls and boys. I need to also go to the school to pick up the key to the piano, as well as practice a bit before that. I would feel better if I didn't have to worry about the badly timed class in the middle of the day, but oh well.
YAY recital tomorrow.
In case you missed it, tomorrow night = Tuesday March 14th at 8pm in EvaClare Hall at the U of M school of Music.
Your attendance and support is most appreciated.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!

Wow, what a good day so far.
I had a second and final rehearsal/runthrough with Deanna and her teacher today. We perform in the music festival tomorrow. Things must have gone well because she didn't tell Deanna to hire a better accompanist while I was there... and furthermore she thanked me for the work I've put in and said we had good ensemble. In other words, all is well.
Also today was my piano lesson. Odd day and time, but really.. my recital is 2 days away.
I thought things went pretty well, I wasn't gonna get my hopes up; there are still things I need to practice more and more and tidy things up. Long story short: David is very happy with the change that has taken place in 4 days and he gave me the official approval/thumbs up/vote of confidence; and of course bemoaning the fact that it could have happened months ago... which it could and should have, but didn't, oh well.
Also, he paid me the biggest compliment today, probably without knowing it. During the run through, I ended the Bach sort of half-assedly. It was supposed to be big and bold, as he saw fit... but I didn't play it that was cause I wasn't convinced. He called me on it and told me I had to do the loud end.. but I said I didn't agree, so he said, 'well, if you are going to get quieter you have to shape it with dynamics and time... I wouldn't agree with it, but you at least have to do something with it' So I played it for him getting softer and well shaped to which he replied 'now that was beautiful, Michael. I will never doubt your musical intentions and I couldn't call the way you finished that into question" pointing out that he would only ever question the notes, if i wasnt playing them accurately. The best part though was when he said that the way I played the end even had him questioning his interpretation of the close, which he had been so adament about staying loud.
Maybe, I'm reading into it too much, but I'm fine with that.
Anyway, I'm glad to have reached a level of minimum preparation... now I can work even harder to make sure that the recital will be extra spifftacular! So much more practicing between now and then, yay!

Well, it appears that LiveJournal, as a whole, hates me.
Not only am I not allowed to be a friend, and have been excommunicated from the internet lives of some people, but now they won't even let me interject my thoughts and other such ramblings on live journals.
Anyway, to those of your who have LJ's and are used to receiving my comments, alas, no more shall you read the sweet words of my internet dribble.
Update on my finger condition... it's getting better, I have this 24 hour moisturizing lotion stuff... and I've been applying it every hour or 10 minutes or so.. and it's getting a bit better. Now I know that the dryness was actually the cause so I'm not worried anymore. I think I'll see if I can find a plastic/latex glove and fill the finger tips with moisturizer/hand cream and then wear that to bed on both hands so I can avoid this discomfort.
Wow, the senior ballet class I played today was so slow-paced I could barely handle it. Part of it was the fact I was super tired, still am and still will be for the next few days more. The other part was that the teacher was taking a lot of time between the first run of an exercise and then the repetition so that she could make corrections and whatnot. This is fine and dandy, but during one of the breaks, she remarked the exercise to demonstrate a difference, and I thought it was a new exercise.. so I played some completely different music... then she stopped and gave me one of those looks; the type that ballet accompanists avoid like the the plague. At least she didn't just stare at me, she told me it was the same exercise, and then I had to revive the music I had improvised just before... luckily it was still in accesible condition.
Generally it was a hard day to make it through due to the tireness. I got an hour of practice in in the afternoon, but got kicked out by the company's resident teacher who is goddess. She told me to keep practicing because the dancer she was working with wasnt there yet, and then later she commented that I was a very good pianist. The thick Russian accent made it sound that much more inspiring.
Also today, talking to one of the ballet teachers about music in the dance world and looking stuff up on the internet, I have some new approaches to what possible future plans may be. But ya, once again,avoiding thinking too much about it at this point.

ouchie!

Golly Gosh Darn, this recital better be the best thing ever cause i've been playing through pain during practices to make sure I have the best recital for you people.
I'm not sure what happened but my right pinky hurts like a bitch. It seems to be cracked skin just under my fingernail, at the end. I think the diagnosis has been that it's dry and thats why it cracked... so I've been moisturising like a banshee, hopefully I will be in tip top shape by tuesday, hopefully tomorrow, but nevertheless, I will perform my best regardless of the state of my finger. It's a pest, but it's not the worst thing ever. Just another thing to bitch about.
Now it's off to work.. today isabout the only normal day where I don't have tons of extra rehearsals and whatnot.
Oh ya, my accompanying for senior festival classes seems to be going better than the junior ones...All three of my guys placed at the top of their classes, it feels good to play for good singers, it gives you more of a sense of accomplishment, whether warranted or not....

so ya....jellybellies... best things ever
even better than that is....
1.1 kilograms of jellybellies... thats approximately 963 of them....
the best part about it is that I've been eating them excessively... BUT they're still there, don't don't have that quick vanishing quality that other candy can have, like chocolate because they're jam packed with flavour and goodness.
I love combining them randomly and seeing what kind of flavour result you get... and who cares if its not the best thing ever... chances are you'll stumble across something better... or just juicy pear.. which is by far the best flavour on its own.
Oi, today is dad's birthday, so I got him tickets for us to go see Messiah tonight... but I need to practice... so I told mom to go with him.. but she also has things to do... so it kinda seemed to turn into mom and I fighting over who had to go with dad....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
the thing is, we both wanted to go, but it's just such a busy time....I offered to hlp my mom out a little with housework to do before sister Heather and her boyfriend(no, not Jesus... we've covered this in the past that she's not a nun) come in for a night. So in the end, mom and dad went to the ballet and all is well. I get to stay at home and have a piano practice until they get home, at which point I will probably head to the school to do my run through and more practicing.
Tomorrow is super busy time!!! wee! 3 singers in one class, another singer in another class... then playing at the contemporary dance school and then rushing to the festival AGAIN for a choral class in the evening... then of course more practicing in the evening. FUNFUNFUNF! thats right fun, fun, five!
I guess, forcibly all the practicing I've done lately has been really focused and productive.... let's hope I can keep it up...
and now... to keep up the good work....

Ca recommence demain!

thats right, as of 9:30 am tomorrow, I will officially be back in at least partial fesitval mode.
I have one class tomorrow and a couple of rehearsals, and then more classes on friday and then the weekend sees 2 choir classes, a rehearsal, a lesson and a full day of working at the ballet.
The goal of balancing my life this weekend and until tuesday is to spend as little time as I can actually devoted to festival and the rest to practicing for my recital.
So far all the time I've spentworking on recital since yesterday has been productive. I had my lesson today, which I didn't know how to deal with cause I had just had a lesson the inght befpre with the dress rehearsal... it was good though... ish. David commented that I was playing like a different person... in a good way. But theres still a lot of work so I need to get to it!yay!
He got more of a glimpse into the scope of my festival involvement this next while and was not happy. He mentioned that usually students do nothing BUT prepare for their recitals the week before... but I don't fit that mold. I wish I had made it so I could, but alas we have to deal with the pie that we are dealt... or something of the sort. Anyway, I feel prepared enough for the stuff I have coming up immediately that I won't have to divert extra time away from recital.
Wow, I just realised that I can practice late at night on my midi keyboard..... at least finger work for Bach....
oh well, gnite

Dress Rehearsal tonight... the stuff leading up to it wasn't going my way, but that aside.. I still thought my playing was getting better with each go at it.
It was a new piano that I wasn't used to and my teacher was there and Tiffy too, so those are the excuses for it not going so hot.
Thank you Tiff, Im glad it wasn't just my teacher there. He pointed out that I could blame some of the stuff on nerves, but whats gonna happen with its the real thing and many more people... in all honesty, it wil make me play better, I live off the energy I get from an audience. 2 people was pretty much just like a lesson scenario, which I find extra nerve racking... cause you know how impossibly hard it is to please them.
anyway, on the basis that we don't have any time to waste in preparing for this recital, David's commentary was all negative, or constructive. He reinforced the fact that I play very well and musically, BUT the technical imperfections really distract from my musical intentions.
The diagnosis is that i need to concentrate almost exclusively on technical elements and getting the music into my fingers and brain. He feels confident that they musical stuff will remain and it comes naturally... I can't argue. So that is what I will do.
I started tonight with the Mozart and did the Theme and Variations movement. I went through like a machine and practiced everything so that I could play it perfectly. It's the kind of thing I need to keep doing... I wish I had gotten more done, but time just wouldn't allow. Fortunately, that represents about 13 of 45 minutes of my recital(almost a third), which is more reassuring than calling it a third of one of five pieces in my recital ( one fifteenth).
Tomorrow is rehearsals for festival starting again thursday and then a lesson at which David and I will just go over practice methods and their application to my recital program... in other words a lessons worth of super productive practicing.
alas, its 3:30 in the morning and I need to wake up probably sooner than I will be asleep if I were to get done that which I need to do!
gnite

I know I've been tehnical in my musical/piano comments especially in prep for the recital... but its nothing compared to what goes on in my head.. to demonstrate, I'm going to post the notes I took for myself while listening to my recital run-through recording from last night.
Keep in mind that I concentrated almost exclusively on the bad stuff, with no mention of all the goodness that was happenign last night. I'm going to spend the afternoon working on all this stuff and tonight is the dress rehearsal, so I will actually have the proper piano and I will be able to pretend its the real thing... then luckily I still have another week to perfect perfect perfect! yay
here it is:
Recital Runthruough
Monday March 6
Brahms
Intermezzo
Page 1-not clean, take time to get into the right space
Page 2-top, L.H. descending hesitations
Page 3 – start quieter
Still not clean
Last line- even cres… not accented, should be richer
Capricco
Needs tidying.
Middle- more sense of line, flow more… rather than accents; shouldn’t feel like played by the bar
Geneally, more RIT in the big L.H. jumps
Return to Eflat… little unsure
Reprise- Ab section.. missed top r.h. note
Last line.. make the 4 note descending motive come through
Bach
Prelude- tempo was a little high… didn’t feel secure
Terraced dynamics should be clearer
Clearer rit at end
Fugue-two voice-texture… less r.h., but still needs to beconfident
Terraced dim needs to be clearer and actually done (Page 2, line 2+3)
Page 3-clean the 32’nd notes
****MEMORY SLIP- at the l.h. subject in D 4’th page….-L.h. needs to remember to play the f# turn before jumping down to the c!*****
-even if you fuck up, play the end with confidence
Scriabin
Etude-more cres at bottom of page one and then more dim.
Prelude-good
Reverie- good mood
Mozart-theme-be prepared to start, don’t overdo the sF’s
Var1-line 3 change, don’t make l.h. too loud var2 clearer texture with l.h. octaves, 2nd half reprise memory
Var3- memory-prepare for where octaves start = avoid hesitations var4 fine var 5 be clear of rhythm of melody between first time and reprise. 2nd page, bar before repeated a’s… epp. Var 6 first half = better. Second half- don’t speed up (it will screw you over) slow even more for the last 2 chords.
Minuet character is much better, practice with metronome to get even more secure. Second half-second bar…metronome and also get the swells and l.h. cres. Take time before reprise to reset the mood. DON’t forget the l.h. chords right before final cadence.
Trio metronome, make secure where hands are going to avoid hesitations. End of first half, don’t slow down because of confusion. Overall, good balance of the R and L hands and melody
Rondo don’t round down the end of loud phrases. Reprise theme-careful not to miss the cadential chords. F# minor-careful not to push the tempo. Don’t hesitate before reprise. Structural memory could be stronger overall. Coda-p section is unsteady, keep it focussed for the big finale.
PDQ-write down what you’re going to say.. “Fuck, fuck fuck fuck.. anyway, here is it” is not a good introduction when you screw it up….
Rising chrom chords-good first time… nice shaping.. but fix up section after it.
Careful attention as to which are natural/flats… jump to top cha-cha chords…. Make sure its solid.
Jolly fellow-chords of early in the fugue are not secure- really, fix them! Single octave sounds better

First composition in good shape!

Thats what my comp prof told me today. He gave me permission to now, after giving this final movment to the performers, ignore it until after my recital. All that is really left to do is to make a few cosmetic changes and see if I can't make my intentions a little more clearly defined. Those aren't pressing, so I just have to take care of them before I hand in the final copy for coursework.
I feel so good right now for a few reasons:
1) no festival til thursday, so relaxing to not be doing that every day...
2) barely any classes this week
3) my recital runthroughs are getting progressively better so I feel progressively better about it. I am now comfortable with the amount of playing and staying focussed for the whole run. This was not the case every just before the weekend. Listening to the recordings is great, I can hear exaclty what I have to clean up and take note of it and then practice that specifically before the next run through.
I can't think of other reasons at the moment, but all is well.
I picked up more accompanying for the festival... cause you know the amount before wasn't enough.... one of them is a piece I'm already playing, so no prob there, playing for 3 people in one class. The other is new time and new piece... and it's on Thursday... ARTGGH!BH!
BUT i just spent an hour getting the notes in my fingers and ya, I feel good now. It's neither easy nor difficult, average amongst pieces of that level, so yes, I think it will go just fine.
lately, I've been thinking a lot about Grad studies and options..concerning dance/music combo study. So far the options I've uncovered are University of Cape Town, South Africa or Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. I'll keep looking. Cape Town would be a MMus and Simon would be a MFA...I will still compare pros and cons, but ya. I'm still not even sure what direction Im going in. But I seem to like the philosophy of the Simon Fraser School MFA program... although Cape Town allows you to customize your program just as much and the Dance program is uber integrated... if you take dance, you get a MMus in Dance... I could get a degree in dance.. if I encorporate dissertation and choreography..... who knows.
Alas, back to practicing, maybe supper first, then an evening of productive....
oh thats right, I still have to make little changes to the Songs For Nana composition and then take it to the singer/pianist.... funfunfunfun!

what a wonderful way to end week one

This afternoon went almost perfectly. Still it wasn't absolutely perfect like that golden ring we're always reaching for, but for all intensive intents and purposeful porpoises it went off without a hitch. I also got paid by her and was able to stop off at the bank and deposit a hefty sum of money, which feels so good! Now to transfer that over to my other account so I won't go and spend it on candy.... hmm does anyone want to go candy shopping..? no! I can't!but I really want to...
so yes, very much looking forward to the hardcore practicing this weekend and week.
I have been feeling antisocial and disconnected this week, but if I just keep it up for another week and a bit, then it will be so relaxing... Im gonna set up a massage appointment for the day after everything is over, I will need it!
I got ahold of the lady, at whose house I left my binder, and she is bringing it to one of the festival locations right across from where I work tonight, so I will be able to get it back and not have to worry about it!
YAY! life is good.

wow, yesterday was accompanying 4 classes, 3 of which were Musical Theatre.... so much young off broadway(for a reason) I could barely stand it.
I also had a first rehearsal situation which was mixed in with a coaching with the singer's teacher. I was not comfortable with the situation because a first rehearsal never goes well and there shouldn't be any stress attached, it should be professional, yes, but relaxed and open. I think it went well enough though. But then I went and did stupid by leaving my binder behind.
I did go and buy a digirecorder and used it to record my recital run last night. I listened to it on the car ride home, very helpful. Still lots to fix up.
One of the singers I was accompanying is sick, meaning she wouldn't be performing this morning, meaning I got to sleep in. It's too bad the way sickness creeps in at inoportune moments, so I'm sorry about the situation for her sake, but I'm so happy I slept in til 10:30 this morning, HEAVENLY!
Only one festival class today and then contemp dancers tonight, then ballet tomorrow as usual, and then only practicing all weekend, and no festival until fridday the 10th! It's such a good feeling. I will actually go to school next week even though I don't have 20th century, but ya... wait, I won't go the days I actually dont have school, but ya, I won't be occupied by festival so much! yay
anyway, back to practicing and whatnot.. oh ya composing.. i need to get that fourth song done.

so, I love the accompanist world at the festival, here's why:

The background: I had to play for a test piece class: this is where 20 singers all get up and sing the same song. Usually there are about 4 or 5 accompanists that get up and play the piece a couple times each, cause all the kids are hiring the same people... anyway... like the singers I was nervous because I knew I would be compared to all the other professional accompanists who are much more experienced. Add to this the fact that I was feeling underprepared which was weighing especially heavy on me because I knew everyone else was going to be playing it perfectly.

The Scenario: I sat at the back with 2 of the other accompanists one of which had the music in front of her at all times, the other looked at it a few times.

Action: The two of them were discussing the other accompanist/singer's tempo choices.... and other aspects of their playing. I said to them "I knew I shouldn't have sat here, now I know that you're gonna be watching for all the wrong notes I'm going to play". They tried to reassure me by saying something like "it is an awkward piece to play" and the sorts.. but that's not what made me feel better....
At one point, it all became so trivial that I just wasn't worried any more. That point was when the one leaned over to the other and pointed to a specific bar, and asked if she had been playing that E-flat... because she didn't think she had noticed it before.... then they started with the tally of..."well neither did she... oh, but I think Ross did... well he probably would".
I realised that they weren't judging the others, rather just doing something to pass the time. If you have to sit through the same song for an hour and a half, you easily get picky...especially if you know the song to begin with.
I played and it wasn't perfect, I won't lie. But, I gave good support and rhythm. The singer most likely didn't notice anything wrong because I provided everything she needed to sing to the best of her ability at the time. When I came back, they both reassured me that it went well and one said "who cares if it wasn't exactly what was on the page, it sounded good!"
Nevertheless, I think I've come closer to learning my lesson about preparation. The one's I need to work on for the rest of festival, I am putting in good efficient work and it is showing... I know those classes are going to go well.

Recital is coming along... I worked on some of the issues today that were pointed out in my lesson and I played throught he program again tonight. It went much better than in lesson.. probably because it was less stressful. I really got in the right mindset so that helped.
It was a toss up, most of the things I worked on were better... some I need to readdress or try something different... some new mistakes popped up... I need a recording device so I can listen to it and learn from that. I think I'll buy a digital recorder tomorrow... a good investment i think. It could also help with improvising.
anyway, enough blogging. theres composing to do and sleeping and reading and whatnot

just a snippet..... ok i lied...

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..