My Blog

I love playing concerts for worthy causes and with colleagues who enjoy playing together. Tonight was a Hurricane Benefit Concert and we raised over $600 - may not seem like much, but in a little place like this - its a lot and it will definitely go to help people who were victims of the hurricane. We had a good audience that was really attentive and really enjoyed the variety of repertoire that we performed.

The highlight was getting to play the entire Mozart Quintet - it went incredibly well despite one bar where I had to take a breath that I didn’t want to take - but it was that or pass out! Still, the director of the school came to me after the concert and said "My my, what a bright and exciting career you are going to have. You have so much passion and soul in your playing." This is quite a compliment and it was really touching. So many people enjoyed the performance and came back to tell us. The program opened with the Cello Choir, then a saxophone and guitar duo, a Bach Concerto with Violin, oboe and piano, the Ives largo and Milhaud divertissment (cl, vln, pno), cello and piano duo, solo viola and closing with the Mozart Quintet.

I want to play more recitals like this - and monthly! It was really special and that the audience was so appreciative. So now onto practicing for the Faculty WW Quintet recital that is a month away - plenty of time and I can now really focus on that music. And start boning up for my orals which will be NOVEMBER 21!!! At least I have a date now. I will go take those things, then go home and enjoy Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in several years. I just have to start looking at airline reservations. Ugh. Could be a mess but we’ll see.

Tomorrow is a definite day of rest. I believe I will go to the market, and then come home and clean house! I think I need some catch up time - and do laundry…should keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox too! GO SOX! Its down to the wire. Ooooh - college football too, so much to do! Nice to have a day off - its been a crazy couple weeks. Niiiiiiight!

I’m so excited - I decided last night that I am going to fly home for my birthday. I can’t fathom staying here having nothing to do and being miserable when I can go home and spend time with my family! I can’t wait! I bought my tickets this morning. I have to reshuffle 4 students but that isn’t bad. 2 on Friday and 2 on Monday morning since I will fly out Thursday evening and fly back Monday morning - extended weekend. Yay! I’m leaving in 16 days!!! Yipee!

Not much else new here - working working. I’m playing a recital tonight at a neighboring university - just one piece, its the Poulenc duo for 2 clarinets and I’m playing the 2nd part. No biggie. Then I’m racing back for the Flute Professor’s recital. After that I’m going to go to the gym and get in my workout. That will make 3 days in a row!!! My abs are killing me!!!! Its the “chair” mainly that hurts but hey - hopefully I can trim off some of this beer weight I’ve accumulated. Gotta go back to wine. Its not bad - I just don’t feel as good as I could. Have to cut down on the Lattes too - I’m doing better. Trying not to have a constant flow of coffee but its hard. Now I know why professors always smell like coffee! Haha!

Our big benefit concert is Friday - I’m really excited - Mozart baby - Mozart. Where else will you hear a cello choir, saxophone and guitar duo, and the Mozart Quintet on the same program … probably never and nowhere!!! Except Muncie Indiana on this Friday. Too crazy! Then I can relax all weekend - probably gain all the weight back that I will lose this week - by drinking lots and lots of beer Friday night.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

In some ways it is nice that Muncie is a quiet little town. I was exhausted at the end of the week so yesterday - I slept a lot, watched some college football and decided to go do some shopping around 7pm. This town is so quiet!! I even drove by the new free standing Starbucks (yes we have one and its a big deal!) and there appeared to be only 2 people inside. I bought one blouse for $7.65 but otherwise found nothing that was worth buying. I think I need to plan a serious shopping trip to Indianapolis! Of course they may not have anything either.

Today I sang in the church choir for the first time - it was really fun and I love singing the alto parts. Its challenging and makes my brain work differently. I got in a couple hours of practicing then went to a reception for new faculty at the president’s house which is really gorgeous. Visited with some other new faculty and then went to Starbucks with Adda and read the NY Times and drank a Latte. It was a rainy rainy day, such a perfect coffee shop day.

I then decided to seek out the University gym. I was pleasantly suprised! They have a huge gymnasium with a track around it and this is a separate gym from the one with all the kids playing basketball. I then found the weight room and worked out a while too. I swear I’m going to get into a routine of going by the gym before I go home at night. It is just on the way home - I need to do it!

Time to switch the laundry over and finish cleaning. Have a good week!!!

I’m so happy the weekend is almost here! I only teach until 12 tomorrow thankfully. Then I have a rehearsal but that will be fun. I just watched NY Phil on PBS doing Mahler 1. It was nice to watch - I can’t believe we’re playing Mahler 1 here in November! That will definitely be interesting.

This week has gone well. The definite highlight for me was rehearsing the Mozart Quintet last night! We are doing it next Friday for a Katrina Benefit — although it might turn into a Rita Benefit at the rate the hurricane is looking! Ugh! But the quartet is wonderful and its just a treat to play that piece. I love it!

Not too much else to report - went to hear the Indianapolis International Violin Competition winner earlier this week -it was really nice to hear playing of that level - reminds us all why we play - it was very inspiring.

After a couple glasses of wine during that concert, I’m ready to call it a night. Yawwwwwn! Even if it is only 10:30 - I’m turning into an old fart! Haha! At least I’m done around noon tomorrow. Yay!

Oh and I’m finally up on the Ball State University website!!! Check it out!!! http://www.bsu.edu/music/musicperf/ 

Goodnight!

Well we got through the first concert last night fairly unscathed! We did Rhapsody in Blue and Beethoven 5th as well as music from E.T. (Yes phone home!) The conductor wanted the original version of Rhapsody in Blue which means that the opening is much faster than we normally play it. I didn’t like it because he rushed me on the gliss but oh well. It came out fine. The conductor also had me stand for a couple of the solos in the middle - it was kind of wierd but I think effective. My students loved it! Beethoven 5 went well once we got over the shock of the conductor spinning around and giving the downbeat with no prep - it was like "BLABLAHBLAH bFEWAAAAAA"

The orchestra recovered and I think some of the movements went quite well. Still there were some odd blips and things that happened. I’m so happy with the woodwind section though, the principals are the wind quintet I play in and we blend and play so well together. Its just a pleasure. And we’re very accomadating to each other - its really a treat to play with these people! I’m the baby in the section by about 17 years but hey - thats ok. I’m getting wonderful feedback from my colleagues so that means a lot.

Went out to the Herot (pronounced Hur-ot) last night with some friends and got totally blasted after the concert. I’m still feeling it but am going to go and practice fairly soon. I didn’t go to church though, oops! Slept through it. Thats ok though, I am joining the choir and will start with them this week. I’m actually looking forward to it quite a bit - it will be good for me and I’ll meet more people that way I think. There are several music faculty and the dean of the fine arts college in the choir so that will be fun as well.

Tomorrow back to work - at least no orchestra but now I have to get ready for the benefit concert on Sept. 30. I’m playing the Ives Largo for cl, vln, pno and the Mozart Clarinet Quintet. Yay!!! I gotta start practicing though! Never a dull moment. Plus our woodwind quintet concert is Oct 31 so I’ve gotta get everything down on that too. We’re doing a quintet by Geoffrey Bush, Casterede, and Reicha G Major. Its a fun program and I’m loving all the playing.

Hope everyone has a good week!

I think the gas prices are finally dropping. I went to the market at around 9:30 this morning and they were marking the price down from $2.99 to $2.89. I even saw $2.86 somewhere and my mom said it is 10 cents less in OK! Finally. Still my aunt sent me this link which was pretty humourous:

http://www.atomfilms.com/contentPlay/shockwave.jsp?id=cant_afford_gas&preplay

I love weekends - after the market I went by school and checked some email and attempted to practice but ended up going home and watching the OU/TU game with a friend and baking pecan pies for a picnic I was invited to this evening. OU fought hard and won although TU gave them a definite run for their money!

Right now AMC is doing an old movie-a-thon of musicals. American in Paris was just on and its so cute - I just love watching the dance sequences. Makes me want to go back to my dance classes from when I was a kid! There have also been tons of 80s films on - Can’t buy me love and Election were on earlier. Can you tell I’ve been a total bum today!? I did practice after the picnic and I’m finishing up laundry now - so somewhat productive. I have to do a bunch of copying tomorrow and get my ICA CD ready to send out. Just have to mail it - its ready to go.

The Katrina devastation continues to just astound me - we’re trying to put together a faculty benefit concert for Sept 30 and all donations will go to the Red Cross. I just hope we can get all the approval set so we can really start talking repertoire.

Time to check the laundry - then go to sleeeeeeep!

Wow - am I really nearing the end of week 3!? Its crazy, the semester is starting to pick up pace. I have the first MSO concert next week, and a week after that I’m playing on a recital at Taylor University just up the road with an old friend that is the clarinet professor there. Amazing how small the world is. We were looking for extras to hire for MSO and his name was on the list from last year - I haven’t talked to he and his wife since before their baby was born. After talking to him, I found out his daughter is in 2nd grade!!! How time flies!

Last night I did a recording session for a demo CD - it was really nice - I had the hall, and the recording technician and we just went to town. I think I got one good take of everything. Of course when you then listen to things, you always hear the tiniest flaws, but I guess I’m the most picky of anyone. I would just prefer perfection - but that is hard to attain. Most of the takes have one little teeeny bobble - of course! But why do an entire new take when it went that well otherwise. Sound and everything are good - just bobbles.

Well - I have 5 minutes until my next student so I’m going to cut this off. I did go to Rochester last weekend and had a great time - nice to go back and enjoy sitting out at javas and eating really good food at all those restaurants. Veneto looks amazing!!! They moved into the new space and it looks like an enlarged version of the old place. I sometimes wish I was back there just for the people but the income here is definitely better!!!

Time to teach!