My Blog

Well today was the big day - I passed my doctoral orals and am now officially done with my degree at Eastman. It was kind of bittersweet leaving Rochester yesterday because while my career is starting to take shape - I had some really wonderful times in Rochester at Eastman and will miss the people and everything! It is still sinking in on me now that I am done with school (as a student that is) but after 10 years of being a student, I’m finished!!!

I’m now in Tulsa with my family for the Thanksgiving holiday - what a good way to celebrate! I am happy to have this week to unwind before tackling the last two weeks of the semester at Ball State! I can’t believe this semester is drawing to a close. Then it will be a real party time. My grandmother is turning 80 so we are having her birthday celebration, My great aunt and uncle are celebrating their 50th anniversary so another big dinner/dancing party. Then of course Christmas and we will have a house full of 15-20 people. Thanksgiving we will have 13 which is already a lot. My parents are also throwing me a graduation party late in December so if any of you all are in Okie-land, let me know!

Hope you all have a wonderful Turkey day and be sure to eat and drink a lot!!!

I don’t believe it, 2 more weeks and its here, my DMA orals - I guess I should really start preparing seriously. Its so difficult when you work full time - last week I was at school everyday from at least 9am-10pm. I had concerts Sunday and Monday night, a student give a concert Tuesday night, Symphony rehearsals Wednesday-Friday, Saturday morning and concert last night. No break for me! Then today I had to run the dress rehearsal for my clarinet ensembles concert which is tomorrow - then there is a recording session this week for 2 days. I guess I’m not going to be sleeping a lot this week.

I tried to get a start this afternoon but was so tired I just couldn’t concentrate and felt I was doing myself more harm than good. I love all the playing - why can’t you just play in your DMA orals?? That’s what you do in a job interview - you play a recital, then the committee asks you a few questions. Hopefully my committee will be nice…hopefully.  I’m also in process of re-applying for this job for a tenure track slot. They are doing a full blown search since I was a last minute hire - its not too bad yet - not until they reveal the finalists and I know some or all of them - that will be weird. I have to not think about those things even though they are more present in my life now than this final oral exam.

Mom and Grandma came to visit this weekend which was really nice even though I was really busy - they kind of tagged along to rehearsals and then to the concert and I was really happy just to have them around. It was a really nice visit. Wish I had visitors more often - eh hem…any of y’all could come visit sometime. I have a spare room!

I think I’m going to call it an early night and get up early and try to get some studying done. 10pm-6am…thats 8 hours sleep — if I snooze until 7 that’s 9 hours…I can do it!

NIIIIIIIGHT!

Where the heck did October go!? I feel like I blinked and it disappeared. I have 20 days until my orals…20!!!! Its a lot and its not. I’ve got to study really hard and see if I can remember everything I crammed for the comps 5 months ago plus be sufficiently prepared on my instrument history.

This week has been crazy - after a wonderful working fall break in Rochester, last week was work work work - I had 2 concerts the last two days so once classes resumed it was rehearse, rehearse, practice practice. Now all I have left is Mahler 1 this week - I’m not too worried yet - I’m really contemplating playing the new Toscas because they just sound so much better. And in all reality - we don’t play all that much - its not like a quintet where your playing constantly. I want to see how they feel in there at least. If they don’t work, I’ll go back to the Vintages but I gave the B-flat a trial run on the Sunday night concert - everyone heard a huge difference!! Plus Mom and Grandma are going to be here…might be nice for them to hear the new babies.

Last night was the faculty quintet recital and I think it went quite well, I had a couple little things but then again we all did and the temperature on stage kept changing so not only did pitch go haywire but so did the reeds! Grrr! Oh well - it was fun, and I think everyone enjoyed it. The horn teacher just came by and said good job - thats so nice!!! Yes, I’m on a break and I’m updating my blog. I’mm going to start studying at 3pm, that is exactly 7 minutes. I have to figure out what I’m reading about today. Maybe I will just start through the Weston or the Pino and go to town. They are fun to read anyway.

Hope everyone is doing well and not sick - I came down with a head cold on Saturday night, so I spent Sunday and a better part of Monday on the couch breathing Vicks Vapor - yes the same two days I had concerts! It worked!!!! Vicks Vapor - I swear by it, I could seriously be a commercial spokesperson!!!

Have a good week!!!