Opera! Tonight was the first night of our opera production, under the direction of Brian McIntosh, our opera coach, and voice teacher.

We (the opera students of the U of A) began learning Hansel and Gretel at the beginning of the year, and have finally performed it once tonight, and will perform it a final time tomorrow, at the Timms Centre. Tonight went very well. The concert was a sell out, and I'm told that some people were sent away because of a lack of space. I'm sorry about that, but at the same time glad that the word got out and that people seemed to be interested in what we are doing. The 2nd and last performance (with a different cast) will perform "Hansel and Gretel" tomorrow night at 7:30.

The singers have been real troupers. Each cast has had only a couple of rehearsals with the orchestra in their performance space and with props, and are doing considerably well. As their opera pianist, I was very proud of them. I, and the head opera pianist, Leanne, helped practice them up until around a couple of weeks ago when the orchestra excitedly took my place. (Leanne admirably remained with the orchestra and played missing parts on an electronic keyboard.) There was a little bit of drama in chosing who was going to play in the orhcestra, but they eventually figured it out. David Hoyt was our orchestra conductor.

Oh, I must not forget to tell you that I played the 'coo-coo' part on the recorder for the opera. The coo-coo seems to be a very important job. Brian, our opera professor, told me that it would be the most important orchestral lick I will ever do. (I mentioned that I had been playing trumpet and piano in orchestras since I was 12, but he remained adament that nothing could be more rewarding then playing the recorder for this production.) I'm not quite sure if I completely agree that the solemn coo-coo call, an interval of a major third--D to Bflat, was as rewarding for me to play as it was for Brian and the others to watch and laugh. :)

Trumpet lessons

I had my first trumpet lesson today with one of the professors today! It was very encouraging. I miss taking trumpet lessons. I don't think I have had a trumpet lesson for almost three years. The lesson lasted for an hour and forty minutes. Trumpet is a grand instrument.

Everything about today was great..except for the fact that I woke up the most tired I've been in a long while.

I was at the university practicing by eight this morning for a piano lesson at 10. By 9:20 I had definitely had the cookie, so I had a chat with a voice major outside of the practice room. It was the first time I didn't practice right up until my lesson, so I did not know how that would go over. It was one of my best lessons ever! I've practiced very hard this last week (and on both instruments) to prepare my pieces, and was at the point where you feel you need a lesson to be boosted forward. This lesson did just that and I feel ready for the next week of practicing. I find I'm getting 3 hours in a day on piano, and now lately 1 hour of trumpet. I have two first instruments, but seem to have a bigger ambition to be a concert pianist. It's troubling at times though because I have this dying passion to be a trumpet player. I've begun to practice the trumpet more because I feel that I'm missing that part of my life. There are lots of chances for me to play my trumpet at school though if I want. I'm in the wind ensemble, and I participate in the trumpet rep class. There is also an orchestra, jazz band, concert band, ect. Anyway. I'm preparing my trumpet because over reading weekend I am traveling to Rochester NY to visit my sister, who attends the Eastman School of Music, and will get a lesson with the trumpet professor there, James Thompson. It is a very good motivation! James Thompson is probably the most amazing orchestra player in the world! Google him.

I played in the piano rep class today. I played Alborada del Gracioso by Ravel. It went alright. I know what to work on now for sure. It is great to play your pieces every week for other students and your teacher. It prepares you very well for when you play in competition or in concert.

I have an essay draft due on Friday and a midterm on Monday (I know, not a lot) but I haven't started the essay and know very little about what is going to be on the midterm. TTYL.