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.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Beginning of Round 2
Back in Alberta! I wonder, does it ever grow entirely cold in this province?
This question reminds me of when my sister and I traveled to LA to do an audition for Jens Lindemann (trumpet man, originally from Edmonton.) Right before our audition, we ran out to the ocean, pulled our pants up to our knees and waded out. We thought we were experiencing beautiful LA weather, especially because we had just come from the dead of winter in Saskatchewan. At the time it was about 17 degrees outside, which we were later told (in the audition, after having retold our adventures to the trumpet professor) is considered winter there. We laughed because we thought Jens was joking. He laughed because he thought we were insane. Whenever we meet him now he laughs, gives us a hug, and calls us the "Saskatchewan Girls." ...People were actually dressed in coats and boots there. I am not saying whether or not I think people in Alberta should wear coats and boots in the winter, but I am saying that Saskatchewan is the coldest place I've witnessed yet.
These first 2 weeks have been great. I'm really enjoying my classes this semester, and have big goals for my piano. On Tuesday there is a competition taking place at Convocation Hall. The winner gets to play their Baroque piece with the Alberta Baroque. My group and I are performing Brandenburg no. 5 by Bach. It starts at 7:00, and I think there are 11 people performing. Last week, I attended the USO concert, and last night I attended a brass quintet recital (put on by faculty, and members of the ESO.) It was very good, but only 40 people came. I'm wondering if there is either a lack of interest in Edmonton towards classical music, or if the U of A needs to find better ways to advertise. Today I practiced piano for 3 hours and jammed with a new trumpet buddy (attending a University in Texas) on trumpet. Saturdays are fun because not a lot of professors are there, so you can play as loud as you want in the hallways. It is not that we can't do that everyday, it is only that we would generally not be appreciated for it. Today I stood at the top of the staircase and played as loud as I could "Fanfare for the Common Man" as Eric Crowther walked down the steps. He called it epic, as we saluted each other and parted. It was a rather remarkable moment. Personally, I would have rather played the Last Post (as it has been a dying dream of mine to play it there) but he was adament on his selection.
This week will be good. I'm really motivated right now to practice a lot and get my pieces under my belt. Motivation comes and goes, but you have to ignore that. Music is a decision. You have to love it, but just like a disobediant child, you have to love it even when it doesn't love you. -Maria Fuller
This question reminds me of when my sister and I traveled to LA to do an audition for Jens Lindemann (trumpet man, originally from Edmonton.) Right before our audition, we ran out to the ocean, pulled our pants up to our knees and waded out. We thought we were experiencing beautiful LA weather, especially because we had just come from the dead of winter in Saskatchewan. At the time it was about 17 degrees outside, which we were later told (in the audition, after having retold our adventures to the trumpet professor) is considered winter there. We laughed because we thought Jens was joking. He laughed because he thought we were insane. Whenever we meet him now he laughs, gives us a hug, and calls us the "Saskatchewan Girls." ...People were actually dressed in coats and boots there. I am not saying whether or not I think people in Alberta should wear coats and boots in the winter, but I am saying that Saskatchewan is the coldest place I've witnessed yet.
These first 2 weeks have been great. I'm really enjoying my classes this semester, and have big goals for my piano. On Tuesday there is a competition taking place at Convocation Hall. The winner gets to play their Baroque piece with the Alberta Baroque. My group and I are performing Brandenburg no. 5 by Bach. It starts at 7:00, and I think there are 11 people performing. Last week, I attended the USO concert, and last night I attended a brass quintet recital (put on by faculty, and members of the ESO.) It was very good, but only 40 people came. I'm wondering if there is either a lack of interest in Edmonton towards classical music, or if the U of A needs to find better ways to advertise. Today I practiced piano for 3 hours and jammed with a new trumpet buddy (attending a University in Texas) on trumpet. Saturdays are fun because not a lot of professors are there, so you can play as loud as you want in the hallways. It is not that we can't do that everyday, it is only that we would generally not be appreciated for it. Today I stood at the top of the staircase and played as loud as I could "Fanfare for the Common Man" as Eric Crowther walked down the steps. He called it epic, as we saluted each other and parted. It was a rather remarkable moment. Personally, I would have rather played the Last Post (as it has been a dying dream of mine to play it there) but he was adament on his selection.
This week will be good. I'm really motivated right now to practice a lot and get my pieces under my belt. Motivation comes and goes, but you have to ignore that. Music is a decision. You have to love it, but just like a disobediant child, you have to love it even when it doesn't love you. -Maria Fuller
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