I Didn't See It At The Time

photo © 2010 Hartwig HKD | more info (via: Wylio)

Over the past couple of weeks I've been thinking about how many little things have happened to prepare me for what I am today. I want to compile a list in order to remember these things.

My mom worked in a daycare center before I was born. The other women who worked their made a book of songs, stories, fingerplays, crafts, and activities to use with young children. My mom didn't really use this when I was growing up, but she kept it all these years, and it's becoming increasingly useful for me in my music therapy classes.

Oma (grandma) and my mom and dad had tapes of children's, international and folk songs they played in the car with me. Knowing those songs cut the work in half for my beginning guitar class. And that contributed GREATLY to my not failing my other classes.

Papa gave me a little keyboard when I was really young. The musical impact that thing made is probably immeasurable. My parents bought a beautiful Chickering upright piano when I was around 7, and the rest is history.

The techniques I learned at the ballet classes my mom and dad let me take are being put to use this semester in my modern dance class. I feel like I'm eight all over again. :)
photo © 2007 chrisna herbst | more info (via: Wylio)
Next came the guitar, at the encouragement of my parents. I have a major head start on my music therapy major peers because of that. Mwahahaha. I got to play bluegrass and celtic music with the Washburne girls on the guitar. Some amazing, really good memories there.

My parents bought me The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition dvds for my 14th birthday. That and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World lead to my fascination with movie scores, which brought me to a deeper love of classical music. That's one of the reasons why I started playing viola.


photo © 2009 mitch huang | more info (via: Wylio)

And playing the viola (thank you, Mom and Dad!) helps me in so many ways. For one thing, it is much easier to find a group to play music now. The piano is fun and a great instrument, but it's mostly used for solo performance, whereas the viola is rarely used that way. And I can tell you right now, I am definitely an ensemble person, hahaha. Orchestra is such a blast.

There is so much more, and hopefully I'll be able to connect all the dots in my mind and write about it later.

Soli Deo Gloria!

I'm One of the Outsiders

Shortfalls of little sins/Close calls and no one wins/Stand tall but running thin/I’m wearing thin 
Oh, why are we keeping score?/Cause if you’re not laughing,/Who is laughing now? 
I’ve been wondering/If we stop sinking/Could we stand our ground? 
And through everything we’ve learned/We’ve finally come to terms/We are the outsiders. 


- Needtobreathe


This song sums up what's been going on for me spiritually since the last post. I'm keeping up with things, but just barely. I am in this world, but definitely not of it. I am an Outsider. Needless to say, I will try to not to take a full load of credits ever again. 


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Narrative record of a practice session


Background information: juries are fast-approaching, and the pianist is short on time for memorization. There is only one piece that doesn't need to be memorized; one out of 13 movements of music; 45 seconds out of 10 minutes. That leaves a lot to be memorized. A fearful lot when one doesn't have a photographic memory.


8:34 PM
The pianist begins with Chopin's Prelude 17. They get the whole way through, pretty much. There are some hiccups, but they can be fixed. The pianist starts to play again and realizes the first section is getting mixed up with the last. NOT GOOD. Pianist takes a break to run to the water fountain. Since said pianist's keys are locked in the dorm room, the pianist is very hungry and thirsty. Unfortunately the roommate won't be back for quite a while. *sigh*


We left the pianist meandering the practice hall, peeking in windows and stretching. The urge to stop and look at Bach's family tree is not obliged. The pianist darts into a free practice room that contains a favorite piano and starts the Chopin. It's still mixed up. Botheration. Pianist returns to previous practice room and picks up laptop, determined to listen to something inspiring and non-melancholy to counteract the Chopin. Ah, Danzon #2 by Arturo Marquez. Nice. 


Now the pianist is going to resist the longing to continue writing here until some progress is made. 


-practicing-


8:56
Another try. Maybe memorizing the chord names will help?


-practicing-


9:12
Somewhat. Saga continues.


-practicing-


9:23
Pause to e-mail advisor course plan.
Checks Blackboard for stats test grade. *urgh*. It's still not posted.


-practicing-


9:43
Hurray. Now there's only this tiny bit at the end that won't self-iron. But now this piece can't be played any more for fear of wearing it out, so the pianist picks something else. Hmmmm.......Bach. The piece that doesn't have to be memorized. 


-practicing-




Belay that. Water break.


-practicing-


10:19
Definite progress is made. Tiredness is pretty low. Hunger level is at the distracting point. Time for sit-ups.


-practicing-


10:39
Practice must end, otherwise sleep will be inadequate in preparation for test at 10:00 in the morning. Good news: if I pass the test, I won't have to report to music theory class for the rest of the semester. 


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This has been a presentation by "Writing in Third Person". Hopefully it wasn't too annoying. I don't blame you if you skipped most of it, honestly. :)


~Halifirien Pilgrim