On The Record

I'm taking a break from cramming for my psych test. For the record, I hate cramming. I feel like I don't do as well when I cram as apposed to when I can steadily study up to the test. Unfortunately I couldn't do that this time. My other classes and such took precedence. And then I forgot about the test. There was a tiny but powerful explosion of frustration in my brain when I remembered. It hurt.


Actually I'm double-tasking right now. I'm listening to my Mozart piece that has 7 variations. That's the theme plus 7 more parts, which each have at last two sub-sections or things I'm supposed to change on the repeat, so let's total it, shall we? *mental math, scary thought* That's 16 slightly different ditties, and soooo many different ways to mix them up, which I so often do. I am attempting to solidify the proper order in my reluctant brain, and hoping for the best. If worst comes to worst, I'll just have to assign each variation a story. "This is the one with the bouncing bunny, which comes AFTER the marching band. But marching band can't play before the babysitter trying to catch the kid on the trampoline. It just can't happen". Yes, Willem Van Nassau. I'm turning you into a children's story.


I'm trying my best to make this fun. Truth be known, I'm excited I'll only be playing this piece for 7 more weeks. My other songs (you can skip this part with no hard feelings from me....as if I'd ever know....but anyway, this is more for my record and therapeutic exercise than anything) include Brahms' Intermezzo in E Minor, Opus 119 No. 2. I love it, and it doesn't have to be memorized. It's the romantic piece on my list. It's the last piece I play at the end of the day. It's gorgeous and passionate. It's emotionally draining, but entirely worth it.


Then there's the ever-present Bach piece. I actually like mine this time. It reminds me of a favorite quote of mine:"Well, Debussy's certainly made a hit with you," Said Simon, "though I'm not sure you wouldn't outgrow him. You're the kind of child who might develop a passion for Bach." I told him I hadn't at school. The one Bach piece I learnt made me feel I was being repeatedly hit on the head with a teaspoon. --- from I Capture the Castle

I'm not sure I'm at the in love stage with Bach, but the relationship isn't quite as painful as it once was.

The last piece is a two-part Muczynski. The first part is really high on the piano, the second is extremely low. I'm talking lowest possible note low. It involves a ton of left-hand octaves, which are painful after more than twenty minutes I've found. On the second I'm supposed to picture the factory scene in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Hahaha, you've got to love a piano teacher who has both a doctorate and  a golden snitch, which she displays on her piano. My other favorite item on her piano is a little vase-type-thing with the inscription "Ashes of trouble students". It makes me smile.


Maybe I'll come back tomorrow after the psych test and write about my viola, chorus and accompanying music. 


Until later, adios! And Soli Deo Gloria!

LOV3

photo © 2011 Selena N. B. H. | more info (via: Wylio)
Three reasons why I love today:

1. It's sunny, it's warm, it's slightly windy, and I have a three-hour break between classes this afternoon! Wahoo!

2. I'm alive, and I had a great weekend with my family and roommate!

3. I got lots of little presents, including gluten-free cookies baked by one of the ladies in the office!

Watch my happiness be crushed by either music theory class or the results on my music therapy quiz. But no, this will not happen. I will REJOICE!

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!