Thursday, May 29, 2008

#38

Ok, so it's been a while since I did any blogging... but there's a good reason for it! I've discovered Facebook! I am insatiably addicted. Completely and utterly so. It's where I found this funny little clip;http://carmina.ytmnd.com/
 
It's the lyrics for Carmina Burana... lol

This is the piece that first convinced me to play timpani, I'm glad my mom said no. Though the instrument I chose is insane, I'm sure it will be worth the effort once I master it. The bassoon is an incredibly challenging instrument which is constantly requiring some sort of fine tuning whether it be reeds, fingerings, keys, and a hundred other little things that all need to come into balance for the thing to work. One hundred is an exaggeration of course, however it can feel pretty crazy at times. 

Right now I'm trying to find a way to cope with the way the bassoon sits on my left index finger/palm joint. There is a vein right there that gets squished after hours of playing and starts to cut off circulation to my hand. I have to stop and shake my hand out every so often to get the blood flow back, until eventually the pain of the bassoon sitting on the joint becomes to great and I have to stop practicing all together.

The other part to the fine tuning that I'm dealing with right now is perfecting the capricious reed. They're never the same, and I keep reminding myself that whatever I have to deal with here is only going to get worse in Rochester. If I don't go insane it will be purely providential. I'm sure Mr. Hunt will know what to do.

I have two concerts coming up, for which I am very excited. One is with soloist Eugene Fodor (you have to see this guy- he talks while he plays!) who will be performing Lalo's Capriccio Espagnole. The other concert is Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

We recently played our last Trio concert at the Neurosciences Center which was a blast! Our Trio just has the most amazing dynamic that I've ever experienced in a small ensemble. From right to left we have Chloe; Jazz extraordinaire, Mark; Wiz kid, and Me; hmmm, sorry can't think of anything. :D lol


Ok the picture itself isn't great, but the memories associated with it are more precious than five really spectacular reeds.

Now I need to go to bed, so catch ya next time!


Tuesday, May 13, 2008

On dit que...

On dit que l'amour est beaux,
C'est brilliant comme le soleil!
On dit que l'amour est douce,
et touts qui pass sont enchanté.

On dit que l'amour est fort,
coeurs sont son stabilité.
On dit que les coeurs sont faible,
pleine d'haine et passioné.

On dit que l'amour est fait
des coeurs qui sont amoureux,
L'heine se lutte contre l'amour
et tout qui passe est disgracieux.





This poem was an optional assignment for the French 215 class that my lil sis and took last semester. This week I will do the formal graduation from the French program offered at Palomar Community College. Thanks to my lovely professors Chantal Maher and Judith Fauconnier I have enjoyed all five semesters very much, and hope to go to France one day to see what all the fuss is about. ;p


Translation for those who speak English:

It is said that love is beautiful,
all shining like the sun.
It is said that love is sweet,
and witnesses are enchanted.

It is said that love is strong,
hearts are its stability.
It is said that hearts are weak,
full of hate and impassioned.

It is said that love comes
from hearts in love.
Hate pits itself against love
and all that happens is disgraceful.




Yeah, it definitely sounds better in French! :D

Salut!


PS,
On joue du basson, en français.

Friday, May 09, 2008

#37 Eastman!

Ok, I promised everyone I'd post all about the colleges- this is that post.

Eastman: Accepted

So that's what happened, and my school choice is Eastman. YaY!
Oh yeah, I was offered a free ride at Wyoming U, but I really feel that I belong in a conservatory so that's where I'm going.

Music is such a funny thing, the more you know, the more you don't know.

Anyways John Hunt, the bassoon professor at Eastman, is great. He actually called me and asked me if I had any questions about Eastman- how's that for nice? He's super tall (well everyone is tall standing next to me) and nice, and the first professor to say "It's important to have fun, you gotta have fun!" :D

It think this is going to be quite a year. My parents are certain that I am going to get my butt kicked at Eastman and I agree completely.

Well, I need to go participate in the activity called Life now so I'll catch y'all next time!
KT