Five Sacred Trees!!!

I don't think I've ever posted video of my performances before, but last Thursday I played for a piano masterclass and my wonderful teacher Ms. Jensen sneakily recorded the whole thing from her ipad. hahahaha
As my grandma Connie says; "nothing is safe anymore!"
hahahaha it's TRUE!!

Well now I'm on YouTube and thus famous... lol or not.

I almost didn't do this, all the way onto the stage I was kicking myself because I had awoken sick that morning with some cold virus/sinus infection thing and was feeling quite poorly. Why I did it still confuses me, but I'm sure glad it worked out. :)

Five Sacred Trees by John Williams, movements 1-2

Click here for movements 3-5

It totals 24 minutes in length and I'll have to play it this Tuesday in Studio Class, the whole thing from memory, to qualify to compete in the concerto competition. Prayers much appreciated!!!

I have to say, that what with this piece being as hard as it is and me being as sick as I was (am), I must give credit where it is due and that would be to Jesus Christ, who sustains me. Without Him I could do nothing.

Also to my pianist Suyeon Kim, who is beyond amazing, incredibly talented, dedicated, ever supportive (even when she has to teach me my part) and just plain nice to boot. I really lucked out.

Also to Ms. Jensen, who has been incredibly patient with me for the past 2 years. I would have gone crazy trying to teach me by now. lol

You guys rock!

Smell ya later!

Got Lessons?

Parents!

Not sure if investing in music lessons is a good idea for your kid?

Turns out you may get even more than you bargained for:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-music-big-brain-benefits-leisure.html

Eastman Graduation

As I sit on a couch that is not mine in Rochester, NY, I contemplate the depth and richness of friendships I am surrounded by in this city. I’ve been in the Eastman area for the past week catching up with my would-be graduating class of ‘12. I’ll see them walk tomorrow. It’s definitely a time of closure for me. Transferring and leaving such wonderful people was probably the hardest choice I’ve made to date.

Tabs, Alex and Emma from left to right

The people of my MOPC Bible Study just pulled together to make one of the best dinners ever!! Alex and Daniel were the hosts and it’s their couch I’m crashing on tonight, out of the many options I had. You know you’re at home when there are wonderful people everywhere who want to take you in. This past week has been a whirlwind of awesomeness, I’m kind of surprised that it’s already coming to an end!! It seems just like yesterday I was trying to make up my mind if I would buy a plane ticket out here. So glad I did. The depth and length of the relationships I’ve formed out here is truly remarkable. At times it feel like I never left, esp. since not much has changed. Though, I’ve definitely changed, for the better I hope!

Eleanor, me, Mrs. Judd, and Heidi

The Pastor’s kids are growing up to be lovely young people. I enjoy being a heroine in the eyes of the older Judd girls and am amused to watch them copy me, which is truly the highest form of praise.. even though it’s probably the case that if they knew better they wouldn’t. ;)

Yes that is delicious appleness spilling over

Chris at the carving and Conrad
at the bottle popping!!

But food for tonight’s dinner was deep fried turkey, thank you Chris, Cranberry Chutney, Mrs. Rev. Judd’s sweet potato casserole recipe, stuffing and sauteed veggies, thank you Alex, and I got the desserts which were apple pie and cream puffs. oh yeah baby, Clarks don’t fool around with desserts. lol

cream puffs and beer.. so much food sexiness!!

But it’s all ending as of noon tomorrow when my would-be Senior class is walking and I’ll be witnessing it all from a balcony in Eastman Theater.

One of the special things about Rochester is the Tango. My first dance partner Daniel and my teacher Alex (who got married to each other.. yes I take full credit) still live in Rochester and we hit the dance floor last Thursday. So much fun!!! Daniel has improved much since I started with him, and we had a lovely dance. I must say that he has far outstripped me as far as dancing is concerned, but that’s ok.. as long as he makes me look good. ;)

Gramert, Erin, Grandbert and Mrs. Robertson

I wish I could document all the wonderfulness of this visit, but it would be impossible. So instead 

 I’ll list those responsible for these awesome times.

Seth, Conrad, and Daniel

Tabitha, Erin, Jamie, Kenny, Seth, Alex, Daniel, Conrad, Ben, Mr. and Mrs. Judd, Eleanor, Heidi, allll the Judd kids, Mrs. Griffiths, Sue Marriot (who passed away last Sunday the 13th), Roy Marriot, Emma, Chris, Patrick, Yuen, Lauren, Natalie, Jubin, Grandmert and Grandbert, Mrs. Robertson, Mr. Terpstra, and Darcy.

Random other people from Eastman who firstly recognized me, secondly acknowledged my presence and thirdly did so in a friendly manner. lol

And of course my home girl Amanda Hays, keeping me properly insane and thus equipped for life as we know it.


I am a lucky lucky girl, not only to have so many wonderful friends but to love and be loved by them. The awesomeness doesn't even end there as I’ll be road tripping back to TX with dearest Tabs. It will be awesome. :D Also saves me tons of $$

It’s also the case that I am reassured of having made the right decision to transfer though it meant I had to leave such wonderful people. I really love Ms. Jensen and am gratified to know that UT is a much better fit for me as far as weather and bassoon is concerned.

Anywho, it’s almost 2am out here, church and gradumacation tomorrow so must stop. Later.

Will You be my Valentine?

 Will you be my Valentine??

The past few weeks have been intense. I got pretty sick within the first week of school but am doing much better now. Looking forward to my Junior Recital on March 30th!! Whoohoo!! It's going to be a good program. Tango Sonatine by Max Dubios, 5 Sacred Trees and my trio named Ménage à Trois will be playing.. and somehow we're going to make this all happen in the span of 30 minutes... lol

This Valentine's day I hopped on a bus to Houston (thank you Claire and Chris for the rides to and from the bus station!) and eventually made it to Rice University where I got to see an old friend from Eastman named Seth Russell. 

It was not because it was Valentine's day that I went to see him, he just happened to be having his audition that day.. and that was the only time I could go out there to see him. It was fun!! 

We went to a French restaurant called La Madeline and I got a Croque Monsieur and Seth got Les Crepes Poulet and we both finished with this amazingly decadent chocolate cake with the word Sacher written on the top of each slice.. fudge, chocolate mousse, moist chocolate cake and lined with raspberry... otherwise known as Sacher Torte. Yum!! 

Seth Russell and Me

It was good to catch up, but I missed my bus! Ended up hanging out with my friend Alex Zdanis for two hours before the next greyhound bus took off. Thank you so much Alex!! Whew! I made it, but it was a rough day, and I had to turn in a paper that morning.. so while I wasn't getting lost or experiencing new adventures I was writing a paper. hahahaha

I am very excited about a new Tango that Russell Podgorseck is writing specifically for our Trio.. it's going to be awesome man!! 
(Hear the performance in the "video" below! We call ourselves "Menage a Trois" which I somtimes jokingly spell menage a trio... ;)
from left to right we have the lovely Claire (Mashburn) Grooms, Nicholas Councilor and me.
The piece itself is called "Volcadas" which are a particular type of tango move. This move is special because, like the piece, it totally takes you off your axis of balance. The volcada dance move effectively causes the follower to put all of her body weight on the leader, with whom she is dancing, in a trust-or-fall position, thus shifting her center of balance or axis.

I love tangos, in case it wasn't obvious. hahaha That being said it has been difficult to dance much tango this year, partly because I can't stand bad breath (which seems to be an overwhelming trend amongst tango men) and because there aren't very many good people to dance with. If I had a partner to work with I'd be THRILLED simply because I would have the guarantee of progress, which is all I really want.  But it's problematic when you only go to practicas sporadically and never get to choose with whom you get to dance, one of the silly tragedies of the male dominated system that governs tango. Followers aren't supposed to ask the leaders to dance.. a rule I break periodically. There are NEVER enough men to dance with so this makes for a lot of sitting around, and frankly, I haven't got time to just sit around and wait for some dude to deem me worthy of dancing with him. So I don't go unless I bring a friend or better yet a DATE.. hahaha in my dreams.

This morning after frantically editing a 7 page paper in 1 hour and 45 minutes, I submitted it and did something drastic. I dyed my hair a vibrant shade of RED!!! To be honest it was a little bit of an accident.. but every time I have to submit something significant for that class I do something drastic to my hair. The first time it was just a cut.. but now I have a new identity... Ms. Jensen suggested I get one of those Elizabethan cones that dogs wear so that I can't go crazy again. hahahaha




It's time for bed, good night!!