Sorry--I've been neglecting el blog-o.
I got busy. Simultaneously, I got sick.
Cold symptoms lingered for about 3 weeks.
Now I'm okay.
But...this week was rough.
Unfortunately, the picture above isn't too far off from an incident this week, which I suppose I shouldn't detail on the internets.
I'm okay now, though.
Despite unrelated-to-clarinet drama, I have been keeping busy, musically.
How exciting!!! Two weeks ago I adjudicated a solo/ensemble thing in St. Paul. Those things are INTENSE because the kids only have 10 minutes to play, get a verbal comment, and written comments.
The rubric was pretty good--detailed descriptions, and was based on a 5- point scale in each category...
I heard later that one of the students mothers was upset with her student's score of a bunch of 3s and 4s. Ugh. What is up with people these days?? If my kid was a developing musician in middle school, I would expect to see intermediate levels of performance reflected in the grades (3s and 4s!) unless my kid was AH-MAAAA-ZING (i'm biting my tongue right now from further remarks about the exceptionality of my future children...) anywho...for the record I gave a couple of 5s to well-deserving students, but out of the group of about 30 kids, most of them fell into the middle category, which I KNOW is a normal result.
Hello, if I learned anything in grad school it was about that bell curve deal. Whatevaaa! Hahhaa! I don't think my girl Steph reads this blog, but she will tell you, I was PRETTY impressive in the graduate Research Colloquium class. PRETTY impressive!!! Off topic. Sorry...
Anyway...I was dead after that adjudication. I looove doing it, but it is damn tiring.
NEXT....in the suspenseful life of myself...
BAND CONCERT!
Yes, last weekend Bob and I, and a couple of our other clarinet friends from MPO agreed to play in a band concert at the last minute. We went to one rehearsal and the concert. We played in this CUTE church on University Ave in Minneapolis. We met a lot of interesting people, which I suppose I shall not detail here, as much as I would really love to. Keeping it classy, folks.
We played AWESOME band music such as: Paradiso, Alleluia Ladamus Te, Bolero, Valdres March, and Ravel's Pavane. And yes, I wanted to die in Bolero. I can't handle that one. That is definitely THE LINE.
AND THEN...dun-dun-DUNN!!! Shostakovich 9 in an orchestra rehearsal. I am filling in for clarinet buddy for two rehearsals of above mentioned symphony and Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.
I practiced Shost SOOOOO MUCH. I went through like a PACK of cigarette papers...
Wait, what??? Non-clarinetists: you gotta fold that shizznit up and put it over your bottom teeth so your lip doesn't get impaled by your teeth when you practice a lot. Always I am too embarrassed to buy it myself (you can't buy it if you're a girl without the most asinine comments when you ask for rolling paper at the gas station or liquor store...not worth it...so i do make Mr. Weidman purchase it or my lovely brother when he's in town.)
Anyway...I ended up practicing the solo in the 3rd mov't the most. I even recorded it. But every time I pressed RECORD, I screwed up. Every time I DIDN'T press record, it was FINE.
SO. FRUSTRATING!
Guess what's even worse...WE DID NOT EVEN PLAY THAT MOVEMENT.
FML.
Today I am feeling a million lifetimes better than everyday the past three weeks. I was sick, pissed off, plus...the incident which I shall not discuss here...(I know, I hate when people do that, too...)
But I am now very rested, and PLUS...Bob's coming over soon!
Today we attack Krommer Double Concerto and revisit our old friend, Il Colvegno.
Everything is good again in the world!
And...as I let all 150 of my students know yesterday...my birthday is coming up on MONDAY. (I like flowers, dark chocolate, cats, cool pens, coffee, and money. absolutely no metals.) i kept forgetting about my own birthday in the midst of my overwhelming excitement with regards to the ROYAL WEDDING next Friday, but since I have now remembered, I cannot wait until my annual multi-treks to my favorite CAFE LATTE. wine wine wine, chocolate chocolate chocolate.
xoxo
Your Shosty sounded GREAT! And I'm glad that you were a good grader. I hope that when I have children, I'm not one of those Mama Bears who thinks that her child is Mozart reincarnated. In regards to your 'incident' - you're the best. Don't let the man get you down.
ReplyDeleteOff topic, but nevertheless exciting: I learned how to wear a sari tonight! Finally! I don't have to depend on my mother to put it on me anymore! Am so happy :)
xo, Geeta