.jpg)
.jpg)
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Well, in the words of my friend Sarah "You're no longer a BM but an MM!!"
Yes - it's true my friends! 2 years have come and they have gone and I can hardly believe it. This whole past week has been a complete whirlwind to me - from my recital to graduation. I have a piece of paper and credentials that claim I'm a "master" at something - but really, how much can a person actually master in 2 years!? Not trying to be pessimistic - I mean, I've definately grown A LOT and gotten a good hold of myself and my instrument but I also feel like it's just the beginning and that I've not quite 'master'ed anything quite yet. Hence, staying for another year to keep the momentum going when it's still good. Graduation was bitter sweet for many reasons. The most bitter part was not the leaving (because I'll be back!!) but the fact that I couldn't share the day with my closest and dearest friends who deserved to be there and to be recognized for all their hard work and couldn't because of tests tests tests and rules rules rules. The past two years have not just been molded by my teachers, coaches, and my own hard work but even more so, and perhaps most importantly, by my friends who lend support, give love and constructive criticism and make the experience what it is - perhaps very rare to find at a higher education conservatory of music. I could only half enjoy the day because of not being able to share the celebration with them. However, the other 1/2 of me WAS excited. The speakers were fantastic and it was wonderful to have my family and Sarah there to see me graduate.
Yes - it's true my friends! 2 years have come and they have gone and I can hardly believe it. This whole past week has been a complete whirlwind to me - from my recital to graduation. I have a piece of paper and credentials that claim I'm a "master" at something - but really, how much can a person actually master in 2 years!? Not trying to be pessimistic - I mean, I've definately grown A LOT and gotten a good hold of myself and my instrument but I also feel like it's just the beginning and that I've not quite 'master'ed anything quite yet. Hence, staying for another year to keep the momentum going when it's still good. Graduation was bitter sweet for many reasons. The most bitter part was not the leaving (because I'll be back!!) but the fact that I couldn't share the day with my closest and dearest friends who deserved to be there and to be recognized for all their hard work and couldn't because of tests tests tests and rules rules rules. The past two years have not just been molded by my teachers, coaches, and my own hard work but even more so, and perhaps most importantly, by my friends who lend support, give love and constructive criticism and make the experience what it is - perhaps very rare to find at a higher education conservatory of music. I could only half enjoy the day because of not being able to share the celebration with them. However, the other 1/2 of me WAS excited. The speakers were fantastic and it was wonderful to have my family and Sarah there to see me graduate.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Flying Kites and Such...
After rousing good fun in Room 10 (the reception room)- we came back to our apartment and played a jolly good game of Apples to Apples which lasted until 2:00 in the morning! The wine had worn off by then and we were also getting down to the bottom of the pile in cards. I promise that I have nothing against Rosa Parks!
Thursday morning Hannah, Jonathan, Sarah, and Simon and I walked down to the Charles River and flew the kite that Jonathan brought with him. There was just enough wind to actually allow the kite to stay up in the air for a while.
Yesterday (Friday) Sarah and I went to the Longfellow house over on Brattle St. in Cambridge. I had never been and it was really interesting! I love historic places! Last night, my parents and brother arrived so now we have full house! We walked all over Boston today and we are so exhausted. It's fun having them here!
Hannah and Jonathan setting up the kite
Do you see the kite??
Jonathan and Sarah and I
Cambridge Commons - Yumi sporting her new haircut
Sarah and I
Naoko and I
After rousing good fun in Room 10 (the reception room)- we came back to our apartment and played a jolly good game of Apples to Apples which lasted until 2:00 in the morning! The wine had worn off by then and we were also getting down to the bottom of the pile in cards. I promise that I have nothing against Rosa Parks!
Thursday morning Hannah, Jonathan, Sarah, and Simon and I walked down to the Charles River and flew the kite that Jonathan brought with him. There was just enough wind to actually allow the kite to stay up in the air for a while.
Yesterday (Friday) Sarah and I went to the Longfellow house over on Brattle St. in Cambridge. I had never been and it was really interesting! I love historic places! Last night, my parents and brother arrived so now we have full house! We walked all over Boston today and we are so exhausted. It's fun having them here!
Hannah and Jonathan setting up the kite
Do you see the kite??
Jonathan and Sarah and I
Cambridge Commons - Yumi sporting her new haircut
Sarah and I
Naoko and I
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
I'm not sure how this happened, and maybe I need to stop questioning "why??!!" BUT I somehow recieved a "P" for passing beside my chorale harmonization which means that I am allowed to graduate this coming Sunday!!!!! Oh - and I passed the piano profeciency as well but I knew that before I got the official results on Saturday. The reaction was one of stumbling backwards and Bree having to catch me or something - I don't remember exactly as everything was a whirlwind. Now I just have this recital to do - which I'm actually really excited about now!!!! My dress is "supposed" to be done tomorrow and I have a bit more reception shopping to do. Other than all of that, I'm good to go. I have my dress rehearsal this evening which will hopefully go well and then just some resting and reviewing!
Sarah comes in tomorrow night at 5:00 and Jonathan and Hannah come on Wednesday! It will be great to have everyone here! I'm so excited! My parents and bro will arrive on Friday and I'm glad that they actually have something to come for (ie. graduation!!!) However, Sarah and I may have to build an ark for everyone to sight-see in! It's supposed to continue to rain throughout this week which is just so disappointing. I think it started raining last Monday and just hasn't stopped!!!!!
Lastly, a great big thank you for all of you who prayed for me during the exams last week! Even though I'm not sure why or how this all came about to be - I know that it was meant to be because it was asked for according to God's will and plan in my life. I would have been disappointed if it had turned out the other way but would have also known there was a reason for that path to take the turn it did.
Check back later in the week for Recital pics :-)
Sarah comes in tomorrow night at 5:00 and Jonathan and Hannah come on Wednesday! It will be great to have everyone here! I'm so excited! My parents and bro will arrive on Friday and I'm glad that they actually have something to come for (ie. graduation!!!) However, Sarah and I may have to build an ark for everyone to sight-see in! It's supposed to continue to rain throughout this week which is just so disappointing. I think it started raining last Monday and just hasn't stopped!!!!!
Lastly, a great big thank you for all of you who prayed for me during the exams last week! Even though I'm not sure why or how this all came about to be - I know that it was meant to be because it was asked for according to God's will and plan in my life. I would have been disappointed if it had turned out the other way but would have also known there was a reason for that path to take the turn it did.
Check back later in the week for Recital pics :-)
Monday, May 01, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Sigh of Relief!!!!
So many wonderful things have happened in the past few days...
1. It's been WARM
2. EASTER!!!!
3. I got my computer back!!!!!!
4. I completed and PASSED my recital permission jury!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next on the list is to pass the piano profeciency and chorale harmonization so that I can go into my recital knowing that I can graduate 4 days after!!!! The jury went really well. I only had one major screw up - came in 1 beat early on one of the Handel pieces and OF COURSE it was in a place where I've never ever come in early and OF COURSE it's a piece that involves 2 other instrumentalists besides my accompanist who is so good at covering brainless mistakes! However, it worked itself out. Everything else was fine for the most part. Definetely not anything that kept them from telling me I needed to have another permission jury!
So I got done with that and I was sooooo elated and I wanted to jump around the building for joy!!!! LOL
Then it became an even better day because I went home and my computer was waiting there for me.
Last night was also our art song rep class concert last night too! It was all German Lied and it was fantastic. I actually remembered all my words on the super fast "witch" song that I had to sing. Check out "Hexenlied" by F. Mendelssohn sometime and you'll know what I'm talking about. I also sang a really pretty Strauss piece Meinem Kinde.
Easter Sunday was a lot of fun. I two services in the morning filled with lots of singing. In the afternoon the girls got together for a wonderful brunch. TONS of good food and loads of fun. I included some pics from the afternoon. The highlight was the easter egg game we played. One of the girls, Laura, took sixteen eggs and made them hollow, boiled them, colored them and then filled the shells with confetti. The eight of us broke into two teams and the first team of 4 hid the eggs. Then the second team came out to find them. Once they found 2 eggs they chased those on the opposing team (the ones who hid the eggs) and broke the eggs on the persons' head! Confetti flew everywhere! I've included pictures of our Easter fun! :-)
Well, I cannot believe that next week is the LAST week of classes. How is this even possible?
Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour...
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales.
So many wonderful things have happened in the past few days...
1. It's been WARM
2. EASTER!!!!
3. I got my computer back!!!!!!
4. I completed and PASSED my recital permission jury!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next on the list is to pass the piano profeciency and chorale harmonization so that I can go into my recital knowing that I can graduate 4 days after!!!! The jury went really well. I only had one major screw up - came in 1 beat early on one of the Handel pieces and OF COURSE it was in a place where I've never ever come in early and OF COURSE it's a piece that involves 2 other instrumentalists besides my accompanist who is so good at covering brainless mistakes! However, it worked itself out. Everything else was fine for the most part. Definetely not anything that kept them from telling me I needed to have another permission jury!
So I got done with that and I was sooooo elated and I wanted to jump around the building for joy!!!! LOL
Then it became an even better day because I went home and my computer was waiting there for me.
Last night was also our art song rep class concert last night too! It was all German Lied and it was fantastic. I actually remembered all my words on the super fast "witch" song that I had to sing. Check out "Hexenlied" by F. Mendelssohn sometime and you'll know what I'm talking about. I also sang a really pretty Strauss piece Meinem Kinde.
Easter Sunday was a lot of fun. I two services in the morning filled with lots of singing. In the afternoon the girls got together for a wonderful brunch. TONS of good food and loads of fun. I included some pics from the afternoon. The highlight was the easter egg game we played. One of the girls, Laura, took sixteen eggs and made them hollow, boiled them, colored them and then filled the shells with confetti. The eight of us broke into two teams and the first team of 4 hid the eggs. Then the second team came out to find them. Once they found 2 eggs they chased those on the opposing team (the ones who hid the eggs) and broke the eggs on the persons' head! Confetti flew everywhere! I've included pictures of our Easter fun! :-)
Well, I cannot believe that next week is the LAST week of classes. How is this even possible?
Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour...
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Week of April 9
Welcome Liam Christian Gibson!!!! and congrats to Aubrey and Jason as well as Aria on being a new sister!!!
LAST WEEK IS OVER LAST WEEK IS OVER!!! I thought it would never end. The master class with Warren Jones was really amazing - very scary pre-master class - but amazing non-the-less. He had a great sense of humour and really did a lot with involving the audience as well. It didn't end up being as frightening of an experience as I thought it would be!
This past weekend Helen, a friend of Angela's and mine from our time in Hungary, came to visit. She's a Ph.D. candidate at U.Mass Amherst. It was a short visit - but just very nice. Angela and I are a bit crazed at the moment so I'm afraid we were frenzied hostesses. I hope you had a fun Helen even though we were a bit mad over the weekend - and sorry about the whole towel thing!!! xxxx
It's almost Easter! I'm so excited. I was walking out the door to go to work this morning and there was a BIG box awaiting me on our doorstep from my parents! I was already running late to work so I couldn't open it! I think it has Easter candy in it though!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! I can't wait. Karen said she is sending me a package too. Normally it's filled with PEEPS (my all time fav) at this time of year. But when I asked her if I was getting Peeps she just gave this evil laugh which scared me slightly.
One more week until my Jury. I'm mostly prepared and I think I'll be ready by next week at this time. It's only a little bit scary at the moment. I'm probably just freaking out a bit more than I need to be because I'm probably fine - but who knows! What if I'm not?????
My computer is still out of commission. I'm trying to find a time that DHL will be in the area and I (or another) will be home for pick-up. How spoiled was I a week before last??!!
Happy Spring!
Welcome Liam Christian Gibson!!!! and congrats to Aubrey and Jason as well as Aria on being a new sister!!!
LAST WEEK IS OVER LAST WEEK IS OVER!!! I thought it would never end. The master class with Warren Jones was really amazing - very scary pre-master class - but amazing non-the-less. He had a great sense of humour and really did a lot with involving the audience as well. It didn't end up being as frightening of an experience as I thought it would be!
This past weekend Helen, a friend of Angela's and mine from our time in Hungary, came to visit. She's a Ph.D. candidate at U.Mass Amherst. It was a short visit - but just very nice. Angela and I are a bit crazed at the moment so I'm afraid we were frenzied hostesses. I hope you had a fun Helen even though we were a bit mad over the weekend - and sorry about the whole towel thing!!! xxxx
It's almost Easter! I'm so excited. I was walking out the door to go to work this morning and there was a BIG box awaiting me on our doorstep from my parents! I was already running late to work so I couldn't open it! I think it has Easter candy in it though!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! I can't wait. Karen said she is sending me a package too. Normally it's filled with PEEPS (my all time fav) at this time of year. But when I asked her if I was getting Peeps she just gave this evil laugh which scared me slightly.
One more week until my Jury. I'm mostly prepared and I think I'll be ready by next week at this time. It's only a little bit scary at the moment. I'm probably just freaking out a bit more than I need to be because I'm probably fine - but who knows! What if I'm not?????
My computer is still out of commission. I'm trying to find a time that DHL will be in the area and I (or another) will be home for pick-up. How spoiled was I a week before last??!!
Happy Spring!
Monday, April 03, 2006
April Fools and such...
The first week back from Spring break was actually not as bad as I had anticipated. Perhaps all I really needed was a break from classes and most of the stresses that occur during a normal week. Last weekend Karen C. came to audition at Longy. It was nice to see someone from and to catch up - reminiscing and talking about Hungary and the future etc. Her audition went well (according to all involved) and I hope she'll be able to come next year!
A great tragedy occurred on Saturday! My computer slipped out of my hands and the LCD screen is what hit the floor. It's actually cracked pretty badly within the screen and all these "spider-web" looking things are on the screen as well as these colorful horizontal and vertical lines. After 2 hours on the phone with a Dell rep. we determined that the screen is the only thing that is damaged and not the hard drive. However, my notebook is currently out of commission as I cannot see anything on the screen to be able to use it. It will be the end of April by the time all is said and done and my screen is fixed and returned to me. This is NOT a good time to have had this happen to me! Why not in January or in the summer when I need my computer the least?? Being that this all happened on April Fool's day I kept saying over and over "Please let this be a joke, pleeeeaaaase let this be a joke!"
This coming week is going to be quite busy. Wednesday, Warren Jones (http://www.warrenjones.com/) is coming to Longy to do a Master Class. I am soooooooooo nervous. More nervous for this than I am for my recital jury and I'm only singing two songs! We've all been asked to have ready two German Lieder so I chose Und gestern hat er mir Rosen gebracht by Joseph Marx and Meinem Kinde by Richard Strauss. The words of Brian keep resounding in my mind "We're paying this man big bucks to come - KNOW what you are doing!!!" What if I forget??????
The honor's competition is on Thursday so once Wednesday is over it's time to switch gears to more contemporary music and something much more sad. Amy and I are entering with the Lori Laitman song cycle I Never Saw Another Butterfly for Soprano and Alto Saxophone. The 6 songs in the cycle are poems written by children who were held in the Terezin concentration camp. It's a very moving cycle. *A little plug... I'll be doing these on my recital as well* :-)
Spring is here! Yay! Now let's just get some consistant warm weather going! :-)
The first week back from Spring break was actually not as bad as I had anticipated. Perhaps all I really needed was a break from classes and most of the stresses that occur during a normal week. Last weekend Karen C. came to audition at Longy. It was nice to see someone from and to catch up - reminiscing and talking about Hungary and the future etc. Her audition went well (according to all involved) and I hope she'll be able to come next year!
A great tragedy occurred on Saturday! My computer slipped out of my hands and the LCD screen is what hit the floor. It's actually cracked pretty badly within the screen and all these "spider-web" looking things are on the screen as well as these colorful horizontal and vertical lines. After 2 hours on the phone with a Dell rep. we determined that the screen is the only thing that is damaged and not the hard drive. However, my notebook is currently out of commission as I cannot see anything on the screen to be able to use it. It will be the end of April by the time all is said and done and my screen is fixed and returned to me. This is NOT a good time to have had this happen to me! Why not in January or in the summer when I need my computer the least?? Being that this all happened on April Fool's day I kept saying over and over "Please let this be a joke, pleeeeaaaase let this be a joke!"
This coming week is going to be quite busy. Wednesday, Warren Jones (http://www.warrenjones.com/) is coming to Longy to do a Master Class. I am soooooooooo nervous. More nervous for this than I am for my recital jury and I'm only singing two songs! We've all been asked to have ready two German Lieder so I chose Und gestern hat er mir Rosen gebracht by Joseph Marx and Meinem Kinde by Richard Strauss. The words of Brian keep resounding in my mind "We're paying this man big bucks to come - KNOW what you are doing!!!" What if I forget??????
The honor's competition is on Thursday so once Wednesday is over it's time to switch gears to more contemporary music and something much more sad. Amy and I are entering with the Lori Laitman song cycle I Never Saw Another Butterfly for Soprano and Alto Saxophone. The 6 songs in the cycle are poems written by children who were held in the Terezin concentration camp. It's a very moving cycle. *A little plug... I'll be doing these on my recital as well* :-)
Spring is here! Yay! Now let's just get some consistant warm weather going! :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)