Recital Countdown, Day 2 (and Happy Birthday James!)
Before I begin, I want to wish a huge Happy Birthday to my big brother James. I don't know where he is at the moment. He's taking a much needed hiatus from our family, which I respect (and kind of admire). I really hope he's alright. I'm sure he is. He's a very intelligent, handsome, resourceful boy, and I know whatever he's doing he's doing it well. I only wish I could say happy birthday to him to his face, and tell him I love him. So, James, wherever you are, happy birthday!
To business: I got a sour jolt of butterflies in my stomach when I put up fliers announcing my recital in the hallways of the music department. The first tremors happened when my Russian teacher told me she was coming. From now on, my policy is this: Come, just don't tell me you're coming. When I was doing theater I used to get so nervous just knowing who was in the audience. It's something that's carried over to my performance endeavours in general. But then, this guy in one of my classes who knows the goings on of our band said to me today: "You can play the Gorge, but you can't handle a few of us at your recital?" I suppose he's right. Although, we played the parking lot of the Gorge, which is different. NO NO! I promised this week I wouldn't make any self-depricating jokes. I am the portrait of confidence and poise. No mistake.
In musical news, I sang last night in the choir with full orchestra in front of me. I want to say it inspired me and moved me, but to tell you the truth I was so stressed out I couldn't concentrate. My black thrift store pants were too tight, and I was sweating like crazy. It was lovely music, but it didn't grab me. It did inspire me, however, to want to get to work on the next Parks & Recreation album, because it's going to be chock full of strings and horns! So, rather than moving me, Mozart made me itchy.
Today I practiced for the R word. I played all of my pieces really slowly: so excrutiatingly slowly that I was missing notes because I was spacing out. Then I worked very hard on the solos. By "very hard" I mean I played really hard. I made it a point to just hammer at the keys with my right hand so that my little improvised lines would at least come out strong. And you know what? I didn't play half as many wrong notes! So I figured it out. When they say "If you're going to make a mistake, make it loud." They don't really mean it's okay to make mistakes. They mean that if you play loud, you'll make less mistakes. Well, why don't they just say that?? Let me reiterate: I'm paying these people?
Anyway, that's all the news for now. Tomorrow I'm going to investigate all the logistics involved with the recital. Won't that be exciting?! Hey. If I have to go through all this, somebody else should have to as well. Just remember, confident people are liars!
To business: I got a sour jolt of butterflies in my stomach when I put up fliers announcing my recital in the hallways of the music department. The first tremors happened when my Russian teacher told me she was coming. From now on, my policy is this: Come, just don't tell me you're coming. When I was doing theater I used to get so nervous just knowing who was in the audience. It's something that's carried over to my performance endeavours in general. But then, this guy in one of my classes who knows the goings on of our band said to me today: "You can play the Gorge, but you can't handle a few of us at your recital?" I suppose he's right. Although, we played the parking lot of the Gorge, which is different. NO NO! I promised this week I wouldn't make any self-depricating jokes. I am the portrait of confidence and poise. No mistake.
In musical news, I sang last night in the choir with full orchestra in front of me. I want to say it inspired me and moved me, but to tell you the truth I was so stressed out I couldn't concentrate. My black thrift store pants were too tight, and I was sweating like crazy. It was lovely music, but it didn't grab me. It did inspire me, however, to want to get to work on the next Parks & Recreation album, because it's going to be chock full of strings and horns! So, rather than moving me, Mozart made me itchy.
Today I practiced for the R word. I played all of my pieces really slowly: so excrutiatingly slowly that I was missing notes because I was spacing out. Then I worked very hard on the solos. By "very hard" I mean I played really hard. I made it a point to just hammer at the keys with my right hand so that my little improvised lines would at least come out strong. And you know what? I didn't play half as many wrong notes! So I figured it out. When they say "If you're going to make a mistake, make it loud." They don't really mean it's okay to make mistakes. They mean that if you play loud, you'll make less mistakes. Well, why don't they just say that?? Let me reiterate: I'm paying these people?
Anyway, that's all the news for now. Tomorrow I'm going to investigate all the logistics involved with the recital. Won't that be exciting?! Hey. If I have to go through all this, somebody else should have to as well. Just remember, confident people are liars!