The Downhill Stretch

This coming week I have my last midterm of my last semester of my graduate program. It's a pretty heavy test! I've made 80 index cards and ran out, and had to buy more before I can even touch the listening portion of the exam.

Yesterday I judged all day for the NFMC festival in Nampa, and came home and tried to practice when I totally "hit the wall." I've been practicing about 3 hours a day for the last two years, and I thought I would DIE after about 40 minutes of playing. I got through the whole program, but it wasn't pretty! Try to make ART out of notes when you feel that way. YUCK. So I finished (against my will, or according to my will, what have you) and went to the Game Keeper with Scott to hear Sandon Mayhew (saxophone) and the New Trio Plus which includes Rob Walker on cornet. Usually Chuck Smith plays piano for them, but for some reason Andrew Cortens was on the keys last night. He did a pretty good job. They played one number that was especially good. I don't know the names of any of the music they play; it's all bop and I'm not really familiar with the tunes. But Rob gave an amazing solo, and then Andrew took a solo which copied most of what Rob did almost exactly. It was pretty cool. I also loved it when Rob and Sandon were playing in unison or in parallel motion. The energy was really high and the playing was tight and FUN. I almost gave them a standing ovation, but I don't think it's quite customary in a lounge setting. They also did one Gershwin number which Andrew sang, which I can't remember the title of, but it struck me as pretty unusual to hear a song that is nearing 100 years old played by a bop band, even though Gershwin tunes are all pretty standard with jazz players.

It's been a pretty awesome couple of months, even though I haven't written very much on the blog. I got to go hear Juli Draney play with the ballet, a Brahms set and a Gershwin set. Her playing inspires me. Her practice ethic of late inspires me. I got to hear Lorca Hart's trio live last week. They were awesome. I loved Lorca's manner. I want to play jazz more than ever when I hear these greats. Scott and I heard a fabulous trio at the Blue Door Cafe last week; I never got their names, but the level of playing was impressive! We had a pretty great time at piano club last month; Reed played some original pieces that were some of his best yet. Andrew Armstrong came to Idaho and played a solo recital, including 2 of the pieces that will be on my graduate recital. We had a roaring party here at the house afterward, and he and Juli and I stayed up till 3:30am discussing the virtues of Chopin and Stevie Wonder. Truly one of the most inspirational nights of my life. Juli and I did a play-through for each other of our upcoming concert pieces, and I think it was truly some of the best playing either of us has ever done. It was a high point for me, performance-wise. I'm really enjoying my American Music History course with Dr. Belfy. America's Musical Life by Richard Crawford is inspiring me with all kinds of ideas for what to do after I graduate. And, I buried my grandma, which was very, very sad, but also brought me close to many of my family members, and has brought back a flood of happy and unexpected memories.

I sent out 250 postcard invitations to my recital! I'm getting pretty nervous about it now. What if people actually come? What if no one comes? LOL, I'm pretty worried, either way! My bachelors recital was for about 40 people. This hall holds about 200, and I think it'll be pretty full. I'm excited and terrified. I'm going to try taking a beta-blocker and see if it helps me keep my composure a little better. I'll let you know how it goes.

I've had a wonderful time learning as I've worked toward this degree. I think I've accomplished already what I set out to do. Let's see if I can articulate what those things are: 1. Become a better pianist. 2. Learn more music. 3. Enlarge my network. 4. Learn more ABOUT music, for a springboard to more and significant music projects. 5. Obtain the Master's diploma that I have been coveting! 6. Enlarge my knowledge of existing repertoire. Even though I haven't graduated YET, (10 weeks to go!) I think I have accomplished most of those aims. I think this experience has set me up to be a better musician, and to be able to do some writing and to put together entertaining and artistic concert programs and recordings. I've got my eye on a bright future!

Elvis Lives!

I'm just wrapping up what is probably the happiest day of the year for me. My best friend came to town and we squished enough fun for an entire week into one day. The crowning event was attending "Elvis On Tour" on the Imax, two hours and five minutes of footage of The King. We took our beautiful daughters (Alexis is also a huge Elvis fan; she was Priscilla Presley for Halloween a couple of years ago) with us. It was exhilarating to see him in action at the prime of his career. He was a tremendous band leader, and a fantastic entertainer, but it was great to see his interaction with his band. There is a reason he is called "The King of Rock 'n' Roll," and it's not necessarily because of his rock 'n' roll. In fact, most of what we heard tonight was blues and gospel. He's The King because he was so skilled as a musician and a performer. He knew that for most of his audience members, it would be the first and only time they would ever see him perform, and he wanted to give them a great show, as if it were the first time his band had played those tunes together. He had a huge band! A dozen or so horns, a set of timpani, flute, bass, drums (oh my! an AWESOME drummer!), piano (YES, a REAL piano; one pianist played boogie-woogie pretty impressively), and about 8 back-up singers. At the end of his career, he was singing mostly gospel music, and he sang with great sincerity. After seeing that show, I'm as big of a fan as ever. Now if only I could get me a bedazzled-grommet-studded cape, maybe I would have what it takes to really entertain my audience for my graduate recital. And go-go boots. But I digress.

So anyway, Kim came into town for just the one day, and we had so much to do! We went to the library and checked out new CD's (I'm stocking up on my Chopin Ballade recordings) followed by lunch on the patio at the Cottonwood Grille, which is in my opinion, the best table in the Treasure Valley, with the breeze coming through the Cottonwoods off of the Boise River, butterflies, dragonflies, flowers, birdies, and a view of their waterfall. What could be better? I'll tell you: Gaspacho and the Cottonwood Platter (their cheese plate with smoked trout, pork, salami, 4 kinds of cheese, apples, grapes and strawberries). Talk about heaven in my mouth.

After lunch we went back to the Morrison Center where we chatted with my teacher and then Kim and I got to play together for a few short minutes. She recently acquired a phenomenal new violin which I hadn't heard before today. I've always loved her playing, but now she is a force to be reckoned with. We got to sight-read through some Albert Spalding compositions together for the first time (we're both huge fans) and she played a composition of hers for me that she's had in progress for some months now. What a treat. Also, I ran into my best BSU girlfriend, Maggie. Haven't seen her all summer. Yay, Maggie! Go Broncos!

Then of course we had to go to the music store so I could drop my name in the drawing for the digital piano they are giving away this week. You can enter once a day all week, so you can bet I will. Can you imagine how my family life would improve if I could practice with headphones in the middle of the night? So we stopped by to pick up some sheet music, and what do you know, but I won a prize! I'm the proud new owner of a black coffee mug with golden piano keys on it. Woot! But don't worry, I'm still in the running for the digital piano. We met a great guy at the music store (Weinberg? I forget his name). He was playing Le Tambeau de Couperin by Ravel. Nice. Didn't realize there were still pianists - good ones - in Boise that I haven't met yet! Whadayaknow?

After the music store we were off to get fresh eggs from my girlfriend Dani at the Farmer's Market, and then to Lee's Candies (incidentally, Kimberlee's namesake), home to pick up the girls, and then off to see Elvis on Tour.

Since we hadn't had quite enough fun yet, we had to go to Pengilly's to see if we could soak in just a couple of more tunes before the night was over. We were expecting to hear our favorite band, the Frim Fram 4, but they weren't playing. Instead, we got to hear Rob Walker, trumpet; Camden Hughes, piano; and Tom Jensen, bass with a female singer whose name I don't know. I love hearing Rob! He really can swing. I'd never heard Camden or Tom play before, but they were great. I'd been wanting to hear them play for some time, so it was really a great surprise to hear them play.

The whole day was too much fun, but the best part was sharing it all with my best music friend, Kim. I only get to see her once a year, so we try to make the most of it when I see her. It really was my lucky day. I can't believe that my life is so full of beautiful people and the gorgeous music that they make. And at the end of it all, I get to come home to a house full of people who I love just as dearly for different reasons altogether. Today I'm chalk full of love.

4.0

I got a 4.0!!! It only took me till I was 37. My first one ever. I am pretty proud. Last semester I got a 3.97, robbed by Theory Review, which was only one credit hour and yet I did about 10 hours a week of homework in order to get an A- or B or something. Still, pretty good for a semester with three academic classes in addition to private lessons. This semester I had Advanced Form and Analysis, Survey of Jazz, and Private Lessons. Today I got to see my papers from my jury, and they didn't say much. The one comment that made me very proud was from Halimah Brugger. She said that I had come such a very long way this year. I really respect her musicianship. I didn't see any comments from my own teacher. I'm pretty proud, though. Just goes to show that if you work hard and play your heart out, you can make mistakes and still be considered a fine musician. I wonder if they give less than A's to anyone here? I don't hear about it, if they do.

On another positive note, Alexis was awarded a prize for photography on the state level of the Reflections contest today!! I was so happy for her and so VERY proud.

What I Have Learned

I finished my last final tonight!! I'm officially a 2nd year grad student now. Don't you think this occasion warrants a blog entry? Here are some things I learned that I never knew before:

1. I know the difference between simple and rounded binary form.
2. I know the difference between a bridge and a re-transition.
3. I can define bebop
4. I know how to write in Chicago style
5. I learned all about accompanist Andre Benoist and made the acquaintance of his son, Albert.
6. I RE-learned how to modulate and
7. how to harmonize figured bass and
8. how to identify all the various augmented 6th chords (Do you think that will ever stick in my brain? I've forgotten already)
9. I discovered Mary Lou Williams
10. I became painfully aware of the effects of the Jim Crow laws in the South
11. I discovered Fred Hersch
12. I learned to play the Chopin 4th Ballade!!
13. And the Rachmaninoff 4th piano concerto!!
14. And Granados' El Pelele!!
15. My kids learned how to do laundry (lol)
16. I learned that the world will not end if I don't clean my house
17. I learned that if I get up early, I can accomplish 3x more in my day
18. I learned that my husband would stand by me while I accomplish a dream of mine (What a guy; he has been very supportive)
19. I've tried to learn to be respectful of authority. Don't know if I'll ever learn that really well, but I'm making strides :)
20. I learned that if you have a dream, no one is going to pursue it for you. You pretty much have to step forward and take it!

It's been a great year. SOOO glad it's over.

Choosing a Piano Teacher

I have to shake my head when the biggest determining factor in choosing a music teacher becomes proximity. I want to say, "OK, I guess we'll talk in 5 or 6 years when you have paid out several thousand dollars to an ineffective teacher and you still can't play." As if I had room for one more student anyway, which I don't.

I almost posted that on FaceBook, and then realized it sounded really pouty. Even so, what they probably mean is that they can't afford me, which is silly, because they are throwing their money away to these neighbor ladies that know NOTHING. Can I express to you how many times I have tried to pick up the pieces when a child has had years of BAD TRAINING? It's impossible to do: like Humpty Dumpty. Let's just say that this phrase has NEVER been uttered by my students: "I took piano lessons for 6 years and I still know nothing." How many times have people said that to me about the neighbor lady they studied with? COUNTLESS. I need to come up with a tactful way of saying that to the parents who call inquiring about lessons.

On a lighter note, I got a 3.9 this semester. I'm pretty proud of myself. I wonder why I couldn't get a 4.0? I did SOOO much homework for that Theory credit, which was one credit hour and cost me my 4.0. Probably 5-10 hours a week. Oh well. I'm going to be happy with a 3.9. That's the highest grade point I've ever earned.