Back to the Grind

Well, my friends, Christmas is over (sort of). I'm back to work on my studying for my music history predictive exam, which will be on January the 14th (I think). It's a great big test. I counted 280 items that I have to explain and date and name the nationality for (composers, forms, terms, publications, compositions). It's kind of like getting ready to pass the bar. I've just been studying for about 90 minutes, and I got 10 flashcards prepared. I haven't really STUDIED concepts, just gathered some information so I can study it eventually. I have about 85/280 flashcards now. It's slow going. I took about 3 days off for Christmas, but I have to get back to work now!

Scott and I watched "Julie and Julia" again last night. I was inspired. Julia Child inspires me to just keep on working toward my goal of being the best that I can be. I loved Julie's story, as well, reaching out toward people who might have a common interest by way of her little blog. Is anyone out there? I wonder if anyone reads this.

Kevin is home for another week, and everyone (but me) goes back to school in a week. It's kind of a tricky thing to balance my time over the break, because everyone is home on vacation, but this really can't be a vacation for me. I need to keep working toward passing this exam, and I should be practicing, as well. I've been working on learning Granados' "El Pelele." Do you know it? Youtube it. It's a very happy and DIFFICULT piece. I'm working hard, and making a tiny bit of progress at a time - just like Julie and Julia.

Advancing Confidently in the Direction of my Dreams

Last night Scott and I went to see "Julie & Julia", a film that tells the story of a girl who decides to cook her way through Julia Child's French cookbook and then writes about it on her blog. It tells the story of how Julia Child came in her midlife (well into her 40's) to decide out of boredom to learn to cook, and eventually write a cookbook. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie!

I came away renewed in my confidence that I can do great things. Years ago I read Irving Stone's "Lust for Life", a book about Vincent van Gogh, who didn't begin to practice art until well into his adult life. I was stunned to learn that van Gogh had several other careers before devoting himself to his art. It seems that there is a notion that if you haven't mastered a thing by the time you are 20 years, that it is too late for you do succeed. "Julie & Julia" reinforced my confidence that I have a lifetime ahead of me to progress in any area, but particularly in my music. Here's my favorite quote (of late!):

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Thoreau