The first month of 09 is all over, and I must say things aren't shaping up too badly. I had my audition for Temple University last Saturday. It was a very different experience from the one for UArts. Things at UA were very relaxed and laid back, and smaller. Here everything was bigger and more regimented. UA also had a much more human touch, at Temple the presentation at the beginning and the aural exam were all done by a recorded disembodied voice. The audition itself wasn't a complete disaster, though they didn't review my portfolio with me there in the room like they had at UA, which I didn't like. They just gave me a piano sight-reading exam (not good) and a sight-singing exam (also not good, much to my dismay), asked me some questions, and that was it. I think I made it a little too clear I was looking for more of a contemporary music education while they were a mostly classical department, so I never had much of a chance to impress them. I don't think I'm good enough grade-wise to be excepted to the university, so it didn't really matter how well I auditioned anyway.
But I already got into my top choice college. What do I care what Temple thinks?
Sunday was my first eight-hour shift at work, which was long but not too bad, anyway it was really random when I found out considering how bad my hours have been lately. Sunday evening I met with Khai and we got to practicing our new version of my song North Winds. He's actually made some good progress, and now after I send him some practice tracks and he really works at it, we'll be ready to record a demo. That's pretty exciting.
Today was the first day of school show rehearsals. This whole first month will be nothing but learning music, which isn't so bad. I just hope our voices can stand it. Now I really need to figure out how I'm going to fit in everything I want to do around school show. I have a pretty good chunk of time between three and six o' clock every day. I should be able to get some stuff done.
Speaking of which, what all do I need to do tomorrow?
1. Practice tracks for Khai
2. Call about guitar lessons
3. Start learning Logic so I can work on my album!
I should be able to do all that in three hours. One and two will take hardly any time at all.
Today was also the first day of photography class. That class will be a breeze of course (so much better than piano), I only need to worry about waking up and getting there on time. The first step to that will be going to bed on time. I don't why that's been such a problem this school year.
I heard something about some kind of important football game that happened on Sunday. Not really sure what it's all about, all I know is nobody at work mentioned it, and in the evening I was with Khai and Khai didn't mention it. Who knows? Oh yeah, and something about Bruce Springsteen. We just can't let our poor washed-up has-beens go in peace. Six more weeks of winter! I bet. Today everything outside melted, it was disgusting.
Other than that last paragraph, exciting times! I'll tell you what.
_Dr. M
Showing posts with label Napenthi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Napenthi. Show all posts
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Districts, Rachel's birthday, Napenthi
Been a while since the last update! Right now it is snowing outside and it's very pretty. It's been a very cold weekend, which I like. I like how there's never anybody outside, all you have to do is step out your front door to be in complete and utter solitude.
So here's the story of the last five days. On Thursday morning me, my chorus teacher, and the tenor who made District choir drove up to Southern Lehigh where rehearsals were taking place. I liked the guest director who led the group a lot, with these festivals it can be a little hit or miss, but this guy I really liked. He was an excellent conductor, had a good personality, and really made you care about the music, which is the most important thing. People had prepared the music pretty well for the festival so in general we had two very good concerts Friday and Saturday. We got to have them in this nice big church with a real pipe organ for us to sing along with. I'll be getting a CD with Saturday's concert, and I'll probably post some of the tracks for you to hear.
As for the re-audition for regionals (which is the next level up), I lucked out and they picked a piece for the audition which I had already performed at another festival, so I had a pretty good audition and I made regionals easy. Now I have music for that to prepare in three weeks, so that will be fun.
Thinking about it almost made me want to be a choir director again, at a high school or college. Luckily that feeling didn't last long.
Saturday evening and Sunday I got to be with Rachel again, which of course was very nice. She came back for the weekend for her birthday. She didn't have a very good birthday, in fact it was really quite lame. Sunday for a party we went to her brother's house, where her brother and father watched a football game, her mother sort of lurked (she's that kind of person), and her brother and sister tried not to be bored to death. The two of us walked the dog, played with some blocks, and argued about the gift I gave her. Wednesday last week I went to the book store with my father to get her a book. I couldn't find what I was really looking for so I bought her an art book about optical illusions and visual deception. It's a very good book, but she claimed I was thinking more of myself when I bought it (because apparently I like that kind of thing more than she does). What's funny is I thought I was just buying her a good book.
No presents at all (except what I gave her) to unwrap, a tiny ice cream cake without any candles, we didn't even sing to her or anything. I don't even know if anybody else besides me and her had any cake.
Well anyway, her family is in general pretty insensitive and tend to regard each other with tepid indifference at all times. I'm always trying to tell her that, that her family is fucking weird, but she refuses to see it until something like this happens.
Back to the book. Me and Rachel have a long history of her not liking anything I buy her. She claims I don't listen to her, that even her room mate at college knows what she'd like better than I do. Last Christmas, I got her jam, a Bible with anime illustrations, and a wind chime. She didn't like any of it. But I had reasons! I got her jam because I knew how much she liked toast, she was always telling me how much she liked toast, so what goes better with toast than jam. And it was even special fancy jam. I knew she liked anime, and she didn't have a Bible, and it was a little corny but I thought maybe she'd like a combination of the two. And I thought the wind chime matched the decorations in her bedroom. I remember her telling me she disliked wind chimes, but a single tiny bell at the end hardly qualifies is as a "chime", it's more like a mobile than anything (especially if its indoors, hence no wind).
But the gift flopped hard anyway. I think she should feel lucky to get anything, I mean, it's pretty rude to complain about something somebody buys you no matter how close you are. Especially a nice big full-color book that obviously wasn't from the bargain bin. It sure is a lot nicer than what, say, her brother bought her, which was nothing. Oh well, I guess from now on I should just go with more obvious things, things I know she'll like. But it's so boring! I hate boring things.
But of course later in the evening we kissed and made up (and out) (ha ha j/k). She said at least the book will be a good distraction for me when she's busy with something and can't lavish me with the attention I so readily deserve.
She left this morning, and I look forward to seeing her again, hopefully around Valentine's Day.
If you're wondering what Napenthi is, it's the name of my new band. Well, sort of. I met with Khai the guitarist today to try and get something a little bit organized. We ironed out what songs we are going to prepare for a possible live performance on the first in two weeks (death doom destruction). He talks like he's really serious about this and knows how to play. I have my hopes, and my doubts, but there's no reason to give up before you start. Today I'm going to prepare practice tracks for him, just bass drums and chords, so when we meet this weekend he'll have his parts down slightly so we can see if we actually have something or not. I'm not going to make any judgments on the potential of this project until we've both had time to practice. Napenthi is a botched spelling of the word Nepenthe, which is a mythological drug of forgetfulness. I may need some Nepenthe after this week.
This week being school show auditions and all. I've been trying to let my voice rest yesterday and today, since it was pretty well tired after singing all day Thursday and Friday. Tomorrow is a half day, we get out at like noon (for the end of the semester), and then we'll have to come back for auditions at three. During that time I'm going to practice the song and make sure I can still sing it. It is very high, mind you. I'm a little anxious to have it over with. With any luck I won't get a good part and I won't have to do the show, or I'll get the lead. One or the other would be ideal. I kind of hope the directors don't read this blog.
That's all for now. I think I'm going to go watch the snow.
_Dr. M
So here's the story of the last five days. On Thursday morning me, my chorus teacher, and the tenor who made District choir drove up to Southern Lehigh where rehearsals were taking place. I liked the guest director who led the group a lot, with these festivals it can be a little hit or miss, but this guy I really liked. He was an excellent conductor, had a good personality, and really made you care about the music, which is the most important thing. People had prepared the music pretty well for the festival so in general we had two very good concerts Friday and Saturday. We got to have them in this nice big church with a real pipe organ for us to sing along with. I'll be getting a CD with Saturday's concert, and I'll probably post some of the tracks for you to hear.
As for the re-audition for regionals (which is the next level up), I lucked out and they picked a piece for the audition which I had already performed at another festival, so I had a pretty good audition and I made regionals easy. Now I have music for that to prepare in three weeks, so that will be fun.
Thinking about it almost made me want to be a choir director again, at a high school or college. Luckily that feeling didn't last long.
Saturday evening and Sunday I got to be with Rachel again, which of course was very nice. She came back for the weekend for her birthday. She didn't have a very good birthday, in fact it was really quite lame. Sunday for a party we went to her brother's house, where her brother and father watched a football game, her mother sort of lurked (she's that kind of person), and her brother and sister tried not to be bored to death. The two of us walked the dog, played with some blocks, and argued about the gift I gave her. Wednesday last week I went to the book store with my father to get her a book. I couldn't find what I was really looking for so I bought her an art book about optical illusions and visual deception. It's a very good book, but she claimed I was thinking more of myself when I bought it (because apparently I like that kind of thing more than she does). What's funny is I thought I was just buying her a good book.
No presents at all (except what I gave her) to unwrap, a tiny ice cream cake without any candles, we didn't even sing to her or anything. I don't even know if anybody else besides me and her had any cake.
Well anyway, her family is in general pretty insensitive and tend to regard each other with tepid indifference at all times. I'm always trying to tell her that, that her family is fucking weird, but she refuses to see it until something like this happens.
Back to the book. Me and Rachel have a long history of her not liking anything I buy her. She claims I don't listen to her, that even her room mate at college knows what she'd like better than I do. Last Christmas, I got her jam, a Bible with anime illustrations, and a wind chime. She didn't like any of it. But I had reasons! I got her jam because I knew how much she liked toast, she was always telling me how much she liked toast, so what goes better with toast than jam. And it was even special fancy jam. I knew she liked anime, and she didn't have a Bible, and it was a little corny but I thought maybe she'd like a combination of the two. And I thought the wind chime matched the decorations in her bedroom. I remember her telling me she disliked wind chimes, but a single tiny bell at the end hardly qualifies is as a "chime", it's more like a mobile than anything (especially if its indoors, hence no wind).
But the gift flopped hard anyway. I think she should feel lucky to get anything, I mean, it's pretty rude to complain about something somebody buys you no matter how close you are. Especially a nice big full-color book that obviously wasn't from the bargain bin. It sure is a lot nicer than what, say, her brother bought her, which was nothing. Oh well, I guess from now on I should just go with more obvious things, things I know she'll like. But it's so boring! I hate boring things.
But of course later in the evening we kissed and made up (and out) (ha ha j/k). She said at least the book will be a good distraction for me when she's busy with something and can't lavish me with the attention I so readily deserve.
She left this morning, and I look forward to seeing her again, hopefully around Valentine's Day.
If you're wondering what Napenthi is, it's the name of my new band. Well, sort of. I met with Khai the guitarist today to try and get something a little bit organized. We ironed out what songs we are going to prepare for a possible live performance on the first in two weeks (death doom destruction). He talks like he's really serious about this and knows how to play. I have my hopes, and my doubts, but there's no reason to give up before you start. Today I'm going to prepare practice tracks for him, just bass drums and chords, so when we meet this weekend he'll have his parts down slightly so we can see if we actually have something or not. I'm not going to make any judgments on the potential of this project until we've both had time to practice. Napenthi is a botched spelling of the word Nepenthe, which is a mythological drug of forgetfulness. I may need some Nepenthe after this week.
This week being school show auditions and all. I've been trying to let my voice rest yesterday and today, since it was pretty well tired after singing all day Thursday and Friday. Tomorrow is a half day, we get out at like noon (for the end of the semester), and then we'll have to come back for auditions at three. During that time I'm going to practice the song and make sure I can still sing it. It is very high, mind you. I'm a little anxious to have it over with. With any luck I won't get a good part and I won't have to do the show, or I'll get the lead. One or the other would be ideal. I kind of hope the directors don't read this blog.
That's all for now. I think I'm going to go watch the snow.
_Dr. M
Sunday, January 4, 2009
New Horizons
What a mushy title. Oh well, I couldn't think of a better one.
These past few days have been great. Friday me and Rachel went to the mall and I became acquainted with the joys of spending money. I now have a copy of Pan's Labyrinth (from the bargain bin) which I'm really excited about seeing, I have an interesting new calendar featuring some paintings by H.R. Giger, and I have two new pairs of pants which are probably just about the most amazing pants I've ever owned. My art teacher told the class about them, about how wonderful they are, and man is he right. They're lined with flannel, so it feels like you're walking around in pajamas all day, it's soooooo comfortable and warm. It really is all about the simple joys.
Saturday we slept and watched TV, all day. We were going to meet up with a friend, but it didn't work out.
I've been friends with this girl named Misty for years, since I was in like elementary school. Her grandparents used to be my next door neighbors. Our relationship has gone through many different phases over the years, but lately we've hardly spoke to each other. Nobody's fault really, just that it can be hard making time for somebody when everything else gets in the way. Also, my relationship with Rachel means exclusive friendships with other women has been something I've shied away from. It's not like we're married, but in a way it kind of is, and I don't really trust myself not to create problems where they don't belong. I feel guilty about letting our relationship slide though, I don't want to lose her as a friend. I was excited about seeing her on Saturday, but it turns out she had to spend the day with her father whom she didn't see much over break. I didn't mind of course, but hopefully I'll get to spend some time with her soon.
Her father's a really cool dude. He's an amazing guitarist, in all likelihood I'll be starting guitar lessons with him soon.
In other news, my parents ordered a copy of Logic for me. Logic is the music production software I bought my computer in order to run. It's similar to GarageBand except a million times more functional. It's a professional program that people in Hollywood are using, I'm psyched about having it to learn and record with.
Also, there's this crazy kid I've known since freshman year named Khai, who I happened to see at the mall. He told me he plays the guitar, and we might be starting a band (the two of us). A sort of pop-punk/electronica thing is the idea right now, it's still just talk but I hope that actually comes to fruition. We might get signed and start touring and be the next Greenday, and now you know before anybody else. Congratulations.
Later.
_Dr. M
These past few days have been great. Friday me and Rachel went to the mall and I became acquainted with the joys of spending money. I now have a copy of Pan's Labyrinth (from the bargain bin) which I'm really excited about seeing, I have an interesting new calendar featuring some paintings by H.R. Giger, and I have two new pairs of pants which are probably just about the most amazing pants I've ever owned. My art teacher told the class about them, about how wonderful they are, and man is he right. They're lined with flannel, so it feels like you're walking around in pajamas all day, it's soooooo comfortable and warm. It really is all about the simple joys.
Saturday we slept and watched TV, all day. We were going to meet up with a friend, but it didn't work out.
I've been friends with this girl named Misty for years, since I was in like elementary school. Her grandparents used to be my next door neighbors. Our relationship has gone through many different phases over the years, but lately we've hardly spoke to each other. Nobody's fault really, just that it can be hard making time for somebody when everything else gets in the way. Also, my relationship with Rachel means exclusive friendships with other women has been something I've shied away from. It's not like we're married, but in a way it kind of is, and I don't really trust myself not to create problems where they don't belong. I feel guilty about letting our relationship slide though, I don't want to lose her as a friend. I was excited about seeing her on Saturday, but it turns out she had to spend the day with her father whom she didn't see much over break. I didn't mind of course, but hopefully I'll get to spend some time with her soon.
Her father's a really cool dude. He's an amazing guitarist, in all likelihood I'll be starting guitar lessons with him soon.
In other news, my parents ordered a copy of Logic for me. Logic is the music production software I bought my computer in order to run. It's similar to GarageBand except a million times more functional. It's a professional program that people in Hollywood are using, I'm psyched about having it to learn and record with.
Also, there's this crazy kid I've known since freshman year named Khai, who I happened to see at the mall. He told me he plays the guitar, and we might be starting a band (the two of us). A sort of pop-punk/electronica thing is the idea right now, it's still just talk but I hope that actually comes to fruition. We might get signed and start touring and be the next Greenday, and now you know before anybody else. Congratulations.
Later.
_Dr. M
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