nerd alert, part 2

Here is another example of why I am an Extreme Nerd.

Several of my younger students use the Essential Elements series of books at school or for their lesson. Most of the exercises in these books are thinly veiled scales and arpeggios, enhanced with enthusiastically cheesy titles. You know, like "Eighth Note Express!" or "D Major Mania!" Whoopee!

Today, one of my students went to play "Sight Reading Challenge #11!" and I had this really random thought of "You know what would make this really challenging? Having to play it on a high wire!" Of course, I instantly blurted this out loud. My student thought it was funny, but that's because she is well on her way to Extreme Nerd-dom as well.

I then spent the rest of the day thinking of other ways to make this exercise more challenging. Like, what if you were playing, and suddenly someone threw a paper bag over your head? That would add to the challenge. Or if you had to avoid guys wielding folding chairs, or had to play the song standing on your head.

You get the idea. I am clearly the nerdiest person alive.

definition of cool

I was recently invited to a party. Of course, it's on a night where I have to work, but it was still nice to receive an invite. What's a little odd to me is that the invite was from someone who seems like a Cool Person. I'd probably enjoy hanging out with this particular Cool Person, but I was also semi-filled with some of that old high school dread that comes along with any kind of invitation from a Cool Person.

I am not a Cool Person. Let's take a minute to examine a few things that lead me to this conclusion.

1) I was rooting through my music library looking for a piece to play with my viola and bass clarinet duo. I found an old piece that I hang onto because it makes me chuckle due to it's sheer ridiculousness. There are a whole bunch of esoteric reasons I think it's funny. (absurd title, lyrics in Middle English, beautifully rendered artwork surrounding things such as a tuba solo, the use of the word 'incohate' as a tempo indication).

Strike one!

2) I cannot by visual recognition name a single current pop artist. Yeah, I can tell you that a young Mendelssohn looked a little bit like Legolas from the Lord of the Rings movies, but attempt to point out say, Gwen Stefani (who is probably not cool anymore) from a celebrity line up? No can do.

Strike two!

3) I have three action figures (in their original packaging!" on my wall. They are Jesus, Einstein and Beethoven.

Strike Three!!

Granted, I am extremely happy to not be a cool person. I'm fine with being who I am. But I'm sure most of my blog readers can identify with the pressure-filled, anxiety-ridden angst of dealing with a Cool Person situation!

visualize

So, I played a nice gig this weekend. There was a mass by Haydn, and lots of great outdoor recreation time. I only have one complaint: the edition for the music we received was unreadable.

It looked like I could have read it when I casually glanced at it, but once I put it on my stand to play, many bad music engraving errors came into play. Like, unnecessarily squished together 16th notes, that odd phenomenon where a note will be on a line AND a space, rhythms written in odd groupings, vague slurs, etc.

At first, I thought it was me, because I am overdue for an eye appointment. But after taking a quick poll of the section, I soon discovered I was not alone. What I hate about things like this is the constant sense of second guessing that comes along with it. "Was that an E?" I'll be thinking instead of being ready for the next thing. This sort of edition also breeds the stupid mistake syndrome, where you start to screw up really easy things, simply because your eyes are crossed trying to add up the number of beats in the previous 4/4 measure. (Answer - 3.5!)

Team this up with bad lighting and you are in for one fun evening! Hooray!

brown bag it!

One of the best things about living in Idaho is that for every couple of nice well paying gigs, there is a reciprocal gig that will involve members of the orchestra arriving with their instruments preassembled in a paper bag. This actually happened once, where the 'principal trumpet' showed up, pulled his horn with the mouthpiece attached out of the bag, gave the mouthpiece a smack, and walked down the stage, warming up while playing "Louie, Louie." I later found out that this was the local band teacher.

Ah, Idaho.

This weekend I have a gig in Sun Valley, home to swanky stars like Tom Hanks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis. I've never seen any of these folks there. This gig involves ample free time for snowshoeing, skiing, drinking vast amounts of wine and zoning out in the Sun Valley Lodge hot tub. Right on! The hardest part about this weekend is remembering to bring my viola, and remember that I am there to work.

Ah, Idaho!

jason

One of my old high school buddies is sick and needs prayer and support. His name is Jason, and if you could pray for him, I'd really appreciate it. More information can be found here:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jasonbendler

Thanks!

q and a

Q: Did you recently receive a blogging award?
A: Yes! It was bestowed upon me by the fabulous Charles. It's a Premios Dardo Award, which comes with the following stipulations:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to at least 5 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So, here are my blogs that I award my own Premios Dardo Awards:

Moving J-Wards

One Claude Hooper Bukowski

Yarn Tootin

Musical Assumptions

A View From The Podium

Q: Has your blog been discovered by Robert Franz's publicity person?
A: Yes!

Hi, Robert's publicity person! Robert is awesome. And you too must be awesome if you've dug around and found my blog. It's not the most interesting blog in the whole world. It's mostly me rambling about orchestra stuff, and breast cancer stuff, and restaurant reviews, and whatnot. But we love him here in Boise! Or, at least I do. But not in a creepy I'm-going-to-stalk-you-and-possibly-mail-you-an-ear kind of way. More in the he's-an-excellent-musician-who-gets-great-results-while-still-maintaining-the-joy-of-music-making kind of way. Yay, Robert Franz!

Q: Is it true you won, through sheer luck, a whole bunch of personal training sessions?
A: Yes! And I will have the fantastic Connie as my personal trainer. She's pretty intense, and I am certain I will die.

ROBERT FRANZ!

Ha. I have now solidified my status as a weirdo in the eyes of Robert's publicity person, and probably Robert as well. It's the C string. It drives you nuts after awhile.

Q: Is this weekend's Philharmonic concert worthwhile?
A: Yes! The choir is great. I especially like the "Joan of Arc" girls. The movie is pretty extraordinary. Do attend!

unity

Today, we watched an historic event, the inauguration of Barack Obama.

What captured my attention most about the proceedings was the inclusion of the arts every step of the way. High school students marched in the parade, children sang, poetry was read. There was an especially moving piece performed by Yo Yo Ma and his pals, in freezing temperatures! After Barack took office, we all gathered together and listened to our National Anthem. I don't know if you sang along with the choir, but I did, in the privacy of my car while driving out to NNU! Tonight, there will be dancing and more music as the nation celebrates.

The arts provide unity in a way few other things can. Those of you who have made the arts a career choice know this better than anyone else. But even those of you who have enjoyed the arts through listening to the radio, singing in your school's 3rd grade choir, or dancing as Mouse #4 in The Nutcracker, have experienced this commonality of spirit. We strive for a common goal. As Christians, our common goal has the additional purpose of worship to God.

I believe the primary function of arts education in America is to provide people with this necessary outlet of togetherness and teamwork. If we cannot learn to work together to create something beautiful, how can we ever work together to help those in need, to share God's love, to fight injustice? We felt it today as citizens of the United States. We have access to this unity on a daily basis, if we so desire.

As a teacher, I work with students who are striving to achieve this goal. While they may not go on to pursue a career as artists, they have learned to pursue excellence, work together (often with people they don't get along with!) and delay gratification. They learn to lift up the members of their team who need extra help, and to share the spotlight when success finds them.

Arts education is for everyone. In a perfect educational world, every child would receive arts education and physical education. A sharp,caring mind is little good in an unhealthy body. These classes are not 'frills', they are life.

progress

Tomorrow is Day 1 of the Philharmonic's Children's Concerts. We wind up playing the same 45 minute program 7 times over the course of two days. Wheeeeeee! By the 3rd time, it's easy to begin zoning out, and thinking about other things. We had our rehearsal today, and it should be a nice program.

The best part about today's rehearsal was when our conductor told us a little about what's being programmed for next year. Since it's a state secret, I can't divulge any details. But I am happy to report that we are moving in a positive direction, with great new ideas and some exciting partnerships.

As an aside, it's been refreshing to work with a conductor who still really enjoys music making, and expresses that joy so openly. It's inspiring.

attack!

So, I go to this exercise class: Body Attack. Or, I think the official, branded version of it might be BodyATTACK!, all one word. With an EXCLAMATION POINT! It's really fun. The choreography is easy enough that you can get a good work out in, and there aren't a lot of ridiculous moves to learn. There are couple of things that are funny, to me anyway, such as when the instructor says "Get into Attack Position!", which means to utilize actual decent posture. Which I am generally lacking in. However almost everytime I hear this command, I have to fight the temptation to spring forward, yelling "heeeeeeeeeeeeeYAH!!!! Attack position is ON!" It's a class I feel makes a big difference in my overall fitness level, and will continue to attend and enjoy for years to come.

However, today my usual Dance Power class was taken over by BodyJAM! Body Jam is hip hop dancing. Before you continue reading, please visualize the many delights of me hip hop dancing. (!)

You may now continue.

The Body Jam class is hard for me. I don't get any of the dance moves, and by the time I do get it, the song is over. It's never a very good workout because I spend so much time figuring what to do with my arms and legs that I don't do any of the choreography with confidence and therefore don't burn any calories. Because my metabolism is so terrible, I may actually gain weight.

Today's instructor was new to me, and she was overly apologetic about the whole thing, and seemed to not have any fun herself. I think the Dance Power class is hard to sub for, because the usual teacher has a big following and an excellent, easy to follow intuitive teaching and dancing style. I kind of felt bad for our sub. At the same time, I wish the Body Jam class contained more easy to follow, intuitive dance moves. The class time fits in with my schedule, and until the weather is nicer, most of my workouts will be at the gym. Going to a class keeps me exercising for the 55 minutes of the class, where if I just got on a treadmill or something, I'd be bored within 20 minutes, and want to call it a day.