Thursday, December 10, 2009
Angst!
Is it ironic that Angst in German means fear? It seems kind of strange. But that is the word and feeling of the moment. I would divulge and dissect what is causing this angst, but I honestly don't feel like writing a Dickens novel tonight.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Irony
Dear fellow friends,
I haven't posted in a while, but I believe now is the perfect time to do so again. My story is one of irony...the irony of swine flu. I joked about it. I prepared for it. And yet, I got it. The most ironic part of the story is that today, UConn, is handing out their swine flu vaccines. Nevertheless, I am here in New Hampshire rather than at school because the school has sent me home. The home where I just left nearly 22 hours ago to return back to campus to take a test.
Irony. It's not your friend.
D.
I haven't posted in a while, but I believe now is the perfect time to do so again. My story is one of irony...the irony of swine flu. I joked about it. I prepared for it. And yet, I got it. The most ironic part of the story is that today, UConn, is handing out their swine flu vaccines. Nevertheless, I am here in New Hampshire rather than at school because the school has sent me home. The home where I just left nearly 22 hours ago to return back to campus to take a test.
Irony. It's not your friend.
D.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Brahms' Rhapsody in G Minor Op. 79 No. 2
This beautiful Brahms Rhapsody is one of the pieces I'm playing this semester for my juries. It is quite intriguing, especially from a theoretical view. I have not looked at any analyses of this piece...but I am going to point out some of the interesting parts of this piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr2q8-Sr__A
Score
The clear motive of this piece is an upper neighbor motive...however, it is commonly characterized as a half-step motion upwards in the melody. This can be heard in the first measure with the D stepping up to the Eb and then repeating in m.2 with the E stepping up to the F. This motion continues through the first phrase...moving up F# to G...G# to A. I find interesting that during this entire time, Brahms is trying to establish the tonic of G minor, however, his melody outlines the perfect fifth owned by the dominant with this half-step motion. Something to think about.
The melody however does move towards B natural. Wait...B NATURAL?! Isn't this piece in G Minor? There is no B natural in G minor. Ah, but the brilliant Brahms is just about to establish the importance of the upper neighbor...because B natural happens to be the upper neighbor of Bb, the ever important note that defines G minor.
The pickup to measure 14 gives us our first strong upper neighbor motion in the melody with the A-Bb-A eventually leading to G#. At first, it may seem odd that Brahms is starting the bass on D, creating a 4/3 inversion of a Ger+6...but it allows for a mirror effect of the mirror motion (D-C#-D). The mirror neighbor motion in the bass continues in measure 17 (A-G-A) while the melody is embellished by the upper neighbor motion. I think Brahms was trying to make this rather obvious.
While I'm not going to go into a full analysis of the piece, I think it was important to set that groundwork for the part I do want to talk about...which is measures 110-111. This measures seem to be oddly placed, especially considering how they do not coincide with the exposition of the piece (I probably should have mentioned this piece is in strict sonata form). So why is this measure intriguing? May it have something to do with the upper neighbor motion?
Yes.
The second theme of the exposition has the upper neighbor motion as a perpetual motor in the background. Let's look at all of the times a similar idea comes up throughout the piece. The second theme of the exposition (measures 21-32) really drive home the A-Bb-A motion. The next time we see something similar is in measure 53 with the F#-G-F# motive. This does move down to E-F#-E for a slight moment, but since it does not qualify under my half step upper neighbor motion (not to mention it only occurs in one measure) and I'm going to pass it off as a passing gesture to the more important neighbor motion of D-Eb-D in measure 58 until the recapitulation. (It would be bad of me not to mention the fact that some of this neighbor motion is D-E-D...but this will be moot with my next point.)
Discounting the "passing" E-F#-E neighbor motion...let's look at the roots of each of these wonderful neighbor motions...A, F#, D. That looks like the outline of a D major triad to me! The greatest part about this discovery is that it is the dominant of G minor. Now, let's fast forward to those seemingly awkward measures (110-111). What happens to be the root of the neighbor motion Bb-C-Bb. Why...it's a Bb. Let's add that to our previously important neighbor roots, D, F#, and A. Bb is the upper neighbor to the A. When you look at all of these upper neighbor motions, they occurs mostly as a sol-le-sol neighbor. Brahms gave his outline it's own neighbor.
BRAHMS IS BRILLIANT!!!
I'm sorry...but this is pure genius. Once you realize the importance of those two measures formally in the piece...it makes the piece even that much better. Now, as I mentioned, I'm not sure if someone has written about this before, but it was a little discovery I made when I was practicing one day. One thing I have learned from my theory classes is that if something seems out of place (especially in Classical/Romantic music) it's probably there for a reason.
Brahms did have the most expansive library of music literature than any composer up to his time. I believe this is just him showing off his smarts. If I could go back in time, I would love to meet Brahms and his brilliance. Alas, he's dead. His music does live!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr2q8-Sr__A
Score
The clear motive of this piece is an upper neighbor motive...however, it is commonly characterized as a half-step motion upwards in the melody. This can be heard in the first measure with the D stepping up to the Eb and then repeating in m.2 with the E stepping up to the F. This motion continues through the first phrase...moving up F# to G...G# to A. I find interesting that during this entire time, Brahms is trying to establish the tonic of G minor, however, his melody outlines the perfect fifth owned by the dominant with this half-step motion. Something to think about.
The melody however does move towards B natural. Wait...B NATURAL?! Isn't this piece in G Minor? There is no B natural in G minor. Ah, but the brilliant Brahms is just about to establish the importance of the upper neighbor...because B natural happens to be the upper neighbor of Bb, the ever important note that defines G minor.
The pickup to measure 14 gives us our first strong upper neighbor motion in the melody with the A-Bb-A eventually leading to G#. At first, it may seem odd that Brahms is starting the bass on D, creating a 4/3 inversion of a Ger+6...but it allows for a mirror effect of the mirror motion (D-C#-D). The mirror neighbor motion in the bass continues in measure 17 (A-G-A) while the melody is embellished by the upper neighbor motion. I think Brahms was trying to make this rather obvious.
While I'm not going to go into a full analysis of the piece, I think it was important to set that groundwork for the part I do want to talk about...which is measures 110-111. This measures seem to be oddly placed, especially considering how they do not coincide with the exposition of the piece (I probably should have mentioned this piece is in strict sonata form). So why is this measure intriguing? May it have something to do with the upper neighbor motion?
Yes.
The second theme of the exposition has the upper neighbor motion as a perpetual motor in the background. Let's look at all of the times a similar idea comes up throughout the piece. The second theme of the exposition (measures 21-32) really drive home the A-Bb-A motion. The next time we see something similar is in measure 53 with the F#-G-F# motive. This does move down to E-F#-E for a slight moment, but since it does not qualify under my half step upper neighbor motion (not to mention it only occurs in one measure) and I'm going to pass it off as a passing gesture to the more important neighbor motion of D-Eb-D in measure 58 until the recapitulation. (It would be bad of me not to mention the fact that some of this neighbor motion is D-E-D...but this will be moot with my next point.)
Discounting the "passing" E-F#-E neighbor motion...let's look at the roots of each of these wonderful neighbor motions...A, F#, D. That looks like the outline of a D major triad to me! The greatest part about this discovery is that it is the dominant of G minor. Now, let's fast forward to those seemingly awkward measures (110-111). What happens to be the root of the neighbor motion Bb-C-Bb. Why...it's a Bb. Let's add that to our previously important neighbor roots, D, F#, and A. Bb is the upper neighbor to the A. When you look at all of these upper neighbor motions, they occurs mostly as a sol-le-sol neighbor. Brahms gave his outline it's own neighbor.
BRAHMS IS BRILLIANT!!!
I'm sorry...but this is pure genius. Once you realize the importance of those two measures formally in the piece...it makes the piece even that much better. Now, as I mentioned, I'm not sure if someone has written about this before, but it was a little discovery I made when I was practicing one day. One thing I have learned from my theory classes is that if something seems out of place (especially in Classical/Romantic music) it's probably there for a reason.
Brahms did have the most expansive library of music literature than any composer up to his time. I believe this is just him showing off his smarts. If I could go back in time, I would love to meet Brahms and his brilliance. Alas, he's dead. His music does live!
Monday, September 7, 2009
First week done, second week about to begin!
The first week of school is finished. I have survived the beginning of my 21 credit schedule. I also survived GREs. My math score was in the 700s and my verbal was unfortunately in the 500s. I cannot complain though. The scores are good enough for me. There is no reason for me to retake them.
I have stepped up my grad school research. I am visiting CUNY - Graduate Center and University Studies on October 27th. I plan on visiting the University of British Columbia during my fall break (the week of Thanksgiving.) Currently, I am trying to plan a visit to Yale. Hopefully I will hear back from them soon so I will be able to schedule a visit over to Eastman shortly thereafter. There are still many other schools that I'm looking at however. Some I won't be able to visit due to the distance and the lack of time to visit. That's what you get with a 21 credit schedule.
Luckily, on Monday, I have 5 classes and a lab, all which have been canceled due to Labor Day. Tuesday is just a day of work, composition, and preparation for Wednesday classes (which there are a lot of.)
By the way, my repertoire for this semester is Brahms' Rhapsody in G Minor Op. 79 No. 2, and the prelude from Debussy's Pour Le Piano.
Auf Wiedersehen!
D.
I have stepped up my grad school research. I am visiting CUNY - Graduate Center and University Studies on October 27th. I plan on visiting the University of British Columbia during my fall break (the week of Thanksgiving.) Currently, I am trying to plan a visit to Yale. Hopefully I will hear back from them soon so I will be able to schedule a visit over to Eastman shortly thereafter. There are still many other schools that I'm looking at however. Some I won't be able to visit due to the distance and the lack of time to visit. That's what you get with a 21 credit schedule.
Luckily, on Monday, I have 5 classes and a lab, all which have been canceled due to Labor Day. Tuesday is just a day of work, composition, and preparation for Wednesday classes (which there are a lot of.)
By the way, my repertoire for this semester is Brahms' Rhapsody in G Minor Op. 79 No. 2, and the prelude from Debussy's Pour Le Piano.
Auf Wiedersehen!
D.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A weekend of anticipation
This weekend has been a rather rough one. I know my impending schedule of 21 credits will be full of work; yet, I do not have any idea what needs to be done yet. Tomorrow, I find out if I will survive this semester or not. The anticipation is quite agonizing. I actually looked in HuskyCT to see if I could access any of my syllabuses.
In the mean time, I have just been listening to a few pieces that captured my attention over the past few months:
Edward MacDowell - First Modern Suite Op. 10 (First movement is below)
Edward MacDowell - Second Modern Suite Op. 14 (First movement below)
Sir Edward Elgar - "Enigma" Variations (all movements below split between 3 different videos)
I am on a roll with Edwards. All of these pieces are very beautiful and powerful. MacDowell remains my favorite Romantic piano composer (though Brahms isn't that far away). I'm still looking for my favorite orchestral composer as I like so many. Still much repertoire to listen to before I make my decision (or do I have to make one?)
I am looking forward to this upcoming semester hopefully so I can find some very great pieces of music that I've never heard before.
Enjoy the music!
D.
In the mean time, I have just been listening to a few pieces that captured my attention over the past few months:
Edward MacDowell - First Modern Suite Op. 10 (First movement is below)
Edward MacDowell - Second Modern Suite Op. 14 (First movement below)
Sir Edward Elgar - "Enigma" Variations (all movements below split between 3 different videos)
I am on a roll with Edwards. All of these pieces are very beautiful and powerful. MacDowell remains my favorite Romantic piano composer (though Brahms isn't that far away). I'm still looking for my favorite orchestral composer as I like so many. Still much repertoire to listen to before I make my decision (or do I have to make one?)
I am looking forward to this upcoming semester hopefully so I can find some very great pieces of music that I've never heard before.
Enjoy the music!
D.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
A month and 9 days later...
Wow has this summer flown by. I have not been neglecting this blog on purpose. I always seem to hit a slump when first creating a blog. Lately, I have been bogged down with work, figuring out applications for graduate school, and preparing for GREs. My typical schedule was leaving the apartment at about 7:30am and not returning until 7:30pm at the earliest (most days of the week).
Since Monday, I have been in my residence hall. Tonight, I can say that I am mostly moved in, waiting for the arrival of my roommate and suitemates.
The last few days, I have been working International Orientation. It is always fun to work with international students because many of them have to make significant adjustments to get used to life in America; even more specifically, Connecticut.
Of course, there are a few Canadians, so their adjustment is quite minimal. Maybe I should let them know there is a Tim Horton's in Vernon. :) Some of the random things that have come up include: the definition of snorkeling, the definition of sass, and explaining America's obsession with pork. But maybe some of the most intriguing conversations I have had dealt with free speech (or the lack thereof in other countries). For instance, right now I could write on this blog about how much I hate President Obama (don't worry liberals...I don't) and not get in trouble for it. One of my students said that in a blog just like this one, if I were to write such a thing, I would be interrogated by the police. Scary thought if you ask me. At least they all seem pretty excited to come here.
[insert clever segway]
It's very possible I may become an international student. At least the possibility is certainly much greater than it was a few weeks ago. On a whim, I started looking at colleges in Canada, and found a music theory program at the University of British Columbia. I took the time to mail Dr. Roeder (the head of the theory program) just to ask what it was like there and was very surprised to receive the most comprehensive email response! Boy, do I love Canada! It would be a dream come true if everything works out in the future (then again, there are about 4 different graduate schools that I would have an equivalent response!) The prospect of being an international student is certainly an interesting one. I'm not sure if I would feel any different. I mean, it is only Canada. There honestly is no country more like America than Canada. (Though the subtle differences between the two countries do make them entirely separate countries!)
With GREs looming in the immediate future as well as graduate applications, starting 21 credits of hard school, starting a new job at the Registrar's Office, not to mention my two research projects...life could get very stressful over the next few weeks. In an effort to reduce distractions, my computer games have been left (mostly) at home. Although they are an outlet of reducing stress (they helped me get through 3 20+ credit semesters in the past), I am starting to believe they could prove a bothersome hindrance to a successful finish at UConn. So how will Devin blow of steam in the next few months? Three words: Socialize and SLEEP! One thing that certainly has lacked in my collegiate career is good restful sleep. While I'm still doing amazingly well, I figure that both socializing with my friends (old and new) and getting much more sleep than I have in the past will only fuel my future success.
In 9 hours, I begin my last day of International Orientation. Then I have a weekend...and then the beginning of the busiest 14 weeks of my life (up to this point.) Am I scared? Hell yes. Am I anxious? Hell yes. But am I prepared? Silly me! That's a silly question to ask any Eagle Scout!
Let the games, er, classes begin. This is one ride to hell where I absolutely expect to make it back...in one piece.
D
Since Monday, I have been in my residence hall. Tonight, I can say that I am mostly moved in, waiting for the arrival of my roommate and suitemates.
The last few days, I have been working International Orientation. It is always fun to work with international students because many of them have to make significant adjustments to get used to life in America; even more specifically, Connecticut.Of course, there are a few Canadians, so their adjustment is quite minimal. Maybe I should let them know there is a Tim Horton's in Vernon. :) Some of the random things that have come up include: the definition of snorkeling, the definition of sass, and explaining America's obsession with pork. But maybe some of the most intriguing conversations I have had dealt with free speech (or the lack thereof in other countries). For instance, right now I could write on this blog about how much I hate President Obama (don't worry liberals...I don't) and not get in trouble for it. One of my students said that in a blog just like this one, if I were to write such a thing, I would be interrogated by the police. Scary thought if you ask me. At least they all seem pretty excited to come here.
[insert clever segway]
It's very possible I may become an international student. At least the possibility is certainly much greater than it was a few weeks ago. On a whim, I started looking at colleges in Canada, and found a music theory program at the University of British Columbia. I took the time to mail Dr. Roeder (the head of the theory program) just to ask what it was like there and was very surprised to receive the most comprehensive email response! Boy, do I love Canada! It would be a dream come true if everything works out in the future (then again, there are about 4 different graduate schools that I would have an equivalent response!) The prospect of being an international student is certainly an interesting one. I'm not sure if I would feel any different. I mean, it is only Canada. There honestly is no country more like America than Canada. (Though the subtle differences between the two countries do make them entirely separate countries!)
With GREs looming in the immediate future as well as graduate applications, starting 21 credits of hard school, starting a new job at the Registrar's Office, not to mention my two research projects...life could get very stressful over the next few weeks. In an effort to reduce distractions, my computer games have been left (mostly) at home. Although they are an outlet of reducing stress (they helped me get through 3 20+ credit semesters in the past), I am starting to believe they could prove a bothersome hindrance to a successful finish at UConn. So how will Devin blow of steam in the next few months? Three words: Socialize and SLEEP! One thing that certainly has lacked in my collegiate career is good restful sleep. While I'm still doing amazingly well, I figure that both socializing with my friends (old and new) and getting much more sleep than I have in the past will only fuel my future success.
In 9 hours, I begin my last day of International Orientation. Then I have a weekend...and then the beginning of the busiest 14 weeks of my life (up to this point.) Am I scared? Hell yes. Am I anxious? Hell yes. But am I prepared? Silly me! That's a silly question to ask any Eagle Scout!
Let the games, er, classes begin. This is one ride to hell where I absolutely expect to make it back...in one piece.
D
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I gotta feeling...
...that tonight's going to be a good night. Putting aside my current obsession of Lady Gaga (sadly), I have been listening to the Black Eyed Peas' song "I Gotta Feeling." Why? Well, let's just say that this may be the song that defines Summer '09 (and a good one it has been so far.) The highlight of this summer is easily Orientation. I miss my O-buddies dearly and I cannot wait to see them next weekend at Kaitlyn's house. But this current obsession made me think, when was the last time I had a song that left such an impression on me? My favorite song of the winter/spring was Chiodos' "To Trixie and Reptile, Thanks for Everything" which does remind me quite a bit about Toronto. Then again, Toronto only lasted 4 days. Was it a life changing experience? Hardly so. A good experience, but not a life changing experience.
I feel I have to go all of the way back to the Summer '06, after we graduated, where Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" left an impression of Switzerland in my head. Yet, it became much more than Switzerland. It became all of high school too. If I had to create a soundtrack that defined high school, this would be it (in no particular order):
1) Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek (for reasons I just stated)
2) Motion City Soundtrack - My Favorite Accident (For my good good friends from home, you would know why this is true!)
3) Styx - Come Sail Away (I did not like Styx until it became our marching band show junior year. Junior year brings back a lot of strange but good memories.)
4) Maynard Ferguson - MacArthur Park (This is the song that got all of the jazz started for me...unfortunately, college killed jazz for me. I barely listen to it anymore.)
5) Snow Patrol - Run (A very special song for a special moment.)
6) Billy Joel - And So It Goes (Because this pretty much defined high school...first introduced my senior year in chamber choir.)
7) A Perfect Circle - The Noose
8) Yellowcard - Only One (7+8 got me through a really rough time sophomore year)
9) Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (This song brings me back many many memories.)
10)Phantom Planet - California (The song that started off an obsession with the O.C. as well as some of the best moments of my life.)
...There are more, but these are probably the top 10.
Speaking of the O.C., for some reason that show really struck a chord with me. While none of my friends could ever say they could relate to the drama associated with that show, I think I connected with the social networking created by the characters. The tension, the falling out, the makeups, so on and so forth, seemed all too realistic of the rocky road that was high school social life. It was the first TV show that left a profound impact on my life - not because of the actual show's material. It was somewhat of a mirror where I personally put on a filter so it could pertain to my life. Interestingly, from that point, I have changed my goals in life to higher, loftier goals. Maybe when that show came around, the timing was right. I needed a shakeup mentally. It gave me the shakeup that I needed. Thus, I faced the reality that I was graduating high school in 5 months, that my life was going to change drastically from that point on, and that some of my friends from high school I would never ever see again in my life. Scary shakeup.
There is now a TV show where, once again, I feel could be profoundly impacting. That show is Glee. Now, unfortunately only the pilot has been on TV and the series has yet to premiere. The show could end up a total flop...or it could become something special. While it is sickingly stereotypical of high school, the characters developed in the show have given me that strange feeling that something utterly profound will come out of this show (once again, not because of the content.) Whatever these machinations will be, who knows. I am excited for the premiere of the show and I seriously hope it does not disappoint.
Why am I telling you all of this? Well, as many of you know, I am about to enter my senior year of college. Can I tell you how incredibly horrific this experience is? Constantly I have people tell me: "Devin, don't worry about it. Everything will be fine!" As easy as that sounds (as well as a highly probable scenario), I cannot fathom the outcome in one year. I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen to me. So all of the memories of senior year are rushing back into my head. How incredibly lost I was during those times! I know what to expect and at the same time, I do not expect it at all. Such is life.
In fact, I cannot help but notice the striking similarities between this moment 4 years ago. It was about this time I found out that Mr. Adams, my band director, was not going to return next fall. Something that almost singlehandedly put me into my second streak of depression in high school (or perhaps a relapse of the first.) Recently, I found out that Dr. Larrabee, my piano teacher (and the biggest factor of why I am at UConn today), will not be returning either (at least to teach all of the piano students.) While this change does not have the same impact mentally on me, it definitely threw my life a curveball. Luckily, Dr. Larrabee's role in my musical career was diminshed with the introduction of Dr. Fuchs in my life; but, easily without Dr. Fuchs, I may be in the same spot I was 4 years ago. If anyone had such a big change just as the "I have no idea what is next" syndrome is setting in like I have, I am sure they would be just as scared as I.
So let the soundtrack of 2009 begin! Tonight, Kevin, my best friend of 13-14 years, turns 21. Good riddance! (...It's something unpredictable/But in the end is right/I hope you had the time of your life.) Right now, all I know is that I gotta feeling...tonight's going to be a good night. Tonight's going to be a good night. Tonight's going to be a good good night!
Amen.
D
I feel I have to go all of the way back to the Summer '06, after we graduated, where Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" left an impression of Switzerland in my head. Yet, it became much more than Switzerland. It became all of high school too. If I had to create a soundtrack that defined high school, this would be it (in no particular order):
1) Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek (for reasons I just stated)
2) Motion City Soundtrack - My Favorite Accident (For my good good friends from home, you would know why this is true!)
3) Styx - Come Sail Away (I did not like Styx until it became our marching band show junior year. Junior year brings back a lot of strange but good memories.)
4) Maynard Ferguson - MacArthur Park (This is the song that got all of the jazz started for me...unfortunately, college killed jazz for me. I barely listen to it anymore.)
5) Snow Patrol - Run (A very special song for a special moment.)
6) Billy Joel - And So It Goes (Because this pretty much defined high school...first introduced my senior year in chamber choir.)
7) A Perfect Circle - The Noose
8) Yellowcard - Only One (7+8 got me through a really rough time sophomore year)
9) Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (This song brings me back many many memories.)
10)Phantom Planet - California (The song that started off an obsession with the O.C. as well as some of the best moments of my life.)
...There are more, but these are probably the top 10.
Speaking of the O.C., for some reason that show really struck a chord with me. While none of my friends could ever say they could relate to the drama associated with that show, I think I connected with the social networking created by the characters. The tension, the falling out, the makeups, so on and so forth, seemed all too realistic of the rocky road that was high school social life. It was the first TV show that left a profound impact on my life - not because of the actual show's material. It was somewhat of a mirror where I personally put on a filter so it could pertain to my life. Interestingly, from that point, I have changed my goals in life to higher, loftier goals. Maybe when that show came around, the timing was right. I needed a shakeup mentally. It gave me the shakeup that I needed. Thus, I faced the reality that I was graduating high school in 5 months, that my life was going to change drastically from that point on, and that some of my friends from high school I would never ever see again in my life. Scary shakeup.
There is now a TV show where, once again, I feel could be profoundly impacting. That show is Glee. Now, unfortunately only the pilot has been on TV and the series has yet to premiere. The show could end up a total flop...or it could become something special. While it is sickingly stereotypical of high school, the characters developed in the show have given me that strange feeling that something utterly profound will come out of this show (once again, not because of the content.) Whatever these machinations will be, who knows. I am excited for the premiere of the show and I seriously hope it does not disappoint.
Why am I telling you all of this? Well, as many of you know, I am about to enter my senior year of college. Can I tell you how incredibly horrific this experience is? Constantly I have people tell me: "Devin, don't worry about it. Everything will be fine!" As easy as that sounds (as well as a highly probable scenario), I cannot fathom the outcome in one year. I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen to me. So all of the memories of senior year are rushing back into my head. How incredibly lost I was during those times! I know what to expect and at the same time, I do not expect it at all. Such is life.
In fact, I cannot help but notice the striking similarities between this moment 4 years ago. It was about this time I found out that Mr. Adams, my band director, was not going to return next fall. Something that almost singlehandedly put me into my second streak of depression in high school (or perhaps a relapse of the first.) Recently, I found out that Dr. Larrabee, my piano teacher (and the biggest factor of why I am at UConn today), will not be returning either (at least to teach all of the piano students.) While this change does not have the same impact mentally on me, it definitely threw my life a curveball. Luckily, Dr. Larrabee's role in my musical career was diminshed with the introduction of Dr. Fuchs in my life; but, easily without Dr. Fuchs, I may be in the same spot I was 4 years ago. If anyone had such a big change just as the "I have no idea what is next" syndrome is setting in like I have, I am sure they would be just as scared as I.
So let the soundtrack of 2009 begin! Tonight, Kevin, my best friend of 13-14 years, turns 21. Good riddance! (...It's something unpredictable/But in the end is right/I hope you had the time of your life.) Right now, all I know is that I gotta feeling...tonight's going to be a good night. Tonight's going to be a good night. Tonight's going to be a good good night!
Amen.
D
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Ah, such is the life!
Welcome friends!
Welcome new life! Tonight is the first night where I will be spending the night in an apartment. No dining hall food, no dorm comfort...a good ol' ready-to-fall-apart, insect infested apartment. Ah, such is the life. The same apartment where there are no outlets where it makes sense...especially near the cable and ethernet hookup. Seriously? Ah, such is the life.
I just enjoyed my first meal of macaroni and cheese with tuna. It was heavenly after a long day at work, which by the way, is not going to be terribly bad. It was a lot of busy work but overall, very doable. The biggest part of my job this summer may be fixing a few UConn websites. If that sounds enthralling to you, how about putting official transcripts into envelopes? Ah, such is the life. It's a job. It pays better than working back in the furnace known as Luisa's Pizzeria (which reminds me that it is also air conditioned too!) So in retrospect, it is not so bad. Actually, I am not hating on Luisa's, because the job was nice to me; however, would you rather spend your day in a small cramped space that is a sweltering 130 degrees everyday? My guess, probably not!
Today is my adjustment day. Today is the day where I can relax. Tomorrow, work begins. I hope to practice or analyze music after work for an hour or so until I decide to come back and make dinner. This apartment does have a TV with cable, however, I feel like I do not need to watch it. In fact, I honestly think that I need to start weening myself off of cable while I prepare myself for the burden of 21 credits next semester.
If I haven't told you yet, my schedule plays out like this:
Monday: 8-9, 10-12, 1-3, 4-6
Tuesday: 2-3 (only go 10 times a semester)
Wednesday: 8-9, 10-3
Thursday: 2-3 (same as Tuesday)
Friday: 8-9, 11-12, 1-3
So, I get out by 3PM 4 days of the week. Honestly, that isn't too bad (other than the fact I have 5 hours of class in a row on Wednesday). I also have not taken into account my piano lessons or my composition lessons...or even the fact I am working on two theses this semester as well. The work load looks horrendous. Then again, I have always lived (maybe limping) at the end of these hellish semesters. We'll see how it goes. As long as I put my head in my books, I am sure I will do fine.
Ah, such is the life!
D
Welcome new life! Tonight is the first night where I will be spending the night in an apartment. No dining hall food, no dorm comfort...a good ol' ready-to-fall-apart, insect infested apartment. Ah, such is the life. The same apartment where there are no outlets where it makes sense...especially near the cable and ethernet hookup. Seriously? Ah, such is the life.
I just enjoyed my first meal of macaroni and cheese with tuna. It was heavenly after a long day at work, which by the way, is not going to be terribly bad. It was a lot of busy work but overall, very doable. The biggest part of my job this summer may be fixing a few UConn websites. If that sounds enthralling to you, how about putting official transcripts into envelopes? Ah, such is the life. It's a job. It pays better than working back in the furnace known as Luisa's Pizzeria (which reminds me that it is also air conditioned too!) So in retrospect, it is not so bad. Actually, I am not hating on Luisa's, because the job was nice to me; however, would you rather spend your day in a small cramped space that is a sweltering 130 degrees everyday? My guess, probably not!
Today is my adjustment day. Today is the day where I can relax. Tomorrow, work begins. I hope to practice or analyze music after work for an hour or so until I decide to come back and make dinner. This apartment does have a TV with cable, however, I feel like I do not need to watch it. In fact, I honestly think that I need to start weening myself off of cable while I prepare myself for the burden of 21 credits next semester.
If I haven't told you yet, my schedule plays out like this:
Monday: 8-9, 10-12, 1-3, 4-6
Tuesday: 2-3 (only go 10 times a semester)
Wednesday: 8-9, 10-3
Thursday: 2-3 (same as Tuesday)
Friday: 8-9, 11-12, 1-3
So, I get out by 3PM 4 days of the week. Honestly, that isn't too bad (other than the fact I have 5 hours of class in a row on Wednesday). I also have not taken into account my piano lessons or my composition lessons...or even the fact I am working on two theses this semester as well. The work load looks horrendous. Then again, I have always lived (maybe limping) at the end of these hellish semesters. We'll see how it goes. As long as I put my head in my books, I am sure I will do fine.
Ah, such is the life!
D
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
My unfortunate beginning of blogging (for the fourth time)
Welcome friends!
I have decided to start blogging again. I feel that this will keep me in line during my busy schedule in the upcoming weeks and months. As many of you know, I have been occupied during the first part of my summer because of UConn Orientation. It was a lot of fun. I learned many good skills, specifically people skills, but also learned how to work with people in some of the most intimate settings any workplace could ever provide.
To put it in the words of a great UConn legend, Jeff Ticehurst..."but, I survived!"
What has happened to me lately? Well on Monday, I got gum surgery to repair a hole from where my wisdom tooth was originally. For most normal people, these holes fill in within the first 6 months. Well, 3 years later, the gap next to my lower right molar only got larger. So they decided to suture that up only to find out that basically my tooth had a defect where the bone was not growing (thanks to the same wisdom tooth). So now they've put growth hormones on this bone in hopes to have my tooth regenerate bone where it is supposed to be. Needless to say, it is good times.
Tomorrow, I start my job at the UConn Wilbur Cross I-Desk. Who knows what this job will bring? I know that it cannot be as stressful as orientation was, but I do know that it will be something completely unexpected. Over the next few weeks, I start GRE class, start working and composing my University Scholar Project, and start really diving into my senior thesis (based on Edward MacDowell's 2nd Piano Sonata...sadly, highly neglected for its elegance and sophistication.)
I will bring updates as necessary. I hope to blog at least once a week...mostly on music things, but occasionally my life and politics, as I deem necessary.
Sincerely,
D
I have decided to start blogging again. I feel that this will keep me in line during my busy schedule in the upcoming weeks and months. As many of you know, I have been occupied during the first part of my summer because of UConn Orientation. It was a lot of fun. I learned many good skills, specifically people skills, but also learned how to work with people in some of the most intimate settings any workplace could ever provide.
To put it in the words of a great UConn legend, Jeff Ticehurst..."but, I survived!"
What has happened to me lately? Well on Monday, I got gum surgery to repair a hole from where my wisdom tooth was originally. For most normal people, these holes fill in within the first 6 months. Well, 3 years later, the gap next to my lower right molar only got larger. So they decided to suture that up only to find out that basically my tooth had a defect where the bone was not growing (thanks to the same wisdom tooth). So now they've put growth hormones on this bone in hopes to have my tooth regenerate bone where it is supposed to be. Needless to say, it is good times.
Tomorrow, I start my job at the UConn Wilbur Cross I-Desk. Who knows what this job will bring? I know that it cannot be as stressful as orientation was, but I do know that it will be something completely unexpected. Over the next few weeks, I start GRE class, start working and composing my University Scholar Project, and start really diving into my senior thesis (based on Edward MacDowell's 2nd Piano Sonata...sadly, highly neglected for its elegance and sophistication.)
I will bring updates as necessary. I hope to blog at least once a week...mostly on music things, but occasionally my life and politics, as I deem necessary.
Sincerely,
D
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