Morning Report

Christmas Vacation has been great! I got to have a lesson with my piano teacher. I miss her so much! I miss having that push to practice and expand and learn on a daily basis. Although I think I am still learning on a daily basis, just in a different way. Went to St. George for a week and a half. At home it was Mom, Dad, my sister Madelynn, brother Jared and I. It was kindof nice to just have an adult christmas. We went to a program at the Tabernacle on Christmas Eve which consisted of congregational singing and a Baritone from Provo. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical but he was fabulous! AND, he sang carols I had never heard, AND, they were awesome arrangments, just right, not underdone, and not over the top! Mom has a theme for christmas every year and this year was the three wiseman. Despite my lack of talent with words and the English language my mom can be quite clever. As one of our three gifts we all got a ticket to the Las Vegas production of "The Lion King" as our "myrhth." It was breath taking. The puppetry was so cool. The opening circle of life when the animals came down the aisles almost made me cry it was so beautiful. I don't know how artists have the stamina to do so many shows, or the same thing for so long! It was sad though that my favorite song from the production was sadly left out, but thankfully, "Morning Report," is on the soundtrack which I have been enjoying the last few days.

Myself and Philip Fortenberry

Liberace's Crystal Piano

Earlier in the day we went to the Liberace museum. He was a fantastically gay pianist most popular in the 60's and 70's. He was a true entertainer and really a great musician at the same time. Yeah, I got to play on one of his pianos, pretty cool. As part of the museum we went to a caberet show put on by a pianist who is currently the assistant director of Jersey Boys. But he also does the Caberet show. I got to chat with him a bit and who knows maybe a collaboration or something lies in the future, if I would actually practice!

As part of our entertaining adults during vacation we watched Horatio Hornblower a classic BBC/A&E production (4 Discs). If you like british stuff, I would reccomend it. It's about a sailor in the late 1700's.

Just finished a book I got for christmas. It is called the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I would totally reccomend it if you are into reading book club/pop lit. type books. It is kindof a unique look at what went on during WWII. Not your typical concentration camp story, and there are light funny moments, it is not all serious.

Hope you all enjoyed your own breaks, can't wait to get going again!

Take a Breath

The last little while has been busy. My performance with the Southwest Symphony Chorale went really well. It was lots of fun. I have already been recruited again for their spring concert. I am excited to get started learning the new music, but as in typical choral director style, I won't have it until after Christmas. I have been quite taken by the incredibly funny personality of Dr. Robert Briggs, said conductor.

This next week I get to spend like a whole 10 days in the same house, without traveling. I have been looking forward to this all semester. I just hope it can be semi-relaxing, and enjoyable. I have my concerns about certain visiting family members.

Next semester is shaping up nicely though. I will be performing at the Prep Division Faculty Concert in January accompanied by young teenage ballet dancers. Then some time the Dixie piano faculty will be doing an all Chopin program (200th birthday). Then of course the choir concert. Also, I am looking forward to having a piano lesson for the first time since April. Wow, it has been a long time!

This last week I had a performance class for my college students which all but two made it. I have to say, it was quite satisfying to see them all perform as a collective group and maybe helped me feel like my efforts have been worth it. Besides several of them for one reason or other has expressed their appreciation for their lessons with me. Sometimes that is so needed in teaching!

Happy Holiday, and yeah for the first break since August!
Hopefully I will have some pictures of life after the holiday.

People

Has everyone had the experience in their lives where they go and do things they never would have done if it weren't for someone particular?

I had one of those this weekend. I have a friend from North Carolina. You know, they just do things differently there. One is they play alot of bluegrass/Old Time/Fiddle/acoustic music. The last while this friend has been trying to educate me on this genre, I am slowly learning. Did I mention slowly? I was always happy with my Nickel Creek and Alison Krauss but there is a whole other world out there. Saturday was a "Wagon Circle." This old guy who caters for a living put on this awesome spread of food, quite incredible, fit the bill himself, even more incredible and then invites who ever, to come have dinner, and then play. On this particular night they had three different circles going, one was more fiddle/Old time/bluegrass sound. One was a little more sauced peeps playing whatever, more old cowboy tunes/hippie feeling. And I didn't get the pleasure of hearing the third group because I was told they weren't very good. Said friend also dragged me to another party for a while to another jam circle. For the musician friends, darn it if there would have been a string bass playing the musicianship dictations I might have passed with a much better grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just have to say that for the little sheltered life I have lived, these were really some of the nicest drunk people I have ever met!

So here's my other confession from that night. In high school and frankly in College for that matter there were always those boys who loved to display their musical talent and expected the girls to follow them, and make goo goo eyes at them and tell them they were fabulous etc. etc. etc. I was NEVER one of those girls. I guess to be honest, it always made me a little jealous that they could do that, but I knew I practiced a lot harder than they did. Also, I always felt like it was putting down my intelligence, my capabilities etc. to be expected to just be the cheerleader and admirer instead of the doer. I always just walked away from those situations. This weekend, I was forced in to that role. It was OK, I really did enjoy the music. I just hoped I played my role well enough, since it was a new one. It was interesting to see these people mess up and just role with the punches. That never happens in my world of music.

And, no, there is no boy.

Three Weeks In...

I am still alive despite people thinking I am crazy. I LOVE being busy. But, could do without some of the stress. I have met all but one of the college private students, and there have definitely been some surprises which I will talk about later. The first week of school I thought I was going to go nuts with the excuses I heard from all of the students, but I am settling in and trying to rein in my expectations. This next week is recital piece picking time for my group class. Hope it goes well!

Sorry to those of you I have been ignoring lately. It's not on purpose. I just don't have enough time to get to everyone. While I am in SLC it seems like I get to pick one task for the weekend that gets done. This weekend was errands/groceries, bills.

Facing the New Challenge

So, Monday morning is staring me right in the face. Its coming, so soon! If you didn't know I am going to start teaching at Dixie State College on Monday. I am teaching possibly two sections of Group Piano, and then whatever private students they might give me. The last two weeks have been spent in St. George, in Salt Lake, continuously staring at my computer screen. I never realized how hard it is to create a syllabus! Especially for the first time, at a new college, where you have no idea what to expect in the students. OK, so i realize my job is slightly more dependant on student ability than most classes, but, ITS STRESSFUL! I just hope I can do my best, meet the standards, and maybe help a student or two. If you missed this part, I will still be teaching in SLC sooooo, yep I will be commuting. Not sure how yet, or when exactly, but will be doing it!

Here's to the adventures, and new paths planned, and unexpected!