The First Day of School

Peabody classes began a week ago; however, all of my more academic classes are on Tuesdays, so I didn't have them until yesterday. It's been a lot of "hurry-up-and-wait" and the calm-before-the-storm...so it felt good to actually go to class yesterday.

I usually begin my days in my new favorite practice room (it has windows), and around 7:30, Georgia, the custodian, comes in to say hello. I had a great friendship with the custodian in the Whitworth music building because last year I was there most mornings at 6AM. It makes me feel at home to have that connection here as well!

I have three 2-hour classes on Tuesday...so it's a bit of a marathon day. I begin with Ethnomusicology - which I think will be very interesting, as well as a lot of work! We had lots of philosophical discussion and even an attempt to define "music" in a way that can be understood cross-culturally. After an hour of deliberation, we gave up. What an uplifting start to my graduate school career....I can't answer the question: "What is music?" :o).

Right after that was Accompanying and Coaching Skills. I am so excited for that class! My private lesson teacher is the instructor, and I am always ready to spend more time with her! I had my first lesson on Friday, and it was wonderful - challenging, stimulating, overwhelming... After 3 years of accompanying experience without anyone to teach me how to interpret the repertoire or how to sound like an orchestra without killing my arms....I am so grateful to have a teacher!

We went over some basic diction rules in class yesterday, and then spent some time sightreading and singing along. I loved hearing about her philosophy on accompanying: "Learn to sing the vocal part first. It's how the composer wrote it - so it gives you a window into his process, and it also prevents you from thinking of it as a piano solo with a voice obligato. If you want to be one voice with the singer - you have to learn your music this way."

I also had my Music Bibliography class last night. It's a required class for grad. students, introducing them to the resources in the library, teaching them how to write papers and cite things, etc. Not exactly anyone's favorite class. But I am glad to get it out of the way early on. And I am thankful that Liz is in there with me...so we will help to keep each other awake!