Summertime

Many of you have asked about my summer plans, so I thought I would update you.

I am planning on staying in Baltimore for the summer, and I may not get back to the West Coast for a visit, although I'm still hoping it will be possible.

I am working at the Peabody Inn, which hosts the Road Scholar program. So every week, a group of senior citizens come to attend lectures, go to recitals, etc. They stay in the inn, which is on campus, and also enjoy other "field trips" to museums, etc. in the area. I have seen these folks on campus all year and have often wished I had time to sit and hear their stories. Many of them have incredible musical backgrounds and many just want to expand their understanding of classical music.

The inn also houses a few faculty members who don't live in Baltimore, a few parents and grandparents, when they come for recitals or graduation...and occasionally a student or two when they are here for auditions. I met a young man last week - an American who grew up in France. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and was here to audition for Leon Fleischer's studio. He has all the degrees he needs, but desperately wants to study with Fleischer - so I chatted with him for awhile before he headed to the airport, and back to France.

I'm not working very many hours, although my boss is learning that I am happy to work more...so hopefully I'll be able to! And I don't get paid much...but then again, I really don't do much!  But I do enjoy getting to talk with people about Peabody, about where they're from, about Baltimore and the area of the city we're in. I've learned a lot...and I've enjoyed reading some great books when there's nothing to do!

So, I should be looking for another job to supplement my income a bit, but I haven't found the motivation just yet. I have several other things on my "to-do" list for the summer. There is a chance I will be playing for the rehearsals of the opera department's mainstage production of "Don Giovanni" (Mozart) in the fall. It is not an easy score, by any means, so I have my work cut out for me in getting learned by September. That project will be commencing today!

I also will be playing for more recitals next year...so I am trying to learn as much of that repertoire as possible (the things that people have already picked and will be doing for sure).  Those of us that are in my studio who are here for the summer have been getting together to sightread every day, which is great. As accompanists, we are asked to sightread a lot, and the only way to be better at it is to just do it every day. It also helps to practice doing it with other people, because then we're forced to keep going when we make mistakes, and to figure out how to jump back in when we're lost.   Hopefully we'll be able to keep this habit up all summer!

In addition to my practicing, I've got some language work to do. I am supposed to have one year of study in two of the operatic languages. Because I took Chinese in high school and college, I am a step behind. I chose not to take a language this past year, so I will be taking a French class at school next year, and attempting to learn German on my own this summer. I've researched all kinds of online programs and checked out tapes from the library, so I'm hopeful that I can get into a daily routine with this as well. I've done an hour and a half already today - so I'm off to a good start!

So that's my summer in a nutshell. I am also aware that this may be my last summer on the East Coast, so I'd like to see as many of the sights as possible. I have hopes of getting up to NY and Boston, and hopefully a few other places, as well as lots of day-trips to DC. A few of us are taking the train tomorrow to DC to see the sights and take advantage of all the free museums!

I am also ready for visitors! If you fancy a trip to Baltimore, you're always welcome!

Halfway

I confess, I have waited a few days to write this entry, largely because I was hoping I'd come up with something profound to say.  Halfway done with my masters. That's a big deal, right??    There is much to reflect on as I consider the last year.  And I haven't even really started that process.

To be honest, I'm just exhausted.  I'm in the middle of a marathon, and while I've just reached the halfway point, and everything is (hypothetically) "downhill" from here....I'm also aware that I still have half of it to run.

Still, I know I should celebrate this milestone...all the hours of work, rehearsals, practicing, tears, non-sleep, etc. that have made up the last few months.  I should celebrate the things I've learned, the things I've accomplished, the ways I've grown.  I should celebrate the many gifts I've received, through new friends and old, through joyful times and tearful times....gifts that are manifestations of God's grace and faithfulness to me.   I should celebrate the people that have cheered me on, encouraged me, written me emails and letters, called me, texted me.....remembered me....even thousands of miles away.

I know there is much to reflect on and celebrate.

And those things will come, in time, as I unwind...as my body catches up on sleep...as I remember who I am when I'm not working 15 hours a day.

But for now, I'm sitting on my couch, sipping a glass of wine...delighting in the fact that my house is a great deal tidier than it was at this time last week (it's getting a deep clean, room-by-room)...and relishing in the knowledge that I don't have to be in a practice room at 7 AM tomorrow morning.

Tonight, I can only muster up enough energy to celebrate those two things.

And I think that's enough for now.

The rest can come later.

Kennedy Center

I had several "firsts" yesterday. I got to go to a concert at the Kennedy Center - and I actually knew someone on the stage! It was a National Symphony Orchestra family concert - and the centerpiece on the program was Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals." The piece features two pianos - and my teacher, Eileen, was asked to play one of the piano parts. It was amazing to be in that building - as I grew up watching "The Kennedy Center Honors" on TV. I was pinching myself the whole time! 

It was also incredible to see Eileen perform. Often times, professional musicians are either really great teachers or really great performers. It's hard to be devoted to your teaching when you are having to practice your own music all the time. Eileen has somehow managed to find a balance between both. We consider ourselves very privileged to be able to study with her. 

There are several different halls in the center - we were in the "Concert Hall"

Here is the "Hall of Nations"

Here we are with Eileen! From L to R: June, me, Eileen, Rayna  - we are the three first-year masters students in Eileen's studio.

June, Elizabeth, Rayna (Elizabeth is a graduate voice student) standing outside the Kennedy Center. 

winding down

The end is in sight.

Classes are finishing up today...finals are this week....juries are next week. So by this time on Wednesday, the 16th, I'll be halfway through my masters!

But between now and then, here's what my life looks like (I might also throw in some sleeping and eating at some point too):

practice.   practice.   practice.    paper-writing research.
mock jury #1.      rehearsal.   rehearsal.
practice.      recital.

practice practice.     practice.  practice.    rehearsal.  rehearsal.
paper-writing.  practice.    rehearsal.
practice.

practice. practice.   mock jury #2.   mock jury #3.   practice.   rehearsal.   practice.
paper-writing.    practice.    paper-writing.

practice. practice. practice. turn in paper.  practice.   mock jury #4.  practice.  practice.

practice. practice.  practice.  practice.  practice.                         practice.

SABBATH

practice.  practice.  jury #1.   practice. rehearsal.  practice.  rehearsal.

practice. practice. practice. jury #2.  practice.  jury #3.  practice. jury #4.

practice. practice. jury #5.

the end.