It tastes like soap but it doesn't take like soap

I have always had a thing for artistic movies, but I have this new fascination with "crtierion" films, putting them on mute and watching them with different music. It is great to put on an LP and see how the indie/alternative music lines up with the motion on screen. Do we look for connections or is there an inner drive that aligns all the different arts? It is fascinating. All music seems to be comprised of beats. Dance also seems to be comprised of rhythm. Motion therefore has to have a inner rhtyhm/beat as well, otherwise all three art forms of visual, movement and auditorary would not be able to seamlessly align. I was watching Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and had Regina Spektor's Begin to Hope on. Very crazy how well they worked together.

It's raining, it's pouring

Midterms are over! Hallelujah.

I hate school. Is that really wrong of me to say? This quarter, however, is much more interesting in the world of classical musician classes over here at CCM. I have two teachers who have heavy accents and crack jokes. It is nice to look forward to a class at 9a in the morning (Do I look forward to it, or am I just a good student who enjoyes watching youtube videos of Bel Canto singers and trailers for Wagner operas?). My theory teacher, Dr. Sam Ng, is hysterical. He makes learning about counterpoint fun and the art of crafting fugues not dull.

It really sucks to be in school for another month when your undergraduate colleagues have been out for several weeks. On top of all this, it is raining almost everyday. April showers should bring May flowers, but so far, it has brought more rain. I enjoy recieving the one sunny day here and there. It makes me appreciate the ability to feel the warm sun. Let's just throw a little optimism in.

My recital is coming up. I have had a couple roadblocks (namely some rough lessons), but I have held my own and practiced with more concentration so I can give the best recital I can. Granted, I never perform a recital without flaws, no one does unless you are Hillary Hahn (but she even says she messes up), but I want to represent myself well.

The Ligeti is completely learned. That piece is very difficult, and SOUNDS difficult. It pays off!

The Rubbra is mostly learned, I just still need to find a pianist...hopefully sooner rather than later. This piece is passionate and beautiful--something the viola repertoire desperately needs.

I go to New York tomorrow. I am SO excited. More about that later.

For sure

I am for sure giving a recital May 29 at 6P in 3250.
I am for sure going to New York City at the begnning of June.
I am for sure doing NYU's String Quartet Workshop.

Things I am not sure of:
Am I going to stay in New York after the summer?
Am I going to get into IFCP?
Am I going to get a job in New York?

I did hear back from IFCP. I am at the top of the wait list. wah wah. That is alright. I will see in a couple weeks.

Takács Boosts

Today my quartet played for the Takács Quartet. The masterclass was very uplifting and a great experience to have professionals compliment our playing. The things they had to say are very helpful and encouraging. I am not one to boast, but it is ALWAYS reassuring when you have positive interactions with musicians. So often I spend hours alone all day correcting myself, getting mad at myself or becoming frustrated. I work hard and go to lessons where teachers tell me things I need to correct. It is always a fix-this-fix-that mindset. So, when someone gives me praise for my playing and only comments on musicality, it is a pat on the back and a morale booster!

On another note, I have still not heard back from IFCP. I am starting to wonder if I ever will.

I am 95% sure I am choosing to go to New York for the summer, especially after today, even though I have already been convinced. The NYU String Quartet Workshop seems to be a wonderful idea, as does working in the city trying to make some connections or at least LEARNING about what I need to fix in my playing/how to break into the scene.

The last of my MT friends left for New York. It is already weird and the usualities of my day have changed... I cannot wait until I see them again. I am still happy, which is always a good thing. The anticipation of a reunion is keeping me chugging along. Luckily I am giving a recital this quarter so I have something to keep me focused and to keep my free time down to a minimum (that, and I am actually doing ALL the reading for my history class! Wow, I myself am even impressed at that one).

Even more updating

I turned Aspen down. It was difficult to do, but in the long run, I feel it was the right decision. It is sad that I will not be able to spend the summer with Chris Koelzer in the mountains of Colorado making music, but I will survive (at least I hope I will). Aspen is just way too expensive. Even with my scholarship, and after fees, I would still have to pay about $2200 just for tuition. Throw in housing, transportation and food and I have one expensive summer. I could look at it as more school, but I am already paying a lot of money to go to CCM.

Two members of my current string quartet are going to Spoleto. It would be VERY nice to have an opportunity to still play with them (maybe even throw in a piano and make it a quartet). I am just torn in so many ways. I would love to go to Italy and play Italian opera with native Italians coming to see it. For $1000, I would be able to be there for a month with housing. Granted, I would have to pay for food and other travels that I decide to take, but what a steal, ya know?

I heard back from NYU. I was accepted into the string quartet workshop. I have yet to hear about scholarship.

I am still waiting to hear from IFCP. I have called, left a message and even emailed. Hopefully I will hear back soon. Until then....
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--Update April 1, 2011--
IFCP prcoessed my check!!

Musical Festival Update

Sunny, warm and exciting spring break has come and gone and I am starting to hear back from the summer music opportunities.

Aspen let me know that I recieved $1300 for the program. This is a decent amount of money (especially since I gave a pretty bad fellowship audition and my video was not as stellar as it could have been--aka the Hoffmeister, which sucks because I was forced to use the same audio for IFCP and NYU).

Spoleto FINALLY got back to me. I was very surprised to see I did not get the fellowship there. I thought my audition was great. Granted, whenever I feel I nail auditions, the outcome is never as I predicted. I recieved the CCM Spoleto Scholar which means I have to pay $999 for a month in Italy (including airfare but excluding food).

I have yet to hear back from IFCP or NYU. Granted, NYU's due date for material is April 1 so I will not hear from them for a while. IFCP's is March 15, but I have not heard from them, neither has my check been processed... I emailed them to make sure my material was recieved. If something happened and my material did not get to New York on time, I will be very sad, but everything happens for a reason. N'est pas?

There is my short update! I am not writing anything off or making a decision until I hear back from all four. I was allowed an extension of my decision for Aspen (the decision was due March 21). Hopefully Spoleto will allow me to delay that decision as well.

50th post

Today I applied for NYU's Steinhardt Summer String Quartet Workshop and Mannes' Institute & Festival for Contemporary Music. Both are in NYC and are right after each other. IFCP is middle June and NYU's is end of June into the beginning of July. NYU's conflcits (by five days) with CCM Spoleto. This can pose a problem, but as of right now, I have not been accepted into anything. It would be nice to go BAM BAM BAM and do all three. We shall see what happens. Waiting game. Doesn't it always seem like we play the wwaiting game? "When will my life begin?"

These two New York summer opportunities would be very vauleable not only to progress me as a musician but to also give me another reason to be in NYC as I try to land a job.

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I recieved an email telling me I have been accepted to Aspen.
--Added March 09, 2011--