Day 130: Exhaustion

I am very tired at 10:30 which is rare so I'm going to take advantage of it and go to bed early. Goodnight.

Day 129: Unbelieveable

I just realized how high the day number is. Wow! That is all. Goodnight.

Day 127 and 128: Weekend of Concerts

The conservatory here is incredible. As a conservatory student, I am able to go to hundreds of concerts, recitals, performances, etc. for little or no cost. This weekend and even Thursday I dived into a variety of types of music. On Thursday, I saw the final dress rehearsal of Green Day's American Idiot. This was my quota of rock and roll for the semester. It's definitely not my style but I'm trying to broaden my horizons. On Friday, I was transported back to the age of jazz and big band music at the jazz ensemble concert. I really felt like I was in a jazz club in the 30s; it was so real that they even had those jazz boxes in the front for music to sit on. One of the pianists is this blind jazz piano major who is so talented that he is literally the new Ray Charles. The concert celebrated the music of Sammy Nestico. The concert, as I said on Facebook, was badazz. On Saturday, I went to the first symphony concert of the conservatory. They played the Rachmoninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor. It featured pianist Vanessa Perez. The second half of the concert was the orchestra playing a Shostakovich symphony no. 5. I'm not a fan of classical music generally but after the concerto I turned to my neighbor who I was talking to before the concert and said well that was invigorating. I saw so many of my talented friends and heard some great music. Then, to top off the music weekend, I heard the first World of the Piano concert today by world-famous pianist Antonio Pompo-Baldi. He's providing a masterclass in the morning as well. His concert made me want to practice because it was so inspiring. He played twelve Chopin etudes Op. 10. Also, he played several Liszt pieces or pieces that were in memory or in the style of Liszt. Last weekend I saw a moving play called In the Red and Brown Water and next weekend I"m going to see four concerts one of which is seeing the National Symphony Orchestra with organist Paul Jones. Have I mentioned lately that I love it here.!!!

126: Unreal

The real Friday of this blog is going to be attached to the weekend blog because of a common theme. Exciting weekend ahead.

Day 125: Present for Past

I love how modern technology makes people of the present able to experience the great parts of the past. For example because of Amazon Instant Video, I was able to watch That's Entertainment and see a lot of classic MGM footage. Because of Netflix, I'm able to watch tv shows that aren't on tv anymore like breaking bad. Or I can catch up on old tv shows to continue with current episodes such as greys anatomy. Technology also gets you access to old, rare sheet music instantly. I love technology and how it can connect generations. That is all for this post. Goodnight.

Day 124: The Wise

Sorry that this post is late. I fell asleep last night before I could blog. If you've been reading this blog for a while you will have heard me talk about Dr. Albert. He is the Godfather of the school. He has been teaching here for 40 years. He is a genius and knows all about musical theater. He is my professor for American Musical Theater. It's the best class I've ever taken. He's an amazing musical director even though unlike most modern musical directors he can't play the piano. He has an extensive score library. He's incredible and I can't wait to continue learning from him.

Day 123: Parking

There is only one bad thing about this school: parking. The problem isn't so much that there aren't enough parking spaces, even though that is true, but freshmen shouldn't be able to drive. People drive from the freshmen dorms to the conservatory when it's only a two minute walk. Then they take the spaces that should be allowed for people coming in later that have to drive to school because they are off campus. When are no spaces we have to use a parking deck like we are at a doctors office or hospital. It's quite annoying. The construction doesn't help either. However, today I got the best spot. It was smack dab front and center in front of the conservatory. I was so happy I wanted to break out into song for no reason. Then I realized I do that anyway since I'm a conservatory student. Parking at my dorm is also an issue, but I'm going to stop ranting now. If I go to sleep and get to school early I can guarantee a good spot. So with that, I say goodnight.

Day 122: Late Post

I was up all night. I don't know why. I'm posting now so people won't be concerned. I'm running on my last bit of energy now. Time for a nap before my next class. That is all.

Day 120 and 121: Tradition

There are things that are so magical that happen in the theater. These little events are exciting like the tradition in Fiddler on the Roof. Tech week is the rough week before opening when lights sound costumes and orchestra elements are added. Things always go wrong and you think that the show won't make it or won't be good when it opens. The first magical thing is somehow all the pieces fall into place on opening night. All the pieces just perfectly fit together. The next thing that happens incredibly is the fact of the best performance. The best show is always the next to last or in the case of les Mis the Saturday of the second weekend. I guess the emotions of the knowing that it's almost over enhances peoples acting and vocals. The final tradition is the sad one that the last show isn't that great because by then everybody is tired and ready for it to be over and the sad emotions are gone. Nonetheless, even though it's not as good when you leave the theater you remember the great time you had, the people you met, the things you learned, and the experience overall. I had a great time working on this show and I hope I can play it one day more in the future.

Day 119: The Unexpected

You can plan life so much, but unexpected things always happen that change our plans. Tonight, a few unexpected things happened. I was practicing and recording the practice and out of nowhere I realized that I had practiced and a quarter of the way through it stopped recording. All of that practice now can't be graded. I played tonight for Les Miz and during the announcement before the show the announcer proposed to his girlfriend. Now that was unexpected. Although it seems like a depressing show to propose before but congrats to them. Speaking of my dating life, I unexpectedly met someone a couple of weeks ago and now we are dating. I came here for school and a new life and while I planned for things, it is unexpected just how awesome it is here. Don't be afraid of things that aren't planned. Embrace them because the unexpected can make the expected enhanced to the extraordinary.

Day 118: no more laundry

The title once again says it all. Hallelujah!

Day 117: More Laundry

The title says it all. Goodnight.

Day 116: Laundry

For those of you who haven't heard me say this, the worst part of college is laundry. It is worse than homework, studying, and busy schedules combined. It's especially annoying if you are used to your mom spoiling you. Nonetheless, you know it has to be done. Tonight, I finished part two of my laundry. It's exhausting so now I will stop whining about laundry and sleep. Goodnight.

Day 115: Golden Ticket

In the film willy wonka and the chocolate factory, the entry way into the sweet place was a golden ticket. There was a whole song about I've got a golden ticket. Today I got a special entry to a special location that's better than a chocolate factory. SU is close to being an all Steinway school but piano based majors like I am can get access to the greatest practice rooms. I got a golden key to the master practice rooms today and I felt as happy as Charlie was. I'm a music nerd to get excited over a piano key but so what, starting tomorrow I will practice like the masters. It's just a room, a key, and an instrument but like the song says I've got a golden ticket and it's a golden day.

Day 113 and 114: Bad Audiences

I posted a long while back that the audience at a show is more important than the musical, play, opera, etc. I'm working on a production of Les Miz and it's a difficult show to be an audience member at, but the audiences have not overcome the tension of the show. Because it is like an opera it sometimes seems like there shouldn't be applause. There are songs which are like arias and deserve applause. However the challenge is the soft ballad songs that are filled with emotion or accompany a death. When a character dies, with or without a beautiful song it would be believed that there should not be applause and that there should not be applause after a recitative of narrative, or rapid, sung dialogue. The audiences today and yesterday applauded after the deaths and the recitatives but not the big arias. The audience opening night was the other way around but didn't let the arias finish instrumentally before clapping. It made an awkward audience show even more tense. It all goes back to one thing; the audience can make or break a show. It's not always easy being an audience member especially if you know how you affect the show, but without the audience, good or bad, the show wouldn't exist and there would be no reason for us to perform. Although, the next time you go to a show, be aware of when to or not to clap, when to or when not to laugh, and how you affect the show because then the show will be anything but miserable.

Day 112: Another Openin'

The opening number of Kiss Me, Kate is Another Openin' another show. Tonight, there was another openin' of another show. I'm playing for a community theater in Martinsburg, WV. They are doing a production of Les Misérables. It's such a great show musically and a great show to add to my resume. I'm so glad I get to have the experience of playing that score. Now I can say that I've played that show and can play for other productions of it since it's a popular show right now. At the end of the day it's time to go to sleep and I can wake up tomorrow saying I dreamed a dream. Goodnight.

Day 111: The Date

I have met so many awesome people here and I went out with one of them last night on a date. It was the most magical evening ever. They wanted to go to and insisted on paying for this fancy French meal. We strolled through the walking mall. We saw a play and we had the greatest conversation throughout the evening. Things went so well that there will be more dates in the future. I never thought I would meet someone who could make me feel this way. I'm so happy and on cloud nine because last night was truly some enchanted evening. This was my dessert.

Day 110: Surprises

Today, I got the greatest phone call. It was from a random phone number so I didn't answer, but they luckily left a message. The caller was a church member who was taking a road trip with her husband and included Winchester in her trip to visit me. I'm going to show her around the campus tomorrow. I'm ecstatic. I can't wait. Tomorrow is going to be a great day. The second reason why tomorrow will be a great day will be revealed tomorrow night... Goodnight.

Day 109: Napless

I have not gone a whole day without a nap in a long time. By the end of the day, of being constantly awake and active, you're exhausted. That is all. Goodnight.

Day 108: NYC

In the musical Annie, one of the songs is NYC. It talks about how even though the city is "big, loud, and tough" you just can't get enough. I'm about to turn 21 years old and am trying to plan an epic trip to New York. It's not just about taking it all in like the characters in Annie do or celebrating a birthday, but I need this trip.

Places can sometimes get certain labels attached to them. A court is very legal, a church is very religious, home is comforting, etc. My connection with NYC right now is stress. The last time I went it was so much to take in that I couldn't emotionally handle it. I finally felt like I was in the place where I belonged. When I came home, I had a serious mental regression. I've always known that with my career I need to live in NYC, so I need to reintroduce myself to it. While I'm there, I will have a blast and will see the sights and be like the guys in On The Town singing among the city New York New York, its a helluva town.

I want to have a new idea for NYC. I want to truly love New York, so during Spring Break I want to enjoy every single block of it. I'll see the shows and the sights. I'll eat and shop. It doesn't matter if I go with friends, family, or by myself, when I get back I'll have a sense of assurance that NYC can one day be my home. Then, I can finish my time here with NYC having the label of hope and a bright future. So when I graduate, I can move there and say "if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere, it's up to you New York, New York!!"

Day 106 and 107: Practice

The joke on how to get to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice. While it isn't necessarily a goal of mine to play at Carnegie Hall, I have been practicing all weekend. Part of my piano lesson requirement is recording my practice sessions. I must practice at least four hours a week. Back home it was challenging because to use a good piano, everyone had to hear me play and no sane person would want to listen to scales and Hanon being practiced. There are dozens of practice rooms here though with some sound limitation. They are filled with Steinways or other high quality pianos whether they are grand or upright. The rooms are open til 2 in the morning so I practice every night at 10 or 11 when I'm the most focused and awake. Also, I had my first practice in the Les Mis Orchestra today. It was an interesting experience because of the pit but more on that later. Now, I will sleep because in the morning I have my piano lesson, and I will see how much the practice paid off.

Day 105: A Trip to the Library

The classic golden-age musical "She Loves Me" has a famous song called "A Trip to the Library." Normally, I hate the library because it is so quiet that I could go deaf. The silence is eerie and drives me crazy. Also, I talk loud generally and no matter how soft I speak I'm too loud for a library. Plus, everything is turning to electronic media including books. However, with that being said, I've grown to appreciate the SU library. There are a ton of helpful people and places to print things or copy music. It's a four floor library. It's huge with archive library that include old SSMT performances, legal library, reference library, whole floors of fiction and nonfiction, and most importantly, a whole floor of the music library. There are shelves and shelves and shelves of music scores. Vocal scores, full scores, sheet music for every instrument. Then there were CDs and other recordings of all of the music that is stacked on the shelves. I was a kid in a candy store. It was like sheetmusicplus.com in person. I'm still in awe of it. While I'm still a proponent of buying my own music, it's musical resource heaven and I will visit it often. If you think I'm exaggerating, here are photos. The last photo shows my favorite section of vocal scores which includes, like in the photo, musical vocal scores for tons of shows including Mame and Hello Dolly!

Day 104: My Name

In Oliver, the worst song is sung by the villain Bill Sykes. It is called My Name. It talks about how people shutter with fear just by hearing his name. From birth, we are identified with a name by our parents and it is with us forever. The reputation we put with our name is established on our own. When people hear your name they identify what they know. When we hear Bill Gates we think wealth. When we hear Obama we think president. After two weeks of being here at SU, I'm finally starting to make my name known. I'm playing for voice lessons where the students and teachers are very impressed. A lot of people know me as the smart one in class. Im known by the staff in the caf and other buildings on campus. I've also made a lot of friends. People hear my name now and know who I am. They know that I'm the talented smart musician. You have to put yourself out there for people to learn your name. You have to overcome your fear and be social by making yourself friendly. What do people associate your name with? If people don't know your name in the world, go share it and next thing you know the whole world will be a place where everybody knows your name.

Day 103: Day by Day

Today was the best day of school yet. The others were great but today was phenomenal. I learned some new stuff in my theory class. Now I finally understand why the melodic and harmonic minor scales are written the way they are. I used to think it was because the music teachers said so. Next, I had a phenomenal piano lesson (more on that in tomorrow's blog). After that I learned a ton about sacred music of the 17th and 18th century. It was fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the phenomenal Zadok the Priest. I had a great lunch in the caf. They have the best soups (more about those in a later blog). This afternoon, I played for two phenomenal singers voice lessons. I can't even begin to describe how amazing they were. The students here are so talented. The professors are talented in the fact that they are great at there job. And I get to enjoy every minute of it. There's another great day in store tomorrow, so as I go day by day things get better and better. I can't wait to see how tomorrow can too today. Each day I'm here if love this school even more. I've said it before but I'll say it again with extra emphasis: I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!!!!!

Day 102: Smile

One of my favorite songs is the classic Nat King Cole hit "Smile." It talks about being happy through the good times and the bad. There is one class that I have which has a person in it that I don't get along with but even with that bad fact I smile. I grin like a Cheshire Cat widely from ear to ear. I can't get over how much I love my American Musical Theater class. I love the topic. The professor could not be better. He knows so much and he says some of the most profound things. I learn. I always thought I knew a lot about AMT but I still learn. I could sit in that class among all the enemies of my life and still smile because that class brings me so much joy. Joy equals smiling. If I haven't mentioned it before, I love this school!!

Day 101: Labor Day

Labor Day is the laziest day of the year. We are meant to do nothing. Therefore, I followed the American law of being completely idle today. It's after midnight and now it's supposed to be another normal productive day. Although, until class starts in the morning I will stay in the Labor Day mindset and do nothing, or like I did today, sleep more. Goodnight.

Day 99 and 100: W is for Winchester

To revamp the Gershwin tune "I Got Rhythm" here are new Winchester lyrics. I got Chilis, I got Perkins, I got SU, who can ask for anything more? I got old town, I got rite aid, I got SU, who could ask for anything more? I love this school, and I love the fact that it is in such a great town. There is a long list of restaurants that even exceeds Conyers. There is also a mall, a down town walking shopping district, community theater, comedy clubs, etc. etc. etc. There is so much to do. Whether it's school related or town related, there is always some event going on. On Friday I went to a show on the lawn filled with awesome music of the male music greek society on campus. I went to the comedy club on Saturday night and I went to the residence hall block party tonight. There's never a quiet night here on campus and in town. It's impossible to be bored. I love it here at the school. I love it here in the town. It's an awesome two in one package but this three day weekend is devoted to the town. So as the classic cartoon character might say if he lived here, I wuv Winchester. Here's some photos from the weekend.