Day 220: Theater Etiquette

The Theater. The Theater. What's happened to the theater? People don't have the respect they once did for it. Please note I'm not speaking to everyone but after seeing some holiday posts I can't stay silent anymore. IT IS NOT OKAY TO TAKE PHOTOS IN THE THEATER!!! I understand that you want souvenirs and photos to remember the evening and to put on social media, but take them outside the theater near the poster or in the lobby. When you step in the theater, it is a whole new space that has established rules of etiquette. No photos of the stage backdrop, no videos or photos of the show. They ask you nicely in the announcement and ushers try to maintain it but please have some self discipline. I'm not naming names or anything but today which is Monday in my blog speak the theater is dark so we need to reflect on the respect we should have for it. That is all; rant over. Let the comments of disagreement begin.

Day 219: Sunday

Today has been an excellent day. It's Sunday and a day of rest so I took a nap which always makes any good day better. But more importantly, I got to play for two church services today. While it wasn't because of happy circumstances, God worked his perfect timing and made it possible for me to fill in. There's the saying once a thief forever a thief well that kind of applies but it's once a church pianist forever a church pianist. I know I will always be welcome and needed in my home church. There are decades of memories there and it always be a place of peace. I could be 80 and come back to CFUMC on any Sunday and it will always be home. It will always be a sanctuary. Thanks to all who have blessed me with the opportunities to relive my church pianist memories. Goodnight.

Day 217 and 218: Continued Prayers

For all of the people that read my blog, please continue to pray for my grandpa Theo Brescia. He had to go in the hospital again for a ER Visit. His energy level is so low. Luckily, he was able to see my adorable niece today and miraculously brought himself to play the piano for the first time since March. It was so moving seeing him play again. Please keep him in your prayers.

Day 215 and 216: Christmas

I'm not going to say much in this blog because two words pretty much say it all. Merry Christmas!

Day 214: Christmas Eve Eve

Even though this post is actually done early Christmas Eve morning I will still consider it as Christmas Eve eve. Today, I had a music rehearsal for the children's Christmas Eve service at our church. Our wonderful new pastor is bringing a whole new spin to the service with twice as much music and thrice as much fun. It will be a combo of secular and sacred and safe glow sticks for young kids instead of candles. It'll be like a pop rock concert with glow sticks during silent night. It will also be a pop rock concert feel because we have created the CFUMC Holiday Rock band and we will be leading the families through some awesome medleys of classic Christmas songs. It will be a blast. So if you're in town stop by CFUMC tomorrow at five for a fun-filled family evening.

Day 213: Caught Up

And with this final post corresponding to today which I will still consider Monday, I'm caught up. That is all.

Day 212: Church Pianist

I will never forget that my first big break as a professional pianist was at my home church, Conyers First United Methodist Church. I was hired as the church pianist when I was 16 in the good faith of Dr. John Beyers and the late Dan Brokaw. One of the painful things about going off to college was leaving my home church. Luckily, it is always there to welcome me back with loving arms. I sung in the choir during yesterday's service because my school has me singing now and there's only one piano in the fellowship hall. Our new pastor, Dave Benson, along with our music minister, Steve Hester, have given me the chance to play for some church services while I'm back for break. It's such a great feeling knowing that no matter how far away from home I go I will always be welcomed back and given the chance to relive my wonderful memories. It's so good to be home for the holidays.

Day 211: The Visit Reversed

Last Wednesday, my grandparents visited me, so after the news of my grandpas hospital admission my family and I knew it was the least we could do to visit him. Sometimes, patients aren't fans of company but we went hoping he would be glad to see us. He was at Emory in Decatur and I made a discovery. It's too big. It's unimaginable that there are that many sick peoples. They had wings A through H and floors with each wing. It's a maze. Not only is the hospital big but so are there Christmas tree decorations. My grandpa seemed to be doing okay. He's just very, very weak. Please keep him in your prayers.

Day 210: Prayers

Last Friday didn't have much special going on except I found out my grandpa was sent to the hospital the night before. Therefore, I won't treat this as a normal blog but just as a request to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Day 209: The Dentist

One of the important, yet unenjoyable parts, of coming home are doctor appointments. Last Thursday I had to go to the dentist for my regular cleaning and it's just torture. It's not like it scares me or anything, it's just a pain. You're laying there looking up at a ceiling wishing that the ceiling was a TV so you weren't completely bored while you keep your mouth open wide constantly that your cheek muscles hurt later. During all of this they're attacking your teeth with more metal than what's on the periodic table. It's insane, annoying, and painful, but it has to be done. It just definitely was not a good welcome home gift.

Day 208: The Visit

Last Wednesday was an important day for two reasons. We had our annual night of cooking and eating at home. Also, we had the visit of my grandparents, Theo and Edna. We ate and enjoyed each others company. After dinner, I played for them the music I learned and talked about my first semester some. I am so grateful for their and others investment in my education that I had to prove it by showing the results of fall 2014. It was a great night. It ended too soon though because my grandpa is very weak. More on that later. Now caught up for that day.

Day 207: sleep

Still catching up on these. Last Tuesday, I slept all day because I was so tired from traveling the day before. That was all.

Day 206: Travel

I'm still catching up on these. Sorry. I hope to be caught up by tonight. Last Monday which is the day this blog really applies to, mom drove me home from Winchester for the holidays. That was all.

Day 205: Two From Galilee

The catch-up continues. Over the past several weeks I worked at the community theater in Martinsburg as the rehearsal pianist and pit keyboardist for their production of two from galilee. It's basically a church cantata that's long enough to be a full length dramatic musical. Because of it's church content and it's church cantata sounding music (composed by one of the popular church choral composers), it brought back so many awesome memories of being a church pianist. Of course it wasn't perfect, the cast was limited, and money was low, I believe we pulled out a decent show. It really celebrated the true meaning of Christmas and moved audiences every night. Maybe one day there will be a musical version of the sequel three from galilee. Maybe that will be performed next year.

Day 204: It's a Wonderful Life

Sorry I'm still trying to catch up with these. Saturdays post was about Frank Capra's classic holiday film It's a Wonderful Life. In Winchester, there is a dinner movie theater called the Alamo Drafthouse. I think I've mentioned it in an earlier but the all run together. As a reminder, it's a place that has high counters in front of each row of seats and waiters take your order during a preshow and then act like a silent paper driven restaurant during the film. During December, every Saturday they show a holiday film, and this past weekend they showed It's a Wonderful Life. I had some time to kill so I decided to go and I had a fantastic afternoon. First of all I had the best pizza ever. Then, the preshow which is usually related to the film consisted of holiday skits from old variety shows such as the Dean Martin Show and some clips from the game show Charades. I met an adorable elderly couple who said they went on their first date to see the movie when it first came out. Then when it got to the end of the movie and everybody was crying because it's so moving, the audience started to clap. I felt like I was in 1945. The screen said the end with the bells and auld lang syne and people applauded. It just goes to show that the classic film is that good and lasts to this day with even modern audiences. It's a marvelous film and should be watched every year so I will sign out now because I just heard a bell. Do you know what that means? If not, go watch the film because it's a wonderful film.

Day 203: Peter Pan Live!

So in case you didn't know, last Thursday, NBC broadcast Peter Pan Live! This is after the "success" of The Sound of Music Live! last year. Unfortunately, this live musical tv broadcast had the same problem as its predecessor. The lead was cast incorrectly. While, Allison Williams is a better actress than Carrie underwood she had the same problem. Her acting only came through when she began to sing. There was no magic in her speech, but it started to shine through when the music started. Also, she was too masculine for my taste which defeats the purpose of a girl playing the role. It's supposed to be a little boy but the voice was too deep. One thing that I will address that I saw in another review article is the flying was terrible. Not only was it poorly done, but in this age it's not cool or magical anymore. When Mary Martin did it, it was amazing because it was rare, but it's been seen nowadays and without Cathy Rigbys gymnastic tricks in the air, the magic simply isn't there. The last problem is that the sets and the supporting cast outweigh the point of the show: Peter Pan. While I do have criticisms of the show because I'm an unofficial theater critic. There are gaps, plot wise and song wise that were filled in. This production had a new script and some new or changed songs. This resulted in a lot more cohesion. There was a song that showed us more of the family conflict peter had. Also Wendy was given an extra song which was in the lagoon sequence which I always thought needed a song and I always thought Wendy needed more to sing. They also connect the mother to the neverland story through a lullaby and show the lullaby's origin. It was definitely better than last year, but the key to all of it is having a broadway star or at least a Hollywood triple threat to play the lead. If that is done, with a good musical, then the live musical broadcasts will continue for generations to come.

Day 202: Juries Part 2

I know it's been a while since I've blogged. That just proves how busy I have been. Now, during the car ride home, I will update accordingly. This is what the Thursday blog would have been. Today I played for six more juries and I finally found out the results to my juries. Now that today is over, the semester is done for me. There is still one more day of the semester but it will involve me sleeping all day. In regards to my juries, I did better than I could have expected. For my keyboard jury, I got 2 As and 2 Bs because you get one grade from each juror. I got multiple compliments about my tone which I'm very thrilled about because that's what I've been working on the most this semester. They gave me some constructive criticism but it was more of saying you've started this skill but keep going in that direction. For my voice jury I got all As!!! I was stunned. While of course I didn't get a perfect score for technique, I carried through my artistry and expression and know what it should sound like I pulled out great scores. The toughest judge in the room gave me the greatest compliment: lovely lyric bass. I was thrilled and now I can't wait to start singing more in my lessons and maybe sing in Italian next semester. It's been a great a semester but now that it's over I will sleep. Goodnight.

Day 200 and 201: Juries Part 1

With just two days left, things are in full swing here at the conservatory. By things, I mean juries and let me tell you they are more terrifying than jury duty. If you haven't seen my recent blogs, juries are applied exams or exams for your lessons. They are more like evaluations than tests. There are full days of scheduled time for people to perform for the jurors and of course the entire conservatory is so nervous. Last weekend I had my piano jury and today I had my voice jury. I messed up a word in a song but it went as well as it could have and better than I ever thought possible. Also, I had two written finals which were easy and went very well. Now my juries/finals are over and my sole focus is accompanying juries which I've already been doing. I'm accompanying 20 juries. 15 are already done and the final five are tomorrow. It keeps me busy which is why I have to put two days of juries as one blog. I can miss the constant accompanying excitement but am ready to relax at home. Now it's time to sleep because there's another day of juries tomorrow.

Day 199: rehearsals

It's the week of juries finally and rehearsals are in full swing. It's impossible to find a practice room but luckily I snagged my favorite room 131-F for most of the day while I had my ten or so consecutive rehearsals. I had two classes today but that was the last day. Now I just play, play, and play, the piano I mean. It's so much fun and while the schedule sure is crazy and keeps me on the move through the practice halls I love it. As I've said before, I LOVE IT HERE!!!!

Day 198: 24/7

As the end of the semester approaches and the last week begins tomorrow the practice rooms are open 24/7. It makes you wonder who would use them in the late night hours. It's so true that college, especially conservatory, students are night owls so we have rehearsals at random hours. For example, I practiced with a vocalist tonight for his jury at 11. I will be playing for a jury this Wednesday at 10. Shows happen on campus every Thursday at 11. Greek organizations sometimes have meetings at midnight. I have found myself in the practice room as late as 2 AM. I guess it's just how the brain differs in people and when we are at our best. I'm still awake because I'm at my best at this hour. However, I have a busy day tomorrow, so I will say goodnight.

Day 194-197: Too Busy

As you can tell from my long absence from my blog my life has been a nonstop busy one for the past few days. I finished my classes, had my juries, and opened a musical in martinsburg. Now I just have one week left of finals and accompanying juries. Luckily, it'll be easier than this past week and I can rest and relax more. Then it will be time to go home and I'm glad. I miss home and there's no place home for the holidays. More details about the past few days still to come. Goodnight.

Day 193: Exhaustion

The title says it all.

Day 192: Piano

Today was the last piano lesson of this semester. It still blows my mind that I can get a grade for having piano lessons. I get a grade for what I love. How cool is that? However, as it gets toward the end of the semester, juries approach. I know my professor has gotten me to a great spot of preparation and now I just have to go do it. Although, since classical isn't my primary style, it makes me nervous. Thursday at 5:30 and Saturday at 10:40 the judges caps will come on from the jurors as they assess me for my final grade. I ask for prayers. Piano is my life and it's finale is this week for this semester and then I will look towards next semester with new repertoire. I love it here!!