Day 332: Lottery

I WON THE LOTTERY! Well, not in the traditional sense; I won the housing lottery at SU. When we are signing for room and board for the upcoming school year, you pay a deposit and sign a contract. Based on seniority, special exceptions, room type, building, and time that the paperwork is completed you receive a lottery number. It's almost like an assigned first come first serve. My number was 5. That meant out of everybody in the school I was the fifth person to pick my room, so I had tons of options. I chose 159S. The S just means it's a single room. I'll be staying there this summer and during my entire time here. At the new building there is a pool, I'm on the first floor, right down the hall from the laundry room, and there is a double entry to my room from the outside or the hallway inside. I'm ecstatic. I'm so thrilled about it that I went by to see it and took a photo of the outside. You can tell it used to be a hotel and it will become my own little condo/hotel apartment. I LOVE IT HERE!!!

Day 330 and 331: Marat/Sade

This weekend we had our final performances of Marat/Sade. If you don't know about it there is more detail in some older posts. I will repeat here though that the show is CRAZY!!! I can't emphasize that enough. But it was such a different and new experience that the collaboration among everybody was so much fun and creatively exciting. The director and musical director were so devoted to the project that it just made the work that more special. It's an experience I will never forget and will hold dear to me forever. Here are production photos and the cast photo.

Day 329: Opening Night #7

It's mind blowing to me that I've been here for nearly a year and have experienced 7 opening nights of shows I've been involved in. Granted, only 3 were for the actual school year (the other 4 were last summer) but still. It's emotional looking back at all the great shows I've been a part of and to think this is only the beginning. Dr. Albert have the band a little note with a Muppets joke that had been our running joke throughout rehearsal and the message inside was beautiful. I can't wait for more opening nights at this place I love so much!!!

Day 328: Open Dress Rehearsal

Right before I left to come home for the funeral, I played for the first tech rehearsal of Marat/Sade. Then I missed the second tech and the first two dress rehearsals. Luckily, even though I missed those crucial rehearsals, they let me play for the first run-through with an audience which was our final dress rehearsal. After wearing nice clothes the day before, it was odd having such a terrible costume waiting for me. This is the second show where they want me to look like I'm a part of the environment but this time I wore rags. Most of the costumes were taken from the Les Miserables costume box. Wearing a costume though gives you a great opportunity of the dressing room fellowship. It connects you with the other actors and improves the quality of the show that you're preparing for. Here are some photos of my costume and dressing room shenanigans.

Day 327: Me and my Papa B

This post applies to the day of my grandfather's funeral. I asked my grandmother Edna to pick up a poem for me that I had written about seven years ago but was kept in their cabin bedroom. I planned to read it but I didn't realize how moving it was or how applicable it was to a funeral. Some of it, like the house, doesn't apply anymore but here it is:

The music which flows throughout my genes
came from my grandpa much older than me.
He plays the piano and so do I;
He will play the piano until the day he dies.
But that's not what matters,
What matters is this.
And it's also the one thing about him that I will miss.
He teaches me lessons everyday.
He teaches me to grow in every way.
Lessons about abundance in life,
Lessons that keep me free of worry and strife.
But I needed a place to apply these lessons, a place to hold our new possessions.
So he provided a dwelling and there I now stay;
Be patient, it's coming, a piano's on the way.
About a year later in the month of July
The piano arrived; oh my! Oh my!
His vision's alive but his work is not done
He continues to help his favorite grandson.
And that is why I love him so.
Sit back Papa B and watch me grow.

R.I.P. Papa B

Day 326: Planes, Trains, and TSA

In addition to the flights that I dealt with before and after the New York Trip, I recently had to deal with traveling alone home and back on a plane. TSA is annoying, planes are cramped, plane passengers are nuisances, and there are other common travel issues that could easily make a standup comedy routine. Some things that stood our from my recent TSA experiences: I apparently don't look like my ID. 3 people had to verify that I was me before allowing me into security. Also, some security checkpoints are getting smarter and making it to where you don't have to take off your belts, hats, and jackets. Lastly, planes weren't designed for tall people. I hit my head every time and my legs dig into the seat in front of me. Next, that person complains, but I can't help it that I'm tall. There was one flight where I was in the front row behind first class and I had tons of leg room (pictured below). To TSA and Plane involved people: adapt for tall people. That is all. Also, notice this post didn't have anything to do with trains, I just needed the title.

Day 325: Sunset

So this isn't posted on the day it applies to but most of my statuses aren't. As I was leaving my Western Music History II study group and headed toward the airport, I walked out into the most beautiful sunset. Normally, sunsets don't affect me emotionally especially beach ones because I strongly dislike the sun, but given the situation that I was entering (see yesterday's post) I needed the comforting peace that it brought. It also just proved that my school is just incredibly gorgeous. Here are photos.

Day 322-324: Theo Brescia

Over the course of this past year my grandfather, Theo Brescia, or as I called him Papa B, has been ill and slowly getting worse. After a long battle with heart problems and ultimately congestive heart failure he was put in hospice today. (Based on this date that was actually a week ago and I know the end of the story already). Sunday morning at the time he would've been preparing to go play for a church service he went to the Heavenly Church Service. I was numb when I heard the news and am still in disbelief even though it's been a week and I'm already home from the funeral. I will miss him terribly but I know he wouldn't want me to be sad or crying. I know he's in a better place and I will see him again one day. Until then, I have great memories.

Day 321: My Percussion Pal

Ever since I worked on The Elephant Man at the beginning of this semester I have had the great pleasure of knowing Emily Rafala. She is just a bundle of joy and an awesome person. We have very over the top European greeting rituals. We are both in the band for Marat Sade and she acts like a monkey throughout the show. She is such a darling and I just had to make a short post devoted to my percussion pal.

Day 320: New Instruments

As I am starting to relax into this show I am having fun. I work with 4 other instrumentalists during the show and I decided to start playing other instruments during breaks. For example, I've tried the trumpet, a variety of percussion instruments, the ukulele, and the violin. I always wanted to be the 21st century Paganini. Here is me with my new instruments. Note that I'm also posing as a crazy person.

Day 319: SAI

While I am not a member of the Greek Sorority, I recently felt like an honorary member. Several of the females I play for were being initiated into the organization and had to perform for a musicale. Therefore, I accompanied them. One of them sang Pulled from The Addams Family which has become a modern standard. But my real excitement came from playing the classic aria from Candide called Glitter and be Gay. It definitely lives up to my philosophy of the higher the better. Here are the two girls that were so talented during the performance.

Day 318: Cinderella

In addition to all of the recital rehearsal I've had, I got the chance to go to the movies. I went to the Alamo (discussed in previous blog entries) to see the Disney live-action Cinderella. It was an extraordinary film. Disney really outdid themselves this time. I've never seen a movie that was so magical and gorgeous. Even with such a common story, the grand scale of the scenery, costumes, and cinematography was exquisite. My one problem with the movie was that Cinderella wore blue the whole time. All of her rags were blue as well as the ball gown. Therefore, there was no contrast. She looked great in blue but it was just too much. Also, I don't understand why Cate Blanchett who only played the stepmother got top billing over Cinderella. I guess she was being a diva witch even off screen. I highly recommend the film though just to be in awe of the grandeur and relive the childhood magic. If the upcoming live action films from Disney are half as good I will be thrilled especially if they are musicals.

Day 316 and 317: Recital Season

So much has been going on in my life but now I can finally catch up on my blog.

This weekend I have had several recitals to prepare for. Two vocal students that I accompany are doing recitals which are part of their curriculum. They are basically juries for an audience that are longer and more formal. One is a simple half recital for a junior student and the other is a full recital that is practically playing for a one man musical. I've greatly enjoyed working with these two young men and creating such a great collaboration. It has expanded my repertoire and made my musical abilities even better. I look forward to playing for a lot more recitals over the years at SU and one day maybe I will give one there.

Day 315: Krista

25 years ago my sister Krista Landrum was born. I say that as if I was alive when she was born but I hadn't even been thought of by my parents yet. My sister taught and continues to teach me how to have fun and while you can be productive and serious there is always room for a little play. It's too bad that she gets caught in my shadow some time because she has so many qualities that are much greater than my tall shadow. She's really getting old now but she's gaining so much wisdom. This weekend she can do what she taught me. She can play because it's her birthday weekend. I couldn't have asked for a better sister. Now matter how old I get I will always be her little brudder, bud. She didn't like me at first but I grew on her and now we are quite a pair. We are two really neat siblings. Wish I could be there to celebrate with her but I can FaceTime and play happy birthday over the phone. I love you krista and happy birthday. If you're reading this and you know my sister don't forget to wish her happy birthday.

Day 314: April Fools

There are so many holidays and special days that I don't understand. One of these is April Fool's Day. I'm all about jokes and maybe an occasional prank but it seems so immature, and especially to devote a whole day to it. Who's idea was this? Some people take April fools too far and there are serious effects from it like a time at high school where people planked the principal. Some people just say really mean and stupid things that aren't worth April fools. Also, why is it April? Why isn't it October's fool? I just don't understand. For example, I'm quitting college... April fool's. See, pointless.

Day 313: Theremin

Today in history of western music II, we were talking about the fascinating age of electronic music. We of course discussed synthesizers, computers, and composers of the time, but the coolest part was when the teacher came in with an electronic instrument called a theremin. It's a motion detecting instrument mainly used in sci fi sounding scores. He let some people try to play it and who did the best would get exempt an automatic 100 on the final of course that was April fools but it was still cool to try to play it. It was so difficult. I may be a good pianist but I definitely can't play the theremin. It's so sensitive and as you move your hand the pitch changes and so does the volume. It's so complicated and seems too specialized for its purpose. Nevertheless, it was fascinating. Here is a photo of one.

Day 312: Drumroll Please...

It's time to announce the school musicals! Those are words that I've loved hearing since high school. All conservatory students wait all year for this important news. The time has come now here to announce it to the world. The musicals are She Loves Me, City of Angels, and Illyria. One is an under appreciated golden age musical, another is a jazzy film noir story, and the last is a musical version of Twelfth Night. We are approaching the 175th anniversary of Shakespeare death so that's how we are honoring it. We are also doing Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Hamlet, and a few other plays that may not be Shakespeare. Also, while it hasn't been announced yet they are hoping to do Shakespeare operas. I can't wait for next year.

Day 311: Registration

I can't believe I just registered for my third semester of classes here. The time is flying too fast here. That's probably because they keep me so busy here. Next semester I will take beginning conducting, chromatic theory, ear training II, health issues for artists. In addition to that I'll play for the musicals, the plays, and maybe an opera, as well as having piano lessons, jazz piano lessons, and voice lessons. Oh and I almost forgot a tap class. The sad news is that my first class will be everyday at 9 but I'll do it somehow. I love it here too much to let a time stop me.

Day 308-310: The Crazies

Over these day we had our first run throughs of our final school play or musical (I'm still not sure how to classify it). Marat/Sade is the craziest show I've ever been a part of. I play a harmonium which is crazy enough in itself. A few of the characters speak in prose. There is a rape, a murder, a revolution, and much more all in a play performed by inmates in an asylum. It's insane but that's fitting for the setting. I won't ever understand or at least not during the time I'm working on it but I do appreciate it as very interesting theater.