Day 168: Culture (Truth)

One of the most important things that define the world is culture. I have been lucky enough to experience the culture of the performing arts my entire life. Then, I just happened to fall in love with it and now I study it at SU. Even, if it's not something you want to make a career of, it's important to expose yourself and younger generations to culture. It's essential that we understand the world around us. The arts might be viewed as boring or for sissies but that's not true. Even the most macho people should experience the arts. Whether it's ballet, opera, visual arts, or theater, there is a whole creative world waiting for you. I say all of this to encourage the continuation of arts and the importance of them, and also, I would like to thank all of the people who always made sure that I experienced culture and can now enjoy that culture 24/7. I'll sleep now. It's been a long two days. Goodnight.

Day 167: Awesome Opera

Sorry that this post is a day late. I got in very late and was too tired to post it. One of the benefits of attending Shenandoah Conservatory is getting to see capital performances at the Kennedy center in DC. Last night I saw opera singer, Pretty Yende, in concert. She's a famous soprano from South Africa. She sang and looked gorgeous. While I am definitely not a fan of opera, I'm broadening my horizons and thought I would go. During the first few songs I was a little bored but when she sang her act I closer I realized just how brilliant opera can be. She just sang high notes like it was nothing. When she sang rapid passages of runs, you could hear every note. Granted, none of it was in English, but it didn't matter because it was so gorgeous and her face, body, and voice acted the emotion and the point of the song. My second favorite song she sang was some song by Liszt. She had 10 curtain calls and two encores. For her second encore, she brought down the house with O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini. It was incredible. For music all that was needed was a piano. It was that simple: a voice and a piano. No mics, just her sound. I never understood why people said brava at opera but after last night I get it perfectly. All I have to say now to Pretty Yende is Brava!!! Thanks for opening my eyes to opera.

Day 166: Dance, Dance, Dance (Truth)

When Julie Andrews sang I could have danced all night in my fair lady I would like to know what type of dancing she meant. Part of my curriculum here is to take dance courses. I have to take a dance class in tap, jazz, and ballet. The first two I don't mind. I have 7 years of experience in tap and a year experience in jazz. However, I found out tonight the details involved in a ballet class. You have to wear tights and a dance belt. If you don't know what a dance belt is, then that is probably best. I know that attire is all part of the ballet deal but you're never mentally ready for that until you know you will have to take a ballet class. Now there is nothing wrong with guys in tights or guys doing ballet but I am pretty certain that when I take the class that it will not be my cup of tea. I might look like a weird uncoordinated stick jumping through the air. Also, it doesn't help that most dance classes are at the crack of dawn. Luckily, of all the dance classes, I will get to start with my favorite probably: tap. I am going tomorrow to dance in on the current class so the teacher can place me in the right level next semester or next fall. I'm not training to be a dancer but this school makes accompanists do both sides of the piano so to speak. We have to act sing and dance as well as play the piano. This helps us understand what we are accompanying, how a dance rehearsal works, prepares us for arranging music for dance, and how dance works with music. It's an amazing experience and worth it no matter what the time or the attire is. I don't know if I'll be dancing all night but I will be dancing all morning and all semesters in the near future. Once again, in case you missed it recently, I love it here!!!!

Day 165: Musical Research (Truth)

As I said in yesterday's post, I'm currently picking out pieces I want to play next semester or throughout my piano lessons here. Because I have limited knowledge of classical music, I have to research. However, this isn't long hour boring research. This is going through scores, reading music, listening to recordings to see what I would like to play. That's one thing that is great about my teacher: I can have insight on what pieces I play. That's good because I'm stuck with those choices for four months. Our expansive music library here made it simple for me to go though the complete works of several big name composers that I have never experienced such as Brahms or Grieg. I can use that resource to pick out the music and then buy my own copy of what I decide on. The stack of books I checked out tonight to research through is pictured below. In case I forgot to mention it, I love it here!!!!

Day 164: The Piano Lesson (Truth)

One of the many reasons that I love it here is I have great professors. My piano teacher is extraordinary. For anyone who knew my last teacher Mrs. Gordy is basically like my current teacher. Professor Chen is simply put, the Asian Mrs. Gordy. She has some humorous techniques. Today she had me do squats while I played to transfer arm tension to my legs while I played. She also told me to practice away from the piano. Also, she does the sweeping gestures and singing along the phrasing like Mrs. Gordy did. Most importantly, she is really fine tuning my technique. I feel myself improving daily and every week as a musician. I'm beginning to explore music for next semester. I'm so thankful I get to add input to my repertoire. I'm so excited for spring because I think we are going to pick some great pieces. I love it here!!!!

Day 162 and 163: My First Show (Truth)

Today, marked the closing performance of my first show at SU. I played in the orchestra pit for Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Dr. Albert, the Godfather of Musical Theater Knowledge, wrote amazing incidental music for the show. It can only be described in two words: hauntingly beautiful. The cast was brilliant and their performance was raised to the next level with the awesome direction of Carolyn Coulson. It's not a happy show, but I had the happiest experience working on the production. We had a great cast, a great crew, and a great orchestra. Even though we (the orchestra) were in a hole in a back room we had a connection with the stage. No, I don't mean that the actors had power over us like the characters are believed to have in the play. It was not just the technological  connection that allowed us to see the stage. There is a spiritual, theatrical connection that joins the cast, the crew, the orchestra, and most importantly the audience into an amazing little world. Our theatrical world goes beyond Salem. It goes throughout the conservatory and into the world. Good theaters have this connection and it makes what we do so exciting. We build a family with each show we do and we have a blast during the process. I still can't get over the fact that I was in a class called pit orchestra. I got a grade for playing for the show. SC would stand for Shenandoah Conservatory but it also could stand for student connection because that is what happens here and I love it. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I Love It Here.

Day 161: Another Openin'

This evening, I was a part of another opening night. We opened Arthur Miller's The Crucible. I'm playing the piano in the orchestra. We play incidental music as underscoring and scene change music. It was written by the genius Dr. Albert. The cast is brilliant and so is everyone involved in this extraordinary production. I can't think of a better way to spend Halloween then to open a witch-related play. The audience may have come seen the show instead of going to trick or treat but they experienced a real treat. Three more performances this weekend so I must sleep. Goodnight.