To Valerian...and beyond!

I've begun to take Valerian root. It smells like cat throw up but makes you mellower than a mushroom. I'm excited to see what long term effects have in store!

Why? and How?

How in the heck can two people eat in such proximity?! I just passed a couple in the hall smacking away at some chinese with the oil-ridden lips just centimeters away from each. Chowin' down and smiling all the while. Bleck!

Improvisation

Tonight at Opera Workshop we had a visitor, David Darling. It was the most wonderful time! Improvisation for 2 hours! I have recently been in extreme need of this. Teachers telling me to play music the "traditional" way. That's bologna! We spend our lives with sets of imposing rules telling us how things should be. Improvisation makes everything beautiful. I should have the right to play Schubert how I want and how I think it beautiful no matter what Dr. X says. Although I do pay him to tell me what to do. Or do I? Anyhow...the improv session tonight was so freeing. You can really see right into someone when you watch or hear them improvise. It's like they rip their soul out and set it on fire with methane...I mean, BUTANE right in front of your eyes. Some people clammed up when they were asked to solo or to give it a try but others shined like crazy. It made my day instantly better at the get go when we began chant like tribal primates...yes monkeys. It's like we dug realllly deep down and everyone in the room connected and opened up in such a natural way. "Natural" is the key word i think. Then to top it all off a fine tuna fish sandwich and bowl of raisin bran. MMMMmmm good.

And another thing! It makes me sad when I walk around the school of music and hear the same ten pieces being studied. Why!?!?!? I'm determined to program such an avant garde work that less than 10 people in the school have actually listened to before.
Hmpf!

P.S. I would really like a sunburn

One of the teachers today took away Caleb's (a preschooler) blanket today right as I was beginning music time. Another teacher had told this teacher to take it away because it would prevent Caleb from participating. Now just a few weeks ago Caleb was in the Toddler room. I think they are trying to break his blanky habit and make him mature. Caleb started to cry real loud and hard even while we were singing. He kept on until they tried to give him a type of toy or something to chew on. I can't remember. But he wasn't having it. He eventually stopped and joined in. It was just really awkward when everyone was singing and "having a good time" while Caleb was in utter torment. There was this "just turn your head" kind of smell in the air. Not because anyone has pooped in his/her pants, though. Life goes on. I suppose that he will have to give up his blanky sooner or later. But what if he had his blanky and "ate it too?" I betcha that he would have eventually dropped it like it was hot and joined in anyhow. But my! the children were all sooooo attentive and engaged today. In keeping with the motto of this blog I encourage everyone to put on some Sam Cooke (like the kindergarteners and I did) and just slouch in your chair and sway. About Caleb, though, I couldn't help but think if the other kids were thinking what I was - "Shouldn't we do something about the poor guy?" Answer: "He's OK"

I hate to say this but...

I'm actually enjoying school right now. And piano. And the new strength that my teeth and gums now have. I feel like I could bite through steel!

It appears that I will be here (Eugene) for at least another 2 years to finish up a Music Ed and Collaborative Piano degrees. Anyone want to fund my last year?

I've taken up a new hobby: flossing. Ever since my sis-in-law's aunt or mom or someone very kind gave me some nice floss I've been a-using. Who knew that your gums would stop bleeding eventually? Sad it is. I'm making progress it seems on the search for a roomie. It's tough discerning a thief from a nice person. Someone asked me today why I only play "girly" pieces for the piano. I think this guy is out of line. Who says that Debussy Preludes and Bach are girly? And the freaking Kreutzer Sonata! Gimme a brizzeak. I got a Sheryl Crow CD at the ly-berry yesterday!

Admiral Ackbar says...

"It's a twap!!!!"

Did I mention that I love the children?

Yesterday, in honor of Valentine's Day, the preschoolers and kindergarten and I sang "Skidamarink." Because of the line..."I love you!" The kindergarten thought it was funny that I pointed to them and said "I love you!" And one kid...decided to open up his jacket to where he was bare breasted every time we sang "I love you!" He continued to flash the class with his bare chest. I had to look away to keep from laughing. And this kid's neighbor started making farting noises when I asked them to "Put your lips together and blow" (in an effort to show them how to whistle). Smart kid.

Now i'm in sunny (yes, sunny) Lake Oswego with David Stockamp. Celia had to go to a conference of sorts. But there is talk of cleaning gutters. I'm pretty excited, although David goes about things in a Mr. Ratti fashion. Very methodical and VERY safe. Boring! O well, at least we'll be outside.

I think my heart rate has slowed down a few ticks after having to learn 20 not-easy songs for three singers whom i accompanied in a concert last Sunday. That was a poorly constructed sentence. Anyhow, we traveled with our fearless Opera director to Lakeview, Oregon. About 14 miles north of California and in the center of the state of Oregon. Population: less than 3000. A paradise really. I could easily see myself living there in about ten years or so. We played the concert (which i was extremely stressed about) at the presbyterian church there in town. About 50 people showed up. (a pretty big percentage considering the size of the town). Then in the morning after we had day-old pizza and coors light at a Arts-Council person's house, we went to the local high school/middle school and did a couple of programs there. It was refreshing to get out and see some beautiful country. Around 10 feet! of snow on the side of the roads on the way there. And let me tell you, Eastern Oregon is desolate! Beautifullness. Pretty backwoods hick country, but i really love it. There was about 4-5 feet of snow on the ground in lakeview. More than I have ever seen. Luckily the blizzard was the week before we got there, not the week of. So I survived the concert and this past week. Not sure how, but i tend to freak out anyhow over not so big thangs.

I'm still looking for a roomie for spring term. Hmpf!

Singers, stress, farting to myself, acid reflux, more acid reflux, recording bad music, more stress, traveling to Lakeview, OR tomorrow, back issues, balding, molasses chews, looooong bike rides down the Willamette, french toast, sweet sleep, going to bed early, sunshine!, Petuña!....This is what gradschool has brought me to this weekend. Illustrious, I know.

More molasses chews, please.

The children at the EWEB CDC don't know this yet, but i am slowing turning them into music buffs.

They will soon know the words to a handful of good ol' American folk songs and have been introduced to Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach by next week! Not to mention Nick Cave, The Beach Boys, and Dizzy Gillespie. The Name Game, however, makes them blush and become a tad bit embarrassed. Hmmm...we got to finish up naming the rest of the class, though. They'll make it. The Kindergarten even now know what "Theme and Variations" are. Woof!