04.07.08
winter blues…
ok so it’s not really winter anymore… but it’s still cold. And even if it gets warmer outside I still FREEZE inside at work. this is a lose-lose situation.
On a higher note I am quite excited to have purchased soundtracks from both Across the Universe and Sweeney Todd. Both have amazing music… not in the cheesy musical way (which I still love by the way) but in a sophisticated and intricately interesting way! I love the new spins and voices that recreate the Beatles’ hits and bring them in to tell a story. And Sweeney Todd… whoa the music is mind blowing. Both great movies, but both have amazing soundtracks. It made my day to get the music in my ears, especially since i couldn’t find any music this morning that i wanted to hear.
by the way, if you give me a choice two songs, one being in a minor key and the other being in a major key… 9 out of 10 times I’ll choose the minor keyed song as the one i like better.
02.04.08
anxiety…
It always amazes me the anxiety I feel before I have to play the piano for any kind of performance. Usually things work out pretty well… I think the last terrible performance I had would have been my freshman year of college. At Geneva we had to do a recital at the end of each semester as well as boards (where we would be graded for the semester). Anyway my first ever recital was a real disaster. I had two pieces that I was supposed to play… memorized. Not only weren’t they memorized but I barely felt comfortable playing them with music. Like I said it was a disaster… and I wasn’t on the stage for more then a minute and a half. (Two songs remember!) It was a pretty embarrassing performance… I walked off stage and right out of the auditorium and back to my room to sulk! But what made me smile about that performance was that another music major that had been there thought it was a great performance and she really liked the pieces. I laughed. Just thinking about that day makes me cringe. I can’t think of too many other performances I’ve had that was worse then that. All that to say, I was pleased with my playing tonight for the freshman choir at Williamsport High School.
06.18.07
fifteen…
Ok here’s my response to Karl’s Random 15 Itunes Challenege:
Ben Folds: Philosophy
(I really enjoy Ben Folds’ music… I wish I could play the piano like him!)
David Crowder Band: Soon I Will Be Done With The Troubles Of The World
(great track)
John Mayer: Bigger Than My Body
Medeski, Martin & Wood: Bemsha Swing – Live Up Yourself
(some nice jazz or as Karl says acid jazz. I have fond memories of jazz music from my childhood because that’s the type of music my brother typically plays *he’s a drummer* anyway I was always at his jazz concerts *he’s 7 years older then me* and I always thought of him as THE BEST DRUMMER EVER! I also remember on Friday nights we would go to the local Holiday Inn’s restaurant ‘Harrigans’ to hear my brother’s drum teacher’s jazz group play and I would ALWAYS order mozzarella sticks even though they weren’t on the menu. Fun times!)
Jars Of Clay: Surprise
(this song makes me think of Winter cause thats when Karl got the album and we listened to it… ALOT)
Train: Drops of Jupiter
(love it)
Sufjan Stevens: We’re Goin’ To the Country!
(Some great Christmas Music)
The Ditty Bops: Sister Kate
(Great stage show, Karl and I’ve seen them open twice for Nickel Creek and they’re just hilarious! Great old time sound!)
Relient K: Handel’s Messiah
(a little classical mixed with rock… I love Handel’s Messiah and was so excited in 8th grade when my choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus and I accompanied them! Ok, so it was a little watered down… but not much! I later played the real piano reduction in high school!)
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Purple Stain
Ok Go: Television, Television
(a huge thanks to Jimm Donaruma for the introduction to Ok Go!)
Ok Go: Do What You Want
(makes your head automatically bob)
Medeski, Martin & Wood: Macha
(add a little organ)
Shane & Shane: Yearn
(the intertwining of their voices creates such beautiful music)
Leeland: Tears Of The Saints
Ok those are my random 15. I find I just want to share more of my music, I keep thinking what about this one, or that one… hmm maybe for another post. Oh wait I’ll give you my top 3 most listened to songs according to iTunes…
#3 Ben Folds: Zak & Sara
#2 Ben Folds: One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
#1 Babe The Blue Ox: My Baby ‘N’ Me
There it is, enjoy!
03.13.07
coffee in hand and a dog on the lap…
No lessons today, all my Tuesday students are on Spring Break.
I’m really enjoying teaching (ok well 90% of the time). I love to see my students as they progress, but it also gives me such a different view of lessons. For 14 years I was the student. I taught piano lessons for a couple of years in high school, but I really didn’t know what I was doing teaching… those poor students! Now that I have a clue in what to do as I teach I realize how easy it is. I’m really just a guide, and that’s what my always were even though I depended on them so much. I still often think… I can’t play that or I worry I’m doing stuff wrong and I don’t have someone pointing it out to me. In one way its nice but in another I really miss taking lessons and getting better.
Anyway, my students are all pretty awesome and I enjoy them. I’m getting more comfortable with the books we’re working through… The Music Tree series by Frances Clark and The Celebration Series. I’m pretty comfortable with The Music Tree especially the 1st two books, and I’m just now getting kids in some of the upper level books from that series. I’ve got 2 students in The Celebration Series but I’m really enjoying it and think they are too. It’s funny how when you’re in high school and playing piano often times you crave classical music. You want something harder, something you can be proud of when you finish. I was so proud the day I got my first SERIOUS piece of music. I look at it now and it’s an Intermediate piece but wow was I proud of it.
So for now I’m happy with my “job”. I’ve been teaching for a good year but really only had 2-3 students during that year. Starting this January my studio really expanded and I’m up to 8 students. A bit more of a commitment, but again, I’m enjoying it.
