27. March 2007 · Comments Off on Music & Tears · Categories: imported, Ramble

My headache did finally leave, I have a new “do” (as in haircut) … well … it looks the same, I suppose. But it’s lighter (as in thinned out a bit … have a lot of hair) and I think it means I’ve lost weight. Or something.

But anyway, I’m home now, and it’s off to bed. I hope to sleep. Last night I woke up nearly every hour. Until it was time to wake up in the morning. Insomnia is not a pleasant thing. (But is it called insomnia when you fall asleep but wake up each hour?)

Lack of sleep makes me grumpy. Just so you know.

But the music … well … I actually was so moved at the beginning when the chorus was singing a cappella, that I began to cry. Was it my lack of sleep? The beauty of the music? The fact that I got to the rehearsal early to check out reeds and found out that the choir had taken over the stage? (Do choral directors not realize we have to warm up, check out reeds … make noise, otherwise known as music?) The death of my father?

Oh. Probably all of the above.

But I ramble about things that really aren’t all that important when it comes to oboe. Go figure.

More important things to appear here soon. I promise.
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27. March 2007 · Comments Off on Hah! · Categories: imported, Ramble

In response to In Other News Jill wrote, “Well, I am impressed! Seems like I only do housework to get out of practicing these days.”

Um. Blush. Well, yes.

Why do you think I got so much housework done? That was all BEFORE the reed work. 😉
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  • Studio dusted and vacuumed
  • Family room vacuumed
  • Bathrooms cleaned
  • Five pieces of cane shaped (yeah, I know, big whoop!)
  • Three oboe reeds wound, a bit of whittling done (while listening to Butterfly)
  • Huge, rotten, painful headache (grumble)
  • Haircut at 2
  • 2 students after
  • Verdi at 7:30

    Busy day. This headache better go away. NOW.

  • 27. March 2007 · Comments Off on 1st Annual Irene Dalis Vocal Competition! · Categories: Announcements, imported

    … and no, I won’t be entering. They didn’t have a category for “pretty darn mediocre voice” so oh well! (I’m too OLD anyway!)

    But if any readers are interested, Read about it, and see all that’s required for the preliminary West Coast Auditions.
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    27. March 2007 · Comments Off on How To (Attempt To) Make It Work · Categories: A Musician's LIfe, imported, Ramble

    Planning on living the life of a musician? Think you have what it takes? And do you understand how few get the Big Gig that will pay for a “normal” life. (Okay, so no musician ever really lives a normal life … when you lose most weekends and a lot of evenings normal doesn’t happen.) Do you realize you may live your entire life as a freelance musician? It isn’t that you aren’t good enough … there are only so many jobs, there are only so many auditions, and you have about 10 minutes to prove that you are the best. Sometimes the best isn’t the best that day. Sometimes the best doesn’t audition as well. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

    So be prepared.

    Read Jason Heath’s blog. He has covered it all. He’s done it all. Heck, he’s even watched a car burn up. The guy has lived the musician’s life, believe me.

    And he has very good things to say about how he survives in the crazy music biz.
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