Turn Around

21. September 2008 · Comments Off on Turn Around · Categories: Opera, Ramble, Symphony

I’m home from the final performance. As far as I know, I played well. (I’m always distrustful of my own assessment of my playing.) It felt just fine. Reeds were responsive. No wrong notes (that shouldn’t even be something I have to comment on, right?). No bad entrances (again, shouldn’t be an issue). So I’m a much happier camper.

How pathetic is it that my entire mood was based on a wrong note, and that now, simply because I feel as if I’ve redeemed myself, my entire mood has turned around?

Yeah. Pretty darn pathetic.

But that’s the music biz.

Now I switch to English horn and Symphony Silicon Valley.

I’ve been home for about 45 minutes. And I’m still in black. My intention was to get home and don my comfy pjs. Really! So I think I’ll go do that now. It’s glass-o-wine and veg out time! Woo hoo!

I Just Read This …

21. September 2008 · Comments Off on I Just Read This … · Categories: Recital

Anyone near Eastman?

Student Degree Recital – Michael McGowan, oboe
Eastman School Kilbourn (KH)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
9:00 pm to 10:30 pm

The Eastman School of Music hosts student recitals throughout the academic year. Program information is subject to change and is not available in advance.
All recitals are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Thats’ a late start. Is it typical of these recitals?

I did crack up at the “subject to change” thing. If they don’t make the program available in advance how will we know it’s been changed? Hmm?

If anyone ever wants me to post a recital notice please let me know. I’m happy to do it! (I just posted this one because I happened upon it.)

Sometimes …

21. September 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Ramble

I wish my short term memory didn’t exist any more.

There are advantages, you know?

Say, for instance, I play a wrong note in a solo. Well, voila! The next day I’m a happy camper! “Wrong note?” I ask a colleague. “What wrong note?”

Someone should create a drug that allows you to forget a concert when you are unhappy with one stupid wrong note!

Really.

Now if I were a baseball player, one strike or strikeout wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Heck, even if I managed to get on base 50% of the time I’d be doing just fine. By batting averages I’m doing great.

But one wrong note can ruin a whole day. Or week.

I have no tolerance for errors in my playing. Somehow when someone else makes a mistake I just smile (inwardly at least) and think, “Well, we are human. We make mistakes. And it’s just not that big of a deal.” When it’s yours truly the entire world stops. Everyone stares and thinks, “That girl is an idiot and should be working as a doorknob counter.” (Ooh … I could count doorknobs for a living! Does anyone know of an opening somewhere?) 😉

Okay … done. I said I would blog about it. So consider this an unblog. Please?

BQOD

21. September 2008 · Comments Off on BQOD · Categories: BQOD

It’s really rough when you realize you’ve made the transition from “The popular music today all sucks” to “I have no idea what the popular music today sounds like.”

I read it here, and loved it so I had to post this one, link included. 😎

Cruisin’ with Oboe? (or English horn, from what I see)

21. September 2008 · Comments Off on Cruisin’ with Oboe? (or English horn, from what I see) · Categories: Links, Ramble

Do you want to work on a cruise? I guess you could. I just ran across a site that lists cruise jobs. And oboe is there. Along with a few other instruments. Very random, if you ask me. Is it legit? Heck if I know!

MUSICIANS LISTED:
Violinist, Horn Player, Oboist, Orchestra Musician, Percussionist, Violist, Cellist, Clarinetist, English Horn Player

I found it here.

I’ve never been on a cruise. I’m not sure I’d like it; I fear feeling trapped.