What I Did For Love Work

14. February 2009 · 3 comments · Categories: Ramble

(Okay, I do love my work, so there’s that.)

So today is the start of the Amgen Tour of California. I canceled my students for both today and Monday, so that I can enjoy the race with my “boys”.

And where am I right now?

I’m sitting on the couch, watching the race on the TV. The boys, on the other hand, are in Sacramento, watching the prologue after, I’m betting, having a nice lunch.

I decided I had to skip today after all. The race didn’t begin until 1:30 or some such thing, and knowing I had a three hour opera tonight, and that it’s a two hour drive home from our state’s capitol, I decided that I act more responsibly and not go.

Such is life. I lost income due to the canceled students, and I still didn’t end up getting to enjoy the day. Figures.

I’m not even going to mention that it’s also Valentine’s Day. Okay?

Read Online

14. February 2009 · 2 comments · Categories: Read Online

What other music can I listen to other than classical that will make my baby more intelligent?

miZZkrisTinA asked the question:

I am right around that time where my baby can start hearing things outside the womb (im 20 weeks) so I want to start listening to music thats beneficial to my baby but I really don’t like classical music, is there anything else that is proven to make babies more intelligent?

My Reaction?

14. February 2009 · 5 comments · Categories: Links

George Washington University Hospital in downtown Washington, D.C., is part of a small and unconventional medical movement. Once a week, this state-of-the-art facility pays a harpist to play in the emergency room to provide patients with a measure of comfort and calm.

I read it here.

Okay … nice idea, I guess, but of course my first reaction, being who I am, was that some groggy patients might think, “Oh my! I’m in heaven!”

Yeah. That’s me.

My second reaction, again being who I am, is that I think I might get ticked off, depending upon what harp music is being played. (I won’t even go into the, “What if the musician isn’t very good?” because I’m nice that way.)

Yikes

14. February 2009 · 4 comments · Categories: Announcements

Update

I have heard from Martin Schuring and, with his permission, I’m posting his email here. I think some readers will be relieved:

I read your blog listing the ASU music programs that were eliminated recently. It is true that ASU cut quite a few academic programs this past week, mandated by very large budget cuts passed by our legislature. They also took that opportunity to clear off some programs that we had not used for years, and that had no students following those degrees. We haven’t had a masters degree in performance for years; we now call it masters in vocal performance, keyboard performance, orchestral instrument, etc. It allows us to be more specific in setting requirements for disciplines that are quite different from each other. So, nothing was lost and we will continue to educate masters students in music just as before.

Arizona State University is announcing program closures, including these:

Music

M.A. Music and Music Theory Concentration (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
M.M. Music concentrations in
– Performance (Music Theatre/Opera Directing) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
– Music (Performance) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
– Performance (Music Theatre Performance) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
– Performance (Music Theatre Musical Director) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
Music Ed (Jazz Studies) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
Music Artist Diploma (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)

Martin Schuring is the oboe professor there, and is quite well known in the oboe world.

I’m just rather stunned.