musiclover4life

Well, I was supposed to update this, right? All I have to say is that life is beautiful.

There will be a real update, I promise. I have much to share. I've been ridiculously busy, but tomorrow I return to Michigan for Thanksgiving break, so I should have some free time.

First, QOTD: "I have caucasian plans for Saturday night." -Gabie

Second, I just wanted to share with you the AMAZING, and I mean fucking AMAZING, purchase I made today. I bought this for, no joke, $11.20. Caveat Emptor (the best used bookstore EVAR) owns my soul.

Do you know why I am awake, right now? My throat hurts too badly for me to sleep. Fuck this shit! I don't have time to be sick. I have five performances next week. Sigh. I gargled some salt water, popped three Ibuprofen, and just finished a cough drop, so let's see if this works.

Anyway, while I'm waiting for something good to happen, how about a real update?

School...ugh. I'm having a mid-college crisis. As in, I don't want to go to college anymore. So I have to win a job. Have to. Sooner rather than later. Right now, the thought of grad school makes me want to hurl. NOT MORE SCHOOL, PLEASE! ANYTHING, ANYTHING. This is just because I'm stir-crazy, though. Obviously I'm going to go to grad school, unless I somehow win a job first.

I've mainly been feeling like this because I despise all my classes except for yoga. I love yoga. It keeps me going. Music theory makes me want to kill something every time I go to that class. It always turns into a fucking math lesson. Yes, yes, I get metric modulation, I don't need to know all the multiplication and division that goes into it because I can clearly see how it works on the page, and I guarantee the performer isn't going to be thinking "90 x 3 / 4" but "three sixteenth notes in the old tempo equals a quarter note in the new tempo." And not even that thought completely, but a musical, sound-based sort of thought. Which is definitely NOT "90 x 3 / 4."

Ear training has always been a joke. Somehow, I'm doing amazingly well in that class. Like, A to A+ range. And I don't even try. I've always hated classes like that. Throwback to high school. I don't skip it as much this semester. In fact, I've only missed drill four times the whole semester, and have gone to every lecture (except for the Thursday I left for the Pershing's Own audition). That's phenomenal for me. It's because it's right after yoga class, so I don't really have a good reason for skipping.

Don't even get me started on my Image class. The readings are SO DRY. So is the professor. From the class description, it seemed as though we'd be reading a lot of contemporary theorists. We haven't moved past the 14th century yet. AHHHHH. Kill me now.

Trumpet stuff is great! In fact, whenever I skip class, it's usually to go practice. Next week, we have three performances of Bach's B minor Mass, and I'm stoked. Today we rehearsed with the full chorus, and it sounds so good. Next week on Saturday is also the studio recital. I am playing Rustiques, but this time on C trumpet. I want to send in a recording to NTC, so I figured I'd work it up. And then a week from Monday is the final jazz band concert. So over the course of six days, I have five performances, two of which are on the same day (final B minor Mass performance + studio recital). It's gonna be a busy week.

See, that's why I can't get sick right now! Lame.

Okay, I guess I'll try going back to sleep now. My throat hurts considerably less severely.

Also, happy 4th! A year ago today, history was made.

Also also, I go home in 17 days! FOR A WEEK AND A DAY. Hallelujah.

1. B minor Mass rehearsals started!

2. Two of my classes were canceled!

3. I turned in my program planning sheet, and I get to register for next semester tomorrow!

4. Someone was stabbed and killed in my apartment complex!

Wait...what?

Yep. True story.

Gotta love Mondays.

One day I'll update this thing.

I NEED A BREAK. AHHHHHHHHH!

Actually, I'm so excited for the Pershing's audition, because I will get to miss school for TWO DAYS. Hallelujah. I just have to make it through Wipeout Wednesday.

Um...I need to lose weight. My lovely suit from Express, the one I wear to jazz band concerts, just doesn't fit anymore. It is time to get serious.

Also, there is a jazz band concert tonight. I'm excited, but I'm feeling kind of shitty at the moment. Perhaps all of this sleep/nutrition deprivation has finally caught up to me.

And, I know it works, but I need to stop drinking coffee. I felt so jittery during jazz band, I couldn't focus. Time to go back to tea. Ugh. Definitely need to make some changes.

All I need are days that are three hours longer...then I could accomplish everything.

Today I go to Lexington. The best part is that after today, I won't have to play Magnificat for a long, long time, and I can focus on not sucking at piccolo trumpet without working on extremely hard rep. Hallelujah!

Tomorrow: jazz band concert
Next weekend: Pershing's audition
Next week: orchestra concert
October 30th: Pershing's concert band recording due
November 1st: studio recital

There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Although, then I need to think about auditioning for summer programs...

It never ends! But that's okay.

So I have to record this, because I find it hilarious.

Wednesday night, I had three dreams about folding on Magnificat during the Lexington audition. To preface, Magnificat is a crazy hard piccolo trumpet excerpt.

In dream #1, I'm sitting in on Kristin's Lexington audition (even though she's not actually taking the audition) when I realize that I haven't checked in yet and gotten my audition time. I run out of the room and to the check in people, and they tell me that I have to play right now. I haven't warmed up yet. So I go into the room, and the first excerpt called is Magnificat, except they want me to sight read the third movement. I fold all over the place, and I keep expecting them to stop me, because I sound so bad, but they make me keep playing.

In dream #2, I have to play the required Magnificat excerpt, except I can't get a good sound for the life of me, no matter what I do. Halfway through, Professor Rommel appears and starts yelling at me for not keeping the sound consistent.

In dream #3, I shit all over Magnificat again, but then they make me play an excerpt from Hindemith's Symphony in Bb, which isn't even on the Lexington list! It's on the Pershing's Own list. After I play it, a woman walks out from behind the screen and tells me that I need to play with a darker sound.

I wasn't even worried about Magnificat before yesterday morning! Wtf, brain.

I MET A VERY CUTE ENGLISH MAJOR. WHO CONTRIBUTES INTELLIGENTLY IN CLASS. HAAAAALLELUJAH.

Now I must lure him in with my knowledge of modernity, expressionism, post-colonialism, deconstruction, and existentialism.

I am well equipped. XD

Also, I made a non-music major, non-work friend today! I am so proud of myself. Her name is Paige and she's a comp lit major. Usually I never make friends in my non-music classes, because I don't know how to interact with real people. Haaaahaha.

Anyway, the way in which I met the cute English major is also very exciting. Before Honors College class started today, said cute English major said to the class, "Hey, blah blah, student literature association, blah blah, lectures blah literary theory, blah blah book club, meet people in the department, first meeting on Saturday, etc etc." So I asked a very important question: "Can non-English majors join?" To which cute English major responded, "Yes. Do it!" I then explained that I would not be able to make it on Saturday, and gave him my e-mail. So, okay, it wasn't some grandiose conversation or anything. But he has blue eyes.

More importantly though, I'm joining IU's student literature association! Book club! Lectures! Literature! OH SO HAPPY.

Music theory sucks, ear training sucks, yoga is awesome, jazz band is the shit, orchestra is better now because we're playing Beethoven 4 YAAAAY, audition rep is ehhhh, studio recital piece will be in the bag because it's Rustiques, free time is nonexistent, sleep is few and far between, Tigers lost the division title in the LAST GAME, hockey season has started, and mostly, life is good.

1. So I went into this semester thinking it would be a lighter load than previous years. Boy, was I wrong. If every week is going to be this nonstop marathon of class, work, practicing, and rehearsal, it's going to be a really long semester.

2. Plato is a tool, and we've spent FIVE class periods discussing him. FIVE. I am so incredibly sick of Plato that I am actually pining for 20th century French philosophy. GIVE ME DERRIDA OR GIVE ME DEATH.

3. Today is PAY DAY. Hooray, groceries. Tomorrow morning is the farmer's market. Hooray, local produce.

4. I have to leave in half an hour and I haven't started getting ready yet. I just have no desire to do anything right now.

5. The Honeggar Intrada ain't so bad. In fact, I'm actually completely obsessed with it and play it every time I get in the practice room. It makes me so happy.

6. WHY IS MY COMPUTER SUCH A PIECE OF SHIT?! I'm sick of it freezing when I try scrolling. Christ.

Okay, perhaps I should get ready...

Entry title courtesy of Jeremy Allen, in charge of the 3rd jazz band, the one I am in this semester. I looooooove jazz band. We have an awesome section this year.

I was sick for about six days. Then I took the day off yesterday, and voila! I am healed.

I'm taking the Lexington Philharmonic principal trumpet audition and the Pershing's Own Ceremonial Brass audition. Did I write about this? Yes. The Pershing's Own audition list is FUCK HARD, though. Honeggar Intrada? Really? Sigh.

Yoga is the best thing ever. The end. Although today we had to bend and stretch in ways I have neither bent nor stretched before. That was...interesting.

I need to practice and do homework and make dinner. But the couch is so nice...and the chicken isn't thawed. I'll just cook tomorrow.

Stephanie made dinner last night. Ahahahaha. She managed to set off the smoke detector twice and undercooked the fish, as well as had to remake the roux three times. Poor, poor girl. She will never live it down.

One day, I'll take pictures of my apartment. One day we'll have it set up. Good times.

Well! I haven't updated in a while. As such, here is a list.

1. I am all moved into my apartment! It took three hours and seven people, but we did it.

2. I went back to Michigan from last Wednesday until Monday. It was fun, but really busy. I didn't have too much practice time, which bothered me.

3. Orchestra auditions are fucked up this year. Apparently, they're also the auditions for wind ensemble. So auditioning for orchestra doesn't guarantee that you'll be in orchestra; you could very well be placed in band. You can opt to do both, and thus be placed in both wind ensemble and orchestra if your audition is good enough, but I have 2:30 classes. This would have been okay if they had told us this last semester, before we registered for classes, instead of SIX DAYS before the audition. Argh. Nobody's happy about that.

4. Excerpt preparation is going well. I can throw down easily on Pines and Petrouchka. Now I just need to practice all the excerpts I've been neglecting, which is everything except Pines and Petrouchka. Oops.

5. I have my first professional audition next week! I'm auditioning for the Terre Haute sub list. I don't expect to make it, but I need experience playing auditions.

6. I don't have internet in my apartment yet, which is frustrating. Hopefully Stephanie will call while I'm at work.

7. I'm at work and bored. What else is new?

So I move into my new apartment tomorrow, and I just started packing an hour ago. I am the WORST procrastinator I've ever seen. Dear god. I have so much shit to pack today it's ridiculous. I never realized how many clothes I had!

I just keep buying more, too. Yesterday I bought $90 worth of stuff at Express for only $30, due to a variety of gift cards. I think that's the most money I've ever saved shopping.

Also, http://www.theonion.com/content/news/film_adaptation_of_the_brothers

My life would not be complete without the Onion.

OH HEY, SCHOOL'S OVER, I CAN GO BACK TO READING FOR FUN! But only after I pack. I swear, I've stopped and started reading Catch-22 about four times in the past six months. I'm going to have to completely start over, but I am going to finish that book.

I am returning to Michigan on Wednesday until the following Monday. Hallelujah. I need a break from Bloomington, and also so I don't get burned out again. Orchestra auditions are in two weeks...but I'm going to rock that shit.

Okay...maybe I should pack. Maybe.

Birrrrrrrthday! *dances around*

Still not done with the paper, but I'm wired right now. See, a Starbucks run around 10:45 turned into "Hey, let's hang out until midnight" which turned into "Oh, I'll just watch a little of the Shawshank Redemption" which turned into "I'll just watch the whole movie!"

And here I am, with only two and a half pages to go, at 2:30 in the morning. I'm aiming for being done by 5 a.m. It's reasonable. I have it outlined, and I can do some revision and then do the rest at work tomorrow. Or, hell, do some revision Monday morning.

Hahaha. I love my life.

I have watched way too many episodes of Law and Order: SVU, NCIS, and CSI in the past week, and now I'm ridiculously paranoid. But I just can't stop!

Piccolo trumpet is kind of a pain in the ass. And by kind of, I mean IT'S THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. I love it, though. It's so tiny and cute. It's a baby trumpet! <33

Speaking of pains in the ass, I am so sick of music history. Having class every day is killing me. I'm losing my ability to care.

I will be 20 on Sunday. Word. One more year...hahaha.

Also, I would have been a hippie back in the 60s.

( Political compass quiz )

1. Rent a piccolo trumpet.

2. Get recordings of Franck Symphony in A, and also doubles of the ones I already have.

3. Get scores. Check IMSLP, and if they don't have them, hit up the music library.

4. Figure out a plan of attack.

5. Start recording.


Why am I doing these things? THE FALL ORCHESTRA AUDITION EXCERPTS HAVE BEEN POSTED! And I swear on all that is holy to me, I AM MAKING ORCHESTRA THIS SEMESTER.

Um, yeah. So my laptop has 100 GBs of space. I have one GB of space left. I have 42 GBs of music.

Solution? External hard drive. I knew this day would come eventually. And now I can back shit up, in case my computer craps out, which kind of seems like it'll happen one day.

It's just annoying. And I'm running low on the dough. Sigh. I need space on my computer for things, though.

Well, I'm working on a paper, so of course I have to update my LJ. Anything I can do to procrastinate.

It's for music history. I'm writing on women musicians in Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries and the circumstances of their success in a time when it was unusual for women to be successful musicians. Specifically, the Three Ladies of Ferrara, Francesca Caccini, and Barbara Strozzi. Good times. I like my topic, but it's summertime and thus I don't feel like doing ANYTHING. Which is why I'm starting now when it's due tomorrow.

Old habits die hard! I've accepted that this is my way of life.

Also, I have groceries now! And I had my last lesson with Rommel, which is sad.

I have discovered, though, that it's a lot easier to stay up way late when you've been getting enough sleep every night. That's the good thing about summer. I can actually sleep a healthy amount at night! Although the past week and a half has been pretty bad, due to trying to catch up in music history and the bad influence of my friends. We'll see how I fare tonight.

Life is pretty good. Minus the whole all-nighter business. Haha.

1. I got my work schedule for the fall, and it's EXACTLY what I wanted it to be! 16 hours, and no Saturday shift. HAPPINESS. Happiness and money.

2. I'm finally caught up in music history! Being in Michigan put me far behind, and I've spent the past three days reading in every spare moment I had, and now I'm caught up.

3. I'm going bowling with my coworkers tonight.

4. I plan on getting at least 8 hours of sleep tonight.

5. Band will be over in 6 days! I'm actually hosting a "Hooray, band is over!" party. Yes, party on a Wednesday night. Good times. I'm also going to have a "Hooray, 401 is over!" party on the last day of class.

Good times. I'm so exhausted, and it's going to be a long day. Band, ad hoc rehearsal, bowling. Technically, I shouldn't go bowling, but I really want to, and I actually finished all of my homework. Now I just have to go do routine. I think a caffeinated beverage of some kind is extremely necessary. Band should be fun, because by then I'll probably have reached the "everything is funny" stage of exhaustion. Haha.

Edit: Yeah, not going bowling. In other news, I have acquired milk, which is just one of the many groceries I need, but at least I can eat cereal now.