May 2007
May 21, 2007 16:44
I have been recently informed that I have been nominated (well not me only, the Red Jacket pit orchestra, which I served as concertmaster of this past season) for the best student orchestra by the Rochester Broadway theater league's "Stars of tommorrow." Also me and the clarinetiss in the orchestra were appointed to give the acceptance speech if we win. Unfortunetally this is what my schedule looks like that weekend:
Friday June 1: Competition at Darien Lake with the Red Jacket Concert Band. Later that night Clifton springs parade.
Saturday June 2: Competition at the Gorham band festival from 7am-12 noon. ~5 pm mendon parade.
Sunday June 3: 11pm-1pm VA church services, 11pm Stars of Tomorrow awards.
I am sad that I can't make it, but I am glad that I got nominated and even had the chance to go, and even if we don't win it is still an honor to be nominated, with hundreds of schools competing, us being one of the smallest. It is like the "Emmies" of highschools.
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May 7, 2007 17:25
Yesterday I went to play at the VA for the second time. They have the most amazing Steinway and sons piano there. A GRAND piano!...
They requested that I play Jesu, Bliet meine freud (Jesus joy of mans desirings) for communion. Not the piece I had planed on but I knew it from memory, because I didn't bring the music. Just as communion starts I began to play, for the first 30 seconds it goes ok. Then don't I forget what I am supposed to play and just make it up (playing badly) as I go along?
after about a minute of trying to remember it I gave up!
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May 5, 2007 22:14
The other day I was asked by a fellow classmate in Study hall "Richard, what do you want to be when you are older?" My answer came quickly "I want to study Music Performance at the New England Conservatory of music." Not giving out too much about my future profession. The response "But Richard, you are so smart, why do you want to be a.... a Musician!?" I didn't answer.
This made me think more about my destiny. Was I put on this earth to be a musician? Do I really want a life fully of uncertainty, proverbial rejection and dedication? Up until about 2 years ago the answer to this would have been yes, I want to become a violinist. Then I moved from Fairport, NY to Shortsville, NY. A town in which the school system has enrollments only in the hundreds and not an orchestral program in sight. I found my self a couple of months later enrolled in band and taking Tuba lessons.
At first I didn't think that tuba would consume my world as much as violin did, but today I find my self in 3 bands, and even making the occasional appearance as Tubist of the Finger Lakes Symphony. As for violin I play regularly in 2 orchestras and I take lessons. Even right now I am listening to Itzhak Perlman, simultaneously looking at my fresh copy of the Carnival of Venice for tuba. I am about equally technically skilled in both instruments. But I am torn these days as to which instrument I want to pursue.
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May 2, 2007 12:10
I just finished up with this years tuba NYSSMA.It was very interesting. I didn't do as well as I hoped. I made a bet with my parents, If I got a 90+ They would take me out to dinner, if I got a 95+ They would buy me a new bow. I hoped to get higher than a 95 even though I knew they would never stick to what they said. I got a 93. It isn't that bad when you consider that it is a level 5 and I have been playing for 1 year and 8 months.
SO after this I was on a "quest" to find a piece for next year. And I have come up with a way to tie in my violin with my tuba. I am going to play the Carnival of Venice by Jeane Baptiste Arban, based on the one by Paganini.
I have heard it is the hardest piece played on a brass instrument.....
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