The State of the Non-Student
Being a non-student is simultaneously completely different and exactly the same as being a student.
Different
more or less the same amount of busy each week
very similar schedule, same amount of prep
no worrying about midterms/paper deadlines
less late nights away from home
more time to cook and enjoy meals
more time to keep house
much less pressure to practice continuously
no longer a student = no more term loans from the university library
Same
procrastinating
doing the minimum amount of prep work to get by
best intentions towards cooking and keeping house, less good execution (see above re: minimum amount of work)
less pressure to practice = less practicing
still not quite making it too the library
These days I teach 21 violin students in 4 different locations 4 days a week. I play with a community orchestra, rehearse with a piano trio, and I meet with a friend for designated "music time" once a week. My roommate and I host Eclectic Living Room Concerts once a month. I'm going to be playing 2 different concerts of Handel's Messiah and a production of Carousel in March. I'm getting by. I'm enjoying the teaching, and I hope to start a group class in January, but I'd rather be playing more, especially chamber music. My friend and I are working on putting together some performances, but there's nothing on the horizon yet.
Outside of the school setting it's difficult to keep in contact with my friends from school, I don't just see them every day. I don't need to be calling or emailing them about various projects and rehearsals, so it's extra effort to call and email. In a way it's lonelier than school, though I see far more people regularly they are my students not my friends.
I'm going to Nova Scotia two weeks from Monday: Nov. 10. I'll be staying until the 18th, playing in a concert of the 14th. I've started learning the music, that's something.
I'm contracted with the schools to teach until the end of June, I don't know what I'll do after that. I may stay. I may not. It's too soon to tell.
So, I guess that's how I am. How are you?
Different
more or less the same amount of busy each week
very similar schedule, same amount of prep
no worrying about midterms/paper deadlines
less late nights away from home
more time to cook and enjoy meals
more time to keep house
much less pressure to practice continuously
no longer a student = no more term loans from the university library
Same
procrastinating
doing the minimum amount of prep work to get by
best intentions towards cooking and keeping house, less good execution (see above re: minimum amount of work)
less pressure to practice = less practicing
still not quite making it too the library
These days I teach 21 violin students in 4 different locations 4 days a week. I play with a community orchestra, rehearse with a piano trio, and I meet with a friend for designated "music time" once a week. My roommate and I host Eclectic Living Room Concerts once a month. I'm going to be playing 2 different concerts of Handel's Messiah and a production of Carousel in March. I'm getting by. I'm enjoying the teaching, and I hope to start a group class in January, but I'd rather be playing more, especially chamber music. My friend and I are working on putting together some performances, but there's nothing on the horizon yet.
Outside of the school setting it's difficult to keep in contact with my friends from school, I don't just see them every day. I don't need to be calling or emailing them about various projects and rehearsals, so it's extra effort to call and email. In a way it's lonelier than school, though I see far more people regularly they are my students not my friends.
I'm going to Nova Scotia two weeks from Monday: Nov. 10. I'll be staying until the 18th, playing in a concert of the 14th. I've started learning the music, that's something.
I'm contracted with the schools to teach until the end of June, I don't know what I'll do after that. I may stay. I may not. It's too soon to tell.
So, I guess that's how I am. How are you?