NHSMI Update #2
Alright, My last entry got a little clipped at the end due to the fact that the library was closing. This one looks like it will be cut short by the fact that I have a rehearsal in twenty minutes... none the less.
Ok, so the first week here was awesome. The horn section is probably the best I've ever had the honor to play in. My private teacher... well she's another story (um.. she's a bit of a... loon). The groups I'm in here are great, some really good music happening (and all different kinds, too). I've been playing my horn at LEAST FIVE HOURS A DAY (four are rehearsal hours), which has done a number on my lips... and they downright hurt. I've been doing at least two-and-a-half hours of singing per day as well, but that's not any more than normal for me. However, I'll be so bold to say that I'm already a better player. Had a master class with Gail Williams (former principal horn for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, current professor of French Horn @ NWU and all around amazing person) which was a lot of fun. Turns out she views marathons... as days OFF. Her Horns go on daily runs together... and I still want to go to school here. She also taught us a breathing warm up that takes about 25 minutes and a technique called "centering-down" which has helped me (its kinad a bit like meditation). So this is my new daily schedule:
6am to 6:45- Jogging
6:45- 7:10- Breathing Warm-up
7:15-7:50 - Horn Warm-up
8am-10am - Wind Ensemble
10am-12pm - Choir
1:30-3:30 - Chamber Groups
3:30-4:30 - Music Theory (Tues & Thurs only)
- 6pm - Practice
7pm-10:30pm - practice or go do something in Evanston
So that's my day. I held that all of last week and saturday, took a break sunday on the count that I went to see my cousin in Chicago (which was awesome, more about that later). Then monday we both got ill (again, more later). And I've been told to take a break from my running schedule till tomorrow or friday. Then the first concert is Saturday, with another on Sunday. So I really have to be off to Chamber Groups to practice for the Sunday concert.
So I'll be back here later as wednesday afternoons I don't practice till after dinner. Then I'll talk more about some other stuff. Why here? well, maybe I'll explain that, too.
Hope everyone is having a good summer!
Ok, so the first week here was awesome. The horn section is probably the best I've ever had the honor to play in. My private teacher... well she's another story (um.. she's a bit of a... loon). The groups I'm in here are great, some really good music happening (and all different kinds, too). I've been playing my horn at LEAST FIVE HOURS A DAY (four are rehearsal hours), which has done a number on my lips... and they downright hurt. I've been doing at least two-and-a-half hours of singing per day as well, but that's not any more than normal for me. However, I'll be so bold to say that I'm already a better player. Had a master class with Gail Williams (former principal horn for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, current professor of French Horn @ NWU and all around amazing person) which was a lot of fun. Turns out she views marathons... as days OFF. Her Horns go on daily runs together... and I still want to go to school here. She also taught us a breathing warm up that takes about 25 minutes and a technique called "centering-down" which has helped me (its kinad a bit like meditation). So this is my new daily schedule:
6am to 6:45- Jogging
6:45- 7:10- Breathing Warm-up
7:15-7:50 - Horn Warm-up
8am-10am - Wind Ensemble
10am-12pm - Choir
1:30-3:30 - Chamber Groups
3:30-4:30 - Music Theory (Tues & Thurs only)
- 6pm - Practice
7pm-10:30pm - practice or go do something in Evanston
So that's my day. I held that all of last week and saturday, took a break sunday on the count that I went to see my cousin in Chicago (which was awesome, more about that later). Then monday we both got ill (again, more later). And I've been told to take a break from my running schedule till tomorrow or friday. Then the first concert is Saturday, with another on Sunday. So I really have to be off to Chamber Groups to practice for the Sunday concert.
So I'll be back here later as wednesday afternoons I don't practice till after dinner. Then I'll talk more about some other stuff. Why here? well, maybe I'll explain that, too.
Hope everyone is having a good summer!