And so it begins...
Classes started yesterday. Ill give a brief rundown in a minute, but I just wanted to recap everythings thats been going on here first. Last weekend I had my graduation party, which was really really fun. Sanjay and Yung-I came and it was strange seeing them amongst my family members that only I know. It was like...out of context haha. Also I started reading "Watership Down" by Richard Adams, its pretty good. We had convocation on Wed. where the president of the school outlined all the reconstruction plans that are going to go on here, the diagrams and animations looked sooo cool, I hope they finish before I leave here. Also I went to Zabar's which is a gourmet food market that has all kinds of amazing things. They have an olive bar there with like 30 different kinds of olives (yes, NYC is food heaven). Unfortunately, I was supposed to be at a seminar while I was out shopping called Colloquium, but I totally forgot about until it was too late. Oh well, I didnt miss anything anyways (what a way to start the year, Im already slacking!!). Oh yeah, we also went on a Circle Line cruise around the harbor, and everyone was dressed up nice (except for me cuz I was too lazy to change so I felt like an idiot). I really got to see how many hot girls actually go here cuz they were all decked out in their club clothes (hot hot hot hot). Anyways...classes (Im putting these behind a cut in case you don't give a shit about what my classes are like, which Im sure many of you dont):
Humanities I "Myth and Meaning": This class is gonna be a piece of cake. The teacher Dr. DeFranceso (or Dr. D) is really cool, knowledgeable, and experienced (he taught for a while at Princeton) and also the assignments are reeeally easy. We only have to read about 100 pgs a week (all of which I can hopefully get done during my workstudy job at the Box Office) and we only have to write TWO essays b/w 2-3 pages min 500 words. hehe. yay. Every single kid in the class is from a different state/country, no two from the same place. Incredible. Also, the teacher was complaining about how big the class was (we have 19 kids, my biggest class of the lot). Wow.
Theory I "Principles of Harmony and Form": With Mr. Zyman. Very cool teacher. Knows a hell of a lot. We sang chorales together as a class to kick off our learning of Bach's music. Sucky thing: class starts at 9 AM. Three days a week (including Friday), which sucks balls. Class assignments shall include: composing music (sonatas, chorales, and baroque dances), performing in class, and going on field trips to the opera. Hooray.
Fundamentals of Piano II: There are four kids in this class. Another first year and I and two masters students. There are two pianos. We four sit at the pianos and play scales and music and shit. Its really really easy (so far). Our teacher (Mr. Ong) is also really nice and funny. Not worried.
Juilliard Symphony: We havent had rehearsal yet, but we had a meeting with all the orchestral faculty/administrators. The conductor (James DePriest) spoke a little bit. Which translated into this: "Do not fuck up. If you fuck up, I look bad. If you fuck up, the school looks bad. You will not fuck up. Understood? Good." Everytime you miss/are late to a rehearsal, your grade drops. If you get below a B, you are dismissed. Not just from orchestra. From school. Yeah. At least he won't be our conductor for every concert (We have a guest conductor for almost every concert). I have a chair test on Tuesday, I dont even care about what chair I get cuz I know Ill be last. Oh well. God help me. There's no way I can wake up early enough for these rehearsals (two 3 hour rehearsals a week at 9:30 AM Mon/Thurs). Great...
Double Bass Repertory: Meets every other Monday night from 7-10. This was scary. Very scary. Two rules: 1. Everyone must attend. 2. Everyone must play. Individually. In front of everyone else. I think you get the idea. Good thing its only O'Brien's studio (and that they're all nice and supportive). I think next time around it will be much more relaxed.
Private Lesson: Yes, this counts as a class. She's an awesome teacher. I just came back earlier from my SECOND lesson of the week (this one with her Masters student). Yeah, Ill be working hard this semester, thats all I have to say.
Ear Training I: This class is a nightmare. It is death. I will fail this class. Worse than math. We get graded on how well we sing. And conduct. In front of everyone. Individually. Very VERY bad. The teacher (Ms. Scott) talks only in syllables (do re me fa so la si do). No note names. Ive never taken solfege. I dont know this shit. She moved way to fast. We already have three homework assignments from three different books that I dont even have yet (by the way, one of the books is in French, which I dont speak). Yeah. Im fucked here. But other than that...its all good.
And that is all. Hopefully everyone's been having a good time in their respective colleges! I haven't missed home yet. Of course, Ive been too busy to miss it I think. And will continue to be too busy to miss it until Im back. Which I guess is for the better. Hopefully tonight I can go see "Hero". Im dying to see it!!!!
Humanities I "Myth and Meaning": This class is gonna be a piece of cake. The teacher Dr. DeFranceso (or Dr. D) is really cool, knowledgeable, and experienced (he taught for a while at Princeton) and also the assignments are reeeally easy. We only have to read about 100 pgs a week (all of which I can hopefully get done during my workstudy job at the Box Office) and we only have to write TWO essays b/w 2-3 pages min 500 words. hehe. yay. Every single kid in the class is from a different state/country, no two from the same place. Incredible. Also, the teacher was complaining about how big the class was (we have 19 kids, my biggest class of the lot). Wow.
Theory I "Principles of Harmony and Form": With Mr. Zyman. Very cool teacher. Knows a hell of a lot. We sang chorales together as a class to kick off our learning of Bach's music. Sucky thing: class starts at 9 AM. Three days a week (including Friday), which sucks balls. Class assignments shall include: composing music (sonatas, chorales, and baroque dances), performing in class, and going on field trips to the opera. Hooray.
Fundamentals of Piano II: There are four kids in this class. Another first year and I and two masters students. There are two pianos. We four sit at the pianos and play scales and music and shit. Its really really easy (so far). Our teacher (Mr. Ong) is also really nice and funny. Not worried.
Juilliard Symphony: We havent had rehearsal yet, but we had a meeting with all the orchestral faculty/administrators. The conductor (James DePriest) spoke a little bit. Which translated into this: "Do not fuck up. If you fuck up, I look bad. If you fuck up, the school looks bad. You will not fuck up. Understood? Good." Everytime you miss/are late to a rehearsal, your grade drops. If you get below a B, you are dismissed. Not just from orchestra. From school. Yeah. At least he won't be our conductor for every concert (We have a guest conductor for almost every concert). I have a chair test on Tuesday, I dont even care about what chair I get cuz I know Ill be last. Oh well. God help me. There's no way I can wake up early enough for these rehearsals (two 3 hour rehearsals a week at 9:30 AM Mon/Thurs). Great...
Double Bass Repertory: Meets every other Monday night from 7-10. This was scary. Very scary. Two rules: 1. Everyone must attend. 2. Everyone must play. Individually. In front of everyone else. I think you get the idea. Good thing its only O'Brien's studio (and that they're all nice and supportive). I think next time around it will be much more relaxed.
Private Lesson: Yes, this counts as a class. She's an awesome teacher. I just came back earlier from my SECOND lesson of the week (this one with her Masters student). Yeah, Ill be working hard this semester, thats all I have to say.
Ear Training I: This class is a nightmare. It is death. I will fail this class. Worse than math. We get graded on how well we sing. And conduct. In front of everyone. Individually. Very VERY bad. The teacher (Ms. Scott) talks only in syllables (do re me fa so la si do). No note names. Ive never taken solfege. I dont know this shit. She moved way to fast. We already have three homework assignments from three different books that I dont even have yet (by the way, one of the books is in French, which I dont speak). Yeah. Im fucked here. But other than that...its all good.
And that is all. Hopefully everyone's been having a good time in their respective colleges! I haven't missed home yet. Of course, Ive been too busy to miss it I think. And will continue to be too busy to miss it until Im back. Which I guess is for the better. Hopefully tonight I can go see "Hero". Im dying to see it!!!!