To "Adagio" oneself

This evening I attended a concert of Baroque music by the group Kammerensemble Cologne. They were really fantastic. Such a treat, to take a 5 minute walk to the church in Cabris and hear beautiful music by internationally acclaimed (and interesting) musicians.

It's kind of a weird thing to do- go to a concert. I mean, what's the point of sitting in a room and having people play their instrument in front of you when you could flip on the Bose and hear it at home, whenever you want, in your pajamas?

I think it's because an interaction is taking place when you attend a concert. A living body is interacting with a living body at an exact moment. The music is being "intended" for that exact room full of people. It's an exchange. You don't want to go WATCH a music concert. You go because you want to experience something. To be inspired. To be told a story through music. To hear colors that don't exist to the eye or through the Bose.

I remember being in the student world of music. It seems now like it was more about whether the student could pull off a certain piece-- could they play such-and-such by memory, in tune, in front of someone. In the professional world of music, it's more about the exchange with the audience- a give and take. The musician is speaking through their intstrument- actually talking to and with the audience. It has passed through the inspired work of the composer, through the craftings of a dictator/writer/arranger, through the hands and interpretation of the instrumentalist, and into the lap of the audience. And when those last two baton-passes happen live and in person, it's pretty cool. No?

Backwardness happens, though... a professional musician's live sound can bounce off the wall and on to the floor. A student musician's performance can move and inspire its listener.

One thing I'm reminded of: I want my music to be relevant to whoever is listening. I want it to say something.

On another note (ha!), I'm really having to reacquaint myself with a kick-back lifestyle here the South of France. I'm fairly type A, actually more type A than I want to admit, and it sometimes bugs the crap out of me. Here, there's no judgement passed on the person who does nothing. Sleep 10 hours, hang out at the cafe all day, flop around on the beach, pig out, you name it.

I'm accustomed to 15 minute sips of TV watching. An occasional movie. A rare 1 hour stay at a coffee shop. But what does one DO when they have nothing to do? No really.

AND it's August. The entire country is currently on vacation. All month. The French have doing nothing down pat. And they won't tell you differently.

I'm harpless this week and rapidly whipping through my list of things to do that have been stickied on my desktop for months. I feel like the Presto movement in Vivaldi's "Summer" lol Oh geez. I need to Adagio myself.

Bonjour la France

I've now got fresh European juice pumping through the veins of my macbook. Life resumes as normal. It's good to be up and running again. Day 4 back in France. Cash (the very sweet American Staffordshire Terrior) is very happy to have me back under his survelience. The temperatures outside are quite agreable. The tomatoes are starting to turn red; I arrived just in time.

I've been a hermit these past few days, installing myself in the house and gaining my bearings. I think by next week I will feel like a normal person.

Top 10 from Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp 2010

Just finished up at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. I love this place. It's a perfect combination of work and play- teaching fascinating students and hanging out with fascinating artists.

Here's the top 10...

10. Club 30G (or, cabin 30g)... nightly campfire, smores, good people, hilarious conversation, stars, chimney logs, gold poking sticks
9. 2 AM melodica jam. I hope those videos don't make it to the internet.
8. My opera singer and Nascar fanatic cabinmate, Adriane
7. The harp minor class (AKA "Try a Harp") these young people warm my heart!
6. Practicing my French with the two international harp students- (never taught in French before. giddy up!)
5. Late night card games in Kresge with "the jazzers"
4. Oberon microbrew
3. Recital- performing Narthex by Bernard Andres with Rita Lenard and Autono Porteno by Piazzolla with real live tango dancers
2. Seeing the reunion of parents and students on the last day of camp. It reminded me of myself with my parents.
1. Swim, sunset, and campfire on Lake Michigan with interesting people

To be someone's student

This weekend I got to see 5 of my students from Odessa perform at the UT Longhorn Harp Camp in Austin. They had spent a week eating and sleeping harp, and I went up to surprise them and take in the city of Austin one last time before I move out of the Lone Start State.

They made me so proud! I had a tear in my eye for their last piece- I'm really going to miss them. Not just them, but the entire lot of them. I'm really not looking forward to this next week of saying final goodbyes.

It's always nice to be in this city..... mmmmmm.... Austin. I can't not be in a fantastic mood here.

I realized something this weekend. I guess I knew it before, but it's becoming more prevelent? It has to do with the oral tradition of harp playing... it really does matter who you study with. A harp teacher becomes a friend and a mentor. And there is a special bond between two students of the same teacher, regardless of the point in time in which they studied with them. I see it in my teacher here, Delaine Fedson. I can relate with her students in particular. I spent an afternoon at Barton Springs with Jackie Ritter... I have never really met her before, but we have an instant connection simply because we've studied with Delaine.

Same goes for Delaine and Jackie... they both came from the same teacher. They share something special together... a person imparting their energy, talent, wisedom and blessing onto their student. Her and Delaine are able to rehearse almost without talking, Jackie says. Pretty cool.

Another example: myself and Santiago Morales. Nothing can replace the shared experience we have of being under the same teacher at the same time.

And lastly.... my students. I see them on stage, working together as a team, acting as family, sharing the same experience of being my student.

Cool.

I was set up.

I was looking back at a blog entry from the day before the first day of school, 614 days ago.

Today is the first day after the last day of school.

It's funny- I have some of the same feelings I had from the day of that blog entry... excitement... gratitude... anticipation. So many possibilities in the air. Countless unknowns.

I've been walking in circles around my house this afternoon. Shifting gears. It's the shock of go-go-go-go-go-go-vacation. Well, "vacation." There's no more 7:30 harp class, but many projects are now on the front burner. Like the youtube backyard glitter project, for example! Stay tuned for that one. Still a few more weeks in Odessa.

Another thing on my mind today: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged." Interesting idea... of someone going before me. Setting things up. Making the path straight. Honestly, I'm kinda nervous. this is an incredible community and an incredible job I'm leaving here in Odessa. I'm happy here.

I think the past 614 days have been a "set up," though. It could not have not been. There may just be someone going before me in France. Not to mention someone waiting for me.

Excitement... Gratitude... Anticipation

Opal's Song

I just had a moment in class.

So there's this 7th grade student who's a true sweetheart. He also likes to jump off roofs, play with his rottweiler, wear his hair in a green mohawk, and occasionally make people cry just to amuse himself.

Today he was the one in tears, though- his grandmother passed away yesterday. He had to come to school because his dad was working and the rest of his family was already out of town. It was one of those days in life when you just want to be home.

It was also the day in class when we were working on our compositions. The students were supposed to have a rough draft ready and we were entering their piece onto Finale with the classroom computer.

His piece had been floundering.... he had a puny two measures written out after a whole week of work. He said he had writers block.

"What was your grandma's name?"

"Opal."

"Write your piece for her."

Opal's Song. That's the title. Dude- he cranked out an amazing piece in about 20 minutes and totally finished it. He's coming back after school to record it and then play the recording at the funeral.

It didn't have to be the harp, and it didn't have to be me, but I'm thankful that this student was able to express himself today. What a beautiful piece of music!

Good night, April

April's been a good month. Intense and stressful... good stress.

I'm sitting on the balcony of a hotel room in Corpus Christi- the other side of the Republic. 2:40 AM. I'm here with nine students and two parents for a concert and recording session. Good times! We just rolled in, and I'm amped up on coffee. I hope I sleep some time tonight!

I have been so grateful for this month, and I'm sad to see it go. So many blog entries to catch up on! ...Permian Basin Harp Masterclass, UTPB world-record-breaking concert, Austin visit... For now-- good night, April. And thank you for the memories you've brought!