so if you're at all curious about the kind of experiences colin and i are getting down here, i found a podcast from an opera i performed in last semester. the opera was humperdinck's 'hansel and gretel' and the podcast is from act ii. it's pretty easy to download and the quality is really good. here's the link to get you started; http://www.music.indiana.edu/iumusiclive/authorize/podcasts.shtml
if you get a chance to check it out, be sure to post a comment and let me know what you think. i think there are a couple spots where yours truly can be heard in the bone section :-) the singers are really good and the scenery is amazing. i really think you'll enjoy it.
what else to talk about?
colin and i are planning a trip to nyc for spring break (we'll be travelling from mar 9th-14th). if you're free you're welcome to tag along :-) i think we're going to try to check out a couple club dates and maybe a broadway show. if spamalot is still running that's probably what we'll do. whoa...i just had an amazing idea...as soon as i'm done typing this i'm going to see if conan will be taping at all that week. i looked at the ny phil calendar and it looks like they're just doing some crappy pops concert. i'm going to find out what the philadelphia orchestra is playing and see if there is some cheap form of transportation to get down there. you see, the main point of this trip is to get the hell out of dodge and get inspired (atleast that's why i'm doing it...guess i shouldn't speak for colin). ofcourse i'm going to try to spend some time with george flynn while i'm there too if he's in town. i e-mailed john rojak (teacher at julliard and bad ass bass trombone soloist) and it seems as though i've picked the worst week to get a lesson with him, which is a damn shame. i respect that man's playing so much, and he's a good teacher too. there's a shred of hope, though, as he said that 'maybe' he'll be around on the 12th. i'm going to cross my fingers.
another nice thing about this trip will be that i get to see my girlfriend for a couple hours. yes, i know, this is the first time i've made mention, but i assumed a lot of people already knew. but, incase you didn't, her name is katelyn and she's one of the coolest girls i know. only problem is that she's currently dancing on holland america's ms noordam so i basically never get to see her. she'll be in port on the 10th. if you're going to die of curiousity, i think there are a couple pictures of us on facebook. she's pretty :-)
academically things are going very well. so far in my music history class i have two As on my quizzes and a B+ in the books for my first test. i didn't get off to this good of a start by this time last semester so i think this will make the remainder of the semester a little less stressful. i plan on getting an A on my quiz on monday as well. aural theory is going well and i don't think i've gotten anything less than a B on any quiz or test there either.
trombone is going well. my lessons are usually pretty intense, but that's why i'm here so it's a good thing. i just got involved in a trombone trio that i think is going to meet twice a week. if you didn't already know this, chamber playing is one of the greatest things you can do to help your playing as an instrumentalist. i'm excited.
tomorrow i'm playing 2nd trombone on igor stravinsky's mass. it's a really interesting piece written for choir, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 oboes, 1 english horn, and 2 bassoons. it's typical stravinksy with lots of 'crunchy' harmonies with the occasional P5 thrown in here and there. we've had two rehearsals on it and will perform it tomorrow night. i love the way things get rehearsed around here!
well, i'll quit the rambling now. remember to leave some comments if you get to check out the podcast.
love,
james
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
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