Turkey Talk

Enjoying my first day in Cappdocia. I'll be blogging about this trip at http://travel.galitz.com

I Love Open Book Tests!

Just made a 97% on the online midterm for Music History. Hooray! True, it was heavy on recognizing the music being played, but there were only 33 pieces to memorize.

Tomorrow I have tests for Psych, Human Growth & Development AND a listening quiz for my classroom Music History course -- which will be very tough as it's 18 pieces of mostly 4 voice polyphonic music. Talk about all sounding the same. All of these tests have to be taken earlier than the rest of my classmates because I'll be out of town when the actual tests will be given, thus I shall be at a distinct disadvantage. Ah well, I'll be definitely ready to go on a vacation after tomorrow!

Chewing on Celery

Just taking a break from studying for classes. Took the celery challenge.
Cello Centered: More Celery

Upside Down!

Just checked on Guinevere, and found her upside down. She was fine an hour ago. She was getting very tame also. Wonder if she was sick when we got her? If so, I guess it was good that I housed her separately from Hamlet. The only other thing I can think of is that she had a habit of hanging upside down and either fell or choked. What bad luck!

Lack of Motivation

Been busy busting tail to get ahead in all my courses before I leave for Turkey next week.

One teacher told me there's practically no chance of getting an "A" in the course because 10% of the grade is based on attendance. (Not exactly in those words, but I got the gist of the message) That's the same percentage as the midterm! Well, I certainly won't be trying so hard in that class. OK, rant over.

Guinevere & Hamlet, Pair Not Yet

Meet Guinevere. She has a pretty blue rump versus Hamlet's dull green one. This lovebird is from the 2nd Carrie hatching. Hamlet was from the 1st hatching.

Guinevere and Lancelot had escaped from their cage in Carrie's backyard. Guinevere was captured and clipped after having a few days of flying wild. However, Lancelot is still at large.

We brought Guinevere home on Sunday. Unfortunately Hamlet is being rather naughty to her, so we'll need to keep them apart for awhile. Hopefully, territory issues will calm down and we'll have a pair of lovebirds once again.

Coursework or Cursework?

This is for any of you who may have experienced "education envy".
Try these music history class homework questions on for size.

1. Name and explain several ways in which the structure of Notre Dame organum was determined by features of the chant.

2. Compare and contrast the main features of the medieval motet and polyphonic conductus.

3. Discuss the Franconian motet in terms of its compositional style, the relationship among the texts, its use and modal rhythm (if any?) and the treatment of the chant and voice.

Just looking at the questions hurts my head.

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As for piano class, that teacher probably figured out that I hadn't practiced the easy piece assigned last week until this morning before class. Therefore she assigned a more challenging piece this week that I won't be able to fake having worked on.

Ophelia & Hamlet

Tragedy struck. I've decided to name the surviving love bird "Hamlet". We usually let all the birds roam free in the bedroom on weekends, mostly unsupervised. Yesterday evening, we sadly discovered that the water level in the fish tank was about two inches too low.

Two Days of Unwinding

There was no tension on Thursday to get anything accomplished and therefore the day ended up being slept away. Figured I was just worn out and without a "must do" on my agenda, the old biological clock spring unwound.

However, on Friday I couldn't get out of bed either so I figured I must have had a light touch of something. Spent Friday evening watching the last "Monk" marathon captured on the DVR. I seem to be okay today. Made it to a friend's 60th birthday party dinner and got some homework and cello practice done this evening.

Miscellany and Medieval Music

Took a break from taking course quizzes online this evening. Broke my TV hiatus and caught the premiere of "Pushing Daisies" this evening. Looks like a cute show.

Practiced remedial rhythm work today for a violin piece "Silesian tunes for 4 violins". I'm stuck playing this in Chamber Music class and there's a slightly tricky passage off the beat. If one misses where to come in, there's a good chance of being lost for four measures. Also dusted off the viola and tried to remember how to read "C" clef.

Got one answer wrong out of fifteen on the first listening test of medieval music. I was too focused on Leonin Viderunt Omnes and when I heard a melisma, I automatically assumed it was Leonin. That being over, there's another 18 pieces to memorize by October 15th's test.

Finished writing an essay for my other online music history course Sunday. It wanted research on a composer -- so I did it on troubadour "Bernart de Ventadorn". Downloaded 12 songs off the internet, found the lyrics and some translations. Found out that my college ID card gets me access to JStor articles online. That may prove useful for my next term paper.

Chugging along on the keyboard. Working on my fourth music piece and now the more awkward scales like F#. Bass clef is much easier to read these days. In the old days when I attempted to play the piano, I'd memorize the left hand part.

Last week was bad for cello practice -- I missed practicing several days!
Boring stats:
9.22.07 - Scale and bow exercises (C G D A, F Bflat, Eflat)
9.23.07 - No practice
9.24.07 - No practice
9.25.07 - Chamber music class
9.26.07 - No practice
9.27.07 - Scale and bow exercises, practice chamber music pieces
9.28.07 - Review Swan, still having passages that I don't seem to be able to get memorized, practice chamber music pieces
9.29.07 - Scale and bow exercises.
9.30.07 - No practice
10.1.07 - practice chamber music pieces
10.2.07 - bow exercises. Chamber music class
10.3.07 - practice chamber music pieces