New Toy

First posting via my new cell phone

Upgraded my old cell phone to a LG Rumor. After an hour with tech support finally got the internet access up and running.

Many moons ago I had a palm clone phone. What a difference a few years make! Especially the price! This phone only cost me $50 and internet access is only $15 a month.

Don't Block

Another practice session with the SMA yesterday. A few pointers -- hold down the B (1st finger on the A string) when reaching for the G on the D string. When playing the G on the D string, don't play the 4th and 3rd finger at the same time aka blocking the fingers. Watch that D sharp, its too flat. Other than that, I sound pretty good accompanying the six year olds playing the Bach minuets.

Have dress rehearsals for the musical at MDC, Monday and Tuesday night, then actual performances for Thursday and Friday night. Then Xmas concerts for the next two Saturdays.

Finished the Survey of Musical History Online Course today. It was fun. I should have also taken the Psychology and Human Growth Development courses online as I didn't find the live classes very rewarding.

The regular Survey of Musical History course continues to be challenging -- For example, we have to write an essay on the characteristics of opera seria, baroque dance suites and the three types of instrumental concertos.

Cormorants on the Beach Near Woods Hole

Thanks to Maricello. Her blog entry about "Drawspace" got me curious enough to join.

Here's this week's entry which is based on a photo by Maricello. My husband liked it a lot.

Chicago

Ah Chicago, not the city this time; I mean the musical. I've been drafted to play the banjo part to the song "All that Jazz" from Chicago for the local community college. This afternoon was spent pasting chords onto the score. Not much time to practice though, the concert is next week.

Tomorrow is my chamber music class recital -- playing Violin III on Lutoslawski's Silesian tunes, the cello for Pachelbel and cello for a couple of movements from a Telemann Trio. Tried not to overpractice today. Don't want my fingers to get sore for tomorrow.

A Deafening Concert and A Good Rehearsal

Yesterday, I was dragged off to a mystery concert by a friend.
It turned out to be a percussion ensemble which consisted of Xenakis' Persephassa for six percussion -- which I felt didn't have the proper acoustical setting since the piece is supposed to surround the audience, followed by a harmless melodic piece by an Argentinian composer whom I don't remember but name rhymes with MEOW and begins with a "V", and George Antheils' Ballet Mechanique.

Ballet Mechanique.

Since I had my earplugs with me, I survived.

Pleasant rehearsal today with the SMA. I think I shall go ahead and commit to the hour drive every Saturday as I feel there is much benefit to be had playing in the group setting.