Update!

Wow, I'm sorry that this hasn't been updated in awhile! Sometimes it seems like it has been forever since September 3rd (the last post) and other times, it seems like yesterday. It's hard to believe that I'm a month through graduate school!

It has been very intense, but I am learning so much! I just got done with English diction class, where I had to act out a dialogue (with a friend) from a Gilbert and Sullivan show; in a British accent none the less. It was very interesting. I have to give Alicia credit, this IPA/diction stuff is a lot more tricky than I thought it would be! I'm also working on a research paper for my music history class. I don't think I have ever spent so much time in the library! The library here is huge!! Anna, you would love it! As graduate students, we get to keep books for a year, which is awesome since I am horrible with library due dates!

Derek has been incredibly busy working 2 jobs. Most days he works from 8:30am until 5pm at Uno's and then from 6 or 7pm until Midnight at Arbys. I feel awful that he is working so much at jobs that he doesn't really enjoy! He did put in an application for an audio/visual job at the local community college and we're really hoping that he'll hear back soon! It would be perfect for him and it's something that he really enjoys to do!

In other news, we just purchased our first bed! :) We bought a Sealy Pillowtop mattress, which is incredible! The mattress forms around your body when you lay down, which is very comfy! We love it and are sleeping much better than when we were on a blow up mattress!

As far as concerts go, the first concert for the orchestra is on October 17th. We are performing with a ballet company (Paul Taylor) from New York City. The concert is coming together well and today is our first rehearsal in the concert hall. After that we don't have a concert until Christmas time. I am conducting the String Orchestra right now and hopefully will start working with the Symphony Orchestra in late October or early November.

Well, I better go get some work done. I will try to update this more regularly from now on!

Oh boy...

this semester is going to be crazy! Between 18 hours of graduate assistant work, 12 credit hours, orchestra and practicing, I'm going to be running quite a bit. I'm taking:

Private Conducting lessons

English Diction/IPA

Music History and Research

Independent Study: Orchestral Repertoire

My graduate assistantship is in the following:

6 hours - Theory III (This is very ironic, but basically I grade homework/tests, tutor and set up the class room)

6 hours - Orchestra (Setting up the orchestra seats, taking care of the music library and conducting)

3 hours - Basic Conducting (Co-teaching and also help with set-up)

2 hours - Music Office (working in the music office, answering phones, etc.)

1 hour - House Manager (working at recitals/concerts where I set up the hall, turn on lights, set out programs, watch the door so no one is walking around while people are playing, etc.)

So yeah, it's a bit insane. I like it so far. All the professors and staff are really nice! I can tell that I'm going to learn a lot here. The only thing I'm bummed about now is the conducting lesson I just came from. I know I'm here to learn, but I have this awful need for perfection and it really gets me down sometimes. I love conducting so much and I really just want to get up there and do it, but there is a lot to learn first. Hopefully, I will be on the podium soon.

For something to listen to, here is one of Beethoven's symphonies. Symphony No. 1. This piece is different because it is Symphony No.1 in C minor, but instead of starting the first movement on a C minor chord, he starts it on a V7 chord. This was very unusual for the time! Beethoven truly was an innovator and I'm sure this made just a few people upset. :) Enjoy!