I need a Holiday

Somehow, I'm at Sunday having somewhat survived week three.
I didn't think this early in semester I'd have:
* those doubts about Commerce (yet! They usually only happen at Swotvac/exam period when it's too late!)
* so many rehearsals
* so much going out
* so little organisation (contrary to the usual me, I suppose)

It's been a busy three weeks, largely taken up by rehearsals of sorts. And going to uni, trying to figure it all out. There have been a few changes, such as Chamber Music, trying to decide which Macro tute I should really be in (the tutor I really want takes two tutes that I can't attend), new projects to embark on, friendships to cultivate in the rest of this year.

Since the last post there has been:
* one excursion to San Churro
* two 21st birthday parties I've been to
* one 21st birthday party I have missed
* one 22nd birthday breakfast
* one massive Olympics Opening ceremony dinner and party!
* one flight to Perth
* twenty-five and a half hours in Perth
* one concert which included me as part of five of the seven musical items
* one flight back to Melbourne
* one accompanying lesson
* one Music Ball
* nineteen rehearsals (yes, you read correctly)
* one chamber music competition
* one engagement party
* one Vision Launch

anyway, so that's the somewhat brief summary.

To elaborate a bit more on some of the above.....

I got a call from the Uni Orchestra manager(s) to play the celeste in the orchestra. This is a BIG DEAL for me, as there is usually only one keyboard player in the entire orchestra, and only if the piece includes one. And prior to this, there have been others ahead of me in the 'pecking order'. I've really wanted to do orchestral piano for a while, so this is it, with the uni orchestra! Of course, I said yes (even though I knew it meant more rehearsals) but the pieces are pretty cool, and the amazing Barry Tuckwell is conducting the orchestra. If you need to find out on Wikipedia who Barry Tuckwell is, please do, and you will understand why I couldn't bring myself to say no. Of course, the rehearsal didn't go well - I've never played a celeste before, it's a totally different experience, and it's exposed because it's got such a unique tone.

Played in the MSV Chamber Music Comp - we didn't come first or second, but we did get a prize, and encouragement prize with the reward of some MSO tickets. It's actually quite good - the monetary value is quite significant, and in this format, we are 'forced' to go to the MSO - which none of us go quite as much as we really should given that we are music students, musicians and possibly aspiring to be professional musicians.

Went home (yes, that's HOME) for 25.5hrs to play in a farewell concert for the now-retired deputy principal. It was amazing seeing old teachers again - I suppose when one is a student, we often tend to become a little alienated by our teachers, and forget that they're real people too! But it was so lovely to see them all again. The concert went well, I had a lovely time and really enjoyed working with those people. Kind words were said, which of course brought tears to mum's eyes - so too my playing, I think, because my family haven't really heard me perform (that is, rather than practice at the end of semester where I'm done with my pieces, or at the beginning of a semester where it sounds horribly painful while trying to learn notes) for about three and a half years, since moving away for university.

Mozart Miscellany stuff is going well, just lots of it. And I suppose rehearsals with six different people, plus a few more for the combined stuff just adds up. Theoretically, I was totally fine with playing about an hour's worth of Mozart for the concert - I expected this when I agreed to it. But realistically, I didn't really have any idea of how much music there was! I am really enjoying it, don't get me wrong, and I wouldn't say I bit off more than I could chew but it definitely is a lot. I'm finding working with the six very interesting - I suppose I didn't really know what to expect from each of them, having not worked with five of them individually. But it's been really fun - I said last year, "I'm really scared of singers....let alone six of them!" but it's been amazing. Went to Vocal Ensemble to workshop one of the duets, which was good.

The week gone by has been particularly bad - flying in on the red-eye wasn't particularly helpful. Nor was the lack of motivation to practice, and extreme tiredness and onsetting illness (long overdue....and just hanging around my eyes, ready to bear down on me once I stop doing stuff). Averaging two to three rehearsals each day for the past week has been quite intense - leaving not much time for my own sitting down for myself at the instrument. In all of this, I have become less organised (than usual), forgetting things, accidentally double booking, not replying to emails, not being myself, and generally not as happy and enthusiastic about everything as usual. There was the putting-off of thinking about more than 24hrs in advance, so transportation for getting to things was only organised at short notice. My email had been hacked/spammed and I had email troubles one morning, as it wouldn't let me send any more emails (to apologise) so that was a bad morning. Then there was the printing issues and not-understanding the material in lectures that added up and made me doubt why I was still in the subject. So for my down-ness and general not-feeling-myself; I apologise to those close to me who haven't been encouraged by this, and to those not as close who might have perceived me as unfriendly and closed. Perhaps next week when the massive concerts are over I will become less focussed on just one project at a time and bounce back in, me-style.