sorry i've been really bad at updating. my last post was about 2 weeks ago, just before i left (if i recall correctly).
so, what have i done?
slept
tried to practice piano (with varying degrees of success)
read harry potter 5 and 6 in anticipation for book 7
read pride and prejudice again (mmm...)
seen pirates 3 and shrek 3 with my brother
gone out a few times with a few friends
and therefore, caught up with all the news
organised most of the melbourne welcome stuff. this has involved booking 80 tickets for healesville (to pay lots of money!!! i am getting really good at spending other people's money!)
borrowed a few piano scores to start more work
listened to two more versions of the beethoven
not much has happened otherwise.
which is kinda good because i've been needing this rest.
but alas, i cannot rest too much, or i will get lazy (which i fear has already happened). there is much to look forward to, such as RSA training (woop de woop), going to the 'rat (woohoo!!!!), flying back to melbourne (ok, i know, these are all out of order! this should have been first...), welcome training, welcome (woohoo!!! hello americans! oh, and the one british guy, the one irish guy, and random kids from germany yay, france, yay, and others..), urinetown camp (urinecamp, for greater conciseness), going back to jude's (woohoo!), and starting semester 2 (argh! so soon!). i was flipping through next semester and looking at all the milestone-y events. it kinda looks like this (barring welcome and its lead-up events, and urinecamp):
Week 1: idea of north gig at end of week. oh, and it's dis-o'week that week...argh!
Week 2: Beethoven!!!!!!! (details coming soon!); going to see JCH play, I've been told it's this week, is that right?
Week 3: more stuff
Week 4: Urinetown!!!
Week 5: Orchestra concert, MUSIC BALL!!!
Week 6: I've forgotten.
other stuff includes 21sts, Switchfoot (will get onto tickets for that soon...), perhaps Phantom (dunno, need job and $$$). like, for real, it will be busy.
add to that concerto competition, more accmopanying, more rehearsals, apollo, more urinetown (but thankfully it's over soon-ish!), oh, and trying to survive with uni! hehe.
good thing my official load is only 3.5 subjects this semester...i knew i'd done that for a reason!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
home
i'm going home tongiht!
so email will be limited.
but if you can wait, email me if you like. updates and stories of holidays greatly apreciated.
if it's urgent call my mobile.
if not, fellow melburnians (or fake ones like me), see you in a few weeks time! xo
so email will be limited.
but if you can wait, email me if you like. updates and stories of holidays greatly apreciated.
if it's urgent call my mobile.
if not, fellow melburnians (or fake ones like me), see you in a few weeks time! xo
Some photos
These are photos stolen from other people. Because I haven't posted photos for a very long time, probably not really since posting them on facebook.
But just in case you don't have facebook, here are a few things I've been up to in the last six months...
Queen's Ball 07: Tim, me, Sally-Anne
Queen's Ball: Tim, Steph, me (look crazy!)
Idea of North concert, April 2007. Me and
Sam's Surprise 21st Birthday Breakfast
Tim, me, Sam blowing bubbles
Rowing Day 07: me and Pete (hot look, both of us... :S )
Queen's Ball: me and Sal
Queen's Ball: me and Ben (proxy brother)
Queen's Ball: me and Mel
Rowing Day 07: Renee and me
Fellow's Dinner: me and Renee
But just in case you don't have facebook, here are a few things I've been up to in the last six months...
Queen's Ball 07: Tim, me, Sally-Anne
Queen's Ball: Tim, Steph, me (look crazy!)
Idea of North concert, April 2007. Me and The Idea of North
Sam's Surprise 21st Birthday BreakfastTim, me, Sam blowing bubbles
Rowing Day 07: me and Pete (hot look, both of us... :S )
Queen's Ball: me and Sal
Queen's Ball: me and Ben (proxy brother)
Queen's Ball: Mel, Renee, me
Queen's Ball: me and Mel
Rowing Day 07: Renee and me
Fellow's Dinner: me and Renee
Fellow's Dinner: me, Tim, Renee ('look hard-core')
[I clearly cannot do this look....!]
[I clearly cannot do this look....!]
Admittedly:
1) the same few people have cropped up in these photos. I have probably stolen photos from those people.
2) There is a great young presence. They're EVERYWHERE..!!! (run away..! Haha)
3) These few photos admittedly miss out even greater events, such as my birthday, Music events, connect and just general life, not just college stuff! If you want to see them, you should get facebook. So that we can be 'friends' and you can view my pictures....ya wouldn't!
1) the same few people have cropped up in these photos. I have probably stolen photos from those people.
2) There is a great young presence. They're EVERYWHERE..!!! (run away..! Haha)
3) These few photos admittedly miss out even greater events, such as my birthday, Music events, connect and just general life, not just college stuff! If you want to see them, you should get facebook. So that we can be 'friends' and you can view my pictures....ya wouldn't!
Hilarious
The rumour I have found the funniest in recent times is about ME!
Who would have thought?
And as most rumours go, it's not true.
Which is why we're trying to come up with a funny way to propogate it.
It'd be funny.
And embarrassing. But oh-so-funny.
And apparently it seems to have been floating around for a while.
Well, that's what we gather.
Who would have thought?
And as most rumours go, it's not true.
Which is why we're trying to come up with a funny way to propogate it.
It'd be funny.
And embarrassing. But oh-so-funny.
And apparently it seems to have been floating around for a while.
Well, that's what we gather.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
random thoughts
*bach was a genius. he remains one of, if not, the top, favourite composers. just look at his stuff. absolute magic. my old piano teacher once said "listening to bach makes me believe that there is a god" (although she was a christian lady...). i think it has that quality too. perhaps it was seriously inspired by god.
*groves is by far the most amazing resource for finding stuff out about western art music. the online resource is fantastic. even for finding out opus numbers, keys, the life of little-known composers. it's there. totally awesome!
*despite my final exam being today, my diary kinda reads like this:
Tuesday - return library book by 10am, after photocopying; practice in the basement because it's not worth coming home and walking back again; exam 11.30am; meet friend to return something to him 11.50am; eat lunch; meet friend for rehearsal 1.30pm; accompany said friend in exam 2pm; meet somebody to organise instrument loan (which was rather unsuccessful) 2.30pm; rehearsal 3pm.
Wednesday - no sleep in; mss executive meeting with the dean 9am mmm.....; mss executive meeting with office staff to organise open day (i should make a note that i have to nip over to the med faculty for apollo..!) 10am; go to friend's music lesson to accompany him 12pm; dinner with small group at night.
Thursday - perhaps meeting up with a friend in the morning; dinner: with a few friends, including a friend who is on holiday in australia, from high school in usa (haven't seen her for about 5yrs, so yay!)
Friday - coffee with some old school friends and my ex-principal; production meeting with theatre manager 1pm (urgh..); flight departs 8.30pm.
i told mum to book my flight for after business closing time so that i could complete all my business then.
yes, my business and pleasure unfortunately can't be separated (most of the time). oh well. it just means that when i go home i have limited communication means and can't get my business done as efficiently. at least i cope with it most of the time! wow, if i ever had a family, i think i'd be one of those mums who was always on her mobile..that's pretty bad..! :S
*i got a really cute letter from the secretary of the friends of the library. it was very cute.
*stuff to work on over the 3-week holiday (time at home):
-beethoven cello sonata
-ravel concerto
-recital programme, including bach (plus new bach), beethoven, chopin, rachmaninoff, debussy, rautuvaara (sp.?), perhaps ravel. i know, there is too much repertoire there. and i have to pick..?! how unfair is that?!
-accompaniment stuff for voice: poulenc, finzi, faure
horn: strauss, saint-saens, stuff in general...
-figure out apollo stuff
-melbourne welcome
-urinetown, including practicing the piano part
i think that's just the start of it...!
*time is ticking....ten months :P hahahaha. if you know....hehe! if you don't....you might have to just wait those ten months to see what happens! sorry..!
*groves is by far the most amazing resource for finding stuff out about western art music. the online resource is fantastic. even for finding out opus numbers, keys, the life of little-known composers. it's there. totally awesome!
*despite my final exam being today, my diary kinda reads like this:
Tuesday - return library book by 10am, after photocopying; practice in the basement because it's not worth coming home and walking back again; exam 11.30am; meet friend to return something to him 11.50am; eat lunch; meet friend for rehearsal 1.30pm; accompany said friend in exam 2pm; meet somebody to organise instrument loan (which was rather unsuccessful) 2.30pm; rehearsal 3pm.
Wednesday - no sleep in; mss executive meeting with the dean 9am mmm.....; mss executive meeting with office staff to organise open day (i should make a note that i have to nip over to the med faculty for apollo..!) 10am; go to friend's music lesson to accompany him 12pm; dinner with small group at night.
Thursday - perhaps meeting up with a friend in the morning; dinner: with a few friends, including a friend who is on holiday in australia, from high school in usa (haven't seen her for about 5yrs, so yay!)
Friday - coffee with some old school friends and my ex-principal; production meeting with theatre manager 1pm (urgh..); flight departs 8.30pm.
i told mum to book my flight for after business closing time so that i could complete all my business then.
yes, my business and pleasure unfortunately can't be separated (most of the time). oh well. it just means that when i go home i have limited communication means and can't get my business done as efficiently. at least i cope with it most of the time! wow, if i ever had a family, i think i'd be one of those mums who was always on her mobile..that's pretty bad..! :S
*i got a really cute letter from the secretary of the friends of the library. it was very cute.
*stuff to work on over the 3-week holiday (time at home):
-beethoven cello sonata
-ravel concerto
-recital programme, including bach (plus new bach), beethoven, chopin, rachmaninoff, debussy, rautuvaara (sp.?), perhaps ravel. i know, there is too much repertoire there. and i have to pick..?! how unfair is that?!
-accompaniment stuff for voice: poulenc, finzi, faure
horn: strauss, saint-saens, stuff in general...
-figure out apollo stuff
-melbourne welcome
-urinetown, including practicing the piano part
i think that's just the start of it...!
*time is ticking....ten months :P hahahaha. if you know....hehe! if you don't....you might have to just wait those ten months to see what happens! sorry..!
Monday, June 11, 2007
time
is relative.
but i wish i had more of it.
or that i didn't need to sleep, and that i could keep carrying out my business as usual.
and that one would only have to sleep if they felt like it.
or perhaps that sleep didn't cut out hours of your day, just added them in magically.
because i still have an exam to go. but it feels like i'm spending this week going out with friends
and catching up with them before i leave for 3 weeks.
and some of them are going elsewhere themselves, so it might be more than 3 weeks.
i don't need a PA at the moment.
i need a time-turner. or just for time to magically stop.
appointments every day. it will be busy while they're happening.
and probably boring for the rest of it.
also sucks, because i can't watch college network because my computer always has a problem.
so, i have only watched up to about episode 7 of house season 3. sucky.
and about episode 8 of scrubs season 6. yes, that's right, TV is beating me..! how depressing!
so, my friends, if i don't manage to catch up with you before i go, i apologise. i do still love you all very much. email to keep in touch over the break, but be aware that i have dial-up at home!
enjoy your holidays, you all most definitely deserve it :)
i would love to catch up with you all, but unfortunately time doesn't always allow that.
unless you can find a way to make my time extended :)
if you are going away for the holidays, enjoy it. whether it be oxford, DC, london, to the snow, melbourne's outer suburbs, ballarat, other europe, malaysia, or wherever else you might be heading to. make sure you send me postcards :) or at least bring some back for me!
xoxo
but i wish i had more of it.
or that i didn't need to sleep, and that i could keep carrying out my business as usual.
and that one would only have to sleep if they felt like it.
or perhaps that sleep didn't cut out hours of your day, just added them in magically.
because i still have an exam to go. but it feels like i'm spending this week going out with friends
and catching up with them before i leave for 3 weeks.
and some of them are going elsewhere themselves, so it might be more than 3 weeks.
i don't need a PA at the moment.
i need a time-turner. or just for time to magically stop.
appointments every day. it will be busy while they're happening.
and probably boring for the rest of it.
also sucks, because i can't watch college network because my computer always has a problem.
so, i have only watched up to about episode 7 of house season 3. sucky.
and about episode 8 of scrubs season 6. yes, that's right, TV is beating me..! how depressing!
so, my friends, if i don't manage to catch up with you before i go, i apologise. i do still love you all very much. email to keep in touch over the break, but be aware that i have dial-up at home!
enjoy your holidays, you all most definitely deserve it :)
i would love to catch up with you all, but unfortunately time doesn't always allow that.
unless you can find a way to make my time extended :)
if you are going away for the holidays, enjoy it. whether it be oxford, DC, london, to the snow, melbourne's outer suburbs, ballarat, other europe, malaysia, or wherever else you might be heading to. make sure you send me postcards :) or at least bring some back for me!
xoxo
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
what it'll be like - as i imagine
*oriental lillies
*the first dance at the reception will be with my husband. and he will look into my eyes like never before. because he can't take his eyes off me. don't worry, it's not all about me. i will stare into his too!
*he'll be able to dance. Probably because I make him take dance lesson with me first. I have to do a proper wedding waltz.
*he's gotta have asked my parents first. the first thing i will say after being asked is "have you asked my parents?"
*it can't be a public proposal. i don't want to have my face on a big screen only to have to kiss him and then whisper "can we talk about this later?".....all on big screen.
*if he's smart, he would have scrounged around for the perfect ring, and possibly have gotten my friends involved in planning the perfect way to propose. which has got to be romantic. remember: big screens are NOT romantic. nor are words tickering across a screen. it's gotta at least encompass a down-on-one-knee thing!
*i will probably cry at my own wedding. which is bad, because i look HORRIBLE when i cry.
*if he cries, i will cry too. so hopefully he doesn't cry too easily. but if he does shed a tear or two, that'd be really cute :)
*my family has to love him. and i his family. and just love all round!
*no flowergirls or pageboys. urgh, i don't need cute little children stealing any spotlight!
*drinks in the dusk sounds beautiful
*one of the readings will be the one about love, from 1 corinthians. cliched and over-used, but i think there is a reason for it...it's beautiful!
*i will eat at the reception. i expect that if i pick the food, i get to eat it too!
*there will be lots of photos! a professional photographer, plus lots of cameras from friends and family. i will keep posing, i promise! hehe. and do my 'photo smile' all day if i have to!
*wedding cake: not fruit cake. perhpas chocolate. i don't want a cake i don't like..! what a silly idea!
i guess seeing as i've planned half of the wedding, i had better hope my future husband likes it all. and hopefully cares enough to have a look too. none of this "whatever" stuff..! now i guess i just have to wait for him to waltz in and sweep me off my feet.....(cue: Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, that famous variation). i dunno. i might know him already. then again, i might not..! who knows...
i know, it seems too early to be thinking about all this kind of stuff. but every girl dreams of it, don't they? and i'm an idealist. and a hopeless romantic. that's why.
*the first dance at the reception will be with my husband. and he will look into my eyes like never before. because he can't take his eyes off me. don't worry, it's not all about me. i will stare into his too!
*he'll be able to dance. Probably because I make him take dance lesson with me first. I have to do a proper wedding waltz.
*he's gotta have asked my parents first. the first thing i will say after being asked is "have you asked my parents?"
*it can't be a public proposal. i don't want to have my face on a big screen only to have to kiss him and then whisper "can we talk about this later?".....all on big screen.
*if he's smart, he would have scrounged around for the perfect ring, and possibly have gotten my friends involved in planning the perfect way to propose. which has got to be romantic. remember: big screens are NOT romantic. nor are words tickering across a screen. it's gotta at least encompass a down-on-one-knee thing!
*i will probably cry at my own wedding. which is bad, because i look HORRIBLE when i cry.
*if he cries, i will cry too. so hopefully he doesn't cry too easily. but if he does shed a tear or two, that'd be really cute :)
*my family has to love him. and i his family. and just love all round!
*no flowergirls or pageboys. urgh, i don't need cute little children stealing any spotlight!
*drinks in the dusk sounds beautiful
*one of the readings will be the one about love, from 1 corinthians. cliched and over-used, but i think there is a reason for it...it's beautiful!
*i will eat at the reception. i expect that if i pick the food, i get to eat it too!
*there will be lots of photos! a professional photographer, plus lots of cameras from friends and family. i will keep posing, i promise! hehe. and do my 'photo smile' all day if i have to!
*wedding cake: not fruit cake. perhpas chocolate. i don't want a cake i don't like..! what a silly idea!
i guess seeing as i've planned half of the wedding, i had better hope my future husband likes it all. and hopefully cares enough to have a look too. none of this "whatever" stuff..! now i guess i just have to wait for him to waltz in and sweep me off my feet.....(cue: Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, that famous variation). i dunno. i might know him already. then again, i might not..! who knows...
i know, it seems too early to be thinking about all this kind of stuff. but every girl dreams of it, don't they? and i'm an idealist. and a hopeless romantic. that's why.
Monday, June 04, 2007
random stuff
i was supposed to have an appointment from 8-10am with a piano in the basement on friday.
when i woke up, i looked out the window (as i normally do), and was horrified when i saw it was already light!!!! how could this happen?
i frantically rolled over to look at my phone only to find the time to be 7.58am!!!!
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and then one minute after i get up, there's a knock on my door. and there is anna, laura and tim, who are here to organise stuff for penny's birthday. anna is so shocked to see me, because i told her i wouldn't be around.
and i'm there, dressed in my finest (read: sarcastically) pajamas. haha
and then penny comes around to sing to me (in which i make her sing quite high, for so early in the morning) and she kinda looks at her watch and goes, "isn't this a little late?!" haha. yep, all my friends have noticed that if i'm not out of my room by about 8pm, something's wrong!
so yeah, swotvac was kinda ok. i went to uni every day to practice. i even went on the weekend to uni to practice. it's good having that time to get away from college, because it's the only time i get out. the rest of it is spent either at my desk or in another corridor chilling out (also: procrastinating, distracting other people from their study...) it has been pretty cruisy; i'm not really stressed about my music exams (including today's) because i feel like i'm pretty prepared. it's a nice feeling. although i'm trying to hype myself up a bit!
also, i started looking at what perfect pitch is really all about. how people 'get' it. i read wikipedia's article on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_pitch which i thought was very interesting. i decided that mine was 'active' perfect pitch. (read the article for definitions). then i decided to do the survey (the university of california one). so i filled in all the bits, and do about 80 sound tests. and the conclusion?
it tells me:
CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE PERFECT PITCH.
GAHH!!! i knew that already!!!!!!!!! i am classified as AP1.0, with a score of 36.0 in both categories. darn, i already knew that.
but anyway, i hope my little test helped out their survey; i hope they use those answers i provided (eg. very brief family history, years of musical training etc) plus the results to further their study into this phenomenon.
had my techniques written exam today. went ok.
have actually been itching since saturday afternoon to do it. just to get it over and done with. because i'd done heaps of practice. and answered many questions in the process ;) [i love all you guys for asking. because it makes me have to know my stuff inside out! thanks a bunch xo]
i finished ridiculously early. but jac and i were supposed to go to the shops, so i figured i might as well sit there. and check my work a bajillion times. and look at the pretty paintings and architecture of the royal exhibition building. hehe. and go to the toilet. which was very far away...! anyway...
then we (a bunch of us) went to the vic for some coffee/tea/cake (yum cake, thanks rach..!) and hung out and talked and did silly funny things. and laughed a lot. thanks for the laughs and good times, my friends! (luv ya!)
and have been kinda bored with study. apart from the fact that i don't kinda get all of micro at the present moment. i'm working on it. i guess because my music subjects are kinda sitting quite comfortably. there are a lot of things i have to sort out though, mostly urinetown and mss stuff. which is very difficult.
[OMG. DEJA VU ABOUT WRITING THIS BLOG!!!!!!! that is the weirdest thing....]
so yeah, listening test tomorrow. i'm pretty right with that. i like all the pieces, except for the webern, which i don't particularly like. that's ok, i have learnt it and all.
micro is on thursday, piano technical exam the next tuesday, then i'm done.
in the few days i have after my exams, i have to do the following things:
* have a meeting with the Dean with the rest of the exec
* have a meeting with the staff about open day
* catch up properly with flick
* hopefully have a piano lesson
* hopefully have a rehearsal with lily
* catch up with a few more friends
* do melbourne welcome stuff - lots of stuff
* do urinetown stuff - lots of stuff
* pack to go home
* clean my room
and that's just the beginning. do you think it's going to happen?
when i woke up, i looked out the window (as i normally do), and was horrified when i saw it was already light!!!! how could this happen?
i frantically rolled over to look at my phone only to find the time to be 7.58am!!!!
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and then one minute after i get up, there's a knock on my door. and there is anna, laura and tim, who are here to organise stuff for penny's birthday. anna is so shocked to see me, because i told her i wouldn't be around.
and i'm there, dressed in my finest (read: sarcastically) pajamas. haha
and then penny comes around to sing to me (in which i make her sing quite high, for so early in the morning) and she kinda looks at her watch and goes, "isn't this a little late?!" haha. yep, all my friends have noticed that if i'm not out of my room by about 8pm, something's wrong!
so yeah, swotvac was kinda ok. i went to uni every day to practice. i even went on the weekend to uni to practice. it's good having that time to get away from college, because it's the only time i get out. the rest of it is spent either at my desk or in another corridor chilling out (also: procrastinating, distracting other people from their study...) it has been pretty cruisy; i'm not really stressed about my music exams (including today's) because i feel like i'm pretty prepared. it's a nice feeling. although i'm trying to hype myself up a bit!
also, i started looking at what perfect pitch is really all about. how people 'get' it. i read wikipedia's article on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_pitch which i thought was very interesting. i decided that mine was 'active' perfect pitch. (read the article for definitions). then i decided to do the survey (the university of california one). so i filled in all the bits, and do about 80 sound tests. and the conclusion?
it tells me:
CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE PERFECT PITCH.
GAHH!!! i knew that already!!!!!!!!! i am classified as AP1.0, with a score of 36.0 in both categories. darn, i already knew that.
but anyway, i hope my little test helped out their survey; i hope they use those answers i provided (eg. very brief family history, years of musical training etc) plus the results to further their study into this phenomenon.
had my techniques written exam today. went ok.
have actually been itching since saturday afternoon to do it. just to get it over and done with. because i'd done heaps of practice. and answered many questions in the process ;) [i love all you guys for asking. because it makes me have to know my stuff inside out! thanks a bunch xo]
i finished ridiculously early. but jac and i were supposed to go to the shops, so i figured i might as well sit there. and check my work a bajillion times. and look at the pretty paintings and architecture of the royal exhibition building. hehe. and go to the toilet. which was very far away...! anyway...
then we (a bunch of us) went to the vic for some coffee/tea/cake (yum cake, thanks rach..!) and hung out and talked and did silly funny things. and laughed a lot. thanks for the laughs and good times, my friends! (luv ya!)
and have been kinda bored with study. apart from the fact that i don't kinda get all of micro at the present moment. i'm working on it. i guess because my music subjects are kinda sitting quite comfortably. there are a lot of things i have to sort out though, mostly urinetown and mss stuff. which is very difficult.
[OMG. DEJA VU ABOUT WRITING THIS BLOG!!!!!!! that is the weirdest thing....]
so yeah, listening test tomorrow. i'm pretty right with that. i like all the pieces, except for the webern, which i don't particularly like. that's ok, i have learnt it and all.
micro is on thursday, piano technical exam the next tuesday, then i'm done.
in the few days i have after my exams, i have to do the following things:
* have a meeting with the Dean with the rest of the exec
* have a meeting with the staff about open day
* catch up properly with flick
* hopefully have a piano lesson
* hopefully have a rehearsal with lily
* catch up with a few more friends
* do melbourne welcome stuff - lots of stuff
* do urinetown stuff - lots of stuff
* pack to go home
* clean my room
and that's just the beginning. do you think it's going to happen?
Saturday, June 02, 2007
gah
where are all the pianists of this world?
more specifically, where are all the ones i need?
for the purpose of this rant, i shall consider those who are pianists as those who:
* can play different styles (classical, contemporary). i don't mean to be highly skilled at them all. but at least to have the ability
* are able to sight-read to a fairly competant ability
* possess strong ensemble skills
and highly desirable, has some singing background too.
and would therefore be able to follow singers and understand their needs too.
yup.
zip.
well, the ones i may know won't be available.
and continuing on the rant...
everybody who intends to sing should play piano. because piano is probably the best extra skill (if it already isn't your primary capability) to have as a musician. particularly as a singer. singers can't do multiple notes. at all. and lots of singers i know are divas - get over it. you want to show the world your talent, the least you could do is help others out with what you've got. most people don't stand around you ooh-ing and aah-ing because you're usually not that good. get off your high horse and learn some piano so you could at least accompany to a competent level.
sorry, this is clearly an issue with so many musicians. and something i feel very strongly about.
if you want real work, work that will probably earn you the food on your table, you've got to be versatile. unfortunately, not every job will be enjoyable. that's life. deal with it. but if you can only do one thing, you had better be the best at it, or it will be a very tough road ahead of you.
so please, please, because i have firm ideas of what i expect, please do not tell me, "i am a pianist" when you do not fulfill the base level of my expectation. and please don't tell me you are a well-rounded musician if you do not at least dabble in the very least in 2 fields/instruments/musical activities outside your own. you would have very limited scope of what a musician does otherwise.
more specifically, where are all the ones i need?
for the purpose of this rant, i shall consider those who are pianists as those who:
* can play different styles (classical, contemporary). i don't mean to be highly skilled at them all. but at least to have the ability
* are able to sight-read to a fairly competant ability
* possess strong ensemble skills
and highly desirable, has some singing background too.
and would therefore be able to follow singers and understand their needs too.
yup.
zip.
well, the ones i may know won't be available.
and continuing on the rant...
everybody who intends to sing should play piano. because piano is probably the best extra skill (if it already isn't your primary capability) to have as a musician. particularly as a singer. singers can't do multiple notes. at all. and lots of singers i know are divas - get over it. you want to show the world your talent, the least you could do is help others out with what you've got. most people don't stand around you ooh-ing and aah-ing because you're usually not that good. get off your high horse and learn some piano so you could at least accompany to a competent level.
sorry, this is clearly an issue with so many musicians. and something i feel very strongly about.
if you want real work, work that will probably earn you the food on your table, you've got to be versatile. unfortunately, not every job will be enjoyable. that's life. deal with it. but if you can only do one thing, you had better be the best at it, or it will be a very tough road ahead of you.
so please, please, because i have firm ideas of what i expect, please do not tell me, "i am a pianist" when you do not fulfill the base level of my expectation. and please don't tell me you are a well-rounded musician if you do not at least dabble in the very least in 2 fields/instruments/musical activities outside your own. you would have very limited scope of what a musician does otherwise.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
techniques
does everybody get asked as many questions about it as me?
because it feels like a lot of people ask me!
eg. when is it due?
what key is it in?
can the second episode be the same as the first episode?
why is there a middle entry?
how long is your episode?
what bar do we have to write up to?
what key is the second entry in?
can it just be free material?
et cetera.
now, my real wondering is:
1) does everybody get asked these questions?
2) if not, why does everybody ask me?
it's not that i don't appreciate them. it actually makes me learn a bit better.
but i'm just wondering why.
any comments/opinions/thoughts appreciated!
because it feels like a lot of people ask me!
eg. when is it due?
what key is it in?
can the second episode be the same as the first episode?
why is there a middle entry?
how long is your episode?
what bar do we have to write up to?
what key is the second entry in?
can it just be free material?
et cetera.
now, my real wondering is:
1) does everybody get asked these questions?
2) if not, why does everybody ask me?
it's not that i don't appreciate them. it actually makes me learn a bit better.
but i'm just wondering why.
any comments/opinions/thoughts appreciated!
dreaming
the sky cloudless
the wind blowing my hair
on a beach that looked like home
the sea sparkling
the sand dazzling white
someone urged us to run along the beach
we ran along the broadwalk instead.
laughing
i feel the wooden planks underfoot
when our eyes meet
we throw our heads back in amusement
when we realise
how silly it must all look.
we're joined at the hand
in reassurance and gentleness
we meet a mutual friend
whom we have to pretend like
nothing's happening
it feels so secret
yet so big inside.
the wind blowing my hair
on a beach that looked like home
the sea sparkling
the sand dazzling white
someone urged us to run along the beach
we ran along the broadwalk instead.
laughing
i feel the wooden planks underfoot
when our eyes meet
we throw our heads back in amusement
when we realise
how silly it must all look.
we're joined at the hand
in reassurance and gentleness
we meet a mutual friend
whom we have to pretend like
nothing's happening
it feels so secret
yet so big inside.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
numbers
8.5: the number of hours of Urinetown auditions I sat through.
3: the number of hours we spent casting and trying to figure out roles for the auditionees.
75: the number of emails I have received from various people (mostly committee members) about MSS matters.
16: the number of days this new committee has been together. Yes, that's just over two weeks. An average of 4.6875 emails a day.
7: the number of hours I didn't check my email for on Thursday.
19: the number of emails I received in the aforementioned 7 hours.
5: the number of productive actions the MSS has taken so far. (I think.)
2: the number of meetings I had on Monday: Apollo and Melbourne Welcome.
4: the number of third year girls doing Melbourne Welcome. This is also equal to the number of second year boys doing Melbourne Welcome.
4: the number of Melbourne Welcome girls who are single and going to fight over English boys.
1: the number of Melbourne Welcome boys who are single and aren't going to be fighting over any of the girls.
3: the number of times I booked myself in for practice in the Basement.
9: the number of choristers who showed up to rehearsal on Tuesday.
2 3/4: the number of hours of the first read-through of Urinetown on Tuesday night.
1: the number of days before a concert I was asked to play for. (Don't worry, it went quite well :) )
1: the number of internationally-renowned economists I had formal dinner with at Fellow's Dinner. Who, I might add, we didn't have a great chance to talk to.
1: the number of internationally-renowned economists I now have to set up lunch with!
2: the number of QOTs I have administered in class this week.
13: the number of hours I was on-the-go on Thursday. It was a very long day...
2: the number of french horn boys I walked home with after the MUCO concert.
23987: the number of times I have checked Facebook in procrastination (of my essay).
5: the number of actual parts for the Urinetown orchestra.
1: the number of shocks about friends going to London I've had this week.
2: the number placing after playing the Strauss.
391757: the number of things I have to do this week!!!!
3: the number of hours we spent casting and trying to figure out roles for the auditionees.
75: the number of emails I have received from various people (mostly committee members) about MSS matters.
16: the number of days this new committee has been together. Yes, that's just over two weeks. An average of 4.6875 emails a day.
7: the number of hours I didn't check my email for on Thursday.
19: the number of emails I received in the aforementioned 7 hours.
5: the number of productive actions the MSS has taken so far. (I think.)
2: the number of meetings I had on Monday: Apollo and Melbourne Welcome.
4: the number of third year girls doing Melbourne Welcome. This is also equal to the number of second year boys doing Melbourne Welcome.
4: the number of Melbourne Welcome girls who are single and going to fight over English boys.
1: the number of Melbourne Welcome boys who are single and aren't going to be fighting over any of the girls.
3: the number of times I booked myself in for practice in the Basement.
9: the number of choristers who showed up to rehearsal on Tuesday.
2 3/4: the number of hours of the first read-through of Urinetown on Tuesday night.
1: the number of days before a concert I was asked to play for. (Don't worry, it went quite well :) )
1: the number of internationally-renowned economists I had formal dinner with at Fellow's Dinner. Who, I might add, we didn't have a great chance to talk to.
1: the number of internationally-renowned economists I now have to set up lunch with!
2: the number of QOTs I have administered in class this week.
13: the number of hours I was on-the-go on Thursday. It was a very long day...
2: the number of french horn boys I walked home with after the MUCO concert.
23987: the number of times I have checked Facebook in procrastination (of my essay).
5: the number of actual parts for the Urinetown orchestra.
1: the number of shocks about friends going to London I've had this week.
2: the number placing after playing the Strauss.
391757: the number of things I have to do this week!!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Things you may or may not know...
* I was going to skip a year in primary school. But my parents wanted me to remain in my year for my social development.
* My parents used to run a coffee shop.
* I went to Connecticut on exchange in 2002, skipping half of yr10.
* I really wanted to do gymnastics or ballet when I was a little girl. I did neither.
* I really wanted to own a horse at the age of seven. My mum asked where we'd put it.
* The only pets we've ever owned were goldfish. I was so jealous of my cousins - they had mice as well as a hermit crab.
* I used to take swimming lessons when I was in primary school. Like, pre-squad kinda thing. Working on technique. And diving! I was so proud when I learnt to dive over the kickboard that my teacher held out in front of the block.
* I don't enjoy some things such as basketball or gardening or monopoly (or even the subject field of Marketing) because family members of mine are fully into it. I just got turned off!
* I am a hopeless romantic. Flowers bowl me over. So do cards and messages. I just think it's nice. I'm also an idealist much of the time....
* I think I'm quite shy.
* I feel honoured when people ask me to do stuff.
* For high school, I really wanted to go to MLC, because my cousins went there. But I turned out ok from SMAGS...! I really appreciated my time there.
* I am now an incessant email and text message checker. I rely on communication to get me through the day, and I can't go anywhere without my mobile. Sad huh?
* My idea of a good night out is enjoying the company of my friends, possibly listening to some awesome music (of which 'awesome' encompasses a wide range) and generally having a good time of which I remember all of it!
* I'd like to think I am a popular kind of person. I know, big-headed. Anyway, I don't think I am....I think I'm pretty average in most respects.
* This may come as a shock, it may not. And this is really putting myself out there, and oh well....I've never been kissed. I've never been in a relationship. Go figure.
* I think I must have been an ugly/odd looking child, judging by how many specialists I've seen...apart from the doctor, dentist, I've been to the orthodontist, dermatologist, podiatrist and physiotherapist.
* Yep, I was a nerd at school :) I took yr 9 and 10 maths in grade 9, then the hardest yr 11 maths in grade 10, although I couldn't finish it due to going overseas.
* I have vivid recollections of pre-primary, which included bowls of fruit, 'Wombat Stew' as the end of year play, finger painting and Santa coming at Christmas (although I knew my present was from my mum. It was so distinctively her wrapping and the gift, I could just tell, was from her).
* My favourite presents as a kid were things like coloured pencils, textas and crayons. I loved to draw. I used to have a scrapbook when I was 3 and every day I drew a picture of a house in it. Needless to say, my book filled up very quickly while my brother's remained quite empty...
More to follow when they pop up...
* My parents used to run a coffee shop.
* I went to Connecticut on exchange in 2002, skipping half of yr10.
* I really wanted to do gymnastics or ballet when I was a little girl. I did neither.
* I really wanted to own a horse at the age of seven. My mum asked where we'd put it.
* The only pets we've ever owned were goldfish. I was so jealous of my cousins - they had mice as well as a hermit crab.
* I used to take swimming lessons when I was in primary school. Like, pre-squad kinda thing. Working on technique. And diving! I was so proud when I learnt to dive over the kickboard that my teacher held out in front of the block.
* I don't enjoy some things such as basketball or gardening or monopoly (or even the subject field of Marketing) because family members of mine are fully into it. I just got turned off!
* I am a hopeless romantic. Flowers bowl me over. So do cards and messages. I just think it's nice. I'm also an idealist much of the time....
* I think I'm quite shy.
* I feel honoured when people ask me to do stuff.
* For high school, I really wanted to go to MLC, because my cousins went there. But I turned out ok from SMAGS...! I really appreciated my time there.
* I am now an incessant email and text message checker. I rely on communication to get me through the day, and I can't go anywhere without my mobile. Sad huh?
* My idea of a good night out is enjoying the company of my friends, possibly listening to some awesome music (of which 'awesome' encompasses a wide range) and generally having a good time of which I remember all of it!
* I'd like to think I am a popular kind of person. I know, big-headed. Anyway, I don't think I am....I think I'm pretty average in most respects.
* This may come as a shock, it may not. And this is really putting myself out there, and oh well....I've never been kissed. I've never been in a relationship. Go figure.
* I think I must have been an ugly/odd looking child, judging by how many specialists I've seen...apart from the doctor, dentist, I've been to the orthodontist, dermatologist, podiatrist and physiotherapist.
* Yep, I was a nerd at school :) I took yr 9 and 10 maths in grade 9, then the hardest yr 11 maths in grade 10, although I couldn't finish it due to going overseas.
* I have vivid recollections of pre-primary, which included bowls of fruit, 'Wombat Stew' as the end of year play, finger painting and Santa coming at Christmas (although I knew my present was from my mum. It was so distinctively her wrapping and the gift, I could just tell, was from her).
* My favourite presents as a kid were things like coloured pencils, textas and crayons. I loved to draw. I used to have a scrapbook when I was 3 and every day I drew a picture of a house in it. Needless to say, my book filled up very quickly while my brother's remained quite empty...
More to follow when they pop up...
Monday, May 14, 2007
ahhh!!!!!
now i get it!
why i'm so busy...!
because i'm overloading by 6.25pts this semester!
which is only 2hrs extra a week, but is an afternoon/evening that i don't have to myself.
ahhh! now i get it!!!
wow. i had totally forgotten about that.
why i'm so busy...!
because i'm overloading by 6.25pts this semester!
which is only 2hrs extra a week, but is an afternoon/evening that i don't have to myself.
ahhh! now i get it!!!
wow. i had totally forgotten about that.
Friday, May 11, 2007
stuff that's happened
today on the way to class i saw the IH girls soccer team walking back and saw ling. which was nice - i haven't seen her for ages.
after class i had to go to the shops, and cutting through uni, i ran into two girls i know, but can't remember where from! weird...i think one was from JCH and the other said hi, but i've totally forgotten and i feel terrible for not remembering!! :)
while walking down lygs there was dawn, sitting out on the pavement at a cafe. had a little chat to her! then walking out of lygon court, i ran into gene, whom i haven't talked to in a very long time.
so that was a very exciting morning all round because i bumped into people i don't normally do and had a chat with most of them! very nice. plus it's a nice day, so that made me feel a bit happier too!
we had our first MSS 2007-8 meeting yesterday during concert class. yes, that's right...i skipped class to go to a meeting! it's alright, i can make it up next week. probably only to propagate even further that i am in second year. get it right peoples, i am in third year...! haha.
rowing day was on sunday. queen's didn't win. oh well. trinity did. it was so funny, we had been saying that the trinity boys were all twice the size of ours! and then we were walking back, and i see angus, and he's there in a zootie, putting a boat away, and with a medal around his neck. and i put two and two together (and get four) and realise that angus is one of the trinity rowers who'd won! very cool, but very funny at the same time!
last night was the apollo concert, "recital by candlelight" at the trinity college chapel.
yes, in the week leading up to this (apart from being hideously busy with a lot of stuff on), i was kinda nervous about it. we had an extra rehearsal on monday and our normal reherasal on tuesday, but added the orchestra for the vivaldi. then we were out of a room so we had to rehearse in the corridor. not ideal,but it worked out.
then the concert...it was quite exciting! it was my first public concert at which i conducted, i believe....so my public conducting debut hehe! and i got to share it with apollo! i've really grown to nurture this choir as my own, i'm starting to re-consider the role of T in it all....i feel like it's my baby..! the people are totally awesome; they are hard-working, and they're lots of fun and even though there is a distinct role of a conductor, some of them are in my year at uni, and most of them have become friends which is nice!
anyway.....there has been a lot of stuff this week, but i really don't feel like telling it all now. perhaps you should just talk to me about it all. whatever.
it's just been really busy but quite happy all round!
after class i had to go to the shops, and cutting through uni, i ran into two girls i know, but can't remember where from! weird...i think one was from JCH and the other said hi, but i've totally forgotten and i feel terrible for not remembering!! :)
while walking down lygs there was dawn, sitting out on the pavement at a cafe. had a little chat to her! then walking out of lygon court, i ran into gene, whom i haven't talked to in a very long time.
so that was a very exciting morning all round because i bumped into people i don't normally do and had a chat with most of them! very nice. plus it's a nice day, so that made me feel a bit happier too!
we had our first MSS 2007-8 meeting yesterday during concert class. yes, that's right...i skipped class to go to a meeting! it's alright, i can make it up next week. probably only to propagate even further that i am in second year. get it right peoples, i am in third year...! haha.
rowing day was on sunday. queen's didn't win. oh well. trinity did. it was so funny, we had been saying that the trinity boys were all twice the size of ours! and then we were walking back, and i see angus, and he's there in a zootie, putting a boat away, and with a medal around his neck. and i put two and two together (and get four) and realise that angus is one of the trinity rowers who'd won! very cool, but very funny at the same time!
last night was the apollo concert, "recital by candlelight" at the trinity college chapel.
yes, in the week leading up to this (apart from being hideously busy with a lot of stuff on), i was kinda nervous about it. we had an extra rehearsal on monday and our normal reherasal on tuesday, but added the orchestra for the vivaldi. then we were out of a room so we had to rehearse in the corridor. not ideal,but it worked out.
then the concert...it was quite exciting! it was my first public concert at which i conducted, i believe....so my public conducting debut hehe! and i got to share it with apollo! i've really grown to nurture this choir as my own, i'm starting to re-consider the role of T in it all....i feel like it's my baby..! the people are totally awesome; they are hard-working, and they're lots of fun and even though there is a distinct role of a conductor, some of them are in my year at uni, and most of them have become friends which is nice!
anyway.....there has been a lot of stuff this week, but i really don't feel like telling it all now. perhaps you should just talk to me about it all. whatever.
it's just been really busy but quite happy all round!
Monday, May 07, 2007
little uni --> much other stuff
Case in point, as an example.
Tuesday 8 May
Wake up 6.27am
Shower
Breakfast
Morning: Piano practice
10am: Meet with Pete to prepare for Bible study
11.30am-1pm: Meet with Erica for mentoring
Lunch
2.15-3.15pm: Class
3.45pm: Mozart competition, me actually competing
4.15pm: accompany for Mozart competition
5pm: rehearsal to train my soloist to sing for a concert on Thursday night
5.30-7pm: Choir, make sure they sound at least decently ok for Thursday night
7.01-7.42pm: walk home, eat dinner
7.45-8.45pm: College tutorial
9.30pm: Bible study
10.30pm or so (whenever we're done): come back to my room and start homework.
I kid you not, there is actually only one hour of scheduled university class in that.
I'm sorry if I'm a really bad friend to you all in the next three weeks - there is much to be done.
And not enough time to do it.
Please don't ask me about "so-and-so night". I don't know what's going on. The most pressing matters are what is the big stuff. Usually a day in advance. There are no plans for the weekend yet because it will probably be filled with homework and study. And hopefully some recovery (well, that was the plan last weekend...didn't quite work out. Silly rowing day kinda gets in the way of life in general.)
So, if I'm snappy, you'll know why.
Try to be sympathetic; I'll try to minimise the amount of fatigue and stress shown and displayed by my character as much as possible. Please try to understand!
Why I took on this new role (and new roles in general this year...) has been totally beyond me.
This is what I do now:
Apollo Choir
MSS VP
Jude's SMC
co-MD-ing for QC musical 2007
[the above four are basically executive kind of roles]
Melbourne Welcome 2007
Connect
accompanying x a lot
trio
piano
work (attempt to...)
piano
commerce
piano
sinfonia
piano
maintain some sort of sane life
piano
no wonder i'm not succeeding...! i think i'm about to collapse and fall apart....
Tuesday 8 May
Wake up 6.27am
Shower
Breakfast
Morning: Piano practice
10am: Meet with Pete to prepare for Bible study
11.30am-1pm: Meet with Erica for mentoring
Lunch
2.15-3.15pm: Class
3.45pm: Mozart competition, me actually competing
4.15pm: accompany for Mozart competition
5pm: rehearsal to train my soloist to sing for a concert on Thursday night
5.30-7pm: Choir, make sure they sound at least decently ok for Thursday night
7.01-7.42pm: walk home, eat dinner
7.45-8.45pm: College tutorial
9.30pm: Bible study
10.30pm or so (whenever we're done): come back to my room and start homework.
I kid you not, there is actually only one hour of scheduled university class in that.
I'm sorry if I'm a really bad friend to you all in the next three weeks - there is much to be done.
And not enough time to do it.
Please don't ask me about "so-and-so night". I don't know what's going on. The most pressing matters are what is the big stuff. Usually a day in advance. There are no plans for the weekend yet because it will probably be filled with homework and study. And hopefully some recovery (well, that was the plan last weekend...didn't quite work out. Silly rowing day kinda gets in the way of life in general.)
So, if I'm snappy, you'll know why.
Try to be sympathetic; I'll try to minimise the amount of fatigue and stress shown and displayed by my character as much as possible. Please try to understand!
Why I took on this new role (and new roles in general this year...) has been totally beyond me.
This is what I do now:
Apollo Choir
MSS VP
Jude's SMC
co-MD-ing for QC musical 2007
[the above four are basically executive kind of roles]
Melbourne Welcome 2007
Connect
accompanying x a lot
trio
piano
work (attempt to...)
piano
commerce
piano
sinfonia
piano
maintain some sort of sane life
piano
no wonder i'm not succeeding...! i think i'm about to collapse and fall apart....
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The review!
Okay, so I'm supposed to be doing assignments. But blogging is just so much more exciting.
Furthermore, I'm listening to The Idea of North at the present moment, and it makes me feel like talking all about it!
So here it is....
A little group of us met at Queen's...hehe. I didn't realise how varied my little sub-group was because I walked into the arch with Penny and was like, "Hi Min!", "Hi Emma!", "Hi Ed!", "Hi Anna!" in this amazing succession and also noticed that all the people who were supposed to meet were all there, but they weren't talking to each other because they didn't know each other - they're all from different walks of my life hehe!
Alas, we got to the tramstop, picked up a few extra people, and met Gina and part of her massive group.
We got to Flinders and I was a bit paranoid that the #72 wasn't going to come for a long time.
But alas, we did get it, and in good time too!
We got to the venue 20 mins before it started! This is an amazing achivement for us. Apart from the very first time when Sam and I went to the concert at Collins St Baptist Church, we have been cutting it very very fine at Chapel off Chapel twice already (due to mishaps with trams...)
Wow. We walked in and I must have recognised about half the people already there - this really is a testament to how big our group was! Haha. It was fantastic seeing so many people I knew there! We even spotted a few teachers from the con, including a lecturer (for the subject that Ed takes that he was writing an assignment on this concert for! Hehe..!), as well as two promiment figures in the Early Music Studio! (This is perhaps quite far from early music....oh well!)
[wow, this is totally following Gina's format exactly..I'm sorry girl, you've done yours so well! Haha...I'll persist...]
To tell you the truth, I was a bit apprehensive about Trish not being there! (Trish is on maternity leave! Which is totally exciting for her and all her family and friends! But kinda sad for us too...) So, filling in for Trish was Sally Cameron on soprano. She did a wonderful job - apparently she's learnt about 35 songs since December. This is a tough ask...! Considering how hard some of the songs are (I would particularly note 'Just Kidding' and the saxaphone song..!) Of course, she's not Trish - their voices are quite different, but she fitted in quite well!
The concert opened with Mas Que Nada. There have been lots of renditions of this hit song (Anna particularly likes The Black Eyed Peas version. I have to agree with her, it's so funky, it makes you feel like dancing!) This was so much fun :) Everytime I go to a TION concert and it starts out with something so cool, I just know that it will be a fantastic night!
Marie was next, where a dear old lady, Judy, was serenaded by Nick (awww..!) Haha. I love how this song becomes a running joke through the entire concert!
Sting's Fields of Gold was a new addition to the set - but totally a worthy addition. So too was the Aretha Franklin song. In this, plus Revelation I think Sally's voice suited very well. She has a different sort of power and tone to her voice that really does these songs justice.
To tell you the truth, I was a bit apprehensive about Trish not being there! (Trish is on maternity leave! Which is totally exciting for her and all her family and friends! But kinda sad for us too...) So, filling in for Trish was Sally Cameron on soprano. She did a wonderful job - apparently she's learnt about 35 songs since December. This is a tough ask...! Considering how hard some of the songs are (I would particularly note 'Just Kidding' and the saxaphone song..!) Of course, she's not Trish - their voices are quite different, but she fitted in quite well!
The concert opened with Mas Que Nada. There have been lots of renditions of this hit song (Anna particularly likes The Black Eyed Peas version. I have to agree with her, it's so funky, it makes you feel like dancing!) This was so much fun :) Everytime I go to a TION concert and it starts out with something so cool, I just know that it will be a fantastic night!
Marie was next, where a dear old lady, Judy, was serenaded by Nick (awww..!) Haha. I love how this song becomes a running joke through the entire concert!
Sting's Fields of Gold was a new addition to the set - but totally a worthy addition. So too was the Aretha Franklin song. In this, plus Revelation I think Sally's voice suited very well. She has a different sort of power and tone to her voice that really does these songs justice.
The German folksong unfortunately has never been one of my favourites on the CDs but seeing it live did it much more justice! I have greater appreciation for this song now! Hehe. It is so funny seeing it live; the stage presence and actions are just perfect! And who would have thought about replacing words with random noises..? Woof, hee-haw, others...hehe :P
The Chicken Song also featured. Hehe! This song is so fantastic live. I think Sally characterised the chicken very well in this. Trish's chicken is a more lovable fluffy thing while Sally's is a bit more blonde :) (I mean that in the nicest possible way!)
They did People Get Ready ('a classic Curtis Mayfield song')...I was wondering how they were going to do it considering that on The Gospel Project they do it with backing. But this was just beautiful :) Andrew doing his percussion thing...! Let It Ring, also from TGP was there...this is such a beautiful song; Nick really does Michael Leunig well! And they sang my SHOWER SONG! (But Not For Me, the Gershwin classic). I love this song! The reason it's my shower song is because I sing it in the shower and it fits into my vocal range that early in the morning.. :P Also because it's totally cool and Naomi gets the awesome solo (yay altos!)
The chaser for the end of the first set was hilarious. It has totally escaped me what the tune for this was, but it was familiar. Apart from you know, the change of words, imploring the audience to come back after interval :) Typical Idea of North... :P
Bach's Fugue in c minor from The WTC was performed on kazoos...just to prove that TION are not cover bands! In the middle of it, they launched into a jazz number, before the closing of the fugue! The subjects and entries were very clearly defined, the piano staff at the Con would be proud! Hehe. :P Nick made this awesome dig at cover bands (despite you know, respecting them and all...)....I mean, Melbourne has its fair share.....take the MSO for example.......HAHAHAH. [I had seriously just commented to Ed, "Well, we are all classical musicians, you know, we play in symphony orchestras...."!] This of course raises up interesting points and could launch into a full-scale debate about originality in (classical) music....oh well. This is not the time nor place......but I thought this was MOST ironic considering that Vivien and John (the two Early Music Studio people mentioned before) were in the audience!!! Hahaha.
Just Kidding was awesome too. That is so hard!!!! Chuck that in with No More Blues and I think you've got a beautiful little display of TION's virtuosity. But put Jackie in....! This song was originally a jazz piece, for solo saxaphone (and band behind it, I guess...) And then somebody went nuts and put words to the solo bits. It's absolutely crazy!!! ('I saw a mouse...' hehe!) The solos by all four of the singers were totally awesome. (One of those times Ed would have needed the "yeah" nodding look or the "no no no! You did not just do that!" shaking of the head...all in that jazz style..! Haha..)
Rachel, Trish's beautiful song was performed; so too was Fragile, much to the pleasure of Kenneth! That is a song that's beautiful live too. :) (Perhaps I'm just listening to some too often haha!) There was even the Ugly Woman song. I love this one. Haha. Don't worry Nick, I'm not sure if this has ever happened in real life, but none of us could ever imagine this! After one of Nick's solos, I commented to Ed, "And that's probably why every woman here would want to marry him (hehe!)" and Ed said, "Ooh, and me!" (don't worry, he has a girlfriend, but I think that just must be a testament to how awesome Nick is..!)
And they ended with Isn't She Lovely. Which was totally awesome. I know all the words don't really make sense...but this is a song I want at my wedding reception..! (Perhaps they could come do it for me....with some words altered..? Surely it's possible...! Hehe) And we all got to sing bits too :) We did sound pretty good, so much that Nick asked, "Are you guys are choir or something?" (somebody, Vivien, I read, said quite emphatically, "yes!"...haha). Well, considering that half of our massive group are musos.....
The encore was (read: WAS) a hymn (before Idea got to it..and did funny cool things!): Just a Closer Walk With Thee. I don't actually think I can remember how the original goes now! Haha. It was wonderful...Emma and I really wanted to sing along to it all..complete with harmonies! Hehe....(music nerrrrds..!)
It was a wonderful concert! Of course, things are a little different with Sally instead of Trish - there are only a few issues that you listen and think, "hmm.." but considering it's her fourth gig...it's pretty darn amazing! Again, it was filled with fun, humour, long rambling introductions by Nick, telling Nick off (hehe), cool solos (particularly percussion ones!), odd instruments and awesome awesome music!
We stayed around after to meet and greet them.....of course :P Sorry to my friends who wanted to go home earlier.....be warned: I do this! Haha. Unfortunately Sam went home early (of all people!! Haha) We got our obligatory photos....
We talked to Naomi and did confirm that her uncle is Jeffrey Crellin, oboist with MSO. Naomi was like, "He's freakishly musical, it's amazing." I so wanted to say, "Naomi, so are you!!" Haha. Having said that, I am in total respect of freakishly musical people, of which I know a few!
We had photos taken.
We talked to Nick, we told him the website is awesome (check it out at www.idea.com.au)
and generally had an amazing night.
(Hah. Nick, when we were talking to him made a reference to stumbling across Gina's blog which was pretty cool!)
Anyway, I have a few photos from the night that are currently posted on facebook
so look for them there. There are also two below......if you'd like the photos, please feel free to save them yourself. If you want me to send them to you, please ask too :)
Wow, that was my amazingly long review.
Which has gotten me out of doing my microeconomics assignment for about 45 mins. I wish my life was about singing! Or hey, perhaps playing piano...!
set lists - we had to take a photo because ed needs it for his Music In Australia assignment. We seriously contemplated taking them, but I pointed out they were doing another concert the following night. Imagine all the things that could have gone wrong...."What are we singing next..?!"
Furthermore, I'm listening to The Idea of North at the present moment, and it makes me feel like talking all about it!
So here it is....
A little group of us met at Queen's...hehe. I didn't realise how varied my little sub-group was because I walked into the arch with Penny and was like, "Hi Min!", "Hi Emma!", "Hi Ed!", "Hi Anna!" in this amazing succession and also noticed that all the people who were supposed to meet were all there, but they weren't talking to each other because they didn't know each other - they're all from different walks of my life hehe!
Alas, we got to the tramstop, picked up a few extra people, and met Gina and part of her massive group.
We got to Flinders and I was a bit paranoid that the #72 wasn't going to come for a long time.
But alas, we did get it, and in good time too!
We got to the venue 20 mins before it started! This is an amazing achivement for us. Apart from the very first time when Sam and I went to the concert at Collins St Baptist Church, we have been cutting it very very fine at Chapel off Chapel twice already (due to mishaps with trams...)
Wow. We walked in and I must have recognised about half the people already there - this really is a testament to how big our group was! Haha. It was fantastic seeing so many people I knew there! We even spotted a few teachers from the con, including a lecturer (for the subject that Ed takes that he was writing an assignment on this concert for! Hehe..!), as well as two promiment figures in the Early Music Studio! (This is perhaps quite far from early music....oh well!)
[wow, this is totally following Gina's format exactly..I'm sorry girl, you've done yours so well! Haha...I'll persist...]
To tell you the truth, I was a bit apprehensive about Trish not being there! (Trish is on maternity leave! Which is totally exciting for her and all her family and friends! But kinda sad for us too...) So, filling in for Trish was Sally Cameron on soprano. She did a wonderful job - apparently she's learnt about 35 songs since December. This is a tough ask...! Considering how hard some of the songs are (I would particularly note 'Just Kidding' and the saxaphone song..!) Of course, she's not Trish - their voices are quite different, but she fitted in quite well!
The concert opened with Mas Que Nada. There have been lots of renditions of this hit song (Anna particularly likes The Black Eyed Peas version. I have to agree with her, it's so funky, it makes you feel like dancing!) This was so much fun :) Everytime I go to a TION concert and it starts out with something so cool, I just know that it will be a fantastic night!
Marie was next, where a dear old lady, Judy, was serenaded by Nick (awww..!) Haha. I love how this song becomes a running joke through the entire concert!
Sting's Fields of Gold was a new addition to the set - but totally a worthy addition. So too was the Aretha Franklin song. In this, plus Revelation I think Sally's voice suited very well. She has a different sort of power and tone to her voice that really does these songs justice.
To tell you the truth, I was a bit apprehensive about Trish not being there! (Trish is on maternity leave! Which is totally exciting for her and all her family and friends! But kinda sad for us too...) So, filling in for Trish was Sally Cameron on soprano. She did a wonderful job - apparently she's learnt about 35 songs since December. This is a tough ask...! Considering how hard some of the songs are (I would particularly note 'Just Kidding' and the saxaphone song..!) Of course, she's not Trish - their voices are quite different, but she fitted in quite well!
The concert opened with Mas Que Nada. There have been lots of renditions of this hit song (Anna particularly likes The Black Eyed Peas version. I have to agree with her, it's so funky, it makes you feel like dancing!) This was so much fun :) Everytime I go to a TION concert and it starts out with something so cool, I just know that it will be a fantastic night!
Marie was next, where a dear old lady, Judy, was serenaded by Nick (awww..!) Haha. I love how this song becomes a running joke through the entire concert!
Sting's Fields of Gold was a new addition to the set - but totally a worthy addition. So too was the Aretha Franklin song. In this, plus Revelation I think Sally's voice suited very well. She has a different sort of power and tone to her voice that really does these songs justice.
The German folksong unfortunately has never been one of my favourites on the CDs but seeing it live did it much more justice! I have greater appreciation for this song now! Hehe. It is so funny seeing it live; the stage presence and actions are just perfect! And who would have thought about replacing words with random noises..? Woof, hee-haw, others...hehe :P
The Chicken Song also featured. Hehe! This song is so fantastic live. I think Sally characterised the chicken very well in this. Trish's chicken is a more lovable fluffy thing while Sally's is a bit more blonde :) (I mean that in the nicest possible way!)
They did People Get Ready ('a classic Curtis Mayfield song')...I was wondering how they were going to do it considering that on The Gospel Project they do it with backing. But this was just beautiful :) Andrew doing his percussion thing...! Let It Ring, also from TGP was there...this is such a beautiful song; Nick really does Michael Leunig well! And they sang my SHOWER SONG! (But Not For Me, the Gershwin classic). I love this song! The reason it's my shower song is because I sing it in the shower and it fits into my vocal range that early in the morning.. :P Also because it's totally cool and Naomi gets the awesome solo (yay altos!)
The chaser for the end of the first set was hilarious. It has totally escaped me what the tune for this was, but it was familiar. Apart from you know, the change of words, imploring the audience to come back after interval :) Typical Idea of North... :P
Bach's Fugue in c minor from The WTC was performed on kazoos...just to prove that TION are not cover bands! In the middle of it, they launched into a jazz number, before the closing of the fugue! The subjects and entries were very clearly defined, the piano staff at the Con would be proud! Hehe. :P Nick made this awesome dig at cover bands (despite you know, respecting them and all...)....I mean, Melbourne has its fair share.....take the MSO for example.......HAHAHAH. [I had seriously just commented to Ed, "Well, we are all classical musicians, you know, we play in symphony orchestras...."!] This of course raises up interesting points and could launch into a full-scale debate about originality in (classical) music....oh well. This is not the time nor place......but I thought this was MOST ironic considering that Vivien and John (the two Early Music Studio people mentioned before) were in the audience!!! Hahaha.
Just Kidding was awesome too. That is so hard!!!! Chuck that in with No More Blues and I think you've got a beautiful little display of TION's virtuosity. But put Jackie in....! This song was originally a jazz piece, for solo saxaphone (and band behind it, I guess...) And then somebody went nuts and put words to the solo bits. It's absolutely crazy!!! ('I saw a mouse...' hehe!) The solos by all four of the singers were totally awesome. (One of those times Ed would have needed the "yeah" nodding look or the "no no no! You did not just do that!" shaking of the head...all in that jazz style..! Haha..)
Rachel, Trish's beautiful song was performed; so too was Fragile, much to the pleasure of Kenneth! That is a song that's beautiful live too. :) (Perhaps I'm just listening to some too often haha!) There was even the Ugly Woman song. I love this one. Haha. Don't worry Nick, I'm not sure if this has ever happened in real life, but none of us could ever imagine this! After one of Nick's solos, I commented to Ed, "And that's probably why every woman here would want to marry him (hehe!)" and Ed said, "Ooh, and me!" (don't worry, he has a girlfriend, but I think that just must be a testament to how awesome Nick is..!)
And they ended with Isn't She Lovely. Which was totally awesome. I know all the words don't really make sense...but this is a song I want at my wedding reception..! (Perhaps they could come do it for me....with some words altered..? Surely it's possible...! Hehe) And we all got to sing bits too :) We did sound pretty good, so much that Nick asked, "Are you guys are choir or something?" (somebody, Vivien, I read, said quite emphatically, "yes!"...haha). Well, considering that half of our massive group are musos.....
The encore was (read: WAS) a hymn (before Idea got to it..and did funny cool things!): Just a Closer Walk With Thee. I don't actually think I can remember how the original goes now! Haha. It was wonderful...Emma and I really wanted to sing along to it all..complete with harmonies! Hehe....(music nerrrrds..!)
It was a wonderful concert! Of course, things are a little different with Sally instead of Trish - there are only a few issues that you listen and think, "hmm.." but considering it's her fourth gig...it's pretty darn amazing! Again, it was filled with fun, humour, long rambling introductions by Nick, telling Nick off (hehe), cool solos (particularly percussion ones!), odd instruments and awesome awesome music!
We stayed around after to meet and greet them.....of course :P Sorry to my friends who wanted to go home earlier.....be warned: I do this! Haha. Unfortunately Sam went home early (of all people!! Haha) We got our obligatory photos....
We talked to Naomi and did confirm that her uncle is Jeffrey Crellin, oboist with MSO. Naomi was like, "He's freakishly musical, it's amazing." I so wanted to say, "Naomi, so are you!!" Haha. Having said that, I am in total respect of freakishly musical people, of which I know a few!
We had photos taken.
We talked to Nick, we told him the website is awesome (check it out at www.idea.com.au)
and generally had an amazing night.
(Hah. Nick, when we were talking to him made a reference to stumbling across Gina's blog which was pretty cool!)
Anyway, I have a few photos from the night that are currently posted on facebook
so look for them there. There are also two below......if you'd like the photos, please feel free to save them yourself. If you want me to send them to you, please ask too :)
Wow, that was my amazingly long review.
Which has gotten me out of doing my microeconomics assignment for about 45 mins. I wish my life was about singing! Or hey, perhaps playing piano...!
set lists - we had to take a photo because ed needs it for his Music In Australia assignment. We seriously contemplated taking them, but I pointed out they were doing another concert the following night. Imagine all the things that could have gone wrong...."What are we singing next..?!"
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The Idea of North!
I know, I didn't even post up photos from my birthday, and that was last week!
But the reason is because there are about 170 photos from that, and I'm trying to sort through them all.
Alas, stuff is out of order! But here are pictures from tonight's concert by The Idea of North!
It was yet another great night out - and we weren't late this time (woohoo!)
They weren't launching a CD or anything, so there was a good mix of older and new-ish stuff.
The fill-in soprano is doing a great job - she fits in really well! And she's doing very well, 35 songs since December..? Very grand effort!
Her renditions in the Aretha Franklin song as well as 'Revelation' were particularly excellent.
Enough of pseudo-reviews....
Here are a couple of pictures!
Emma, Min, Tim, Naomi, me, Lauren
Naomi, Sally, me, Andrew, Nick (they're not actually all my height ie. short..
they were very kind :) )
But the reason is because there are about 170 photos from that, and I'm trying to sort through them all.
Alas, stuff is out of order! But here are pictures from tonight's concert by The Idea of North!
It was yet another great night out - and we weren't late this time (woohoo!)
They weren't launching a CD or anything, so there was a good mix of older and new-ish stuff.
The fill-in soprano is doing a great job - she fits in really well! And she's doing very well, 35 songs since December..? Very grand effort!
Her renditions in the Aretha Franklin song as well as 'Revelation' were particularly excellent.
Enough of pseudo-reviews....
Here are a couple of pictures!
Emma, Min, Tim, Naomi, me, Lauren
Naomi, Sally, me, Andrew, Nick (they're not actually all my height ie. short..
they were very kind :) )
Thursday, April 26, 2007
stuff i'm working on
bach prelude and fugue (f sharp minor, bk2)
chopin etude op. 25 no. 11 (winter wind)
moskowzski etude (a flat major)
mozart concerto in d minor, 1st movt
should be looking forward to 2nd semester, including bach prelude and fugue (d major, bk2)
i wanted to do the bach-busoni chaccone. it's insane. but totally cool.
rautuuvaara (can't spell his name...) fire sermon (piano sonata)
beethoven piano sonata op.110
three debussy preludes
debussy l'isle joyeaux (from images..? or something like that..)
ravel, something from miroirs
that's just my solo stuff
ensemble stuff includes
trio music, trio by bruch (three pieces, out of eight)
we should really look at some more too....
accompanying
did 2nd movt, haydn trumpet concerto
did the schumann adagio and allegro
did gordon jacob horn concerto 3rd movt
haydn horn concerto
strauss 2nd horn concerto (sooo hard..!)
saint-seans romance for piano and horn
mozart horn concerto, 1st movt
two song cycles (poulenc, gerald finzi)
some other songs
beethoven cello sonata op.102 no.2
no wonder i'm playing a lot.....!
the most recent one is the beethoven cello. this is the most exciting proposal in a long while....
my name and number got passed onto zoe, who teaches cello at the con.
she's running a beethoven project, involving the performance of all the beethoven cello sonatas.
well, i thought it was just for her students to play with piano students. pretty cool, huh, get hooked up with somebody to play some awesome music?
anyway, she called yesterday and asked me to play this specific sonata....
then proceded to give me a date (july 31) to play for a LIVE BROADCAST ON 3MBS
so, it's not just for kicks and to play with somebody. it's to play FOR PERFORMANCE.
pretty sweet, is what i think!
even my teacher didn't realise it was for broadcast....she thinks it's pretty cool too!
also, i've been roped in to help co-musical direct the queen's musical.
now tell me where i'm going to fit that in....
also, if you're free at 3.45pm on tuesday 8 may, please come to melba hall to hear me play in the mozart concerto competition!
all welcome, competition runs that day, the previous friday, some other days..(can't quite remember them all..but all up about 3-4 days with lots of piano, strings, winds/brass)
to make it more interesting for you, although a stack of people are playing the same concerto as me (the d minor), i have written my own cadenza! oooohhhh!!!! BE THERE! :) [i'd love to see your smiling, supporting, encouraging face!]
chopin etude op. 25 no. 11 (winter wind)
moskowzski etude (a flat major)
mozart concerto in d minor, 1st movt
should be looking forward to 2nd semester, including bach prelude and fugue (d major, bk2)
i wanted to do the bach-busoni chaccone. it's insane. but totally cool.
rautuuvaara (can't spell his name...) fire sermon (piano sonata)
beethoven piano sonata op.110
three debussy preludes
debussy l'isle joyeaux (from images..? or something like that..)
ravel, something from miroirs
that's just my solo stuff
ensemble stuff includes
trio music, trio by bruch (three pieces, out of eight)
we should really look at some more too....
accompanying
did 2nd movt, haydn trumpet concerto
did the schumann adagio and allegro
did gordon jacob horn concerto 3rd movt
haydn horn concerto
strauss 2nd horn concerto (sooo hard..!)
saint-seans romance for piano and horn
mozart horn concerto, 1st movt
two song cycles (poulenc, gerald finzi)
some other songs
beethoven cello sonata op.102 no.2
no wonder i'm playing a lot.....!
the most recent one is the beethoven cello. this is the most exciting proposal in a long while....
my name and number got passed onto zoe, who teaches cello at the con.
she's running a beethoven project, involving the performance of all the beethoven cello sonatas.
well, i thought it was just for her students to play with piano students. pretty cool, huh, get hooked up with somebody to play some awesome music?
anyway, she called yesterday and asked me to play this specific sonata....
then proceded to give me a date (july 31) to play for a LIVE BROADCAST ON 3MBS
so, it's not just for kicks and to play with somebody. it's to play FOR PERFORMANCE.
pretty sweet, is what i think!
even my teacher didn't realise it was for broadcast....she thinks it's pretty cool too!
also, i've been roped in to help co-musical direct the queen's musical.
now tell me where i'm going to fit that in....
also, if you're free at 3.45pm on tuesday 8 may, please come to melba hall to hear me play in the mozart concerto competition!
all welcome, competition runs that day, the previous friday, some other days..(can't quite remember them all..but all up about 3-4 days with lots of piano, strings, winds/brass)
to make it more interesting for you, although a stack of people are playing the same concerto as me (the d minor), i have written my own cadenza! oooohhhh!!!! BE THERE! :) [i'd love to see your smiling, supporting, encouraging face!]
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
hmm...
if you didn't know, i guess you could think something was up.
we're oh-too-friendly hehe!
the leaning in
the whispering in the ear
the catch of the eye
the knowing smile
the plans, currently in the early stages
i wonder what they must have been thinking behind us...haha!
but not for me...
we're oh-too-friendly hehe!
the leaning in
the whispering in the ear
the catch of the eye
the knowing smile
the plans, currently in the early stages
i wonder what they must have been thinking behind us...haha!
but not for me...
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