Month: May 2011

Toward the beginning of the game

Before the storm

And the purple sky

And here I have encountered my first strange I-need-to-be-somewhat-possessive-of-the-music-that-happens-here moments.


Go Twins. (We were down 6-0 when we left.)

I will tell you what’s cool. Using your smartphone to listen to Pandora while running for the first time in two weeks because you feel fat and have the first half marathon you’ve ever run to prepare for in a few months. And an expected 80-degree day tomorrow for the Twins game we get to see in the corporate box (free drinks and dinner).


I spent a good portion of the day fretting about having to use piano for a group at the end of the day. I didn’t use it, but I will next week, so that means I have a whole week to worry about that. And to worry about the wedding music I will be playing on Saturday. Hopefully I will spend the time I want and need to spend on this music. However, there are so many other things to do in a day. Maybe I won’t sleep anymore. 

Hello, Bash. You are skinny.

Here are some pictures of mighty Bash, whose previous owners invested some precious time in preparing him for us; he is the most well-mannered 10-month-old puppy I have ever known. I am really surprised by him and absolutely pleased. 

Sit.

A real weekend lies before me. A real, two-day, grown-up weekend, that is happening on a Saturday and Sunday. And the weather is gorgeous, which is tremendous and wonderful. 


Here is another list of sentences I dislike (note that they are said to me by typically-functioning adults with well minds):
“You look sick.”
“I can’t believe you had such luck getting roles [in theatre].”
“I don’t like that [wedding] dress on you. Your shoulders are so masculine.”
“You don’t seem like a theatre person to me at all. You are way too introverted. I just can’t imagine you performing.”
The following was said by someone in my facility, but it’s just too unique not to share:
“Did you have a lot of acne when you were a kid? ‘Cause your face looks like it.”


Here is a list of things I lovelovelove that are happening on a daily basis:
Waking up at 6:00 and going for a long walk with Thomas and Bash;
Eating breakfast;
Having a reason to start my day with physical activity, and to take that same walk when I get home from work;
Looking forward to the next day as I fall asleep the night before.


Happy weekend.

I may have an opportunity to provide music therapy to clients with developmental disabilities on a 1:1 basis as an independent contractor. I may also have an opportunity to teach voice, violin, and/or beginners’ guitar. I may too have an opportunity to develop my skills advocating for music therapy by presenting to a variety of groups throughout this area. 


I may really want to take this opportunity, should it be granted to me, because I am configuring a three-year plan that includes opening my own practice…


I may need to take a business class or two between now and when I decide to act on that plan.


I may also feel a pang of hesitation because I may really want to spend good time at home. However, maybe now is best to invest this kind of time so that in the next couple of years, when there is more of a pull to be home (not that there isn’t now, but when it might be too hard to be away… ), I could maybe accomplish having my own schedule and my own clients…

I may, I may, I may. We’ll just see how it goes. 

Here I sit, in my blue sweatpants and black sweatshirt (yes, nice, and yes, I did color coordinate with Mom), rocking in one of our two wicker rocking chairs on the enclosed porch, with Thomas sitting next to me and Bash (the new dog) sleeping on the doormat, and I am thinking that life is pretty awesome at the moment. 


Remembering to love moments like this is truly difficult for me. 


Because I could just as easily think that this is a great moment, but for the fact that I am not being productive. And because I am not doing things that need to get done, this moment, therefore, really isn’t as great as it could be. And there goes my cherishing the moment… 


No, that’s not true. I still am loving life. 


I do wonder, though, how to do it all. I could easily, and maybe should, spend hours each night working. I am still trying to find my balance.

Finally, it’s over 30 degrees here, and the sun is out. I took Bash/the dog whose name may or may not be solidified, for a walk directly after work. I had a great morning, both at home and at work, but my afternoon has pretty much sucked for reasons I can’t determine. Even the walk in the awesome weather didn’t help me. 


Below is a list of phrases I dislike:
“Is there going to be a sing-along?”
“Are you the entertainer?”
“Are you going to perform for us?”
A staff member to a resident, as I am trying to gather specific people for a group: “Would you like to listen to some music?”
“The new activity girl is here.” (This one is special; I don’t like “girl,” either.)

I do happen to look good in red.

I. can. hardly. stand. those. words. in. those. configurations. !


But I do. I do stand them. 

On Saturday, Thomas and I had another opportunity to go to an orchestra concert. True, I was tired from having worked all day, and Thomas seemed tired from having run a 10K in the morning (and helping me move out of the apartment), but we went. I was again impressed by a violin soloist, Johnathan Magness, and I was reminded that I absolutely love Dvorak. Another thought I had, though, was about the act of teaching music. 


Clearly, this violinist and all of the orchestra members are terrific musicians. I had to help run an event at work that morning, also having to do with violin players– and I say “violin players” because they were children, very young to maybe high school-aged. They were giving an annual recital. (Mom, they weren’t Suzuki, though they did play a lot of Suzuki songs.) Now, they are learning how to play violin. They are learning about music by experiencing an instrument. But in my book, they weren’t musicians. Yet. 

This is not Bash.

I have played violin since I was two (nearly three) years old. I can tell you that I do not ever remember being enthralled by the music I played. I do not have a memory of hearing a piece and having trouble resisting some temptation to learn it. I do, however, recall seeing a couple other kids who had a need to know a piece. Certainly, I have benefited from my Suzuki instruction, but my big question is: How is musicianship taught? Or is it? At what point does the ability to play an instrument, or use your voice to sing a song, become musical? I believe that I am a musician, but I do not think I was a musician until very recently. I suppose I am wondering whether or not musicality can be instructed. Can one be taught to be a musician, or is musicianship (and lack thereof) a part of one’s nature?


On a very different topic: Thomas and I are now dog owners! Yesterday, we adopted a 10-month-old, black labrador/retriever mix from the Humane Society. We love him! We have (just this moment) named him Bash. (There is a story behind his name, but you’ll have to ask me to have Thomas relay it to you…)


Pictures of Bash to come.