Friday, February 13, 2009

In the next 10 days I have four auditions and a wedding to attend.

In other news, I was officially admitted to my top choice for a doctoral institution yesterday. I'm still taking the other auditions because I haven't heard anything about an assistantship yet.

This school's undergraduate woodwind skills class is taught by one person, and it is generally taught by a multiple woodwind specialist. They don't currently have one in the degree program.. make your own conclusion. I'm optimistic.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I like comfy, black, leather couches. A lot. Any school that's willing to place them in their lounge for student use has got my vote.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Well, I'm leaving for Texas in just under seven hours. It's going to be a 13-hour drive to Dallas. I'm used to long day trips so this shouldn't be too difficult. At least I'll have the sun at my back the entire way. I'll bring Karajan's Beethoven collection to keep me company.

As I was preparing my clothes tonight I once again realized I good I used to have it with my last girlfriend. Any time we'd go on a trip she would pack for the both of us a few days in advance. I'm a last-minute sort of guy when it comes to these things so as I was putting my shirts and pants together, matching the ties, socks, and shoes for the four-day trip, I thought about our past.

Hopefully I'll find someone that good to me again. I guess you don't really appreciate it until it's gone.

I'll make sure to take lots of pictures.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

I'm gonna make it. I think I'm going to get everything up to speed by the time of the first audition. I'm leaving for Texas on Wednesday at the latest. The audition is on Saturday, but I'd like to spend a few days at the audition site so that my reeds will adjust.

The past two months I've really only been concerned with getting everything technically perfect, at performance tempo, and with the correct dynamics.. other than that, these pieces are still pretty flat. I'm glad that this first school is my 'safety' school. I'm also glad that I have a week and a half between the first and second auditions. That will give me the time to put my stamp on the interpretation of each of these six works. It'll also give me a chance to polish some flute and clarinet excerpts for Eastman on the 27th.

It's going to be a 13 hour drive and I'll be there for four days, so I need to find someone to look after and feed my two cats. Any volunteers?

Ibert - check
Feld - check

Tomasi - 5
McAllister - 5

Lauba - 6
Albright - 6

Ticks to go: 22
Days until the first audition: 6
Ticks needed per day: 3.67