I want to live in New Orleans- but only if I had a gig where I have access to an excellent pipe organ and a concert grand that I prefer. Both do not have to be in the same place. I would like to play in an old-school cocktail lounge, perhaps somewhere like the Roosevelt...and sometimes, I want to play the juke joint...though, a nice hotel, plus a hotel room for my tenure, and a stipend- that would be nice. I like that sort of gig, and I can certainly deliver the goods. Also, an organist job at a large church would be fun! I love it down there so. ONLY if I don't have to struggle to live there, would I be interested, otherwise, I'm happy as a lark doing what I do here- I LOVE my work, and I LOVE all my jobs. I though have learned that teaching is not something that is in my wheelhouse of interest, or skill. I finally have learned to say "no" I will not always save the day because of your bad decisions as a musical executive. I will no longer rush to struggle to learn pieces due to their lateness in hiring a pianist- I don't have to do that anymore, so I am enjoying focusing on myself. I love it. I love practicing, bettering my skills in which I have neglected for many years, and sort of hitting the 40's reset button. I want to be as good as I can possibly be at my skills as a musician. If that skill level is just semi-virtuoso cocktail pianist, then fine, I'm down for that. BUT- If I discover that I can handle virtuoso repertoire, and borrow freely from it to better my own playing as a soloist- well, I will have struck gold. I hope that there IS indeed gold, which is indeed most great player's goal in life- though, I want the better technique now, and I have some catching up to do. Being self didactic, I live a great existence, as all my colleagues are also scholars, as we all are in our respective musical fields. Though, I don't have to pony or suck up to a professor that is ignorant, yet possess a high degree. The magic of college though, is that you are able to study with greats of any musical field, if you can pay the tuition. College does have a way of removing the wall between celebrity and reality. So many mixed feelings about the college institutions. I love learning- though, at my age of 41, I am patient, and want to learn. At 18, I wanted to make merry, not learn. The world is so promising with the youthful perspective. Halcyon days, my friends. Halcyon moments. I've not ventured with pen into my practicing as of late. Busy with the arts camp at work, and dealing with Henry, and meetings, et-cetera, there has been little time to blog about practice. Though, I have certainly practiced- usually 2-6 hour per day. Lately- yesterday, and the days before, included rehearsing of: Rachmaninoff/Rachmaninov....(I see a friend using the 'v,' so, I will perhaps use it interchangeably): Prelude in Bb Major
Liszt: Un Sospiro (From the 3 Concert Etudes)
Ravel: La Valse (Multiple editions) Schulz-Evler: Concert Arabesques on "The Beautiful Blue Danube"
Kapustin: Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: Prelude. Allegro Assai
Rachmaninov: Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee"
There are a lot of other things that I practiced. I'm sleepy. I want a nap.
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