pilots for dorky music television

So… did anyone check out Glee the other night? I definitely enjoyed the pilot a lot yesterday (on a practice break). Isn’t it exciting that television is suddenly into the glorification of dorky high school hobbies? Maybe we can blame High School Musical for this.
But maybe the numbers are working out. Think about it: how [...]

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reed-o-rama!

I’ve accepted a challenge from a friend to spend tomorrow practicing and reedmaking — except for the time it takes to eat, go for a run, shower, and attend my darling sister’s high school graduation (!) — so needless to say there will not be an update tomorrow.
I’m updating tonight! (Expect a Thursday update on [...]

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Bassoon and English? Bass-nglish?

In the time between my last update and now, I’ve added an English major (with a concentration in creative writing) to my bassoon performance major. I’d been thinking about it since October of my freshman year at Eastman, and kept deciding against being a dual degree student because of the increased workload. After all, when [...]

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A New Update — A New Summer!

It’s been almost a year since my last post — and I’m so sorry for disappearing like that!
A lot has happened in the past year, but even more is happening this summer. I’m playing my first real gig as a professional bassoonist (in the pit at the Ohio Light Opera), getting a new bassoon (a [...]

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perhaps a public service?

I will be visiting my grandparents in Miami starting today until June 23. They don’t have an internet connection, so hopefully I’ll be able to update once a week… But if not, just picture me enjoying the beach and working on reeds!
Have a great summer in the meantime!

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a reedy sort of trio

I’m playing in a reed trio at the moment, and it has been a complete blast. Picture an ensemble where all reed complaints are immediately understood, where the instruments have similar technical concerns (although I win when it comes to the question of thumb dexterity), and, perhaps most importantly, where we all have a similar [...]

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lesson… lessoon?

Yesterday I had a lesson at Northwestern — my last lesson with Professor Kirk until next year! (He takes me on as a temporary student when the breaks for Eastman and Northwestern are different, which is always a good time. And I have a lesson with my old teacher scheduled for tomorrow. So there hasn’t [...]

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the problem of self-esteem

One thing I hate: musicians with obnoxiously low self-esteem. Well, actually I don’t mind those with low self-esteem, I mind those people who broadcast their feeling to the entire world. It’s emotionally draining — there have been people who I have to assure, practically on every encounter, that yes, they are a good musician, yes, [...]

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sixth-grade bassoon poetry

In the sixth grade, my English class did a survey of many different poetic forms.
Also in sixth grade, I started playing bassoon.
So if you find really awful poetry amusing, then you, my esteemed reader, are in for a treat.
The Story of ‘Oon
I know a bassoon named ‘Oon
Who sometimes sounds just like a loon.
Her mistress tries [...]

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in search of the perfect recital dress

This summer I’m giving a recital — in the spirit of “what happens to a girl when she goes off to music school for a year?” — and of course I’m already working on my program, but I am also keeping my eye out for the perfect recital dress.
Yeah, it’s a little girly, but a [...]

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