The Student Musician.... an exciting life.

Today I went to go watch the orchestra rehearse. Since I have to wait around till after they get out anyway, I figured I'd pop in.. I always enjoy it. :) Right! So! Today!.... I step through the double doors, just as Robert (the grad assistant) is going out. He pauses long enough to tell me I may be playing the harp part for one of the pieces. Naturally, this is the first I hear about it... and the concert is Tuesday. That's right... THIS Tuesday. As in 1, 2, 3, 4, FIVE days away. He comes back with copies of the music, and as the orchestra is rehearsing with the student conductor, I step out into the hallway with the Maestro and he informs me the student harpist has never been to any of the rehearsals... And he won't hear her until the dress rehearsal.. So he wanted backup in case she..well...is terrible. Now normally, I LOVE doing this kind of thing. Coming in last minute and saving the day in an awesome way. But that did not happen here.. not by a long shot. 1) I'm not use to playing with an orchestra. 2) I'd never heard the piece before in my life, and therefore 3) Never seen it before, and 4) It's not the easiest thing, that's for darn sure.. Rhythmically speaking. Harmonically, no problem. Super tonal. But fast as hell.. I mean the measures are just careening by! Soaring by with pulses of One..One...One...One! (It's in 3/8.. but too fast to beat in 3).
Needless to say, I'll be listening to a recording of that piece over the weekend. (After we finish filming)


My woodwind quintet is killing me... just.... pure murder. I've spent the past MONTH now on two pages. TWO! Good grief.. I should have been done with this piece weeks ago. But Dave sat in on our lesson today, and gave a fantastic suggestion of going into a march feel... Which it just so happens I already have the beginnings of such a thing when I was working on my dueling conductors piece (which never went anywhere). Three cheers for using old material! I think it'll be exactly what this piece needs. Here's hoping, cause it needs to be done.. like... yesterday.

Oi! It’s past my bed time by 40 minutes. Time to sleep.