Prairie Oboe Companion

Get your composer straight.

2011-07-02T11:59:00.000-06:00

More from the world of "no book editor that knows anything about music":

From Chloe Neill's "Some Girls Bite"

...to be thankful for the things that reminded me that I was a small clog in a very big wheel: the lake on a moodily cloudy day; the gracious divinity of Elgar's "The Lark Ascending"...

Sent to me by a flutist...

2011-04-12T08:53:00.001-06:00

....who swears an oboist sent it to her.

My faves

2011-04-06T20:07:00.000-06:00

Not an oboe post, but we're keeping Team Camwell family-related, so this is the best place for my thoughts on...

American Idol!! (Who still watches this with me?) I picked my faves last year, and I was on the money with the final 2. We're down to 9 now, and my 4 favorites are still in it. They are:

Paul McDonald. My husband thinks he's creepy, but I completely disagree. I really dig him, and he's got the most unique voice of the competition. I'd buy his album.

Pia Toscano. She's a power house! Best voice of the competition.

Lauren Alaina. DJ Tanner of the competition! Anyone else see it? She's so cute. An early favorite, a friend of mine and I agree she could take the whole competition. She just needs to get her spunky personality back. She probably has the best pop voice this year.

Oh and dear Casey Abrams. You could take this thing! Best musician of the competition. He probably pushed too many people away with the freaky-creepy guy show. The occasional growl is alright, but I'd rather hear songs like you did this week. I think it will be between Lauren and Casey this year!

Christmas highlights

2011-01-10T23:27:00.001-06:00

Wow. So I spent all night putting photos into albums on Kodak Gallery, and altogether, there are about 160 photos...4 albums. Uh, I am not putting all of them on the blog! Here are the links:

Pre-Christmas Christmas in Iowa

Calgary Part 1

Calgary Part 2

Calgary Part 3

How do I choose some highlights?? I don't have all my favorites below. There are many from my dad's camera that made it to the Kodak galleries, but I would have had to go through the discs he gave me again to put them on the blog, and I think I've spent enough time on the computer tonight!! (Including some with my mom--our camera was out of batteries Christmas Eve and morning--all on my dad's camera.) So if you're dying to see them, click on the above links. If not, here are a few:

Editor's note: Oops. After all that, I posted to the wrong blog!! Well, no harm. I'll re-post on Team Camwell!! I hope you oboists enjoy my family photos, too!! :)

Random Thoughts from the Pit

2010-11-30T23:48:00.001-06:00

1) 6/4 is like 4/4 with 2 extra beats. (These words of wisdom from the conductor. I'm still waiting to step in a rest.)

2) It is cruel and unusual punishment to not only have to play "Bow" music at the end of a long show, but "Exit" music as well.

3) Why all the key changes?

4) My teeth hurt.

5) Is that blood I taste?

How do you spell ppppllllllll

2010-11-23T20:21:00.000-06:00

(or a raspberry sound with your lips, the only sound possible after 6 hours of rehearsing?)

I do not recommend zero practicing for several months (um, when was my last orchestra set??) then practicing for 2.5 hours the day before a 6-hour Broadway show rehearsal. Ouch, ouch, ouch. You know you're out of shape when you're on par with your oboe method students in their lack of embouchure muscles while playing for less than a 50-minute class. I shouldn't use motherhood as an excuse to not practice, but I have not found a workable solution. Every practice session has been on a need-to-now basis. Orchestra set? Practice. (Actually, I felt really good about my prep for the last set.) Perform at Fortnightly (a ladies' social/musical group every two weeks--101st year!)--practice the one piece for that (1st & 2nd mvts of the Dring Trio for oboe/flute/piano). Cramming all my practicing for Mary Poppins into one session (with a few DVD study sessions--useful, but not the same as practicing, and in my house, with the two babies, it was impossible to play along with the DVD) was not a good idea. Well, it was an afternoon practice session on English horn and the evening on oboe. So at 9pm last night, my lips felt like they were going to fall off.

Now, I'm a good reader, and it's saved my butt on many occasions, but being a good reader will not help you with your endurance. We had our first two rehearsals today, 6 hours' worth. At the beginning of break in our first rehearsal, I looked over at my friend Sonja on flute and said, "I'm in serious trouble." It didn't help that the practice space (I won't say room, as it was the lobby of the hall) was absolutely freezing...winds were flat...biting up to pitch...further ouch. By the end of the first rehearsal, I had trouble smiling--I was just trying to stretch my face muscles. By the end of the second rehearsal, I had cut through a lot of my upper lip enough to draw blood, I now have a few blisters (I'm praying will just miraculously callous over by tomorrow morning--gross I know...it's a wind player thing...we're tough) on that inside upper lip, and my lips are very chapped and raw. Tomorrow is worse...9 hours of playing. I don't know how I'm going to make it.

To make matters worse, my inner klutz made its appearance today, and I took a tumble in the middle of the street. We were rushing back to the hall (er, lobby) after lunch, and we really had to run. (I'm also out-of-shape physically...I feel oh-so-good about myself.) I was running with two girls, both in better shape!! We were jay-walking/running, a car was coming (although the light was turning, so I don't want people to think I threw myself in front of oncoming traffic), so we ran faster. I wasn't wearing great shoes for running (read: heels), and I was carrying a heavy purse and tote bag (read: top-heavy). Right before I started to go down, I had this odd sensation that I was about to fall. I felt my upper body going faster than my legs could go, and boom, flat on my stomach in the middle of the street I went down, crashing mainly onto my left elbow and heel of my right hand. Left knee got some pavement too. Sonja helped me up, and I shook it off. When we got back to our seats for rehearsal (few minutes to spare--we were all almost late because of the restaurant, but we all beat the road musicians/conductor back anyway), I inspected my wounds. I had seriously scraped up my left elbow (right below), and a baseball size bump was starting to emerge. My right hand seriously hurt. With some first aid supplies from a road musician and Sonja (trust flute players to carry ibuprofen and antibiotic gel), I made it through the rest of rehearsal, and as I'm typing this, my arm just stings a little. I do need to go to bed early tonight to rest up for tomorrow!!

Practice like you may have an audition coming up

2010-11-16T23:54:00.000-06:00

Next on my horizon: Mary Poppins, the musical. Rehearsals start Tuesday. I've been watching the DVDs that came with the advance book, and it's been helpful to see how the conductor takes certain things. Of course, I was hoping that I'd get to see the actual show on the DVD, but that wouldn't be practical. After playing "Wicked", I was able to go see the show in Kansas City. I may have to check out Mary Poppins' next stop.

Anyway, in addition to this, I have a couple auditions in the near future. One is for Des Moines Metro Opera, English horn, and as I'm blogging this, I realized I haven't requested the audition packet yet. Note to self!! The other is a potential audition, and I have no idea what the material will be until after the new year. So I get to have some *fun* going through some principal oboe excerpts, practicing the biggies in case they show up on the list. (And it would be very short notice for the audition.) So, just for fun, list your top (principal) oboe audition excerpts. Here are mine, in no particular order:

1) Tombeau (all mvts.)
2) La Scala
3) La Mer (fast)
4) Brahms Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt.
5) Beethoven 3, slow
6) Pulcinella
7) Schubert Great C Major, slow
8) Mendelssohn 3, fast
9) Mozart Oboe Concerto (darnit)
10) Tchaikovsky 4, slow

Oh no, you didn't!

2010-09-28T11:06:00.000-06:00

I may or may not watch The Young & the Restless...and if I do, it's only because I may or may not have been watching since I was 10 years old...with not much advancement in the storylines... Anyway, here's a quote I found disturbing:

Abby (who has aged 8 years in the past 4 months): "No offense, Uncle Jack, but watching you go through my financial statement is only slightly less boring than that AWFUL concert thing you made me sit through last week."

Jack: "That concert thing was the Chicago Symphony playing Ravel..."

Back on the wagon

2010-09-10T21:14:00.000-06:00

In the past week, I've practiced three, count 'em, three times. To me, this is a huge accomplishment. In college, I really wouldn't be bragging about three times...I may even have been reprimanded in my lesson!

Rehearsals for Orchestra Iowa start up again on Monday, and tonight, after three sessions back on English horn, I finally left not feeling like my face was going to fall off. Now, can I make it through the Planets? Two more days to get my chops up.

I've found a good solution to the location situation. I've been going to Dave's office at Simpson to practice after the boys are down. Of course, I can't do that on Tuesdays or Thursdays, since he teaches those nights, but I'm trying to get in an evening session here and there. If I can push past the "But I Don't Wanna!" barrier, I quite enjoy practicing in the evening. I feel more productive than during the day, when mental to-do lists tend to compete for my attention.

Next week, it's pretty much practice-before-rehearsal time. Monday and Wednesday, evening rehearsals, plus 2-2.5 hour drive times...I don't get back until 12:30am, all day with the boys, evenings Tues/Thurs at home too...then rehearsal Friday night, dress rehearsal Saturday morning, concert (outdoors--never a favorite) Saturday evening. Dave and the boys are coming with me for the weekend, so this will be Bryton's first time in a pack & play. Hopefully he'll still sleep as well as he does at home!

No music editor?

2010-08-16T13:53:00.003-06:00

"Patient as ever, Jamie listened carefully to the "A" of the fork, and sang again, producing a sound wedged somewhere in the crack between E-flat and D-sharp."

--Diana Gabaldon, from "Dragonfly in Amber"

We constantly see bad music references in books. Is this one reeeeeally bad, or is it just saying the guy's pitch was so bad, it was neither E-flat nor D-sharp?? I don't think so. Thoughts?

Day 5: 15 minutes

2010-08-08T22:41:00.000-06:00

This was a tough weekend. Dave's sax quartet is in town rehearsing for an upcoming tour, so I've been home alone with the boys. I attempted a practice session yesterday when our babysitter was here, but Bryton decided to be fussy then, so I barely got my teeth brushed before I had to go back downstairs. I had another attempt earlier this evening. Dave was home for a couple hours, and only when our babysitter got here was I able to practice...for 15 minutes. Tonight: Tustin page 2 (minor scales), and Bach cantata...hmm, I forgot the number. Might not have even been 15 minutes. Nice reed. OK, see you in a few days.

Day 4: Reeds

2010-08-05T14:24:00.000-06:00

Well, so much for practicing every day. I am trying though, and this is a good average for the time being.

I teach the oboe section of Woodwind Methods at Simpson College, and as I barely have time to make my own reeds these days, I'm totally fine with buying reeds for the students. They're student reeds made by Cooper Wright, and they're pretty consistent. With classes starting at the end of August, Cooper was really on the ball and sent my reed order out this week. Today I had time to go through about half the reeds while the boys were at child care. Without going into too much detail here, I just had to clip a couple, and if there's a problem with any of them, it's that the low notes don't speak easily with what I call a "beginner's embouchure". Meaning, I can get low notes to speak, but for students who have no wind instrument experience and only 5 classes to learn to the oboe, they may have a hard time with some of them. They're in tune and have a good sound, which makes a big difference with methods class students (and any other beginner!).

I practiced on half the reeds, testing as I went along. Today I played the first page of Whitney Tustin's Technical Exercises, a great method book if you want a more structured technical practice routine. I played for about half an hour, and I was reminded, yet again, how out of shape I really am.

Oboists (clarinetists, saxophonists, bassoonists...): Do you ever wish you could just pick up your instrument and practice?? Without having to worry about those pesky reeds that take up so much time?? Sometimes I envy flutists and brass players...

Day 3: Ahhhh

2010-08-03T12:12:00.000-06:00

Playing on a well-adjusted oboe is so satisfying! I'm sure it's not perfect, but wow, what a difference. And it only took me 2 hours over 3 days!!! Working in 20 minute increments around sleeping children, my husband's work schedule, etc... I'm realizing that practicing is going to be so much harder with two young children to look after. Harry came in today when I was playing through some passages in Bach's Cantata 12, and he wanted to "sit and listen"...uh, right. If it was that easy, we'd do it every day. As it was, he sat on the futon next to my Sawicki book, listened for 10 seconds, said, "I want to play oboe!", tried to grab it from me, then scrambled into the corner (no oboe, I'm not that stupid), shouting that he found Curious George. Dave was putting Bryton down for a nap. Thus ended my practice session. I played 2 scales (slowly, just to test evenness of the ranges, adjustment of my oboe, etc.) and 5 minutes of the Bach.

Every 2 weeks in the summertime, I can take the boys to Wee Care, free childcare for one two-hour slot. For the past two times (Bryton's only two visits), I went grocery shopping and running, another thing I can't do with both boys to look after. This week, I think I'll try getting in a quick run around the church (where I drop off the boys), then get home and practice for the rest of the time. Of course, we also have a house guest this weekend, and the house won't clean itself. Even finding time to blog about it is tough.

Anyone who thinks stay-at-home moms have time to kill is seriously delusional!!

Day 2: Sawicki

2010-08-01T21:34:00.000-06:00

If you're an oboist, you are likely familiar with Carl Sawicki's "Method for Adjusting the Oboe & English Horn". It's a must-have as a reference, but there is no substitute for experience and PLAY-testing in addition to the test-papers (I use ungummed cigarette papers cut into strips and attached to a wooden kabab skewer). I had a date with Sawicki today. I went through key groups 1 and 2 before I came to a place I really needed to test my oboe (low D-forked F to check that adjustment). Even going two floors down from both my sleeping babies (2-year old & almost-3-month old), I played for 30 seconds and woke up my younger son. Gack. I'd better get as much practicing in as possible while my husband is home for the summer.

The book is well-written and can be understood by anyone without an instrument repair shop, but since it's referring to the actual engineering of the oboe, I still had to read several passages over, and after 45 minutes of adjusting my instrument, my brain hurt. It's not complicated, really, but it made me realize how mushy my brain has become, not reading any college textbooks or scholarly writing for...let's say a while. Particularly this summer, caring for a newborn and reading nothing more complicated than a few vampire novels! Maybe I shouldn't admit that...

Hmm. Forgot to put my oboe away. I guess I'd better go do that and resume with "Screw #12" tomorrow. I need some time while both boys are awake and with Daddy so I can finish this and move onto reeds...then practicing!

Day 1: 10 minutes...

2010-07-30T19:00:00.001-06:00

...or was it 5? With a fussy baby plopped onto the futon next to my oboe case, here is what I accomplished today:

Soaked 2 reeds. Tooted on 2 reeds, quietly as not to upset the baby. Baby liked the soft peeping of Reed #1. Reed #2 was not easy to peep quietly. I thought of the two summers I spent with National Youth Orchestra of Canada, making reeds late at night. Practice time was over at 8pm (or was it 10pm?), so I couldn't really test my reeds. In email conversations with my teacher at the time, Peter Cooper, he told me this was actually a good thing in my reed making struggles. If I could scrape my reeds enough so I could peep effortlessly (quietly), I'd probably scraped enough. That was my biggest problem with reed-making. So...reed #2 today didn't pass the toot test. Maybe I should test all my reeds with a sleeping baby in the next room! :)

Next step: Oboe! Another reminder of my student days. I can't remember if it was David Sussman or Peter Cooper that told me, "If your reed isn't working and your instrument isn't working, then how do you know whether or not YOU'RE working?" I've repeated this phrase countless times to my own students over the years. Don't show up to your lesson with an oboe that's out of repair and reeds that don't work! You can waste so much time and energy trying to diagnose what's happening with air, embouchure, etc. if your equipment is not functioning as it should. (*Editor's note: Peter wrote me an email and pointed out that the quote was from Gladys Elliot. He's very good at remembering who said what, unlike me.) Back to today... I "peep" high C...mainly because Bryton (almost 3 months old) seems to like the reed peep, and I didn't want to blast out some Berio right off the bat. (Who am I kidding?) Playing octaves with little-to-no change in my embouchure, low C is tough, C2 is saggy, C3 is really sharp. Reed issue? Oboe issue? Soft warm-up to a couple Bach excerpts on my stand (from the last time I played a few months ago)...D2 (half-hole) slur to G1 is near-impossible. Soft attacks on G are also problematic. First thought: My oboe is out-of-whack. ARGH! This is confirmed by pressing the keys down harder, helping G and lower notes to come out a bit easier. I continued to play through the Bach aria on my stand, simply because I didn't want to play scales and I don't have anything specific to work on at the moment. Bach is good for your soul anyway.

The baby had had enough beautiful (ha) music after I'd finished the aria (but I'd like to go back to this--would be good on so many levels), so I packed it all away for the day. So, I guess my next (and really first) step needs to include taking an inventory of my reeds, possibly working on some (blech), and sitting down with Sawacki to make some crucial adjustments to my instrument. Need to get my equipment working before I can focus on getting myself working again.

Revisiting the oboe

2010-07-27T19:22:00.000-06:00

Checking back in...I wonder if anyone checks in with this blog anymore. It has been a while! But my husband has inspired me with starting his own blog (for interesting tidbits on his recording projects, gigs and unfortunate love of the Old Spice guy and Will Ferrell...), in addition to our family blog. I thought, what better way to get me back to practicing after the birth of my second son than by writing an account of my progress to keep me accountable.

I have not touched my oboe or English horn for 3.5 months.

Goal: To play a little each day, working my embouchure and endurance back up BEFORE my first rehearsal back with the orchestra in September. Maybe this will be like re-learning, and I can actually develop some good habits that I always preach but rarely practice. (Hello, long tones and scales.)

It's a little sad that I often walk around and think in terms of Facebook statuses. Maybe I need a break from that site... But, I do have a good one (I think) for when I do start practicing again:

Jillian thinks re-introductions may be necessary: Oboe, face. Face, oboe. This may hurt a little.

Stay tuned.

Vaughan Williams

2009-11-16T21:42:00.002-06:00

Six Studies in English Folksong, arranged for English horn and piano
Jillian Camwell, English horn; Patrice Ewoldt, piano

Mvt. 1 Adagio

Mvt. 2 Andante sostenuto

Mvt. 3 Larghetto

Mvt. 6 Allegro vivace

Hovhaness, Suite for English horn and Bassoon, op. 21

2009-11-16T21:39:00.004-06:00

Jillian Camwell, English horn; Beth Shoemaker, bassoon

Mvt. 1 Adagio espressivo

Mvt. 2 Allegro grazioso

Mvt. 3 Andante espressivo

Bimstein Half Moon at Checkerboard Mesa

2009-11-16T21:35:00.001-06:00

I opened my program on November 11 with Phillip Bimstein's Half Moon at Checkerboard Mesa, Fantasy for Oboe, Frogs, Crickets and Coyotes. I love this piece!

Wicked!

2009-10-21T20:03:00.002-06:00

OK, I'm just copying and pasting what I put on Team Camwell, so if you've read that, skip this. Stay tuned for a swab-stuck-in-oboe story.

I had a great time playing with Wicked, but it was very tiring, and I'm happy to be back home and back to the usual routine. Here are some photos from my last day at Wicked.

On Sunday October 18, the Des Moines marathon started and ended across the street from the Civic Center.

The Start Line

The Finish Line with the Civic Center on the left. Notice the Wicked display on the windows.

The Finish Line with some runners coming through.

I spent a lot of time with two other local musicians, Sonya (piano) and Sandy (flute). I will miss hanging out with our trio!

It turns out I know the touring drummer from my first year with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada! Romano Di Nillo! And...unfortunately he wasn't with the group when they came to Des Moines. He's on a leave of absence. Fortunately, there was an excellent drummer and super nice guy to take his place. Here's Rich in his drummer's cage. (Don't worry, they unlock it to let him out at the end of the show each night. They only forgot once in between shows on the weekend.)

As if those drums weren't enough, the show also uses a plethora of other percussion instruments. I couldn't get them all in one shot.

Ridiculous amount of percussion, angle 1:

Ridiculous amount of percussion, angle 2:

Ridiculous amount of percussion, angle 3:

Local musician Mark Dorr and his ridiculous amount of percussion set-up (I wonder: how much doubling does he get paid??):

Reeds 1, 2 and 3. Clarence (clarinets and soprano sax...wait, he doesn't want to publicly admit that he plays sax!), Jill (oboe, English horn) and Sandy (flutes). Sandy and I normally don't share a chair.

All the local musicians. Top row L-R: Contractor (as in the guy who hired me!) Harold, Sonya (keyboard), Brett (horn), Grady (trombone), Andy (trumpet), Gary (bass), Mark (percussionist with his eyes closed). Front row: Clarence, Jill, Sandy.

And finally, some photos for which I hope I won't get in trouble! The book that stared me in the face every night and four times a weekend for four weeks:

Everyone's favourite oboe solo in the show--I have to play right into the mic.

My least-favourite oboe solo in the show. This page is preceded by English horn stuff, then a super-quick change to oboe, continuous playing (not super-tough but hard enough), and hardly a change to breathe before a 6.5 measure solo. I usually left out most of the B before the solo so that the first notes of the solo would actually speak.

Some of the hardest music of the show: The Bow/Exit music! Of course, I nailed it each time. ;)

Back to reality now!

In summary

2009-02-01T21:18:00.002-06:00

Great game! Forgettable commercials. Were the commercial spots so expensive, the advertisers didn't have enough money left over for creativity?

And I think they should be awarding the "Super Bowl"...as in a bowl that's just super! Hey--the Stanley Cup is a cup! :)

And cut your hair, boys!!

See you next year! (And I do hope to blog here before then!!)

See?

2009-02-01T21:00:00.001-06:00

Wow!! I'm not usually into football...but wow! Nice job, Steelers!! Amazing play! (See, I told you I didn't really care either way!)

Forget commercials!!

2009-02-01T20:58:00.002-06:00

What a game! I guess because of Kurt Warner and the Iowa connection, I realized I was cheering for the Cardinals along with Dave. Great. Now they'll lose. I'm closing my eyes with 49 seconds to go. 43.

McGruber

2009-02-01T20:34:00.003-06:00

We watched SNL last night...well, this morning after church actually. :) We love the McGruber skits. Not too expensive for NBC to use something they already had in their vault either! Well played!

Now we want to see the edible Pampers commercial again!! Click here.

So sorry I'm losing my (only?) reader, Patty!!! Have fun at Cosi!! Do you play Principal? I've played both parts, and I love it! Some great solos!

What is Hulu?

2009-02-01T20:28:00.001-06:00

Don't know. Not about to go to the website. But Alec Baldwin was hilarious!

Cash4Gold

2009-02-01T20:18:00.002-06:00

Ha! I love that they're poking fun at themselves with MC Hammer and Ed McMahon.

Coke & Prokofiev

2009-02-01T20:00:00.003-06:00

Nice graphics! At first I thought they were making direct references to Peter & the Wolf, the story, but Coca Cola fell short of that. Could have been super clever. Instead, it fell short. Kind of like pretty much all the commercials tonight.

Monster.com

2009-02-01T19:38:00.003-06:00

Moose head in the boss office. Moose back end in the poorly lit unfortunate working chump's office on the other side of the wall! Funny!

I'm actually enjoying the game tonight! More than the commercials?

Why?

2009-02-01T19:26:00.001-06:00

Why did we have to catch up to live TV during local commercial time??

Mute.

The Boss

2009-02-01T19:19:00.002-06:00

No opinion one way or the other. I wouldn't recognize Bruce Springsteen on the street...or on the radio. I do, however, have a question about the sax player's robe (jacket?)...what?? Dave thinks that for that kind of music, it's mainly about the robe.

Almost caught up now. Gotta love DVR!

The baby is back

2009-02-01T18:56:00.002-06:00

And he's brought a friend! Still creepy? I actually liked these commercials last year. Baby commercial #1 of the night--meh.

With making dinner and looking after our own (non-creepy) baby, we're about 25 minutes behind on the game/commercials. We're hoping to catch up during half-time. Dave is putting Harry to bed now.

Commercial batch 2

2009-02-01T18:30:00.002-06:00

Apparently they're better between the first and second quarters of the game.

I liked the Pedrigree Adoption Drive with the various pets (ostrich running after the mailman is good!) and the Budweiser commercial with the horse playing fetch.

I guess I like animal commercials!

Doritos

2009-02-01T18:26:00.000-06:00

Three words: Low Brow Humour

Bridgestone

2009-02-01T18:02:00.001-06:00

Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head...very cute! Love Mrs. Potato Head switching to her angry eyes.

Commercial batch 1

2009-02-01T17:52:00.002-06:00

Any worth mentioning? Maybe, if I could remember them.

Apparently the motto this year, in these economically-trying times, is: Spend millions of dollars on commercials, but don't bother with the mental energy to match the cost.

As it turns out, the game is more interesting than the commercials this year. And I don't like football.

Make it memorable!

Are you ready...

2009-02-01T17:22:00.002-06:00

...for some commentary?

Observation #1

Jennifer Hudson was amazing!!

However, I don't think that's the point of an anthem. Is it surprising that this nation of over-the-top productions had an extravagent national anthem to start the Superbowl? Isn't the point of an anthem to bring the people together and raise their voices in patriotism? Is that even possible with such an arrangement, however amazing it may be?

Thoughts?

20 to 30 in ten years!

2008-11-18T09:51:00.004-06:00

I don't know if people still check this blog, so what better place to ruminate?

It's my 30th birthday today, and I feel great! I've actually been looking forward to getting out of my twenties. While 30 definitely is not old, 20 certainly is YOUNG! What a difference ten years makes. I have many friends in their 40's and beyond (including 3 out of 4 brothers...oh wait, Mike isn't 40 until next year--ha! Outted you!...wait, he doesn't read this blog, so nevermind!), and I know that 30-40 isn't nearly as much of a difference as 20-30.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'd like to reflect on some of the things I've done in the past 10 years:

1) Met my future husband when I was 20! This entire decade with this wonderful man. We've grown together and have learned a lot.

1a) Was married to previously-mentioned wonderful man.

2) Traveled to 4 continents.

3) Received three degrees from three different universities.

4) Lived in 2 different countries, 3 different states, 4 different cities, and 9 different apartments or houses.

5) Won my first, second, third and more auditions.

6) Decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.

7) Got my Greencard!

8) Made friends. Lost friends. Made many more.

9) Increased the size of my family tenfold with new marriages, cousins, nieces, nephews. Lost many loved ones along the way. I'd only known one person who died before I was 20...

10) Became a mom to the most amazing little person I've ever known.

Thank you, 20's, it's been quite the adventure! Boy, 30's, you have a lot to live up to!!

"Jillian is practicing excerpts in her jammies."

2008-10-28T18:35:00.002-06:00

I have an audition coming up, and I'm finding it hard to find time to practice. Dave has had his sax quartet in town since last week, and I will finally have my husband back tomorrow. How can you make reeds and/or practice when you're looking after a baby, or cleaning up after said baby when he's asleep, or, God forbid, looking after yourself when said baby is asleep, or entertaining house guests, or cooking for said house guests, or or or or...

Recorded auditions are tough because you always have an out. I can simply not do it! No plane ticket to cancel or any face to save. Luckily I have until the end of December, but I'm going to give myself a set date at the beginning of December and go to a recording studio to do it. Cooper, you may have a reed order coming for me pretty soon!

Blogging status

2008-10-18T16:54:00.002-06:00

Maybe I would blog on this blog more often if it were more like Facebook.

Today, my status is: "Jillian is playing a concert in Cedar Rapids tonight. Yay, Petrouchka, here I come!"

I'm finally feeling pretty good about this piece. I've never played it before, but I LOVE the ballet, and I LOVE Stravinsky. And it's pretty hard! Concert #1 is at Coe College in Cedar Rapids tonight at 8pm (we are staying with my friend and colleague from the orchestra, and Dave was able to come with me to look after Harry), and concert #2 is at West High School in Iowa City tomorrow. Also on the program: William Schuman's New England Triptych and Saint Saens' 2nd Violin Concerto. Nice program! Cross your fingers for good English horn reeds!

Just a quick note on etiquette

2008-10-01T18:23:00.003-06:00

Went to Dave's fabulous faculty recital on Monday night. I think it was his best yet! Beautiful tone, extremely musical playing, and technically spot-on. Congrats, honey!

I was appalled at the behaviour of some of the students in the audience though. There were quite a few non-music students in the audience, so maybe they'd never been to a "proper" concert before, but I find that hard to believe. A couple of girls in front of me (I was in the front row of the upper section) were talking at full voice. Giggling with each other. One girl had a binder and she ripped the velcro open. All while Dave was playing. They were down-right rude. Before the last piece, I stood up, walked up to them, crouched down and basically told them to shut up. I don't normally hesitate in shushing loud audience members, and I was planning on being polite and short in my request. I was so mad though, that by the time I got to them, I really let them have it. (This is me though, I'm never rude to people who are rude!) So let me repeat what I told them, and if you find yourself at a concert or recital, this is what you need to know: We can hear you. You can't talk AT ALL during a concert. Save it for between pieces or at intermission or after the show. (Added note, I didn't say this, but I thought it: This is not a DVD you've popped in at home. This is a live human being who is playing his heart out FOR YOU. Well, not for you...you need to just stay home next time.) Back to what I told them: It is not only distracting for the other audience members around you, but for the performer on stage as well. You are being far too loud, and you need to stop it. And (to binder girl), we could hear your velcro. Very loudly. So just stop. Thank you.

Tagged!

2008-09-30T10:17:00.002-06:00

Well, I've been meaning to post something on here for a while now, and Patty has given me a good excuse. (And I have a few moments of peace, with the boy sleeping, so why not now?)

Six things you didn't know about me:

1) One of the things I hate most in this world is wringing out defrosted spinach. Is there no simpler way?

2) I aspire to be an organizer. My current method of file/important document/any object in the house retrieval involves the questions "what was I wearing the last time I saw this?" or "what was the colour of its box?"

3) I always wanted to be a children's book author. I may still attempt this someday!

4) I have my doctorate in oboe performance, and I love teaching oboe, but I have nine piano students and zero oboe students.

5) I too, have never done drugs of any sorts. I have never even been offered any, even though many of my friends in college had the occasional puff. Was there something about my look that said "good girl"?

Wow, I thought that was 6, and I was about to post...ok...

6) In Elementary school, I tried to start several clubs, including the "colour" club, where we were supposed to wear certain colours on certain days of the week (I remember Friday being "purple"), and the "ant buster club", our mission being to stomp out all the ants in the playground (the term "wouldn't hurt a fly" wasn't applied to me very often). None of my clubs drew many members, nor did they last more than a week or two.

Tag!

1) Karmen
2) Robin
3) Kerry
4) Shauna
5) Mary
6) Elizabeth

Wicked gig!

2008-09-02T20:44:00.004-06:00

I have now officially accepted a contract to play an extended visit with the touring production of "Wicked" from September 23-October 18, 2009. I LOVE that musical! Of course, I'm a little bummed I won't be able to see it! Maybe I could take a trip to Chicago sometime in the next year...hmmm...30th birthday present ideas, anyone?

Oboe 2

2008-08-29T13:02:00.003-06:00

I opened my mailbox, and there sat folded (grrr) my parts for the next CRSO concert. Tim and the administration worked tirelessly to find new performance and rehearsal venues, and this season is continuing with very few changes. A second performance has been added to most of the concert sets, as the new venues are much smaller than the Paramount Theater. One more concert, one less rehearsal. As a commuting musician with a baby, I'm not thrilled about the extra concert. There will be some weekends where we'll have double rehearsals on Friday (back-to-back 2.5-3 hour rehearsals), a concert Saturday evening and a concert Sunday afternoon. With a 2.5 hour drive, I could go home on the Friday night (and I'll have to if I can't bring Harry to CR with me), but it's much easier to just stay there...and that means an entire weekend away. If it was just me, no problem. Add a little one to the mix, and we're talking an extra suitcase of diapers, clothes, food, etc., plus a babysitter if Dave can't make the trip with me. If it wasn't for the drive and logistics, I would be more than happy to play an extra concert per set. I digress.

For our opening concert on September 20, I will be playing Oboe 2. The one piece with English horn was replaced, but I had already been asked to fill our second oboist's place for this concert, as her daughter is expecting a baby right around that time. A first grandchild superceded second oboe...can you blame her? On the program is Berlioz "Corsaire Overture" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, as well as some concert arias to feature the Beethoven's soloists. Yummy, yummy. I can't wait! I've never actually played this symphony before!! I've only ever played some of the first oboe excerpts on auditions and in masterclasses.

Looking through the part, I felt a wave of anxiety. My rational self brushed that aside, but really, playing second oboe can be very tricky! And although I won my job playing both English horn and oboe (including a one-octave C major scale starting on pianissimo low C--we were playing Nielsen's Symphony No. 3 which includes this in the third oboe part), I still feel like I want to prove myself to my orchestra colleagues. Of course, if I do my job right, they won't even notice me! How funny is the life of a second oboist. Here I've been basking in the light of English hornist superstardom! :)

Of course, my anxiety couldn't have anything to do with the fact that I haven't touched my oboe in...gulp...wait, I played for 15 minutes about 4 weeks ago... And reeds? What reeds? When's the first rehearsal again? I know what I'll be doing during Harry's naps for the next few weeks!

CRSO Update

2008-07-25T20:58:00.003-06:00

We have a schedule update! Yay! As our conductor Tim Hankewich has said, the devastating flood that destroyed the Paramount Theater in downtown Cedar Rapids also provided an opportunity for the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra to extend their reach into the greater Iowa community. The adminstration has been working hard to find suitable venues so that our 2008-09 concert season could go on. They are (and I am!) optimistic that this will diversify our audiences even more (with two performances per set, one of which being held in Iowa City), which can only strengthen the life and spirit of this orchestra.

I've updated my own personal website with most of the concerts we will be performing starting in September. (And looking at my website for the first time in months, I now want to record more pieces to update my playing examples...and maybe some more recent photos??)

A little bothered...

2008-07-02T19:53:00.003-06:00

On my favourite (current) show, "So You Think You Can Dance", Tabatha, one of the choreographers and a judge tonight, referred to "a flute section in the middle..."--and it was an oboe solo!!!!!! (The song was "New York, New York" from "On the Town".)

And for anyone else who follows this show, my favourite couples are:

Chelsie and Mark

Kherington and Twitch

Katee and Joshua

Who's going home this week?

Comfort and Thayne or Kourtni and Matt (although I really like Kourtni)

And what's with all the oddly spelled names?

Book Club

2008-07-01T21:12:00.005-06:00

I was really happy to join a book club that one of my neighbours belongs to. There are 12 or 13 of us, and I like that there is a large age span (at 29, I think I'm the youngest, and there is at least one woman in her 60's) and difference in backgrounds. The conversations are always interesting, even if not everyone has finished the book! Every August, there is "Nomination Night". Of course, my first year in the club, I won't be able to attend--I'll be in Calgary. It's supposed to be really fun. Some people put on skits, and others come up with creative ways to present their suggestions. There are different categories of books: Children's/Young Adult, Fiction, Non-fiction, Classics...I think that's it.

I've been encouraged to nominate, even though I won't be there. Since Dave is out on the town tonight, I've spent a couple hours putting together my nomination. A while back I made a list of about 25 books I want to read...I thought it would be best to narrow it down for my nomination. I made a "menu" from a made-up book restaurant ("Booker: The restaurant for those with a hunger to read!"...cheesy, I know...if anyone has a better name, feel free to comment!), and I have two books per category.

Appetizers (Young Person's Fiction): The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (I'm not sure if that's really "young person's", but I want to read it!).

Salads/Healthy Options (Nonfiction): Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris (which I've read and thought was a good way of introducing my favourite author to the group--NOBODY from the group has read anything by him! Crazy!!)

Main Course (Fiction--very VERY difficult to narrow down my list!): Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Dessert (Classics): Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust (I'm not sure this book club is up to Proust though) and Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier (it's been years since I've read it, but I absolutely loved it way back when).

Each selection was followed by a description and a summary of some reviews off of Amazon. I'm thinking of adding a wine pairing to each selection. Does anyone have any other suggestions for books? What are you reading right now? I'll add your recommendations to my list of 25+! Next on my list: David Sedaris' newest book, When you are engulfed in flames. Can't wait! (Just keep me out of the library until I've read it, because I'll see a book I like and get distracted. "Ooh! Free read!")

p.s. Happy 500th post to me!! (And no mention of oboe...representational of my life right now...)

Reck Violin Shop

2008-06-17T12:45:00.001-06:00

I received this email from Barb Reck, who gave me permission to post it on my blog.

We want to let people know that, while our shop is under 5 feet of water, Jim did get all the important stuff out last week and is working out of our home. He is able to do repairs and has instruments, bows, cases and accessories for sale. Within 4 - 5 hours of now, our shop phone calls will be routed here to our home. (We were out of town last weekend for our daughter's wedding in Ann Arbor, Michigan.) Jim has finally decided a website might be a good idea, so we will try to get that set up soon. If you need to get in touch with us, our phone numbers are listed below as well as our address. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time, and please pass the word on to your students and colleagues that we are still in business in a new temporary location.

Barb & Jim Reck
30 Hunters Glen (off Rohret Rd. in southwest Iowa City, near West High School)
home phone: 319 354-6906
business phone: 319 351-8374
cell phone: 319 621-6125

Concert cancelled?

2008-06-13T13:05:00.004-06:00

By now you must have heard about all the flooding in Iowa. I'm looking out my back window to beautiful blue skies and green grass. If you were concerned about us, rest assured, we have not been effected by the flooding or tornadoes. Please pray for those hit in the east of Iowa, especially Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. I have many colleagues there from the Cedar Rapids Symphony, and I have no way of knowing if everyone is ok. I know it's the last thing on the administration's agenda, but I'm pretty sure next week's concert will be cancelled (for "Freedom Festival"--it's outdoors). I'm hoping that once things have been cleared, we'll have some sort of benefit concert for flood victims in the fall.

Eble Music is downtown Iowa City, next to the public library. They occupy a basement store.

Reck Violin shop is on the Coralville strip. Last I heard, this immediate area has been evacuated.

The Paramount Theater, where the CRSO performs, has water up to the marquis...so I've heard. I googled Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids, and I couldn't find any photos.

If anyone is reading this from that area, please let us know you're ok.

Here is an excellent blog I just found re. the current situation--someone with better perspective than me.

I feel so removed, looking out my window.

*Update: Yes, the rehearsals and concert have been cancelled. The Steinway and other instruments in the hall have been moved and protected.

*Other update: Evacuation of many parts of Des Moines is under-way.

Playing update

2008-06-05T11:08:00.002-06:00

I'm in the process of getting a recital date set for next year, probably February. The flute professor at Simpson College and I play in the Cedar Rapids Symphony together, and we love playing together. What better way to ease myself back into solo performances than a joint recital? So far, my programming ideas are (in no particular order):

Dring Trio for Flute, Oboe and Piano (played before)
Ginastera Duo for Flute and Oboe (new to me)
Bimstein Halfmoon at Checkerboard Mesa (I LOVE performing this piece; it's an audience favourite)
Ibert Escales
Glick Sonata

The last three pieces I've performed before, so it would just take some wood-shedding to get them back under my fingers and back into my being (as in you really need to live with some pieces before performing them), especially the Glick which is technically difficult as well as emotionally powerful.

Stay tuned!

Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra

2008-05-18T20:12:00.002-06:00

I'm a little peeved...I heard through the grapevine that the DMMO had a position open for oboe 2/English horn. HAD. I checked on their website, and there wasn't anything listed for auditions. I'd been waiting for this position to open up ever since moving here. It would be absolutely perfect for me--not that I'd necessarily be a shoe-in, but I freaking LIVE here and would LOVE this job. Anyway, I suppose I shouldn't assume the position has been filled (auditions by CD), and I'll call the conductor tomorrow. Grrr...I'll be so mad if I missed this opportunity!

A new saying?

2008-04-30T07:46:00.002-06:00

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Limo, limo, limo."

Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, April 29, 2008

I guess I don't have to practice anymore!

Knowing oboe rep makes you sexy

2008-04-29T10:04:00.003-06:00

Every oboist has seen the Superbowl Commercial with the oboe-playing football player. But have you seen Victor Newman talk about his passion for music?? (And am I the only one who watches daytime tv? Not so much these days, but I still watch Young & the Restless on DVR.)

Set-up: Victor has started dating (read: sleeping with) his daughter's friend Sabrina, who is an international (is she supposed to be French?) art expert; Victor has hired her as his art consultant... (The whole thing is pretty creepy, but this scene was HILARIOUS.)

Victor: Art inspires you the way music inspires me. [Blog author's note: Since when?] Do you know Bellini?

Sabrina: (Giggles.) It's so sexy to hear you talk about music. Yes, Bellini. He's a genius. Do you know his oboe concerto?

Victor: In E-flat Major? Yes, beautiful.

Sabrina: And his operas...Norma is my absolute favourite.

Me: (Laughing hysterically.)

Harry's first concert

2008-04-20T13:24:00.002-06:00

Only because I don't want to type everything twice, click here to read about Harry's first orchestra concert on Team Camwell. (I had a great reed! Thanks, Cooper!)

Back in the hot seat...and tuning gripe

2008-04-07T18:03:00.004-06:00

This past Friday I had two shocks to the system. The first was my first solo performance since well before Harry was born...actually, I think it was my first solo performance since my last DMA recital in May 2005. Yikes! I played at a retirement village in Des Moines. Once a year, the Fortnightly Musical Club puts on a recital here, and the residents love it. It was a full house! I was a little surprised to realize how nervous I was! I really had nothing to lose. I think it was because it was my first performance for the club, and therefore my first chance at a first impression. :) I played Telemann's Fantasy No. 8 in E minor--my favourite of the 12. I'd run it through for Dave that morning, and the third movement (which always seemed out of place to me) didn't go so well. It's not even very difficult. So I decided to leave it out if I felt at all nervous during my performance. No movements were listed in the program, and as nobody else spoke about their piece, I stayed silent too. (Although I was ready with a brief Telemann lesson.) The second movement ended well, and I thought, "end on a high, Jill!" and so I bowed. I have no regrets. Harry was, of course, the star of the show. You can read about that on Team Camwell. Cutest outfit ever.

On Friday night, I played principal with a local (well two hours away) college orchestra. Two works for choir and orchestra. The performance was on Saturday night. The second oboist was excellent--also a ringer. The bassoons were hired (one of them is a colleague of mine in the symphony), but the rest of the winds were pretty horrible. I've debated whether I should say anything negative about this group and performance, but I've reasoned that since I'm not naming names, I won't be hurting anyone...right? Anyway, playing principal was a bit of a shock to my system. Haven't done that since my doctorate. The reeds I was playing on were both made by someone else (two different people). Friday night, one new one (from you-know-who-you-are) was great. I'd also played on it on Friday afternoon. Actually, it was better for a solo performance. The second oboist was a bit too loud, but it could have been that I was just way too soft for a principal seat. The reed I chose was just not projecting enough. The second reed (made by someone who just sent me a reed to try them out) projected better, but I didn't like its tone as much and I needed to soak it for several minutes in order for it to sound "not buzzy". Who has time for that? Unfortunately, reed A did not work on Saturday! I don't know if I'd just played it too much on Friday, but it was completely stiff. It actually felt like I was blowing into a pencil. I don't know how a reed could change so much in one day. So I played reed B for the concert. It was in tune and projected pretty well. Of course, it doesn't matter how well in tune you play if everyone around you (minus oboe 2 and bassoons!) is completely out. The most annoying thing about this gig? How many freaking tuning notes I had to give. I thought it was just the rehearsal. 3 A's for the brass (until the concert master was satisfied), 3 for the woodwinds, 2 for low strings, 2 for high strings. And the concert? No better! People! This does not cut it in the real world!! You are responsible for playing in tune, and the concert A given by the oboist should serve as a brief check only.

How to tune to the oboist (VERY basic!):

1) Listen. Do not jump on the note as soon as it is entoned. A fine oboist will be in tune immediately, but sometimes it takes a second (and that should really be all) for the pitch to settle.
1A) Don't wait too long!!! There's nothing more annoying than having to play the A for 10 seconds before anyone even plays. I will stop playing if it takes more than 5 seconds for people to come in. Count out 5 seconds. That's a long time!
2) Let the principals of your section take the lead. For example, if it's the woodwinds' turn to tune, the oboe plays, joined by the principal flute, clarinet and bassoon. The core group of winds listen to each other, and the section players listen to the principals. Mind you, this should happen quickly. All it takes is a second or two before you should come in with your A.
3) Tune quietly and with no or minimal vibrato. Playing too loudly may cause others to hear your A (in tune or not) as the correct pitch.
3A) For other oboists: Tune quietly!! Yours is not the pitch we want the orchestra to grab onto. It's just rude if you sit there blasting your A.
4) You may (and should?) briefly check perfect intervals around the A, but again, quietly and BRIEFLY!
5) Once you have heard your pitch and compared it to the A, make any necessary adjustments, play again quickly and softly, and then stop! If you are in tune, there is no reason for you to continue sounding your note.
6) Check yourself outside of rehearsal. Be in tune. Do not rely on the oboist's A to be entoned forever. Again, this tuning should serve as a check only, especially in concerts. If you are playing on new reeds, strings or new instrument, spend some time getting to know their tendencies outside of rehearsal.

I feel silly for even posting this. It seems so elementary. Believe it or not, some people just don't know!

Gotcha!

2008-04-02T18:54:00.002-06:00

April Fool's day did not escape me this year...or rather, I couldn't escape from it. The first to get me? The Schwan's guy! Two guys showed up at my door, and the first thing I said was, "Where's my regular Schwan's guy?" Man #1's response: "Well, he has left your house to us because you are ornary and he can't depend on you for sales." Me: "Seriously?" Man #1: "No, we're just training right now."

I'm assuming he meant they're training Man #2...but where is my NICE Schwan's guy? When they asked me if I needed anything, I really should have said, "Screw you!" That would have taught them to mess with a valued customer.

But I needed some Triple Berry Blend and brown rice.

April Fool's day joke #2 happened with one of my piano students. Boy and his mom came in, sat down, and Mom said to Boy, "Do you want to tell her?" Boy: "This is our last lesson. We're moving." Me: (I was soooo sad to hear this, as I adore them) "Oh no, why? What?" Mom: "Well, something came up." Boy: "April Fool's!" They totally got me. But I got them back. At the end of the lesson, I said I wanted him to sighread one more new piece. I rummaged through my bookshelf and pulled out some sheetmusic from "The Sound of Music". You know those old broadway arrangements where the pianist needs 12 fingers and a span of at least a 10th?... So Boy looks at it, says, "this?" Me: "Yes, hands together, right now." The boy takes a deep breath, says, "ok," and I say, "April Fool's!"

2008-09 CRSO Rep

2008-03-24T19:02:00.002-06:00

Next season's repertoire was announced, and there are some goodies for yours truly!

Many great pieces, including Dvorak's New World Symphony, Debussy's Afternoon of a Faun, Brahms' 1st Symphony (no EH, boo, and I wish I could play ob 1 or 2 on this concert!), Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez, Beethoven's 9th Symphony (no EH), Prokofiev's Classical Symphony (no EH), Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer (EH in that?), and Stravinsky's Petroushka. Those are just a few on the list! (No other English horn "biggies" though.) I played the Dvorak and Rodrigo with the Eugene Symphony a few years ago, and I'm excited to play them again!

Great rep!!

O-boy

2008-03-22T17:22:00.002-06:00

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here! Team Camwell has taken over, but I didn't want to give this blog up. It would be like admitting that I'm no longer an oboist--only a mom. Some days I feel dangerously close to acquiring the title of "used to be an oboist". I'm so in baby zone, I don't know what else to talk to people about. It's been three weeks since I've touched my instrument. Then, it was just to play along with the high school students (oboe/bassoon) I teach on Tuesday mornings. It doesn't help that I have no symphony music to work on. It doesn't help that on nights like tonight, when we're "trying" putting Harry to bed with a bottle (not "with" the bottle) instead of me nursing him because my mom is coming to help out in April, and there will be many nights I will be in Cedar Rapids when she'll have to put him to bed without me here. So although I love being the provider for my baby, I feel like I'm attached...I can't be away from him for more than two hours. I honestly thought I'd be ok with that, and that I wouldn't mind sacrificing my career to be a mom. What career, really? I'm a part-time musician at best these days, anyway. But I know 100% that my musicianship has suffered. I'm a little scared to practice for fear of what I'll hear. I now belong to a ladies' musical club (very la-dee-da, and I love it), and they've asked me to play something in two weeks. This is the first time most of them (all except three of them) will hear me play. And I will sound like dog poo.

OK, I'm a little down.

You shall not make for yourself an idol...

2008-02-27T21:07:00.002-06:00

OK, I agree with Patty. I don't think I'll watch American Idol anymore this year. They're just bad! I didn't watch the boys perform yesterday, but the girls were bad, and last week the boys were worse. I liked two out of the ten tonight. Carly and Brooke were the only ones I didn't want to fast-forward through. Thank you, DVR. Maybe I'll check in a few weeks from now to see how they're all doing. I just can't sit, and sift, through the junk.

Might as well practice!

2008-02-18T20:38:00.002-06:00

I took advantage of a calm but awake baby earlier today, plopped him on a blanket with a blinking lights toy in my oboe studio, and practiced my newly fixed oboe (thank you, Sawicki book!). Harry didn't mind my out-of-shape technique, tone and tonguing, but I did! I've been playing once a week, at an early-morning clinic I'm teaching at a high school (see previous post). That is not enough. I need to find more practice time. I need to find more work-out time. I need to find more mani-pedi time!! Well, we can't have it all.

I did manage to practice for another half hour later this afternoon. I had a student's father call to say they couldn't come at our newly agreed-upon time. They came an hour early; I was available, but with them coming basically unannounced, I had Harry with me. The dad was insistent that they are flexible and don't mind me having Harry there during the lesson (!), ("don't get a babysitter just for our lesson!" (!!)), and even if I had to stop the lesson to deal with the baby, that was ok with them. Not ok with me. I'm not that kind of teacher. Since they were there, and Harry was again pretty calm (I was in the middle of putting him down for a nap), I agreed to teach the little boy. This was only his second lesson. He's a cutie, but I have a feeling it will take him a while to grasp a lot of basic concepts. He's got a great attitude and is really enjoying it though, so I'm willing to teach him. Anyway, luckily Dave came home (I wasn't expecting him, so it was a welcome surprise!) and took Harry upstairs for the last 15 minutes of the lesson.

I had hired a babysitter to come for 5:30, the time this lesson was supposed to take place, so I decided not to cancel her (I had one more student at 6pm) and PRACTICE!! Maybe I should do this every week!!! I really needed to get back to basics. I did some articulation exercises and scales. PHEW!! I'm in baaaad shape. My max tonguing tempo is down about 30 clicks. Yikes. I'm going to spend some time with that. And reeds? Forget about it. Time to pick my battles, and reeds can be bought for now. (I never thought I'd see the day when I'd say that.) I'd like to do a recital sometime this year (maybe in the Fall), so I need to shape up!!

No bassoon, please

2008-02-11T19:39:00.000-06:00

I don't play the bassoon. I know there are many woodwind specialists and doublers out there who play both oboe and bassoon, but I am an oboist. The two instruments are completely different. I don't know how to put a bassoon together. I don't know any fingerings. I know squat about their reeds. Yes, we are both double reed instruments. But if you pull a bassoonist and an oboist out of band to have them work on their music together (say, with a specialist), they are most likely going to have completely different parts to work on. This is frustrating as a so-called specialist. Of course I can talk about musical issues. I am quite happy to listen to the student play the Mozart Bassoon Concerto, but it is a disservice to the student to not offer a bassoon specialist. Their band teacher plays bassoon. That's wonderful. At least they'll have that resource at a time outside of sectionals, for which I'm hired. But when you put the oboes and bassoons together, they are not going to get the same level of instruction (including the oboes, as my attention is split and my expertise is not being utilized) as the other sections. And the band teacher's response to "I don't play the bassoon"?..."Just have fun!" Sigh.

I really thought it was a joke!

2008-02-03T20:25:00.000-06:00

An oboe-playing football player! The ad is called Mr. Oboe.
I can only imagine every oboist watching the Superbowl (10 or 12 of us?) leaning forward and saying, "Oh my goodness. Is this for real?" I did.

Of course, we are watching 20 minutes behind on DVR, so as I logged on to blog about it, I notice that Patty beat me to the blogging punch. She agreed though--best ad ever! (Better than Alex Klein on Geico? Well, yes. If Alex played the oboe on that commercial, he might have beat out Mr. Oboe.)

Discovering music

2008-02-02T11:37:00.000-06:00

How do you spend your Saturday mornings? Before Harry, I slept in. Babies don't seem to know the difference between weekdays and weekends. (Not that it matters to me--I don't work in the mornings...I still slept in though.) Harry and I were up at 7:30am (at least he doesn't get up for the day at 6am!), and while I was writing a few emails, I thought I'd see if he'd be interested in some cartoons. He's recently started to notice the TV. My ideal programming for my two-month-old does not include Young and the Restless. I'd prefer his first words not to be, "I'm Victor Newman and I will destroy you. You got that?"

Little Einsteins was on (I don't think it's any relation to "Baby Einstein", but I could be wrong), and Harry seemed interested in the music and bright moving objects on the screen. I was fascinated with their use of music! Art of the day? African masks. Composer of the day? Bedrich Smetana! Piece of music? The Moldau! There was even a line said by the kids, "Yay, Smetana!" Not something I expected to see when I turned on the tv. We just watched 20 min. and turned it off. Like my friend Rachel, I'd rather not sit in front of the tv all day with Harry. (Although I could, and would, easily do that pre-baby!)

Go, Smetana! Go Disney Channel!

Somewhat rare

2008-01-23T07:12:00.000-06:00

Monkey see, monkey do! (Not that I'm calling either of you monkeys, I'm too sensitive to do that.)

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm.

Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men
You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

I LOVE THIS!!!

2008-01-08T17:23:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Patty! I can't wait for the little man to wear it. And of course, he will believe the message, I'm sure! Dave and I have talked it over, and we will gently nudge Harry away from the oboe if he ends up in band or orchestra. However, I do think that if Harry grows up seeing Mommy's love-hate relationship with the oboe, and he STILL wants to play it, that will be saying something. We'll just strike a deal...he'll make mommy her reeds, and she'll let him play this instrument!

He likes Dvorak!

2008-01-04T21:39:00.000-06:00

I finally played my English horn yesterday...for the first time since Camelot at the end of October. Yikes! I forgot how to form an embouchure. The instrument is full of sticky pads. My Ds came out as C#s. G#s were Gs. Everything was down the octave. I'm going to have to play a few minutes (at first) every day to learn how to play again. And hopefully that will bring the horn back to life without having to get it adjusted before my next set--less than two weeks from now!

Anyway, my audience was my 6-week old baby Harry. He flinched a little at me crowing my reed. He didn't really like the low notes, but his scrunched up sad face went away when I started the New World solo. I think he liked it! Finally a critic that didn't mind the wrong notes (see above: not my fault), a pretty crappy sound, and a player so out of shape, she could only play two solos for him. Solo #2 was Roman Carnival Overture, but Harry decided he'd had enough.

We'll see if he likes Hindemith and Stravinsky tomorrow!

Rats

2007-12-15T20:44:00.000-06:00

(Funny...my latest Team Camwell blog entry is "Mall rats".)

I was just asked to play Quiet City and some other works in a volunteer orchestra made up of Cedar Rapids Symphony members. I would do this in a heartbeat, even without being paid, especially since it's essentially a political concert for Barack Obama right before the Iowa caucuses. The fact that I haven't played for over a month? Tricky. Reed situation? Stress level? Having to stay overnight...two weeks from now? While my in-laws are in town? When we're planning on having an open house for people to come meet the baby on the same day as the concert? The fact that I have a baby to consider in all this?...it all points to a sad no. :(

Star Wars Trumpet Solo

2007-12-05T09:06:00.001-06:00

While we thought this was tragically funny, Harry cried as soon as the trumpet started. Good boy.

Noboe

2007-11-29T20:20:00.000-06:00

Not that I'm chomping at the bit (or the reed) to start playing again--I'm enjoying my newborn too much--but I was wondering how long some other oboe mommies out there waited before getting back to playing. I'm taking November and December off from CRSO, and my next set is mid-January. Pre-baby, I thought I might start practicing again a week or two after he was born. I even thought I'd play while he slept (across the hall, might I add), and he would get used to hearing oboe and English horn. Let me say now: ha!

Sooooo....seriously. Should I start things slowly? When? I have absolutely no motivation to practice at this point, but I'm worried that all of a sudden, it will be Jan. 15 and rehearsals start on the 16th. A nice belated baby shower gift? Reeds! ;)

If you want to see what's been keeping me busy, come on over to our new family blog: Team Camwell

Birthday presents!

2007-11-19T18:34:00.000-06:00

No baby for my birthday, like I REALLY wanted (and no baby on Patty's birthday either!--Happy Birthday, Patty!!), but I did have a lovely day yesterday. My mom made a spicy Thai red curry for dinner and a yummy chocolate cake with my childhood favourite on the side, fruit cocktail in raspberry jello. Mmmmmm! Here are a few photos.

Here I am modelling my new earrings and necklace--thank you, Margaret and Paul!

Dave and I and our Thai meal.

My mom and the cake.

Blowing out my candles. Count them--apparently I'm 18!! Woohoo!

(Oboe) News to me

2007-11-13T09:50:00.000-06:00

I just saw a Geico commercial with ALEX KLEIN! He was the "real person" who had a celebrity next to him (the sounds effect guy from Police Academy) to "tell his story". I was thinking "Alex Klein should be the celebrity!!!!!"...alas, how many people would recognize AK? It may have been my imagination, but I swear there was a little twinkle in his eye as he did the commercial. Was he just having fun while making it? or was he thinking, "I'm more famous than you think I am!" (or, "I'm more talented than this sounds effect guy!")

Not bored yet

2007-11-09T09:58:00.000-06:00

I haven't hit that wall of "what am I going to do with myself today?" yet. I still have a long list of things I'd like to accomplish before Baby makes his appearance, and I could either get none of it done (Dave would prefer that--he's so anxious, he wants to meet this baby yesterday), or get ALL of it done then have another five days of absolutely nothing to do. I must say, I'm very good at doing nothing. I know a lot of people who go crazy. Maybe I'll change my tune once I have nothing to do, but my mom is arriving tonight, so the days will only go faster.

Last night we went out for another "possibly last dinner out together before the baby arrives" at the Cheesecake Factory. When we got home, I brought a couple things upstairs, tidied up a small pile of clutter in my oboe studio, and continued to tidy up for 45 minutes. Well, that room was on my list. It's never looked better. I should take a picture. And we actually have a place to put Christmas presents...and yes, we've bought most of our Christmas presents. Do you hate me? ;) Today is wrapping day, guest bathroom and bedroom day, and swiffer my kitchen ceiling day.

I haven't played a lick of oboe since my last Camelot performance...almost two weeks ago. I'd developed chops of steel. It should be interesting to see where they are now. Practicing is pretty far down my list though. Last night I dreamed I was in the orchestra pit for the show directly after Camelot (it was a Christmas Medley of sorts), and while all the orchestra members were there, nobody was taking it seriously except for me (this is opposite to my regular playing dreams), and there was only the music for Camelot on the stands. I was sitting next to the horns, and it baffled people why I should suggest that we rearrange ourselves so that I'd sit next to the second oboe (I flatter myself in my dreams apparently--being Principal) and the rest of the woodwinds. And....drumroll....my dream reeds were great! Usually my dream reed consists of a pencil that's stuck in my oboe through which I have to hum the music, as obviously no sound will come out.

I'm getting my head back into the labour game vs. the c-section game, and I plan on actually compiling a labour music CD pretty soon. Maybe tomorrow, after I de-cat-fur the couches and chairs.

I have more time for organizing!

2007-11-07T16:58:00.000-06:00

Doing a happy dance over here!

Click to find out why!

Take that, organization gods!

2007-11-03T12:56:00.000-06:00

As I look around our house, I can't help but get that creeping feeling of unpreparedness from time to time. Especially these days. Yesterday, I had an overwhelming feeling of "I'm not ready to be a parent! Look how messy my living room is!"...a little irrational, I know. So I'm doing a few things to help me get ready for the baby. It's not much, but as I'll likely be recovering from a c-section (see My Belly blog for updates) and taking care of a newborn, every little bit helps. So here's my list of organization feats I can type out and be proud of:

1) I've ordered my November order for Melaleuca (monthly commitment) AND pre-ordered for December.
2) I've bought Christmas presents for my nephews, my niece, friends and my husband, and I have a concrete list of presents to buy for other family members.
3) I'm going out to return a couple of doubled baby items today and buy one more thing we need before Baby arrives.
4) I've been preparing meals for us once we get home from the hospital. Bake one quiche for now, one for later. One lasagna for now, one for the freezer.
5) We've installed the car seat and baby mirrors in the car. (Extra base for the second car to be bought today.)
6) We're going to the hospital today to get my insurance-covered breastpump.

and...

7) We're going on a date tonight. Dinner out! Perhaps the last time before Baby Camwell arrives. We'll see!

Happy Birthday, Roxanne!

2007-10-31T21:02:00.000-06:00

One of my favourite photos of my niece. It's from the summer of 2006, so she probably wouldn't fit on that anymore, but she's still that cute! Happy 4th birthday, kiddo!

Trick or Treat!

2007-10-30T20:43:00.000-06:00

Just a little something to pass the time between trick-or-treaters, or as I like to call them, greedy, ungrateful grabbers.

(Yes, this was done with pencil and paper as we still have no computer. Dave came home and I'm using his laptop.)

Trick or treat night, called Beggar's Night here (I don't know if that's a Midwest or an Iowa thing), is the night before Halloween. Dave was directing a rehearsal at school, leaving me to pass out candy, which I generally love, if the kids are thankful and at least cute. Here are some highlights of my evening:

Me (to a group of kids outside my door): "What do you say?"
Kids: "Trick or Treat."
Me: "How about some enthusiasm?
Kids: "Trick or Treat."
Me: "How about saying it like you actually WANT me to give you some candy?"
Kids (slightly louder): "Trick or Treat."

***

Girl: "You have a baby in there!"
Me: "No, it's just a costume."
silence
Me: "Just kidding." (That joke falls flat when A) you have an audience of 7-year-olds and B) you're not wearing any other part of a costume.)

***

There are so many kids, I'm almost out of candy after one hour. My last piano student left at 6pm. Beggar's Night is from 6-8pm in Indianola. Kids passed her up to my door as she left. Two minutes later, I locked the door to run to the bathroom (having taught since 3:30)...the doorbell (hereby known as DB) rings. I don't know how many kids I missed.

I run to the freezer to get some fake chicken nuggets out to bake. DB
Turn on oven. DB
Steady stream of kids until oven is ready. Get pan out for dinner. DB
Put nuggets on pan and into oven. DB
Set timer. DB
Stream of kids.
Timer goes off 16 min. later. I let it go for 4 min. as I can't leave the door.
Take nuggets out. DB
Take edamame out of freezer. DB
Open package. DB
Empty package.DB
(*This is a more than 12-step process for dinner!)
I was actually able to plate my food (nuggets and edamame...so healthy!) and bring it to my perch on my front hall staircase before the next DB rang.

Other neighbours were smart and just parked themselves on their front porches. It got a little cold and windy by 7pm, so I was glad to be inside.

***

Best costume of the night: a bunch of grapes. I don't know how they did it, but she was completely enveloped in purple balloons. Her parents had to help her with my porch steps and getting her candy. I also appreciated the thought she'd put into her costume-appropriate joke. Another tradition here is for kids to tell a joke to get candy. Most are just bad. Some are inappropriate, like the baby in a blender joke...ummm, you're 11 or 12--can you not see I'm pregnant?! Hers: What do grapes do when they're stepped on? They whine... Teehee!

***

7:15pm Almost out of my "reserve" candy. My dinner is sitting next to me, cold.

I started out with: tootsie pops, M&M's (x2), "smarties" (not to be confused with the real "Smarties" from Canada), Mounds/Almond Joy double pack, and even a handful of bugs and some old candies (mostly sugar-free) I found in a drawer. With the exception of a couple greedy grabbers, I did my best to limit the hand-outs to 1 per child. At an average of 25 candies per bag, we definitely had over 100 kids come by tonight. And no left-over candy for me?? I'd even purposely bought candy I'd like if some was left over. Not the best "diet" plan, I know, but I figured it was permissable for 9-month pregnant woman! Baby needs his peanut M&M's.

***

7:25pm...uh-oh...I may need to break open my granola bars. There are exactly 20 pieces of candy left. OK. If it goes, I'm turning off the lights. At least in Indianola, since it's pretty controlled (6-8pm only), we don't get many older kids or teens. The oldest kids seemed about 12 tonight. So there's a very low risk of egged or toilet-papered houses.

***

My favourite of the night...the girl with no costume. Hmmm... She said, "My mom forgot to bring it." Do you just say "no candy for you"? I thought she could at least have made something up. So I suggested she tell people she's going as her twin sister. Her response: "I don't have a twin sister."

Mental head slap.

***

7:45pm No kids for 10 minutes...I'm closing up shop!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

On to stage two

2007-10-29T12:09:00.000-06:00

I'm soooooo happy to be done with Camelot! I really came to like the show, but now I can focus on getting things ready for Baby. It could be as early as this weekend! I'll find out at my doctor's appointment tomorrow. Stay tuned to My Belly blog for more info!

I went for a fabulous (and cheap--double fabulous) meal at A-Dong Vietnamese restaurant in Des Moines with most of the orchestra and a couple of cast members in between shows yesterday. I sat across from "Lancelot"--Matt Bogart. Very nice guy. We in the pit couldn't see a single thing, but his voice is great, and he sounded like a terrific comedic actor in the right situations. During the last show last night, I switched places with the conductor to watch part of a long dialogue scene. He was perfect for the part. (And pretty easy on the eyes too!)

Anyway, now I have time to lay on the couch! I started getting a sore throat on Friday, a runny nose on Saturday, and a cough yesterday. Today, I have all three and some stuffiness and aches. Ugh. I can at least stay home today and recover from this cold. I guess the timing is good!

I'm on Dave's computer now, but he's going to steal it away to go back to work. Our laptop is being fixed. No internet contact from me for a few days! Bye bye!

Making the rounds

2007-10-27T09:46:00.001-06:00

That 8-minute dialogue bit has become my favourite part of the show. It's perfect for me to get up and leave the pit for a few minutes. Last night I used Lancelot's dressing room. Not nearly as gussied up as the conductor's, who has fabric draped everywhere, framed photos, an oriental rug, a gigantic dog bed for his (small) dog... Lancelot is low-key. (But he doesn't sing off-key.) Thanks, Lance! This pregnant lady appreciated your facilities! Speaking of Lancelot, every time I pass his room, he's half naked. Now, I haven't seen the show (being in the pit), but I'm assuming he wears clothes on stage?

Four more shows! Perfect timing for an extremely sore throat. :(

I wouldn't make it in L.A.!

2007-10-26T09:14:00.000-06:00

I used to want to be a studio musician, playing for movie soundtracks like Disney features and John Williams scores in L.A. For several reasons, I know this is never to be. I won't go into my long list now, because that will just depress me, but I think the main reason I wouldn't hack it is that I'm not a consistent enough player. Do those studio musicians have off days? My guess is that if they show up unprepared or make silly concentration mistakes, they'd never be hired again. I remember a conductor telling us college students about the old cartoon soundtrack orchestras. They had one shot. One take. Time is money, etc. Well, I need a few more shots sometimes. And thank goodness my employers around here are a little more forgiving. I do have off days. Not everything was off last night, but my concentration certainly wasn't at its peak.

Only a few wrong notes, but I'm always frustrated when I hit one. There are so many darn key signature changes in musicals like this. I guess I didn't bring my A-game. (Is that the right saying?) I finally had a reed that played where I wanted it to, and my instrument decided to malfunction. Water galore. Especially in my C key. That was fun, leading a woodwind chorale in B-flat major, where every second or third note was C. "Da, da, da, splat, da, splat, da..." The English horn reeds I'd ordered finally arrived yesterday, and they're a bit too buzzy for my taste. I adjusted them at home and played one for the first few EH numbers, but I gave it up and switched back to my old reed, which is still vibrant and newish. Good old English horn reeds that LAST. I'll probably just play this one for the rest of the set. (Knock on wood.) I'm not great at putting plastic tubing at the ends of EH reeds (and this reed maker doesn't leave much space at the end of the tube), so I use plumber's tape on the end of my bocal. It needed reapplying before the show last night, which I did, but somehow it was worn off and pushed down by the time I switched to my good reed. Another case of good reed, instrument malfunction. I took a breath mid-solo, and my reed came off the bocal. Scramble, scramble. Missed a few notes. Grrr... Then try taking breaths when the reed is so loose on the bocal it comes off every time. Instead of taking my mouth off, I started breathing through my nose. Problem solved at intermission. I also nearly missed one entrance last night (listening to the dialogue on stage...bad Jill..."oops, there was my cue."), and I skipped a line in one number, so I was quite dissonant with the other woodwinds for a moment.

The good news? I had a great oboe reed! I was in tune...too bad a few of my colleagues did not agree with each other...making me feeling out of tune all over the place. I really struggled to find this person and find the next person. Frustrating. I guess we all have off nights.

Pregnancy note: In one eight minute dialogue bit, I decided to listen to my body and go find the nearest dressing room rather than haul myself up three flights of stairs. Thank you, conductor, your bathroom was very nice. I made it back in plenty of time. (Good thing it wasn't a cage pit.) And no, ha ha ha, I did not run out of the show to deliver the baby. (About four people asked that question...seriously?!)

So, no L.A. studio gigs for me. But Des Moines will do just fine for the time being!

My teeth hurt

2007-10-23T22:07:00.000-06:00

This was a long day. Rehearsal for Camelot went from 10am-3pm, with no lunch break. We had 10 minute breaks every hour, which really helped. I would eat half a sandwich, brush my teeth, go the bathroom, and get back in my seat for the next section. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Shout out to Patty! I giggled when I saw her Lancelot poems taped into the part. They're still there, Patty! (I searched your blog for the poems--I thought you'd posted them--do you have them? If so, could you please post a link in my comment section?) Well, I felt cosmically connected to a friend I've never met! :)

*Update: Here are the two poems I found in my part book. :) I think they're great--not "really bad poems"!

After our rehearsal, I drove the half hour home, got changed, made a quick dinner and went back for the 5:30 soundcheck. Show at 7:30, finished at 10:15. Phew!

With all that sitting and playing, my body is seriously hurting. I may need to visit the chiropractor tomorrow. Here's the rant: my hips hurt, my wrists hurt, my back hurts, baby was kicking like crazy during the show (and that sometimes hurts!), my lips are a little raw (after one day?! yes!), and my teeth really do hurt. Reeds too hard? Probably. Biting? Well, if the reeds were too hard, yes. Several hours of playing when I'm pretty much out of shape? Bingo.

Tomorrow shouldn't be too bad. I'll go through my reeds again and try to find something a little easier. I'm still waiting on some English horn reeds I ordered over a month ago. Grrr... I will not be practicing all day tomorrow! I can't practice the part anyway, as we had to leave the book.

Prenatal appointment tomorrow...only 3 weeks to go! The cellist on the gig is also pregnant, due in January. Everyone thinks I'm crazy to be doing a show this close to my due date. I guess it's risky, but I'm feeling good so far!! I was kind of looking forward to the reaction of the contractor when he saw I was very pregnant...I'm glad he didn't panic!

I'm liking this show. Lou Diamond Phillips, who replaced Michael York for this tour, is playing King Arthur. He sounds good from down in the pit. Guinevere (can't find the name of the singer right now) sounds great, as does Lancelot. We had a practice CD with our advance books, and I wasn't looking forward to playing this cheesy musical, but it's much better now that I'm doing it. The CD was pretty terrible. We all sound better, of course!

1 show down, 7 to go! It will be a very long week. Hopefully my teeth won't hurt so much tomorrow!

p.s. How odd that my time posts are always an hour off! I keep changing the time zone for my blog and it always goes back to Mountain time...what gives? Anyone have a solution?

OctOBOEfest!

2007-10-17T14:00:00.000-06:00

I had a fun time this weekend. It was sort of like a mini IDRS convention, except with the majority of participants being college and high school students. I think that's fantastic though! My first experience with the big wide world of oboe playing didn't come until my second year of university. I didn't know ANY famous names at the time, so when I met a nice oboist named Marc Fink, I just thought he was a nice oboist. We had lunch. Lo and behold, he was the current president of the IDRS, a fact I discovered at that evening's concert. It's wonderful for young oboists to be exposed to as many fellow players as possible!

I wrote some notes on the masterclasses by Gordon Hunt, Peter Cooper and Bert Lucarelli, so I'll post some of the tidbits on my blog eventually!

Unfortunately I didn't have any luck selling my English horn or Robin's oboe. I don't know how many people were even in the market for used instruments at this event. One used gouger was sold, but none of the oboes moved. Apparently they were tried out, so maybe some people took the flyers I'd printed up. Fingers crossed.

A highlight for me was the opportunity to catch up with Peter Cooper. We went out for lunch after Gordon Hunt's masterclass on Saturday, and we had a great time. It had been a while since we'd sat and talked, and I felt like I finally had my mentor back. He really came into my life at the right time (or at least I was in Colorado at the right time), and he's been extremely inspirational on a professional and personal level. We chatted about oboe, life, parenthood, jobs, Iowa, Colorado and more. I left him at his hotel (for some much needed reed time...he is one of the pickiest reed makers I know) and saw him again at his masterclass that afternoon. Good old Peter. Some very familiar analogies and stories, and some new ones. He makes some up on the spot (like "telling a story" with the oboe--he used the three little pigs), and they don't always make the greatest examples. He sticks with them though! That must be where I get it from! With my students, I will follow through with an analogy if it kills me! More on the masterclass later. Here's a picture of Peter and me. As he put it, it's his first photo with Junior. (I think I look pretty bad in this photo, but we'll blame it on the rain and it being the end of a long day!)

I'm off!

2007-10-12T15:17:00.000-06:00

I'm heading to Iowa City for the weekend. I'm going to tonight's concert of OctOBOEfest and tomorrow's masterclasses and presentations. Yeah, I'm going to see Peter Cooper! I'm hoping to whisk him away for dinner tomorrow night after his masterclass.

I'll be bringing my Bulgheroni English horn and Robin's Cabart oboe, both for sale! Let's hope we find them a couple of nice new homes!

See you on Sunday. Have a great weekend!

On to saxophone!

2007-10-08T14:46:00.000-06:00

Not me, goodness no. My oboe tech class had their last class today, and they were even considerate enough to schedule their final playing tests back-to-back starting right after class. I don't have to go to the college three separate times this week!

The general concensus was that clarinet was much easier but oboe was more fun. Of course I'm generalizing here. That's what I heard from the only students that offered up an opinion. It just so happened to be the right opinion. :) They'll move on to saxophone on Wednesday. My job is done for the year! Five classes in which to learn the oboe is a bit crazy, but most of them survived. I always stress in these education classes that they are not there to learn how to be great oboists (although if I could pick out a few to continue on the oboe, they'd do pretty darn well!), but to learn to be great educators. Are they going to remember their two-octave chromatic scale fingerings five years from now? Probably not. But they WILL remember a few key points to help their little oboists get off to a good start (including: require private lessons!!).

One particularly funny moment in today's playing tests: Student plays their chromatic scale without me interrupting. I then ask, "which notes use side octave key? back octave key? half hole?" (Student hadn't played these correctly.) Student: "Side octave key is from high C down to somewhere around F-sharp." Me: "Somewhere around F-sharp?" Student: "F-sharp." Me: "No." Student: "F?" (no) "G?" (no) "G#?" (no) "Are you sure?" Me: "Yes, I'm sure." I just loved the way they asked me if I was sure about the oboe's fingerings. As though I would say, "hmm. You may be right. Let me check my fingering chart..."

As the students go on to saxophone, I'm on to practicing for Scheherazade (CRSO) and Camelot (Des Moines). Not that I mind being paid for playing so little, but I'm foreseeing these next two weeks being particularly exhausting. I only play in one movement of the Scheherazade and nothing else on the concert. That's 2.5 hours of driving, 10 minutes of playing, 2.5 hours of driving. I know, I know. I'm being paid the same amount for 10 minutes that I would be for a 2.5 hour rehearsal. I'm just going to be soooo tired. Camelot on the other hand...I think I have one tacet movement? They sent a CD with the part book, so I'll study and listen while Dave's away this week. I just dropped him off at the airport--he'll be in Fargo until Thursday. :(

Reflections

2007-10-04T18:48:00.000-06:00

How do you rate your undergraduate music experience? (Non-existent for some, I realize!) Mine was pretty much a blur. When I began my Master's in Colorado, I felt unprepared for my music history courses. I couldn't remember a thing I'd learned. Same thing for theory. I was not a very good student. I did a lot of cramming, which explains the retention problem! I did very well on papers but poorly on tests. I really needed to change my approach to learning. With hard work and a new outlook, I was much more successful in my academic studies for my Master's and Doctorate.

So, what did I gain from my undergraduate degree? While I lucked out with academics (honestly, I really did...it was a close call in one of my final classes before graduation, which may have changed the course of my entire career!), I was learning how to become a musician. I was recently asked to write a blurb for a pamphlet for the University of Calgary Wind Ensemble (their 25th anniversary year and the conductor's 20th year with the group), and I did not have a hard time coming up with some reflections. In my four years there, we professionally recorded three CDs, and I was able to play principal on all three. (Although one CD was a continuation of the recording begun the year before I'd arrived. And I got my first big English horn solo on that one.) That's a lot for one little undergrad! I was by no means a refined musician yet (as if I'm completely "refined" now...ha...I know I still have a ways to go!), but I was learning. I'd never worked so hard for one conductor. He was down-right scary at times! We all dreaded the notes he would post on the student message board. I'd recognize that fine-point pen ink anywhere. They weren't all scare tactics though. And while I was at times scared straight, my memories aren't fear-based, they're all motivation-based. Can you believe that I was not even remotely interested in playing in orchestra for the entire time of my undergrad? Wind ensemble was the place to be. I even graduated with the thought that I might go on to play in a professional wind ensemble some day. (And there are really not very many out there outside of the armed forces groups. I considered Tokyo or Dallas.)

When I started my Master's, I thought I'd continue along this line. (By the way, I'd been playing in orchestras for several years, outside of college, so I wasn't completely oblivious to this line of work! I loved it as well.) At my placement audition in my first year, I had the crazy notion to mention that I'd be more interested in playing in wind ensemble than in orchestra! Boy, was I dumb. They were happy to oblige--there were three of us grad students and several fine undergrads to place. After my first wind ensemble rehearsal, I went home in tears. It hit me then that I'd had an unusually special conductor at U of C. This new conductor also tried fear tactics, but they did not succeed in motivating me. In fact, they had the opposite effect, and at times I had no desire to play well for this person. On the bright side, I did have a wonderful oboe teacher, and I became a good student in academia. I played in orchestra in my second year.

Where am I going with this? Some events and people change us, whether we are aware of this at the time or not. I was in the right place at the right time. I know a lot of people who feel the same way about their experience at U of C. Here's what I wrote for my "2-3 sentences" in the brochure:

I have performed with many outstanding ensembles and conductors, but my four years (1996-2000) with the UCWE and Glenn Price will always hold a special place in my heart. While the group's level of musicality was of the highest caliber, for me the camaraderie amongst the ensemble in 1999 remains unequaled. Our famous WASBE year, with the discipline, motivation, and passion required for its success, helped shape me into the musician I am today.

Dr. Jillian Camwell, D.M.A.
English horn and Oboe, Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Iowa

Celebrity Moms

2007-10-01T08:24:00.000-06:00

OK, a new blog for me to look at. Will I get bored of this sort of thing once I have the baby? I'm not normally like this, but recently I've been eating it up!

Relaxing playlist

2007-09-26T14:42:00.001-06:00

I've gone back and forth on the idea of having a CD of relaxing music to play during the early stages of labour. As a musician, I've thought that maybe I'd be too distracted by the music. I don't generally have music on "in the background". I listen to it. I also thought that tuning in to my body and focusing on its rhythms might be better. I might have a CD playing, turn to Dave five minutes later and say, "turn off that @#$^%$&#$% music!!" (I would never--I'm much too dainty...as I'm sure I will be in childbirth...) What to do? What to do?

So I thought that at the very least, I'd make a CD compilation and give the music a try. It's not the end of the world if I decide to turn it off.

OK, now the tough part. I'd like "relaxing" music (no words, including opera, even in a different language, as I really do think that would be too distracting) with very little tension. Some of my favourites that don't make the "relaxing" list include Brahms' Symphony No. 3, mvt. 3; Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major, mvt. 2; Barber's Violin Concerto, mvt. 2. They're all what I call "achingly beautiful" music, but I don't think I could kick back and have a bubble bath...or a baby...while listening. Does that make sense to anybody?

I'd like to hear from all of you. In the comments, list one, two, or more pieces (including movement numbers if applicable) that relax you! Maybe they'll work for me too. :)

Let's all breathe...

2007-09-25T09:27:00.000-06:00

...a sigh of relief. After the two groups of methods class students (oboe and clarinet) played for each other yesterday (which I wasn't happy about, as I could have used those extra 15 minutes in class), they switched instruments and I began my second round of teaching. Learn the oboe in 5 classes! (*no money-back guarantees here) Class #1 went remarkably well. All seven of the students (the eighth was absent) were able to produce sounds on their very first try. We did some breathing exercises specific to oboe playing and applied those to their first notes. Everyone's initial embouchures looked good. We just didn't get to learn all the fingerings I wanted to get to in that first class (C1-C2). Instead it was more like G1-C2 with no chromatics in between. So that was their homework for Wednesday. Learn the fingerings for a chromatic scale (C-C before getting to half-hole...we'll hopefully get to that next class), practice exhaling and inhaling while playing (that probably sounds silly to non oboists), and practice playing on the reed alone in front of a mirror.

So far, stellar students. We'll just see if they did their homework by next class (Wednesday).

Must get ready for my day! I'm going over to a friend's house to make her lunch before she leaves me with her colicky baby to go grocery shopping. It may be one of the last times I get to hand off a crying baby back to someone else to deal with! Soon it will be my turn! (And let's all hope there's no colic...)

Marilyn's still got it

2007-09-23T19:34:00.000-06:00

Just a quick English horn update. I haven't spoken with Robin yet (do you think she could possibly have more important things to do, like moving into her new house in a new city?!), but I want to tell her I'd like to buy the English horn.

I spent more time with it, and I did find a few things that need some attention. I think I've been used to squeezing my right hand a bit too much (my horn needs a little adjusting too), so when I focused on playing with zero finger pressure, I noticed some sealing issues. It doesn't surprise me, as the instrument hasn't been played for a long time. The high G sags a bit, and there are a few fuzzy notes that I think can be easily adjusted by lowering some keys. I have a great repairman in Iowa, although he's a three-hour drive away. Maybe I'll visit him during the next CRSO set (he's half an hour north of Cedar Rapids).

With those adjustments, I will be very very happy with this EH. I'm still over the moon that the timing has worked out so well.

My Bulgheroni English horn is officially for sale. Mark Weiger told me that there will be a table at OctOBOEfest for used instruments, and there are no English horns yet. As many of you know, it's very difficult to find a great used English horn. Mine is a beautiful instrument with a very sweet tone. (I'm especially going to miss the tone.) Intonation is very even throughout the range. To hear me play this instrument, click here. I'm asking $4200. Spread the word! Let me know if you know someone who wants a great instrument!

Marilyn

2007-09-20T12:05:00.000-06:00

Dave always gets after me about my tendency to impulse-buy. (Although sometimes he's just as bad--we almost named our second cat "Impulse" instead of Fanny...) Well, what happened yesterday was definitely spontaneous, in a fell-in-my-lap sort of way, but as I've been thinking about it for a few years now, I wouldn't call it an impulse.

Surprise of all surprises, I will likely be buying an English horn!

My friend and her husband were (are, as I'm sure they're not there yet!) driving from New Jersey back to Colorado, relocating for his job. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as they passed through Iowa in time for lunch. The visit was way too short, but they were eager to get back on the road and on to their destination. During our kitchen visit (chatting in the kitchen, not about the kitchen), Robin brought up the subject of her three instruments she's going to try selling when she gets to CO. She has two oboes and an English horn. She bought the English horn in 2002, new, and really hasn't played on it for a few years. It's pretty much still new. It's a Loree and BEA-utiful. I asked if she happened to have it with her. This lead to unpacking the tote from the car, unpacking the tote in my living room, and trying it out in my study while they both wanted to get going.

I played it in front of Robin for all of 5 minutes, and I asked her if she'd consider leaving it with me to try some more. She agreed--heck, it made sense to save on shipping costs, and she was right there! (Again, perfect timing! Lunch AND an English horn!) I didn't have time to play it again before my Cedar Rapids rehearsal last night, and the next time I picked it up was to play it for my section mates during the break at rehearsal.

I'd been playing the Saint Saens all evening with my own English horn, and I had some response issues that I'd assumed were problems with me or my reed. I picked up the Loree EH at break, and it was as if sparks flew! The ease with which it played immediately was astonishing. I felt like Harry Potter choosing his wand. The English horn chose me, I did not choose the English horn. It's in perfect condition, no repairs or adjustments necessary. It's a tad flat, but I've only tried one of the bocals, and we always need to get used to tendencies. It was odd to feel so immediately connected to this instrument. It was meant for me! I even named it already. I haven't named an instrument since my first oboe, Jean-Claude Van Oboe. He was a Loree. I never came up with a name for my Royale, which I've had since 2000. My Bulgheroni English horn also never received a name. For some reason, Marilyn popped into my head as I played this Loree EH. Possibly because Robin is an old-time movie buff, but more likely that the horn was immediately the star of the show. (Isn't it always?!)

My section in CRSO loved it and said I shouldn't hesitate to buy it.

As I only played in six measures of Bernstein's "On the Town", which we played after the break last night, I decided to put Marilyn to the test in an orchestral context. The principal cellist came up after rehearsal and complimented me on my tone. This was based on a two-bar phrase I have, repeated twice. If that isn't a reason in itself to go for it, I don't know what is!

I still want to be smart about this. Although this is probably as close to new as a used instrument can be, I had planned on buying a new English horn in the next couple of years. Of course, this would save me a lot of money. Then again, I don't have ten instruments in front of me to choose from. I plan on recording myself play in different acoustics, and I'll also record myself on my Bulgheroni. I'm really wanting a huge sound. I still love the sweet sound of the Bulgheroni, but Marilyn isn't all power. She's got finesse.

I may be jumping the gun in blogging about this...just in case, for some bizarre reason, I change my mind. I don't want Robin to be disheartened. Then again, she's driving across the country and won't have internet as soon as she gets there, so I'm safe for a couple days!! ;)

I'll also need to sell my Bulgheroni before I can pay Robin. OctOBOEfest is coming up, which may give me a good opportunity (also to sell Robin's other oboe she left with me), but once I decide for sure that I'm taking the plunge, I will post it on this blog and ask any oboe friends that feel comfortable to list it on their blogs or websites too. Stay tuned!

*Update: I played it tonight, paying much closer attention, and I still love it. It's not perfect though. It hasn't been played for a while, so there are some adjustments that need to be made. A few fuzzy notes too, which I think can be adjusted by changing some key heights. I'll talk to my repairman. I think I'm going to go for it! I need to call Robin tomorrow!

OctOBOEfest

2007-09-17T23:14:00.000-06:00

Take note! Any oboist within driving distance (although this might be worth a flight too!) should try to make it to Iowa City October 12-14 for this year's OctOBOEfest. I'm going to try to make it for at least the Saturday--definitely for Peter Cooper's masterclass on Saturday afternoon.

Anybody want to come with?

Where to post this?

2007-09-17T14:43:00.000-06:00

As I thought of where I'd post this link to a very eloquent blog post on women breastfeeding (here or on my belly blog), I realized that the very point is that I don't have to separate the two lives--motherhood and career.

I've always been a huge supporter of breastfeeding, even well pre-pregnancy. I think everyone should read this.

Paganini Shmaganini

2007-09-14T12:25:00.000-06:00

Well, the Paganini performance went very well overall. I remember every single wrong note I hit, and there were enough that I don't want it to go public. After the performance, every person I talked to was full of compliments. Am I too cynical to think that not all of them were sincere? How can people hear past the mistakes? You know how it goes...we're our own worst critics. (But I personally think that's fooie--I'm just realistic and observant!)

What I was afraid would happen is that people hearing me play for the first time would get a negative first impression. It's not like this piece showcases a beautiful, lyrical oboe sound. It's just all notes. All sixteenth notes until the half note chord at the end. So all the people that came up to me said what I'd expected to hear. "Wow! I've never heard an oboist play so many notes!" and "I've never really heard you play before!" The surprising comments included, "You really tore that up!" (did I? really? I don't think so.) "You're amazing!" (Come on, aren't we exaggerating a wee bit?) And just about everyone liked the Paganini the best on the recital. I don't mean to sound like I can't take a compliment. It's just that my impression while playing, and reflecting on it after the performance, was that is wasn't clean.

I did have a nice sound though. Good reed--one of Cooper's actually! (Thanks!) Tuning was good, and we worked well as an ensemble...for the most part. The first page repeats, and I lead the repeat with an ascending C major scale in thirds (solo). I'm then joined on the repeat by the pianist. Well, he came in at least 2 beats early, which throws off the harmonic progression. The problem is, he did not find me, or the flutist, or the two of us together, for about 10-12 measures. We were sitting up there cueing like crazy with our instruments. We had the sixteenth notes, and he had boom-chuck quarter notes. It just wasn't possible for us to find him, and it wasn't our job. I'm glad we were on the same wavelength though (flute and I), because if she'd followed the pianist, it would have spelled the end for me. Anyway, mainly because of that flub-up, Dave is ok with not putting the recording on his website or youtube. Plus, the sound quality you get from a camcorder microphone isn't the best, especially for oboists.

To summarize, I wasn't that happy with the performance (I was a nervous wreck beforehand too--I realized it was the first recital I'd played in since May 2005!...my hands were shaking so badly afterwards!), I was almost convinced that it was all in my head by all of the compliments I received, and upon listening to the recording, I realized that no, I was right in the first place.

The good news is that unlike other performances in which I didn't play my best, I'm not getting down on myself this time. With a whole lot of fast notes, mistakes can happen. It wasn't perfect, but I'm not beating myself up over it. I didn't immediately think, "I'm a worthless player and should just quit!"...yes, that may sound dramatic, and yes, those thoughts have entered my head after my own recitals. I've come a long way in that regard.

I suggested to Dave that while it's still fresh, we should try to rerecord the piece with a good microphone. We'll fix the piano flub, and a couple of run-throughs should work out the kinks. Especially sans-live audience.

The rest of the recital was great. Dave, unlike me, does not get nervous. He must not be human. He just went out and put everything on the line. That makes for a great performance. I was very proud!

Update on playing while pregnant: (I considered putting this on my belly blog, but this is oboe-related, so it'll just stay here.) I haven't noticed a difference in breath support yet. If I take very full breaths, I do notice that my capacity is a little less. But you don't take enormous breaths when playing the oboe. Hopefully things will stay in the same condition for another 6 weeks or so. My last gig is three weeks before my due date. Baby doesn't move around while I play (except during rehearsal on Wednesday--that was interesting to feel a big kick during the Paganini; it was the first time that had ever happened), but when I relax and listen to music, he continues his squirm sessions. I guess he's just used to Mommy playing the oboe. He sits back and stays out of my way. :) My mom always told me that you shouldn't tiptoe around sleeping babies. Vacuum around them, have the TV on, talk in regular voices, and your baby will be able to sleep anywhere. My studio is right across the hall from the nursery, so we'll see if I'll be able to practice while Baby naps. Reed crowing though? Hmmm. My cats aren't fazed by the oboe, but they aren't crazy about reeds. (Join the club, kitties.) Baby liked Daddy's recital too. He was kicking up a storm as I sat listening in the audience. He certainly gets lots of prenatal exposure! (Best seat in the house!) I bet he'll really be soothed by hearing music once he's been born. (Only two months to go...60 days from today is my due date!)

New season, new reeds, new toys

2007-09-11T02:21:00.000-06:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

In order, we started our new season of the Cedar Rapids Symphony tonight. On the program: Saint Saens Organ Symphony (No. 3) and Bernstein's "On the Town". (And Grieg's Piano Concerto...read more here.) This is the first orchestra gig in Iowa where Dave and I will be playing together! Of course, we're not playing at the same time. No sax in the Saint Saens, and we play in different movements in the Bernstein. Dave didn't play in the first 3/4 of tonight's rehearsal, but when it got close for his part, he came and sat next to me (in the "sax chair"). I must say, I was very aware of him while I played, and I was a little nervous as he followed along in my part of the Saint Saens. I kept having to tell myself to get it together and focus. I think he realized it, because at some point I didn't feel the reading-over/next-to-your-shoulder stare. The good news is...

I have a great English horn reed...and possibly even two! No, I did not make them. I bought them from Cheryl at Cascade Reeds in Eugene. But I do not feel bad about this. I got plenty of compliments (well, from my own section, but that's what counts the most, I think!) and the reed felt really good. Much better than in my practice room at home.

The Paganini is going really well. OK students, this is what happens when you practice every day: you can play your part! Not only that, but it gets better each time you pick up your instrument. Who'd have thunk it? I can play the whole piece up to performance tempo. In the next two days before the recital, I just need to keep up the pace to ensure that I can play it 150% perfectly. That way, when I get nervous and 50% goes out the window, I'll still have 100%. Hmmm...math...maybe I mean 200% perfectly for a total of...nevermind.

I'm working on sharpening my knives so I can actually make reeds again, and I have a new toy, suggested by Cooper, that I hope will help. It's Weber's steel to re-align the burr...Patty, you have this too! Let's learn how to use it together. I've got the instructions and pictures, but so far it hasn't made that much of a difference. Most likely this is not because of the steel, but because my knives are not sharp to begin with. The steel doesn't sharpen your knife, it helps KEEP it sharp. So maybe I'll need to reground these things. I have a Chudnow knife (beveled), an Ando (way overdue for a regrinding), and a couple of Landwells, one of which is my sharpest knife. I'll see if I can send the other one to Calgary for Daryl Caswell to help me.

Wow, I'm amazed I was able to type that much. Baby is keeping me up, but not keeping me awake. I just feel terrible. Read disclaimer below. I'm going to attempt going to bed now.

*Forgive any typos. It is way past my bedtime, and because of this baby, I can't sleep...or think.

And just to make sure my bases are covered...

2007-09-09T18:59:00.001-06:00

...for those of you who don't read my belly blog on a regular basis, please read today's post. Especially if you know my husband. Ha!

New challenges

2007-09-05T19:41:00.000-06:00

I love teaching. I love private students, and I love classes. I'm always a bit nervous before starting a new class, like the oboe methods class I'm teaching at Simpson. Then it starts, and I get into the swing of things. I tell ya though, these kids are in for a wild ride. It's a large group (16--at least not 20 like they originally thought it would be), so they are rotating instruments and two are being taught simultaneously. 5 woodwind instruments in one semester=crazy. They'll still have the same amount of classes per instrument...a whopping 5 classes. Yes, 5 classes in which to "learn" the oboe. It was a bit of a whirlwind the last time I taught this class, so I was more prepared this time. I told them we'd be going at break-neck speed and to make sure to stop me if I was leaving them in the dust. Of course, I want as much hands-on (and mouth-on) experience as possible, but with 8 students (and 7 oboes...), they aren't really going to get the personal attention they need. I'm doing my best though.

One girl was particularly frustrated today. I'd checked all the reeds, so I know they were vibrating, but she just couldn't get a sound out. I couldn't take as much time out of class as I would've liked to help her, although I always do make a point of stopping for people's challenges. It is an education class afterall, and these students primarily need to know how to address these problems if and when encountered in their own classroom. Said student stayed for a few minutes after class, I gave her a different reed, and I walked her through how to form an embouchure again. There are many different approaches you can take with students, and one thing I love so much about teaching is that it really forces you to re-evaluate how you're doing things yourself. It also helps to look at problems from different angles. A great teacher will never run out of angles. Peter Cooper is a great example of a great teacher. I try to emulate him quite a bit in my own studio. Anyway, I think the analogy that finally seemed to click for her was imagining sucking a really thick milkshake through a straw. Obviously we don't suck when we play (at least not literally!), but the imagery is good. If you bite down on the straw, no milkshake will come out. You need to use the corners of your mouth to keep the straw open. She finally got some peeps out of her reed, but she still seemed pretty disheartened at her first oboe experience. I hope she left feeling a bit more encouraged though. Reed practice this weekend!

Reeds and Rachael

2007-09-03T18:10:00.000-06:00

Practicing for Dave's recital is going well. At times my fingers don't want to go as fast as they need to, but I can play most of the piece (Paganini's Moto Perpetuo) up to our (current) performance speed. With all this practicing, my chops are feeling great (go figure!), and I'd love a chance to play a recital of my own in the near future. I guess not too near. No time before Baby, and I'm sure a recital will be the furthest thing from my mind for a while--short or long while, I have no idea!

In other news, Rachael Ray is a liar. (Fighting words?) I enjoy making most of her recipes, but they are rarely 30 minutes to make. Maybe it's my slow prep skills, but I average 45-60 minutes for her 30-minute meals. There are exceptions, and I can usually spot them, but sometimes new recipes take some experimenting. Tonight's meal was right on schedule, clocking in at 50 minutes. At least it was good. Smoked turkey sherperd's pie. Lots of leftovers. :) I did manage to slice off two fingernails (I'm not used to long nails, and they grow fast during pregnancy!) and a good chunk of one thumb. Hey--it turns out my knife skills ARE better in the oboe studio!

I'm so sleepy, and it's only 8pm. We're going over to Tracy's for dessert, which should keep me awake until bedtime.

Residential Perks

2007-09-02T12:52:00.000-06:00

At 8:00am yesterday morning, I woke up to the sound of roaring flames. No cause for alarm. It was a hot air balloon landing in the field behind our house.

After a bunch of neighbourhood kids ran up to see the balloon up close, some men helped carry it across the field and up in between two houses to get out to a residential street where the balloon's crew was waiting in their truck.

I think this one gives an amazing perspective of how big hot air balloons really are! Those houses are not small, and they're being dwarfed by the balloon! (Ignore the rusting chain in the foreground--we just took down one of our hanging baskets.)

The final shot as it begins to deflate.

This is not an uncommon occurrence in Indianola. We have an annual balloon classic in which hundreds of balloonists participate from across the country. Dave already transferred those photos to our back-up storage, so when he transfers them back for me, I'll post a few of them on here. It's a beautiful sight! The weather was perfect yesterday, for both Tracy's wedding and for the balloonists. As the sun was setting, several balloons floated across the horizon. And I didn't even think to take a picture. We're just used to it! :)

Happy Wedding Day!!

2007-09-01T08:12:00.000-06:00

To my good friends, Tracy and Jason! Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Dinesen...or is that Mr. and Dr. Dinesen? hmmm...

The bride-to-be at her shower on Thursday night.

The groom-to-be captured in art. (Yes, a near exact copy of the poster Shauna made for my own bachelorette! Of course I'm not as great an artist! ...and this was cleaned up for this shower)

Spitting image!

These may not fit the real Jason.

I'm so happy to be a part of your day! (And thank goodness for this beautiful weather!)

Breaking news in Iowa

2007-08-31T11:23:00.000-06:00

(On the scrolling newsreel at the bottom of the TV...)

"GAY COUPLE MARRIED." It just sounded so silly to be announcing something I think of as...well, pretty common. I guess not in Iowa! It is the first legal same-sex marriage in this state. I don't follow politics very closely, so I really don't know how many states carry this law. I do find it unusual that more don't!

Well, I don't want to start discussing political/moral/religious views on this blog, so if you'd like to know my personal opinion on this subject, email me and I'll tell you. Otherwise, have a nice day!

Phew!

2007-08-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

Coconut dainties: check
Lemon tartlets: check (I'll never make that recipe again though--so much work for 16 tartlets--arg!)
Mini cheesecakes: check
Nanaimo bars: check
Truffles: will make tomorrow
Bridal shower veil: check
Invitations to baby shower: check (5 hours or so, thank you very much)
Lingerie sachets for bridal shower: check (scented beads/rocks wrapped in tulle then lace, tied with purple ribbon)
Poster for bridal shower: check
Games typed and printed up for bridal shower: check
Scrapbook pages ready for bridal shower: check
Glitter and scented beads cleaned up in the kitchen: check
Decorations: must wait until after my piano students leave tomorrow to put those up! (I'll have one hour from the end of teaching until the beginning of the shower!)

Needless to say, I've been busy.

I have practiced Paganini every day though.

Except today.

Let this be a lesson to you all. Practice first, bake later.

Are you thinking, "I must get Jill to throw me a shower!"? Dream on. At least not again while I'm pregnant!

Still to do tomorrow: make truffles, swiffer, clean bathrooms, cut up fruit for fruit plate, make caramel sauce, make whipping cream, make sangria, put up decorations...remember all the other things I forgot to do...

It's going to be such a fun shower tomorrow night though!!

No news [ain't] good news in reed land

2007-08-27T08:50:00.000-06:00

No, I haven't written about the cane test results. That's because I still haven't gotten a sound out of the reeds yet. Grr. I blame it on the knives. Or possibly my knife sharpening skills, but we've already been through that. On day 2 of reeds #1, 2 and 3, I scraped a rough skeleton on each and took out more in the tip so they'd open up easily. In goes the plaque, off I go, scrape, scrape, scrape. I keep an eye on proportions and symmetry, and when the tip looks thin enough, I give the reed a peep. Or I attempt to. Maybe I just gouge my cane much thinner. In Colorado, I was gouging to .58-.59 (because of the altitude), and here I gouge to .60, a la Mack. Cooper, I remember reading once that you gouged to .62 or thicker? I can't remember. Scraping this oboe cane feels like scraping my English horn cane though. And with knives that won't "let" me get an edge, this is frustrating. It's like the cane is replacing itself after I scrape it off. That's some Harry Potter cane for you. So, no new reeds (yet).

I also haven't had time to shape the gouged-only cane yet. This week is getting busy, mainly with lovely domestic things. I'm hosting a bridal shower at my house on Thursday night, and a baby shower, also here, on September 15. In between, I've volunteered to make some desserts for my friend Tracy's wedding (hence the bridal shower), so I'd like to kill all three birds with one or two days of mass baking. Bake and freeze. The plan is: coconut dainties (a lovely crispy tea cookie dipped in sifted confectioner's sugar), nanaimo bars (only Canadians know what those are...pure heaven), lemon curd tartlets, baby cheesecakes, chocolate truffles...for the desserts. Goat cheese and leek tartets (if I can find either of those ingredients in a store around here...drawback to living in this area...), a fresh fruit plate for Thursday night, and either sangria or Asti and peach nectar for drinks (Thursday)...neither of which I can drink...everyone should just get water and be happy with it.

For Rachel's shower in a couple of weeks, I'm planning a red carpet theme. Now that baby Micah has been born, I can make the gender-specific invitations! I need to do that ASAP.

Both cars need oil changes, so that's on the list.

Before anything else though, I'm practicing the Paganini for Dave's recital. We had our first rehearsal last night, and our wonderful pianist (not being sarcastic), who only has boom-chucks, boom-chucked a little faster each time we restarted. I'd been struggling to get the whole piece under my fingers at quarter=126, and we were pushing 144 last night. I could barely hang on. I stepped in as the militant time-keeper a couple times, as the flutist and Dave (on soprano sax) had no problem moving their fingers that fast. Luckily, it's going to be my job to give the tempo at the recital. They've all decided that 136 should be a good final tempo, which makes me feel like I have to go relearn this piece. The recital is on September 12. I still don't have a few licks up to 126. Stressful. Dave said he was proud of me though and that he'd never heard me play so fast. (I even got rewarded with a Dairy Queen blizzard after rehearsal!) I've played more difficult pieces (hello, Koechlin Sonata), but pieces in this brilliante style (not to be confused with "brilliant") are so hard to pull off. Every little blip stands out. This is why I find the Mozart Concerto more difficult than the Strauss. Maybe it's just me. I'm not saying the Mozart is in brilliante style, but it does need to be so incredibly precise without sacraficing musicality. Anyway, I have to make sure to practice Paganini (not an oboistic piece!) every day. Priority 1.

I volunteered at the Iowa Wine Festival on Saturday night. I was put with another pregnant woman, so we got lots of comments like, "too bad for you," etc. Yeah, yeah. Guess what? I don't care that I can't drink right now! (Although I did have one French wine maker insisting that one or two glasses would not harm the baby!) I don't think of myself as a saint for politely refusing alcohol. It wasn't tempting to try any at all, although I tortured myself a little bit when one wine maker poured some for me to sniff. Sniffing wine is only part of tasting! I should have kept my nose far away. It smelled pretty darn good. Volunteering went very quickly. My friend (and adult piano student) even went and bought me an ice cream cone. Unfortunately, we had these bright yellow tee shirts to wear. Mine was XL to make sure it would fit. No problem. A medium probably would've still done the job. This shirt was practically down to my knees, the arm pits were a foot away from my own, and it succeeded in making me look not pregnant, but fat. Thank you very much.

We went to our second childbirth class yesterday, and as we were at the same hospital where Micah was born, we stopped in to visit the new parents and little guy. I won't post the pictures of Mommy and baby, as she might kill me, but here are a few pictures of Dave and I holding Micah, less than 24 hours old. Dave said I should make sure to post a giant label saying, "THIS IS NOT OUR BABY!" So, I've done it. Not that we'd mind if our child looked like this--he's beautiful!!

Finally, here's a picture of Dave on his first day back at school, today. Awww. Actually, I don't think classes start today (lucky for Kedron and Rachel, as Kedron teaches at Simpson, and they're bringing the baby home this afternoon), but the students all come in to schedule lessons and audition times for ensembles. Here's my handsome guy, all ready for the school year.

No pictures of me today, I'm afraid. I am in my pajamas, taking on the role of "stay-at-home-mom-to-be". Wow, this was a mammoth blog. Congratulations if you read the whole thing. And now, off to Paganini!!