Monday, July 27, 2009

Almost AUGUST! Time to get serious about all the summer projects and plans that have slipped through my fingers up until now. (The most pressing being fall scheduling with contacting EVERYONE, both MYC classes and private students.) This is the least favorite part of my year, since it rarely falls into place smoothly. It is, however, all part of the job, and I will stop living in denial, since once Aug 1 comes, it's a downhill slide, gathering speed as it goes!

We happened upon a music festival in the Cleveland Metroparks Frostville Museum yesterday and heard some very talented musicians, the best of which you can see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsz-yZ5j5FI Sally Williams and Mark Minnich are BG students studying the violin. They were amazing to hear and watch. This partiular day they played in a little restored church where the acoustics were wonderful. The audience couldn't have been more than 20 people! We actually came back for the 2nd show later that evening! Oh, to be that young and that talented. They will go far! Expect to see (and hear) more from them in the future.

July 24, 3009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

This is the season for weddings, and this video came up on my facebook this morning. I love the joy on the faces of these people as they enter the church. it shows how the MUSIC in a wedding ought to be one of the first things people think about and choose, right after vows. THEN can come the dresses, tuxes, flowers etc etc. Most brides and grooms have it backwards, in my opinion. My father played the piano for the prelude in my wedding (and did the same for one of my sons) and I had several friends play violin, flute, piano and sing in ours. In fact, I arranged a Greek Pavanne for violin, flute and piano to walk down to. None of that "Here Comes the Bride" stuff for me. Although you can read about the Bridal Chorus, which is actually from an opera and preceeds a failed marriage here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridal_Chorus. Wagner was anti-semitic, and many churches forbade the playing of this piece in a church setting. Some still do.

It just goes to show you that music is powerful, and should be well thought-out to convey exactly what each couple wants to communicate about themselves. My daughter-in-law Laura walked down the aisle to "Blackbird" by the Beatles. Their postlude included "When I'm Sixty-four".

Wonder what the next generation will include in their weddings, if they have any?

Well, I've entered the world of blogging. Don't really know what it's all about or if anyone will be interested enough to read it. Perhaps all it will do is open my inbox up to more and more spam and unwanted advances from foreign parties wanting to "give" me money. Still, I spend enough time on facebook, I thought it was time to do something a little more serious, like having to do with my real day job - teaching music. I'll keep you posted for more. If you are out there reading. Anybody?