mood swings of mountain weather

I don't have much time for a substantial entry -- rehearsal in twenty minutes -- but a few important things went down this week I wanted to let you know about.

First of all, I had my lesson with Elizabeth Pridonoff yesterday (finally) and it was just incredible. In studio class on Wednesday we all had a wonderful discussion about why we are here and why we are musicians and it really got me thinking. In the past year I have been doing a lot of questioning in that same vein: Can I really make a living in music and be happy with myself and my life at the same time? I don't want to have to overwork to succeed, but I don't want to be unsuccessful, either. Basically, all my thinking and talking to other musicians and talking to my family/friends and that discussion and my talk with Mrs. Pridonoff culminated in a personal epiphany of sorts; I've realized that I can do music and still acheive a balance. My life is what I make of it. Along with that epiphany comes the realization that I really need to go to graduate school if I'm going to make success as a musician plausible, which means this coming year is going to be very stressful and busy and full of big decisions.

But of course my lesson wasn't all just talking, we played some music too. I played the first movement of my Beethoven for her and she offered some very helpful suggestions. It was almost a surreal experience... she is so incredibly similar to my first two piano teachers in personality, musical outlook, and teaching style. It was like going back to my childhood. I really enjoyed it, and it made me feel very inspired and truly excited to practice for the first time in a long while. Her technical suggestions, especially, made a lot of sense to me. Donna Lee's suggestions were good for someone with hands and arms like hers, but they felt for the most part very unnatural to me, and I think Mrs. Pridonoff can help me return to my own personal comfort at the piano.

I'm running out of time! Quickly, other things I did this week:
- Took a spur of the moment trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and went hiking to look at waterfalls and mountain overlooks and trees trees trees everywhere. It was just gorgeous.
- Rehearsed with the gigantic (120 people!) choir for the Carmina Burana performance we're giving tomorrow afternoon with Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops!
- Played for the Board of Trustees dinner with a singer and got to schmooze a bit afterwards. I've found that for the most part the older people get the more I enjoy talking to them, so I had a good time.

Okay, truly have to go RIGHT now. More later, hopefully!