Broadened Horizons

This has been the most action packed horn week ever. I don't know where to start so I will have to do a day by day:

Thursday

1. The horn studio had a master class with Cheryl Neberhaus. I played an etude that I was having difficulty with and she told me some great things. Mainly that I needed to rethink the sound that I desire to play. She move my hand position and it made things easier and opened my sound, but it wasn't a functioning hand but it sounds great.
2. Next, I got to sit in on the 4 hornist's first rehearsal of the Schumann Concert Piece. I made a recording and I was just blown away with how musically and how far each player was able to push and what is even better is that everyone is such a beast.

Friday

1. Rehearsal
2. Lesson with Dr. Abagail Pack- There was a life lesson in this lesson...at the end of the day, one must just deliver. Its not about how tired you are, its not about how much you don't know...its about putting everything you have into the performance. Needless to say, I didn't do as well in the lesson as I thought I would...but its neither here or there now.
   
3. Brass sectional- So the DAY before the concert the brass section of the orchestra had our 1st rehearsal. What I learned....appoint someone to be the mediator...to be in charge but to direct the ideas of the musicians into one succinct thought so there aren't a room full of people talking and getting nothing done.
   
4. Panel discussion=LIFE CHANGING. Lesson learned: Roll with the punches, and NEVER make excuses. Progress.
   

Saturday

1. Rehearsal 10-12:30
2. McAlisters- great bacon spud
   
3. Lesson with Laura Carter- LC is everything I want Dr. B to be in the sense that when she presented a problem, the also gave a solution, and it wasn't one of those "figure it out" situations. I have it recorded and I am so excited about that.
   
4. my mouth is itching..good thing (a week later- as I am updating this, my lips are itching again which means that blood is flowing! I am gonna be such a great horn player)
   
5. Concert- BEST OF MY LIFE. And the reviewers thought so as well
   

   http://www.cvnc.org/reviews/2010/092010/ECUSymphony.html

Sunday

1. Goldsboro Concert 8am at school of music- Great acoustics. There was a moment when we were playing in the second movement of the Tchaikovsky that I thought, "this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life". It was almost an out of body experience, but it was so great. Music is my life, and I am ok with that.