Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Watch Him Work
Well, it's time for an update...haven't talked to you guys in a while...let's see.....what's new?
Well, I finished my first Senior year as a music major. I found that the performance major was a lot more difficult than I originally expected because of the history requirements. Piano literature and Wind literature almost killed me...I thought I would have a nervous breakdown taking those two classes, but I finished the semester with like 7 A's and 2 B's, so I am satisfied. Moreso about that fact that it's over. This summer I went through a period where I wanted to change life plans and not go to grad school for music anymore...that changed about two weeks ago.
I was talking with a coworker about life and I told him all of my plans, and they sounded really great on paper. And then he asked me a question that changed the way that I thought about EVERYTHING. He said, "Did you pray about it".....I paused and thought for a minute even though I knew the answer to that question. Of course I did not pray about it but promised myself that I would that day. On the drive home, I asked God to guide me to where he wanted me to be and I would listen and do what I had to do to get there. I exhaled and let go of all of the stress and expectations and plans and everything.
Then a strange thing happened....everything started falling into place. I planned on visiting my best friend since High school in New York and booked my tickets a few months ago. A few days before the departure I was informed through facebook that there would be free seminars for music at Juilliard with the Imani Winds. The hornist for the Imani Winds, Jeff Scott, would be there so I decided to facebook him and tell him that I would come and I was excited and such. I didn't think he would facebook me back, but he did and was really excited that I would be there and told me to come and audit the master class that David Jolley was going to do.
Once I got to NY on friday I woke up early and a few subways and city blocks later I was staring at THE Juilliard School....THE Juilliard School....I have looked at their website too many times to count and have wished to go and visit there school for more than 10 years, so to finally have the chance to walk in the building was arguably one of the best experiences of my life. I made my way to the Morse Recital Hall...heard clapping....opened the door, hurried to a seat and looked left...and sitting RIGHT next to me was none other than Jeff Scott. After the performance he gave me a hug and immediately I told him that I wanted to study with him, and I was ready to get things moving forward with that. We had a great short discussion and I left. As soon as I walked out of the door to Juilliard, I knew in my heart that God was working and showing me..."look how much better I handle things than you can". I could have started crying/shouting/praying at that moment.
Later that night I went to the Broadway show "In the Heights" and was absolutely blown away. At that moment I knew I wanted to be a broadway musician. Even better, Jeff, has been playing on broadway for the Lion King for the last 13 or so years. This whole experience wasn't planned by me, it was all of a sudden, and I think is a testimony to how good God is.
It doesn't end there! My best friend who I visited sister works in Human Resources for a health conglomerate and while in casual conversation I told her I was in the army and that I was a pharmacy specialist. She told me she just hired a pharmacy tech. last week with 4 years experience starting at 50,000 a year, and that she would hire me as well starting between 50-70,000 a year! I have 5 years experience!
I am thankful that HE has shown me where I need to be, what I need to be doing, how I need to be doing it, and how i'm going to finance it all.
Praise him...I just had to share this with someone who would appreciate it!
Well, I finished my first Senior year as a music major. I found that the performance major was a lot more difficult than I originally expected because of the history requirements. Piano literature and Wind literature almost killed me...I thought I would have a nervous breakdown taking those two classes, but I finished the semester with like 7 A's and 2 B's, so I am satisfied. Moreso about that fact that it's over. This summer I went through a period where I wanted to change life plans and not go to grad school for music anymore...that changed about two weeks ago.
I was talking with a coworker about life and I told him all of my plans, and they sounded really great on paper. And then he asked me a question that changed the way that I thought about EVERYTHING. He said, "Did you pray about it".....I paused and thought for a minute even though I knew the answer to that question. Of course I did not pray about it but promised myself that I would that day. On the drive home, I asked God to guide me to where he wanted me to be and I would listen and do what I had to do to get there. I exhaled and let go of all of the stress and expectations and plans and everything.
Then a strange thing happened....everything started falling into place. I planned on visiting my best friend since High school in New York and booked my tickets a few months ago. A few days before the departure I was informed through facebook that there would be free seminars for music at Juilliard with the Imani Winds. The hornist for the Imani Winds, Jeff Scott, would be there so I decided to facebook him and tell him that I would come and I was excited and such. I didn't think he would facebook me back, but he did and was really excited that I would be there and told me to come and audit the master class that David Jolley was going to do.
Once I got to NY on friday I woke up early and a few subways and city blocks later I was staring at THE Juilliard School....THE Juilliard School....I have looked at their website too many times to count and have wished to go and visit there school for more than 10 years, so to finally have the chance to walk in the building was arguably one of the best experiences of my life. I made my way to the Morse Recital Hall...heard clapping....opened the door, hurried to a seat and looked left...and sitting RIGHT next to me was none other than Jeff Scott. After the performance he gave me a hug and immediately I told him that I wanted to study with him, and I was ready to get things moving forward with that. We had a great short discussion and I left. As soon as I walked out of the door to Juilliard, I knew in my heart that God was working and showing me..."look how much better I handle things than you can". I could have started crying/shouting/praying at that moment.
Later that night I went to the Broadway show "In the Heights" and was absolutely blown away. At that moment I knew I wanted to be a broadway musician. Even better, Jeff, has been playing on broadway for the Lion King for the last 13 or so years. This whole experience wasn't planned by me, it was all of a sudden, and I think is a testimony to how good God is.
It doesn't end there! My best friend who I visited sister works in Human Resources for a health conglomerate and while in casual conversation I told her I was in the army and that I was a pharmacy specialist. She told me she just hired a pharmacy tech. last week with 4 years experience starting at 50,000 a year, and that she would hire me as well starting between 50-70,000 a year! I have 5 years experience!
I am thankful that HE has shown me where I need to be, what I need to be doing, how I need to be doing it, and how i'm going to finance it all.
Praise him...I just had to share this with someone who would appreciate it!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Optimism
I am determined to have a good day. I hope I did well on my theory test. I'll find out sooner than later. Sigh...maybe working out will make me feel better about everything.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
one of those days
I don't know if I woke up on the wrong side of the bed or what, but I have been having such a 'blah' day today. Almost like I am merely going through the motions of life. Woke up, took a shower, went to school to warm up and practice for about 2 hours, wind ensemble for another 2 hours, break, piano literature for an hour, break till 7 o' clock ensemble. Go home, take a shower go to sleep. I have to remember to stay out of my head and in the present. Wind Ensemble was very good today, the horn section sounded really good and I think we are finally beginning to get outside of ourselves with our tone and intonation. If I can think in retrospect if I am glad I came to ECU, I would have to say yes. I can honestly say, that I have grown so much as a person, a player, and Lord knows ECU has humbled me in so many aspects. When the weather is like this (gloomy) I am always put in a terribly down states which sometimes overwhelms me. Like always, I shake it off though.
The real world outside of the music building is reminding me of its existence once more. Rent is due, need to get an oil change, pay my assistant, and pay the light bill/phone bill. Everything always hits at the same time.
Off to Live,
Deron
Monday, February 1, 2010
Good Day
So I braved the weather and went to school early to study for my theory 4 test. I really had no idea what the heck the test would be on because the material that we went over was so on the surface that I couldn't think of what we would possibly have a test on. There was plenty on the test however; a section where we had to write in 9th and 11th and 13th chords; a section on tristan and Mahler; and a little figured bass/descending chromatic sequences. It wasn't that bad, and afterwards I had plenty of time to get ready for my lesson. I dedicated this lesson to Strauss and played excerpts from Ein Heldenleben, Don Quixote, Don Juan, And Till Eulenspeigiel Merry Pranks. I also did the 3rd movement of the Gliere Concerto which sounded great! It is really great when hard work pays off.
Private lessons are a process. You work and work all week on specific things that will make your playing better in the future; you climb towards the peak of the mountain on to, at the end of your lesson, to be placed at the bottom to climb up once more. Most times you never actually make it to the top, but on select occasions you make it high enough to feel good about your accomplishments. Needless to say, I feel pretty good right now because I had two great lessons in a row. Texas and Brevard application submissions are coming up, so I need to get back acquainted with the Mozart 2nd concerto exposition. Class at 4, rehearsal at 6, dinner at 7:30 for my fraternity brother, then free for the night.
Off to live,
Deron
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