Here's the deal, friends.
NYC tomorrow.
Elections for Student Government also unfortunately tomorrow.
Juxtaparty next Thursday. Getting nervous. Need to make plans for this in NYC.
Way too much academic work.
Messy room and a need to pack.
Dallas next weekend.
Really stressed. To the point of not being able to write complete sentences.
One month until summer...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Ooooooooooo-klahoma
Hello friends. I had the pleasure of traveling to Oklahoma City this weekend with friend Laura Mclain and, no lie, I was expecting tumbleweeds and orange dirt. Alas, OKC was not quite as I had imagined. Though their arts district is diminutive (to say the least), it's full of character. We saw David Ives' "All in the Timing"--which was sublimely hysterical. Unamunda was suddenly my official language. "Squigi" and "Diddly" have entered into my common jargon. Needless to say, it was a highly entertaining experience.
Sunday I experienced a large, Methodist, family-style Easter. It was pretty entertaining. I love watching people (and let me tell you, Laura has some serious characters in her family) and Laura and I even gave a little recital for the fam. I always get nervous about meeting families of close friends or boyfriends etc., but I think it went relatively well. I made a date with her "Grandmother Beautiful" (wouldn't it be great if my non-existent future grandkids would call me 'grandmother beautiful?') in Dallas when Laura visits this summer.
Oklahoma is sort of like a small, less superficial, less nook-y Dallas. It's just a little bit less of everything. Still, that small taste of Dallas was enough to tide me over until next weekend.
This weekend I'm headed to the Big Apple (hooray!) I'll probably be seeing either Gypsy (with Patti Lupone), South Pacific (with Kelli O'Hara), or Crybaby (the new Hairspray collaboration). I am DEFINITELY seeing Spring Awakening. Am I excited? Oh my goodness, YES. I have waited to see it for far too long. I'm ready to hop on the plane NOW to see lovely Jonathon Groff and company singing Duncan Sheik chorale-style.
The only detriments to the excursion this weekend is that I'm missing the Bach B Minor Mass with Rhodes Singers (which would have been really neat) and Formal Week (three evenings of parties in a row) at pretty cool locations. Still, nothing beats NYC.
I'll be sure to tell you all of my adventures!
Until then!
Sunday I experienced a large, Methodist, family-style Easter. It was pretty entertaining. I love watching people (and let me tell you, Laura has some serious characters in her family) and Laura and I even gave a little recital for the fam. I always get nervous about meeting families of close friends or boyfriends etc., but I think it went relatively well. I made a date with her "Grandmother Beautiful" (wouldn't it be great if my non-existent future grandkids would call me 'grandmother beautiful?') in Dallas when Laura visits this summer.
Oklahoma is sort of like a small, less superficial, less nook-y Dallas. It's just a little bit less of everything. Still, that small taste of Dallas was enough to tide me over until next weekend.
This weekend I'm headed to the Big Apple (hooray!) I'll probably be seeing either Gypsy (with Patti Lupone), South Pacific (with Kelli O'Hara), or Crybaby (the new Hairspray collaboration). I am DEFINITELY seeing Spring Awakening. Am I excited? Oh my goodness, YES. I have waited to see it for far too long. I'm ready to hop on the plane NOW to see lovely Jonathon Groff and company singing Duncan Sheik chorale-style.
The only detriments to the excursion this weekend is that I'm missing the Bach B Minor Mass with Rhodes Singers (which would have been really neat) and Formal Week (three evenings of parties in a row) at pretty cool locations. Still, nothing beats NYC.
I'll be sure to tell you all of my adventures!
Until then!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
New Spring Template/Update Tomorrow!
So I have a new template for spring which allows comments! So comment, folks!
I'll legitimately post tomorrow, but I'm basically back in Memphis for 3 days after 5 days in Oklahoma City (which was surprisingly awesome) and then I'm off to NYC for SAA things. Then we have 4 days till Juxtap'arty and the next day I leave for Dallas for auditions.
IT'S NUTS!!
Wish/hope/think/pray I can make it through the next couple of weeks!
Longer letter later--
Katharine
I'll legitimately post tomorrow, but I'm basically back in Memphis for 3 days after 5 days in Oklahoma City (which was surprisingly awesome) and then I'm off to NYC for SAA things. Then we have 4 days till Juxtap'arty and the next day I leave for Dallas for auditions.
IT'S NUTS!!
Wish/hope/think/pray I can make it through the next couple of weeks!
Longer letter later--
Katharine
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
First Love Revisited
Hey friends! Don't worry, I'll change the layout so you can comment etc shortly. Other than the chaos that is Juxtap'art[y] the arts haven't been too too prevalent in my life. In all honesty, I'm glad to have a break from organized arts overload. It had been a bit much.
That said, I have totally delved into my inner virtuoso pianist. You see, piano was really my first true love. I started lessons at age 6 (after begging my mom to start earlier every time I heard my cousin John play). From then until about seventh grade, I was pretty steady with my work. That said, 6-12 is only 6 years of dedicated work. My teacher was one of the most incredible people I've ever known. Anyone who knows me knows that I respect and admire my arts professors and mentors more than just about anyone in my life. Lola Dill was the first of my great mentors. If I ever win some crazy award in the future (ha, wouldn't a Tony be nice?) she needs to be the first person I thank (don't worry, family members, you'll totally get mentioned too.) My piano lessons at that early age taught me musicianship and opened the world of composition and interpretation of music. Lola Dill was responsible for fostering an intense passion that I will enjoy for the rest of my life. You see, because piano led to dance, choirs, musical theatre, orchestra, a cappella choirs, and conducting, Mrs. Dill is technically responsible for the activities that make me happiest.
Wow, I ramble. The point is, she was incredible. Once she retired, however, I knew I needed a little break. I performed in dozens of recitals, competitions, and festivals (and Hockaday was getting harder) and I needed a break. In eighth grade, I tried taking from a friend's father (that was a bust) and by ninth grade I had essentially given up. Though I dabbled a bit my freshman and sophomore year, I pretty much left the keys alone. Junior year, I befriended John Aldous and he introduced me to Songs for a New World. We were in the dressing room before an evening performance of Anything Goes and he and Brooks Dennard we chatting about what the boys were playing in their dressing room. When I asked, they said "Katie Beth you HAVE to listen to it! It's Jason Robert Brown...it's amazing. Don't worry--I'll burn the Last Five Years for you." The rest is history. I fell madly in love with JRB (and still totally am) and started playing all of his music. When vocalists heard that I played those pieces, they went crazy. I started accompanying. This carried into college, though by first semester I had a few more songs under my belt that I could play. Through this process, my sightreading skills skyrocketed though my technical abilities remained as they were in seventh grade.
This semester I started taking lessons. Though they aren't going quite as wonderfully as I hoped, I'm being exposed to more pieces. My friend Laura is playing a gorgeous Chopin Nocturne that I adore. She copied it for me yesterday, and I've literally practiced a solid five hours on it the past two days alone. Maybe it's only going to be a brief thing, but at least for now, the pianist has returned.
I desire to learn concertos and sonatas. I want to play Rachmaninov C Minor Adagio (Mvmt 2) and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1. I wish I hadn't quit in seventh grade, but I did. I'm only eighteen, and though I have a good six years of technical catching up to do, I think I'm finally ready to do it.
I'll be rusty for a little while, but I should be alright in a couple of years. Anyone who reads this is totally invited to my senior recital:)
That said, I have totally delved into my inner virtuoso pianist. You see, piano was really my first true love. I started lessons at age 6 (after begging my mom to start earlier every time I heard my cousin John play). From then until about seventh grade, I was pretty steady with my work. That said, 6-12 is only 6 years of dedicated work. My teacher was one of the most incredible people I've ever known. Anyone who knows me knows that I respect and admire my arts professors and mentors more than just about anyone in my life. Lola Dill was the first of my great mentors. If I ever win some crazy award in the future (ha, wouldn't a Tony be nice?) she needs to be the first person I thank (don't worry, family members, you'll totally get mentioned too.) My piano lessons at that early age taught me musicianship and opened the world of composition and interpretation of music. Lola Dill was responsible for fostering an intense passion that I will enjoy for the rest of my life. You see, because piano led to dance, choirs, musical theatre, orchestra, a cappella choirs, and conducting, Mrs. Dill is technically responsible for the activities that make me happiest.
Wow, I ramble. The point is, she was incredible. Once she retired, however, I knew I needed a little break. I performed in dozens of recitals, competitions, and festivals (and Hockaday was getting harder) and I needed a break. In eighth grade, I tried taking from a friend's father (that was a bust) and by ninth grade I had essentially given up. Though I dabbled a bit my freshman and sophomore year, I pretty much left the keys alone. Junior year, I befriended John Aldous and he introduced me to Songs for a New World. We were in the dressing room before an evening performance of Anything Goes and he and Brooks Dennard we chatting about what the boys were playing in their dressing room. When I asked, they said "Katie Beth you HAVE to listen to it! It's Jason Robert Brown...it's amazing. Don't worry--I'll burn the Last Five Years for you." The rest is history. I fell madly in love with JRB (and still totally am) and started playing all of his music. When vocalists heard that I played those pieces, they went crazy. I started accompanying. This carried into college, though by first semester I had a few more songs under my belt that I could play. Through this process, my sightreading skills skyrocketed though my technical abilities remained as they were in seventh grade.
This semester I started taking lessons. Though they aren't going quite as wonderfully as I hoped, I'm being exposed to more pieces. My friend Laura is playing a gorgeous Chopin Nocturne that I adore. She copied it for me yesterday, and I've literally practiced a solid five hours on it the past two days alone. Maybe it's only going to be a brief thing, but at least for now, the pianist has returned.
I desire to learn concertos and sonatas. I want to play Rachmaninov C Minor Adagio (Mvmt 2) and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1. I wish I hadn't quit in seventh grade, but I did. I'm only eighteen, and though I have a good six years of technical catching up to do, I think I'm finally ready to do it.
I'll be rusty for a little while, but I should be alright in a couple of years. Anyone who reads this is totally invited to my senior recital:)
Monday, March 10, 2008
New Beginnings
Hello friends. I have the You've Got Mail score stuck in my head (half clickity-clackity keyboard-esque percussion mixed with dainty piano/half "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") and I'm about to start the last quarter of my freshman year in college. It's been an interesting year (and I'm sure as the semester further comes to a close I'll have more reflections). It's been trying in many ways, but it's also been enjoyable. I don't really know where I'm going with this, but I feel like this is one of those inexplicably anti-climactic crossroads and I don't know where I want to go with it. Basically, I guess I'm life-confused. I don't know if that's actually a term, but I just made it up then and there and now it is. So there.
You probably noticed the hyper perky, uber Spring-y new layout. Don't worry. I know it's crazy--it'll go away soon. Until I actually get the time to create my own this-is-not-an-emo-blog-but-I-hate-the-generic-preset-layouts-so-I'm-creating-my-own layout, things may continue to be somewhat goofy. IN the meantime, I'm going to try to enable comments since I received complaints about that.
Over the break (I had a cabin in the Smokies with some friends and then went to Dallas) I found some really neat things for Juxtap'art[y]. It should be really fun! I'll definitely have more updates as this week progresses and things get rolling again.
Sorry for the short post, but I have class...Another update soon!
You probably noticed the hyper perky, uber Spring-y new layout. Don't worry. I know it's crazy--it'll go away soon. Until I actually get the time to create my own this-is-not-an-emo-blog-but-I-hate-the-generic-preset-layouts-so-I'm-creating-my-own layout, things may continue to be somewhat goofy. IN the meantime, I'm going to try to enable comments since I received complaints about that.
Over the break (I had a cabin in the Smokies with some friends and then went to Dallas) I found some really neat things for Juxtap'art[y]. It should be really fun! I'll definitely have more updates as this week progresses and things get rolling again.
Sorry for the short post, but I have class...Another update soon!
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