DMA - Still Doesn't Mean Anything?

I have been thinking a lot lately, yes, actually thinking. Since the infamous March 9, I have been thinking.

In this period of slightly more than a month, I have read and studied more books, of which only 2 were fiction, listened and studied more piano pieces. Also, I am almost finished with memorizing pieces for my recital. I am researching and looking into more resources for projects which have been put on hold for the past 2 years. I can finally indulge in some academic cravings.

It is also amazing what stress can push the body to do. Now, that my body is no longer charged with adrenaline and perhaps the levels are normal, I am sleeping earlier and much better. I have decided to not rush anywhere and be only on time for classes. Every other activity is optional and I won't make a decision until I absolutely need to.

The MTNA conference in Toronto was a blast. It was great to meet and be with wonderful musicians, and find people that are affirming. Malcolm Bilson, Seymour Bernstein and Peter Takacs gave wonderful presentations. Practice techniques and medical issues were also discussed. (Horses and dogs are smarter than we are at times). Being with familiar friends was definitely very refreshing, since these people have known me since I was still a teen. Free books are also a plus. I had so many freebies, I had no space left to bring anything else back.

Now, I have to make the "Doesn't Mean Anything", mean something to someone. Hopefully I'll convince myself first and then sell it to an employer. All about jumping hoops and navigating the course, huh? 2 recitals, 2 proposals - 1 lecture and 1 document. The countdown is on!

The Non-Conformists

Toronto ON, Canada:
I attended a session on Latin-American music and its rhythms at the MTNA/CFTMA Collaborative Conference last week. Although the session wasn't extremely interesting to me, I learned something about myself.

This was a Dalcroze-eurhythmics class in a nutshell and the participants had to move to music. Musicians are often stereotyped to be the non-conformists in society BUT when 40 musicians are in the same room together, they will again conform within themselves. When our presenter asked us to walk to the music, almost by instinct we walked in a circle (counter-clockwise). It made sense cos we utilized the largest amount of space.

Then she said, "I didn't mean to walk in circles, I just want you to walk." At that point, a few of us (yours truly included) turned and walked clockwise, against the grain. Gradually, this small group became more and more adventurous, walking diagonally across the room, zigzagging, and walking in between & against all the others who were still in the circle. I could not help by whispering to another music teacher, "You can tell who the non-conformists are in this room, can't you?" We both laughed!

I am a non-conformist (hahahahaha) and the thing that struck me was that I was not afraid of breaking up the circle. In fact, I was encouraging other people to break out of the "rut". I remember people have to dodge us and avoid colliding with us. As the exercise progressed, there were more and more people that were willing to move randomly. I did not stay to the end of the presentation but in this short 15 minutes, I discovered another part of myself.

Summer ...

Speaking of looking forward..
I will have to take a summer course for the first time.. ugh. On the other hand, I plan to give my second recital over the summer. Maybe some folks from Kansas can come, if my teacher approves. I don't think I want my friends to watch me perform here, I'd rather fly back to Kansas and play there. They may not recognize the Alabama Gloria.

I am considering attending the World Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak. I love Borneo if I had a favorite destination in Malaysia. It would be a good festival for me to attend if I intend to eventually pursue studies in ethnomusicology. I'm sure my students in the world music course would benefit if I am given the chance to teach it next year.

Too much of a good thing?

I have not blogged this year. Too many things have happened and time has flown by. This blog may be quite random.

I have met quite a few wonderful people in the past week including several acclaimed musicians, the composer Mario Davidovsky and other profs who are involved in Asian studies. Meeting these people, talking to them and attending their lectures was like being at an oasis in the desert. All these great experiences are now difficult to relive, as I can now COMPARE ... what a scary word!

I feel like I have been starved and I'm getting stuck in a rut. I miss the intellectual & philosophical discussions I used to have with my professors. I miss piano lessons. I miss reading for the love of it. I miss having a brain. I am a human BEING. I hope I've not morphed into a human doing.. There is such a push in my dept to do and do and do. There is neither time for reflection, nor a wisdom of discerning the important from the urgent. Nothing has time to mature and go deeper beyond the surface.

I have three weeks to my comprehensive exam. I look forward to getting this hurdle out of the way. For the second time (only), I will skip a week of school in March and head to Toronto. I hope to regain some sense of focus and sanity with a two-week break. What matters in the long run for me is that I finish this DMA (doesn't mean anything) and resume my goals. For now, they will be on hold.

Christmas Greetings 2006

Greetings from the South! I hope this letter finds you and yours well. Christmas time is here and where did the year go. I would not want to bore you with all the things that happened this year. With that, here are the firsts and funnies for this year:
Firsts:
• Stepped foot on Europe. In March, I was the bridesmaid and florist for my sister’s wedding in Cambridge, UK. I managed to visit the Cambridge University library (now that’s a REAL research library) and spent several days in London.
• Stuck in Chicago O’Hare overnight, after so many trips, it had to happen, right?
• Have a class size of 130 for 2 sections of music appreciation and finding out I’m the teacher, pianist, custodian, dancer and singer. Also, I’m the official unofficial tech person.
• Performed in Malaysia with Mr. James Taylor, baritone. Hoping there will be a request for a piano masterclass instead of coaching school choirs next summer.
• Pertaining to football: Learned the art of scalping … which is legal for one ticket.
• Went to the Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn) along with 92,000 screaming fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Roll Tide! We lost though … • Dressed up in a costume and played a recital on Halloween.
• First and last: Taking a course overload in graduate school and play a recital in a semester.

Funnies:
1. “Going to the zoo with you is like walking into a giant grocery store with you.”
2. On accompanying Mr. James Taylor.Gloria: If Mr. Taylor is James Bond, and Mrs. Taylor is M, does that make me Bond Girl?
3. On a true or false question. Student: Grieg can’t be a Czech composer! You said he’s from Norway! (Promise I held a straight face while giving this test.)4. “What are you going to do with your hands at the fermata?” If you know my quirky sense of humor, you can imagine what my answer could have been.
5. I thought I had heard it all from 5 and 6 yr olds since I’ve seen about 200 every day for 18 years of my life, and stories from my mom’s kindergarten, but this:
From 6-yr-old Gabriel: I’ll buy you a husband.
Gloria: Really? How much does it cost to buy a husband?
Gabriel: Nothing, I’ll just need to put on my knight costume and go buy you one.
Gloria: What if I don’t like him? Can I rent one so I can try him out?
Gabriel: You can’t rent a husband cos you can’t return him. You’re stuck!

May your Christmas celebration and the coming year be full of His goodness and abiding presence. We can laugh and rejoice, weep and persevere because Jesus came to give us life, joy in abundance and hope for years to come. He is Emmanuel and may His light continue to shine upon you. Maranatha!