Stuff thatsa happenin'

Current Goals:

• Memorize 5 pages of Chopin by Tuesday.
• Apply to Graduate schools.
• Clean my room.
• Don't spend anymore money.
  

I'm applying to grad schools! I finally narrowed it down to four schools. Drum roll.....
University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of Memphis. I sat down and talked with Dr. J and we narrowed down my list to these. Now I just have to apply, get transcripts, recommendation letters, fees, audition.... simple, right?...

Almost done working the phone-a-thon. I need a paycheck!

"Hair" is going fine. I need cash!

I thought this was cool.

Time to practice.

Another update

School is getting to the point of being ridiculous. Everything had been in nice organized stacks in my mind. Those slowly turned into organized piles. And now the whole thing is like my dad's garage. A complete wreck but he knows where everything is if you give him enough time to find it. I feel myself slowly becoming unwound from the winding up over the summer. Thanksgiving can't get here fast enough. I need family. People that'll understand me. People that I'm used to dealing with their eccentricities and love them for their faults. I'm tired of being nice and getting by. Maybe I'm just babbling. All I know is that I'm ready to move on. Not only from this semester but from this vein of life in general. I'm ready to go out and experience some more, in another location, with different people. The people that I've met that are new to school this year are nice but I'm just not getting along with them. Maybe I've got cabin fever? Senioritis? Deadly plights both. Whatever it is, I'm ready. Registered for my last semester of undergraduate classes: 18 hours. I think that's the most I've ever taken. Definitely not looking foward to it.

Miscellany:

• Still haven't narrowed down graduate school.
• I'm going to enter a composition contest for cash. Maybe two. I'll let you know how it goes.
• I'm enjoying learning my piano music. I felt like I had found out how to practice to make music but I couldn't hold onto that feeling. It was like trying to hold a cloud or fire. Very fleeting. I'll get it back soon enough.
  
• I'm broke.

That is all.

An update

Hello all.
I just thought to write an update about life in general.

I still enjoy classes and all of them are going well.

I've found an awesome add-on for Firefox called Ubiquity. It's an amazing add-on that makes surfing, internet usage, life on the computer easier. Things are already pretty easy to begin with, but it gathers all the good things together into one search engine-ish format. Check out this promotional video for it. It's still in alpha so I'm guessing there are still bugs and stuff. But the product to come is going to be pretty cool.

Still on the search for a graduate school. I haven't worked on narrowing down the list anymore since last time. I've gotten caught up in the hustle and bustle of classes and all that entails. It's nice to be busy again.

My car is broken. It needs a new alternator and I'm not sure when it's going to get one. Hopefully soon.

I'm on a Rent soundtrack listening kick. I've listened to the thing like 5 times. It's hitting a chord with me. I'm not sure why...

Annoyances

There are just some things, no matter how petty or seemingly innocent they seem, that still get on my nerves.

1. People acting like they are still in high school when they are really in college. I know it has only been a few months since you've been out of high school, but seriously. Grow up. Please stop being loud and obnoxious right outside my practice room when I've already complained once.

2. People acting like they are still in high school when they've been out of high school for a year or more. Seriously. Grow up.

3. Gossip. I'm really not liking this term lately. Again, this goes back to growing up. I know that some people will never do so, I realize that. But please leave the rest of us out of your petty thoughts and ideas about what you think someone is doing with their lives. No one cares.

4. Having pointless arguments about Winnie the Pooh... ;)

5. Something else but I can't remember it right now...

In other news,

I love Ravel.

A new start!

It's a new year! New faces! Fall semester is always an exciting time. Yes, it is very sad to see the old faces go but we must "pass and be forgotten with the rest" as the Purple Victory lyric goes. I've met some cool freshmen so far. It looks like a good bunch to continue the music learning process. Too bad I won't get to keep with them as they learn all about music and life. I'm going to be applying to graduate school soon and I'm pretty excited about it. Actually I'm scared. Scared about how to make the right decision as to which school to apply, how far away to go and who to ask for help. My parameters as to what location I'd like; North of Alabama, east of the Mississippi River, not Maine, Wisconsin, or Michigan. So that narrows it down... I have 24 schools so far narrowed down as to where I want to go. It's better than having no school to choose from, so I'm better off than I was previously. (thanks to s. wells for suggesting something I should of realized.) As to what I want to do, I'd like to go into Collaborative Piano. That is playing with vocalists, instrumentalists, opera, musicals, chamber music, etc. Whoever needs a pianist, I'll do it. I've done a lot of it as an undergraduate and I've really enjoyed it. I think I'd enjoy it as a graduate too. So that's it about what's happening in recent news.

I made a 4.0 in summer classes and I got my academic scholarship back! That was a scary time when I didn't know if I'd get it back or not. If I hadn't, it would have been very difficult to come back this fall. So now that I'm back, I'm finding that my refund check will not make it as easy as I thought to live. I need a job. Badly. Or else hello Ramen.

In other, other news...

This day, Labor day, I've done exactly that: Labor. I've washed all my clothes, towels, sheets and have a clean room and kitchen. It is going to be a good week. I'm starting it off on a good foot at least.

A fundraiser

I thought this was cool. I hope it works.

Please visit my fundraiser website! I need money for college text books/music. I have quite a bit of both and nothing is getting any cheaper. All I ask is for a $10.00 donation. More is great! But the minimum is 10... I'd accept less but they won't let me. :(

Help out a starving artist and donate some cash for books.

Have a great day. Fundraiser here!!

Image via WikipediaTim russert died today of a heart attack. I don't really know who he
is or why he was important but I found out with my iPhone!

zemanta tryout

So I found this cool Firefox extension just for blogging. It pops up on the right side of your screen and gives you suggestions in the form of photos (free!) and related links that it finds concerning your topic. You have to type a certain amount so that it can get a ballpark of what you're talking about. It gives you suggestions for labels, links, photos and related articles. I think its pretty cool so far. So I think I'm going to keep it and see how it goes.

In other news...

• I'm almost finished with May term. I made a 97 on my midterm and have my final on Friday.
  
• I've switched my Summer I class to Summer II so that I can have a break in between.
  
• Young Musician's Camp is coming up and I'm very excited. This will be my first one since my freshman year to counsel
• I'm in a documentary!! I'll be Lieutenant Werner Von Haeften in Operation Valkyrie produced by Media Works Communications of Birmingham, AL. I don't have any lines but I do have a scene where I rig a bomb for detonation... I have to get my hair cut pretty short but I get to wear a SS officer's uniform. I'm just excited that I get to do something interesting this summer and not just the same old stuff.

Horray for papers being through!!

Hopefully it is good enough for my professor. Here's to hoping!




This picture is what I did while I wasn't writing. I started to doodle. Then an idea came up about the music on the page. I've been studying Chopin scores all night and it kind of reminds me of that. I really hear it though with woodwinds. Clarinets, and saxophones... which is really odd because I don't like to write for those instruments. We'll see if anything comes of it.

Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwiches from Hardees tastes fantastic after an all nighter. I guess sleep would be good too.

Today I'll hopefully find out what I'll be playing for next semester. I'm kind of excited about that.



Sorry for the random, random post but I'm all energized now after eating... Have a good day!!

it all comes down to...

So I made it through a week in hell.

I did my recital. The only good thing that came out of it was getting to see my parents and getting LOTS of free food. I sucked up the playing but its too late now.

I'd really like some of these pillows... sounds gay but trust me, they're cool. I just want to fill my living room up to about waist high and live there.

I should have started this earlier when I don't feel so grumpy...

haha thats a fun word, grumpy. It looks grumpy... lol


Who needs a break? me

Unaccomplished

So i think i failed my physics test. This'll be the 2nd time. I should really drop that class. I feel this way about several of my classes really. I hope the Man doesn't take away my scholarships...

Thought things were worked out with friends but it doesn't seem that way anymore. Particularly one friend. i don't think he reads this section of the post doesn't really matter. People need to grow up, stop assuming things, and learn to communicate. I think i just answered the answer to all of life's problems in that last sentence but who knows.

I have a recital in four days. I hope everything goes well.

Oh procrastination...

10 or 11 o'clock

So I could totally be studying for my Physics test tomorrow. Or reading "The Joy Luck Club" for English on Tuesday. Or even cleaning my room. But here I sit, listening to music and blogging. And Stumbling. The last one is the main proponent of my lack of drive... if you don't know what it is, go here and prepare to be sucked into the world of I-just-wasted-three-hours-of-my-life-ville.
Anyways, I'm currently listening to Awadagin Pratt's recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 which is always a favorite.
Things are straightening out between my friends, thankfully. I was worried there, for a bit.
Found a new game. Ikariam. Pretty great, if I must say. Its free, thankfully.
Still haven't studied for Physics.
Still haven't practiced.

1:16

went to "practice" and ended up goofing around on the piano: jazz standards, Schubert Waltzes and "The Last 5 Years".

Still have to study for that damn test...

Pre - Recital Jury Drama

So since I'm majoring in piano, I am required to do a recital displaying all that I've learned over the past 3 years. But in order to do this, I have to do a "pre recital jury" or "hearing" if you will. This is where the piano faculty all come to hear me play a 30 minute recital. All two of them. You could say this is a stressful experience. I was supposed to have my jury on Thursday of last week, April 3rd. I wasn't ready so they pushed it back some more to this Tuesday, April 8th. I failed. They were gracious enough to allow me to play again Today. Apparently they thought that the two days I had to practice and mentally prepare myself for the next jury was going to be enough to get me to pass. I don't know why they thought that but it worked. I passed this time.

Their only comments were that I was too aggressive. In everything. The Mozart, Scriabin, Brahms. All of it was to pushy and loud and bangy. I guess I have to tone down the aggression and put on a more charming, elegant demeanor for the recital hall.

That is hard to do when there are so many things to be upset about and sad about and angry about. I find it hard to mask my emotions that much. If I'm feeling angry, it is going to come out in my playing apparently. I can't go into what is making me feel this way. Anonymity is not a friend here, unfortunately. I will, however, say that I'll never ceased to be amazed at what people will do; against, for, to, with, in spite of, in anger at, mockingly at, in kindness to, out of love for, jealousy at, hatefully at, not knowing, hopefully for, to please, pleadingly for, other people.
I should of gone into psychology. People will always be messed up enough for therapy. Everyone could go deaf one day though...

Productive!!

Wow I've been productive today. Lets see what I've done.

I've cleaned my bathroom which includes: shower, sink, toilet, floor and mirror.
Just look at the reflection off of that faucet. And not a streak on the mirror.

I've washed two loads of laundry.

I'm going to go practice for an hour. I know this isn't a lot but it is getting something done. More practice tomorrow, hopefully.

Maybe I'll clean my kitchen and vacuum my floor while I'm at it. We'll see...

I feel a lot better knowing that my bathroom is clean.

OCD? Probably? Do I care? No!

You know what they say, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

Random thoughts?

So I get to see my Mom, Sister 1 and Niece tomorrow. I haven't seen them in about a week and a half. I'm excited to see what they are up to and how they are doing.

Meetings with my family can either go very well or not so well. This meeting might bring more bad news about Sister 2 and her craziness or other general bad news. Or it could bring bickering between Sister 1 and Mom arguing or any other possible combination two people arguing. But mostly these trips bring family, good conversation, and understanding. Things I can always use more of.

I don't think I'm going to go to class tomorrow... I haven't even begun my history paper yet and the 2nd draft is due!! I definitely need to talk to that professor.

I hope I pass my recital jury. I had a lesson today and the Mozart Sonata went fine (K.345, c minor) GREAT actually. But the two Scriabin etudes (Op. 8, No. 5 and Op 2. No.1) didn't go so well. She didn't even let me finish the Brahms Rhapsody b minor (the first one). Two of my friends took their pre-recital juries today. One passed and one failed. I thought the one that failed did a great job but they held them back because of "not being able to recover effectively". I would let them go on and just get it over with. But I'm not the one with a doctorate degree.

Sorry for being so existential lately. I guess I just really worry about what I'm supposed to be doing and what I'm doing, is it correct? Maybe being in a relationship eases this things because I just realized that I don't think of these things, that often, when I'm dating someone. Dating someone doesn't define who I am, it just keeps my mind off of things. Definitely another reason to date often. It keeps the mind busy and the heart occupied.

If you haven't noticed, I like to update from my iPhone. I like being able to have pictures accompany my posts. It shows my immediate surroundings. I like it.

Sorry for the long post. I'll try to keep them shorter.

Matthew

Waiting part 2

I don't know any of the answers to these questions, obviously. Only
time will tell.

Sorry about the dual posts. Accidentally hit the Send key.

Waiting

As I sit outside the recital hall, listening to Joie play her pre-recital jury, I wonder what is it all for. Music, classes, jobs, relationships. What does it all build up to? What is the thing that everyone is pursuing? I wish it was clearer.

What happens after grauation? A job? More classes? What after that? Marriage? Babies? More school for them? All the mean while, money is the subject on everyone's mind. Do I have enough? How can I get more? More questions that don't really matter. What does it all build up to?

I know the thing is to be happy. But which of these things do you need to be happy? All? None? Do I need to graduate to be happy?

Spring time!

So as I stepped out the door today I was extremely surprised to find
that it was actually warm. It hasn't been warm in what seems forever.
Hopefully this change in weather well lighten my spirits. Meantime, I
have to play for my lesson today and I'm not sure I'm ready. Wish me
luck!!

Matthew

A family tree!

Hello from the desktop!

I've started a family tree using Geni. It is pretty cool. You can add your whole family on there and allow them (or not) to edit the tree along with you, making it as complete as possible. I would really like to see a complete family tree of mine one day. Maybe some other relatives have already started one that I can build off of. Search for me on Geni and look at my tree. Tell me what you think so far!

Wind Ensemble

Hello from wind ensemble. I am a piano performance major but I also
play the tuba. I played all throughout middle and high school so I
thought "why not" when I got to college. They give me some scholarship
money and a free trip every year to recruit new people.

P.S.
I got on trouble today for texting in class. Let's just say that I
wasn't the only one doing it... joie

Blog setup

Hello! I'm going to be blogging on the go from now on with my iPhone!
Not that I've ever blogged at all... Anyways, this is a test run.

Sent from my iPhone. You should get one! They are great.

So many things to do

I started a blog!
Another check on my list. I have many more boxes I would like to check.
Personal goals I have set for myself. Some important, others I would just like to
see done or get to do. Some of these include:

Get fit
Control my finances
Find and apply to graduate school
Practice the piano

Some lesser goals include:

Find out what I want for my birthday
Buy something for my niece for her birthday
Get a job


I'm not including things that I would like to buy or just really, really want. Those aren't really goals. Those are... drains. Drains on money and time. When I have more of both, maybe I'll buy some wants.

I have a whole week to start on some of these goals. Spring break is a glorious thing.