so this week has been really hectic with rehearsals and not so much with practicing, which is kind of disappointing.

i was getting on a really steady practice regimen over spring break and i really hope i can get back on it.

outside of rehearsal i've mainly only been working on my ensemble music- excluding my quintet music, which i really need to be spending a lot of time on.
i am really enjoying having all of these rehearsals though. i had 2-3 rehearsals every day this week and i'm excited that this week will be about the same, except this week i have two concerts and no morning rehearsals (thank goodness).

on a side note i have had a lot more anxiety problems this week than normal and a bit of dizziness that is probably just stress and hunger.
or it could be the program for my wednesday concert, john adams will be the death of me.

i really need to start packing lunches or at least carry a ton of snacks.
i feel like i am constantly hungry even when i eat a ton of food.
is anyone else like this?
also i worry if i'm getting enough vitamins. its not always easy to find good things to eat that is really cheap. i don't ever really carry cash and i ran out of money on my student commuter account.
also i go to a ridiculously expensive school and still have to pay a ton for some pretty terrible food.
all i eat is tofu vegetables and rice at school and they somehow take all the flavor out of vegetables.
it tastes like if they boiled everything for too long and than just served it.
so lately i have been living on bread, rice, and beans. >.<

i cut off all my hair.
it was awesome.
i got it cut in between rehearsals on thursday at this tiny unisex barbershop between broadway and amsterdam on 96th.
seriously paid 20 plus tip and got a great haircut and a wash.

and my hairdresser didn't speak english so no awkward conversation, just a lot of silence, stillness, and thinking.
does anyone else not like to talk while getting a haircut?
i just want all the attention on my hair, no distractions and i am content sitting there for however long it takes in silence.

when i take a picture ill post it.
i really need to take more pictures. i have had all this stuff happen this week and haven't taken a single picture. i'll be better.

p.s all this rain is awesome and the temperature seems to finally be going up in nyc.
goodbye winter!!

what is your favorite rainy day activity?

-bea

hello!
good afternoon:)

i'm writing this post from the school library on what might be my longest school day since junior year of undergrad. 10am-940pm :(:(.

I am cramming some music for rehearsal tonight. i am subbing for a friend and am playing first oboe on Mozart symphony no 40 and the overture to the barber of Seville.
both are pieces I've never played but have heard my whole life.
Thank you classic cartoon childhood:)
Which makes this more terrifying because all will know if I make the slightest mistake. >.<

If you were wondering about my absence on here I was on my spring break.
I didn't really leave the city, except once where I went to a dinner in Staten island.
Seriously took over 2 hours to get there and even longer to get back.
I will probably never go back.
Ever.

The ferry ride back was nice though.


and I got to meet one of my cousins (plus her baby and her man) who grew up here and got to spend time with a cousin I grew up with (and finally meet her bf!) who moved up here a few years before I did.


I was a pretty sad thinking about spring break in this frigid city, which meant no beach, picnics, or springtime adventures but I went to so many exciting concerts and shows!

My aunt took my sister in law and I to see the new production of Le mis and it was so good!
My first Broadway show!


I also got some swanky seats for wozzeck at the met for the student ticket price of $27 each. (they were $300 seats!)
I was literally close enough to James Levine where I couldn't get him out of my sight. It was to cool. Also you could see inside the pit, which I was so excited about.

I also won a pair of tickets to go see the bang on a can all stars at the Kaufmann center and my friend Rick and I somehow got into the reception area and were able to get some free snacks and drinks.
I didn't get a picture of  the performers or us at the venue but I did get a photo of the amazing vegan chilli I got at blossom to escape the horrible wind before the show.

Oh, hello fans of blog. Beatriz is working on a new feature this week and asked me to fill in on the mixtape front. This one is definitely a bit of a departure, so a few words about my selections.

I work in a bar, which, on slow nights, with a bit of luck and just the right combination of whiskey, gin, beer, and jukebox, provides a great atmosphere for dialogue with the odd patron (my apologies for the Melville-ian proliferation of commas). Last night was such a night, when I was afforded a long-form conversation with a customer and former employee of same bar who is now a successful actor. We got to talking about making the transition from working side jobs to being paid for your skill and talent, something I hope to do in the next year or so living in NYC. "The most important question to answer," he said, "is what are you trying to do? Create your vision, and then go about trying to express it. Look to those people who have achieved what you're trying to achieve as inspiration, but don't don't make a safe imitation of their work - take risks, or there will be nothing of value in what you do." And here I was just trying to pour beers and keep from splashing our famous chili on my shirt.

Thinking about what I am trying to do is the theme for this playlist. I've gone back to songs and pieces that made an impact on me throughout my years of working on music. The list is organized in the chronological order in which I heard the piece. These are all works that have a strong memory associated with them, and for the most part they are on the long side to facilitate extended thought. This is a list for thinking to. You can listen closely or zone out, but the point is to let it guide, rather than to react to it.

1. miles davis // dual mr. anthony tillmon williams process
2. godspeed you black emperor! // terrible canyons of static
3. dirty three // deep waters
4. narciso yepes // gran jota (composed by francisco tarrega)
5. alexei lubimov // für alina
6. alexei lubimov // spiegel im spiegel
7. jimi hendrix // voodoo chile (slight return)
8. iannis xenakis // polytope de cluny
9. deerhoof // look away

{ listen on spotify}

What are you trying to do? What songs have strong associations with memories?