back to orchestra rehearsal - yay!

I went to JUMC for orchestra rehearsal last night. They are such a fun group and I always enjoy myself. I just can't see giving them up even though it will keep me on the southside 2 nights in a row. I got the performance schedule and am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing conflicts with NAPC.

जुस्त अनोठेर मानिक मोंडे

इ दो नोट क्नोव वहत इस गोइंग ओं विथ माय ब्लॉग!!!

summer's end

Tragically, the end is near. I can't believe I will be back at work officially next week. Although I've worked off and on all summer, it has been so nice in my new bacherlorette pad and new 'hood. My neighbors can hear me practice - Sara said "It's delightful." - how cool is that? I have been working on scales, etudes and a few solos, trying to have quality practice time. It is so easy to just pick up my viola and play for 10 minutes or so with it so close at hand. I just can't let myself play late at night, which is something I've always enjoyed.

I still haven't decided about JUMC - I just hate to give it up. I may play with them for the month of Aug. and see how it goes. I know there will be conflicts with performances, but NAPC doesn't start back until September. SCSO starts back Sept. 2, so that is a given. I can't wait. I have gained confidence since last year's inaugural season on the viola.

NAPC orchestra

Rehearsal this morning was good - the orchestra is more like a chamber group with one instrumentalist per part and I am going to like that I think. The director is a bird - really mad scientist scatter brain personality, but so sweet. I did OK except for the one piece she threw at me to sight read- it was in a difficult key and the whole thing is dissonant and weird. I'm anxious to hear it tomorrow morning with the choir plus I'm going to rework the music tonight- I think there are some mistakes. I am looking forward to the service tomorrow and we are all staying for lunch at the church afterwards. It will be nice to get to know some of the musicians a little better.

Much to report

Well...... lots has happened. I've moved to the city - the ATL! I have an awesome apartment in midtown that I love. It has been an easy move -the hard part has been telling my friends and family why I did it. This is what I wrote on my other blog -it's too hard to rewrite:
"Why? Because the alternatives were: 1) suck it up, bury the bad feelings, and let them leak out little by little over the coming months and years, 2) take the sadness and anger out on the loved ones who don’t deserve it and risk ruining those relationships, or 3) implode. Running away was better than therapy I decided; after all, this is not a dress rehearsal for life. I am not a wallower by nature and have always been independent to a fault, so I just did it." And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Along with a new place to live come new viola opportunities. I've visited several midtown churches looking for one with an orchestra that I can join. I am not a religion snob - anything remotely Christian will suit me. I've had one practice with North Avenue Presbyterian Church and will practice again Sat. morning and then play with them this Sunday. They appear to be a really nice group and are not too advanced for me. They are not as good as my pals from JUMC in Jonesboro and I've not quite decided to leave that group yet. We'll see how this weekend goes.

Music in the Mountains

The North Georgia Chamber Music Retreat was terrific. Nearly 60 musicians played tons of music with varying instrumentation nonstop for the weekend. Everyone brought music to share and I would guess there were 20 bins of chamber music to browse through. The event ran itself - you just picked something you wanted to play and then recruited the required instrmentalists to a cabin front porch, living area, conference center room or sitting room to read through as much or as little of the piece as the group chose. It was a chance to play new music for nearly everyone. I particularly enjoyed the one session of large group music. We played the Tchaikovsky Seranade and several other string orchestra pieces.

I surprised myself with my ability to keep up. Many folks were conservatory or graduate students with outstanding musical skills. Each person had a list of all musicians in attendance and you marked a person off when you played in a group with them. This encouraged mingling and not sticking with friends you already knew plus there was a nice prize for the person who played with the most musicians. I definitely recommend the experience.

Nervous excitement

I'm taking Friday off to head to the mountains for the Chamber Music retreat. I have worked hard on 5 or 6 chamber pieces to sharpen my sight reading skills. Maybe we will even play one of them. I have no idea what to expect and hope that I am able to keep up. We're actually heading through north Georgia to NC tomorrow for John's uncle's funeral. Uncle Bob was always a favorite. That makes 2 trips north in 2 days. I am tired of riding in the car already just thinking about it.