It's been a long one!
I started back at the Cal State Fullerton School of Music on Monday. I had transfer student testing last Thursday and I was a little appalled at my results until I realized two things...one of which is that all of the music theory I use on a regular basis has very little to do with Common Practice period composition and analysis (in spite of me having 5 semesters of it nearly 30 years ago). So into the first music theory and musicianship classes I go. I had to take a piano placement test and sweet talked my way into the intermediate-level class with the caveat that I would practice hard to catch up. I didn't realize how fast THAT class would be moving to catch up to. Now I'm practicing piano at least 45 minutes a day. I had to add Mens Chorus to fulfill the large group classical music performing requirement which meets during my kids school pickup time so that started a scramble to get that covered (one is elementary school and one is in middle school so even though they are on the same campus their pickup times are an hour apart).
I ran into another guitarist I had met over the summer who suggested I take the Improvisation I class with him so I went to that and discovered that even though it is supposed to be a freshman level class it was full of seniors and older transfer students so its also a pretty good band to play with twice a week as well as a useful class.
I have to also take a Music Production class which is all about how live music works, a small group combo and my private lessons which are also assigned through the school. My auditions for the jazz performing groups was yesterday afternoon and I couldn't find the prepared portion of the music until someone told me it was mismarked as "tenor" on the department Facebook page so I had very little time to prepare. I ended up largely winging the audition and did well enough that they tried offering me one of the big band spots but I couldn't fit it into my schedule. I'll be playing in the Friday morning Guitar Ensemble which is run by my new private instructor and maybe another small combo if I can fit it in.
While all of this was going on my kids started school Wednesday and we are still trying to clean up and finish the small details of our home renovation and studio build and I have to move out of my temporary office this week as well. I also had strained my right shoulder with all of the painting and reno work that I personally had to do so I'm in a little discomfort there but I think it's going to heal quickly once I don't have to paint, sweep, carry, lift hammer, screw and saw anything for a few days.
In any event, I'm loving going back to school and I need to go start my 9am student.
I started back at the Cal State Fullerton School of Music on Monday. I had transfer student testing last Thursday and I was a little appalled at my results until I realized two things...one of which is that all of the music theory I use on a regular basis has very little to do with Common Practice period composition and analysis (in spite of me having 5 semesters of it nearly 30 years ago). So into the first music theory and musicianship classes I go. I had to take a piano placement test and sweet talked my way into the intermediate-level class with the caveat that I would practice hard to catch up. I didn't realize how fast THAT class would be moving to catch up to. Now I'm practicing piano at least 45 minutes a day. I had to add Mens Chorus to fulfill the large group classical music performing requirement which meets during my kids school pickup time so that started a scramble to get that covered (one is elementary school and one is in middle school so even though they are on the same campus their pickup times are an hour apart).
I ran into another guitarist I had met over the summer who suggested I take the Improvisation I class with him so I went to that and discovered that even though it is supposed to be a freshman level class it was full of seniors and older transfer students so its also a pretty good band to play with twice a week as well as a useful class.
I have to also take a Music Production class which is all about how live music works, a small group combo and my private lessons which are also assigned through the school. My auditions for the jazz performing groups was yesterday afternoon and I couldn't find the prepared portion of the music until someone told me it was mismarked as "tenor" on the department Facebook page so I had very little time to prepare. I ended up largely winging the audition and did well enough that they tried offering me one of the big band spots but I couldn't fit it into my schedule. I'll be playing in the Friday morning Guitar Ensemble which is run by my new private instructor and maybe another small combo if I can fit it in.
While all of this was going on my kids started school Wednesday and we are still trying to clean up and finish the small details of our home renovation and studio build and I have to move out of my temporary office this week as well. I also had strained my right shoulder with all of the painting and reno work that I personally had to do so I'm in a little discomfort there but I think it's going to heal quickly once I don't have to paint, sweep, carry, lift hammer, screw and saw anything for a few days.
In any event, I'm loving going back to school and I need to go start my 9am student.
I can't imagine starting again now. Give 'em hell, man!
