It's Official!

Well, it's official, my brother is getting married in September.

It's crazy, I am becoming an old man really fast!

I am happy for him, he seems really happy.

(Joel and Monica on his birthday)


In other news: the Great Noise Ensemble concert was great. Everyone sounded really good.
School is going well,just really busy, not enough hours in the day to get everything done.
I can't wait to get that piece of paper in my hand, gonna miss studying with Dale, but I won't miss the drama and lack of communication/organization at the school of music.

Off to get some work done.

Whoa!

Just thought I would take a minute and do some writing before I go to school.

Man, things have gotten busy real quick. I think I am going to start having to turn students away. I don't have enough time to teach them all.

I am trying to practice a lot these days. So much to practice: classical saxophone,jazz saxophone,flute and clarinet.

If that's what it takes to keep me working, then I'll do it.

I was talking with Dale the other day and realized that one thing I really regret is that I have been able to have any teaching or instructional responsibilties at all here at UMD. I think that this is greatly overlooked in the performance area. I don't know any very many people that aren't going to teach along with perform that get advanced degrees in music, don't MM and DMA just set you up for teaching in university settings anyway?

I am glad for people like Dale Underwood, Ed Walters and Leigh Pilzer. I didn't know much about Leigh or Ed, and didn't know a lot about Dale until I got here, and I realized that these three are great assests to UMD. Dale Underwood needs a saxophone TA, though, that's BS that he doesn't have a TA. Dale has produced some really good students, and the saxophone studio deserves more recognition than it gest.

Great (Not really)

You know what is great?

When you get a faculty member to sign your recital form with the date on it, and then you show for rehearsal, and they say you have a gig on the date of your recital, and that you should change your recital date. AHH! I want to pull out my hair!

1. At CSPAC it's hard as crap to get a recital date, you almost have to sell them your soul.
2. I believe it's a $100 fee to get your date moved.
3. By now, there's probably nothing close to being available.

I just can't win at UMD, thank GOD only one more semester. After this, I don't think I'll ever want to set foot back anywhere as a student again after this experience.


To change the subject, the superbowl party was a good time. I made some good homemade chili, cooked some dawgs, and we had a good time.

Oh, and I just got the Zoom H4 for recording. It's ridiculously good. Love it!

Sent off my audition for BLAST!, so maybe they'll at least consider me for the next tour.

Off to 'shed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR9ixWP-P9I

Craziness

Just found out that my brother is going to ask a girl to marry him! Can't believe it. We're all growing up. Can't believe it, she's great and I honestly believe they really love each other, so I am really happy for him.

Congrats J!