Cleaning One's Coat

The first thing you do when you pull your winter coat out of the closet, aside from grumbling about how it's finally so cold that you've resorted to pulling out your winter coat, is to check inside the pockets for any money you may have left inside last spring when it was finally getting warm enough that you didn't have to wear your winter coat so much anymore.

True story, I once did find a $20 inside my winter coat pocket when I pulled it on for the first time late one November.

But not this year. This year the only items I found in my winter coat were crumpled up old faded receipts that had begun to smell like the inside of my pockets. (Or is that my pockets smell like old receipts? Who can say?)

One receipt was from December of 2013. Apparently I was buying a 6 oz bottle and some formula at the Pittsford Wegmans. The timeline for this seems wrong. James would have been two at this point, so I don't think he would have needed formula. Perhaps we were watching Liam? Silas and Abby hadn't been born yet, so it certainly couldn't have been for them. I didn't know what to make of this receipt. I spent $18. For each receipt I pulled out of my pocket, I tried to think what kind of wine I could have purchased with the same amount of money. I don't know what happened to the bottle or the formula, but a bottle of La Crema Pinot Noir would have been in order for about that much.

Next I found an AirTran luggage tag with J's name and address on it. That wouldn't have been any good in exchange for wine.

In February of 2013 we would have still been living at Washington Street, and apparently I spent $66 at the Brockport Wegmans. It looks like it was a fairly standard grocery run--soup, milk, beer, yogurt, pasta, biscuits, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, duck tape, some facewash, dark chocolate, and onions. It was dated mid-month, though. We must have been out of a lot of things. $66 could be a really nice bottle of premium scotch. But I suppose groceries are good too.

In March of 2013 I spent $1.83 on a cup of coffee somewhere. Apparently Sarah was my server and I made the purchase at 5:03 pm, but the top of the receipt is so faded I can't tell where it was. Sarah, whoever you are, and wherever you were working, thanks for the cup of coffee. I'm sure it was a $1.83 well spent. If I hadn't had afternoon coffee by 5:03 pm, I'm sure I needed it.

The next receipt actually gave me a good clue as to where I might have been--on an audition somewhere, presumably. I have another coffee receipt, dated one day later, this time for $2.43 (at 9:44 am) in the Atlanta International Airport. Airports always mark up the coffee something ridiculous. Then again, it's so hard to get a decent cup of coffee in the south that I was probably just glad to see a place with a name like "The Coffee Beanery." I don't remember, but I hope it was worth it. Also, if this was at the end of my trip, it was probably Sorrow Coffee.

We must have been traveling to Pennsylvania on February 15th, 2015, because I have a receipt from the Williamsport Wegmans for $7 at the hot bar. I bet it was sesame chicken for James during a lunch stop. I also bet I remember Valentine's Day 2015 quite vividly, and that we were working through a case of Ergo Rioja at that point. I was probably pretty happy on February 15th, despite the cold weather and the long drive.

I have two hall passes from Lima, both for Hannah on March 21st (year unknown), both to Study Hall. Neither is in my handwriting. I don't know what Hannah was up to that day, but I smell a mystery...

From April of 2015, I have a receipt for coffee and a scone ($3.87) from "Roberts Wesleyan University We Proudly Brew Starbucks" coffee shop. Unsurprisingly, the coffee shop has changed hands since then. I suspect that I was meeting Aunt Martha, and that James was pointing out all of the different flags that he recognized in the library coffee area. $3.87 wouldn't have gone very far anywhere else. I'm glad I had coffee with my sister. She's sick right now and I hope she feels better.

On January 7th of last year I spent $24 on a large chicken charlie pizza from Salvatore's. As much I would appreciate a bottle of Bordeaux for that amount, that Salvatore's chicken charlie pizza is REALLY good. Really, REALLY good. I should probably stop thinking about it.

In February of 2013 we were shopping at the Brockport Wal-Mart again. Lots of baby food, some cereal, some shampoo, and a pack of chapsticks. Again, groceries are important, but for $86 I'd almost be at a case of $10 wine with a decent rebate. (Of course, yes, you do have to pay for the rebate up front.)

I must have had a double in Buffalo in March of last year, because I bought something from the hot bar and a large coffee. Did I really NEED to eat lunch that day? What if I'd packed a peanut butter and jelly? Okay, I probably still would have needed coffee...but I'd still have $6 left towards a bottle of wine. (And there's a pretty good wine store in the same plaza as the Amherst Wegmans.

Well, we have a bottle of Riesling and a bottle of Chianti that we haven't finished yet here. And I also found $.56 in my coat, so I can keep on saving for something nice.

To wrap up, I have a horrible suicide mission exciting announcement: I'm going to blog every day through December, even through the craziness of Holiday Pops. I'm posting the titles of all 31 blogs below. (As you'll notice, all taken from chapter titles of books that are currently being read in the Smith house.) I have no idea which order I'll goin, but every day I promise to cross off one of these "prompts."

Promenade
Dining
Old Smith and Old Smith
Young Smith and Young Smith
Passing of a Sportsman
Venture
Figures and Facts
Tenterhooks
The Mark Falls
Owen Walks and Talks
J's Body
J's Soul
---Gets "What-For"
The Altogether
---Takes the Matter Up
Sleuth
Cocked Hat
Going East
Bank Holiday
Office Work
Afternoon of a Dryad
---Gives Advice
Quittance
Christmas Tree
Game Theory
Bubbles
Incentives
Dobby's Warning
Gilderoy Lockhart
The Writing on the Wall
Owl Post

#trumpetwives

"Previous studies often find the highest exposure levels among the trumpet players. It is not unusual to find an equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq) of 93-98 dB for several rehearsal hours (McBride et al., 1992)"--Sound Exposure of Symphony Orchestra Musicians, Annals of Occupational Hygiene

....
"Honey, I'm going to be down in the basement for a bit."
"Okay, are you going to run the industrial power mower?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna try to get some mowing in before the kids go down for naps."
"How long do you think you're going to be?"
"Uh...I don't know. Maybe 45 minutes?"
"They might not make it that long."
"Okay, well just shout down the stairs when they need to go to sleep."
"Can you do any of your mowing with the engine covered or anything?"
"...you know it isn't really the same to mow with the engine covered."
"I know, I'm just wondering if there was anything you could save for the end. You know, so you could mow longer."
"No, I really need to to mow at full volume for a bit today."
"...okay."

....
"So, could you tell a difference?"
"Umm...on which bit?"
"Right at the end there, when I was kind going in shorter bursts with the jackhammer? You know, I was going BRRRRRT-BRT! BRRRRT-BRT!"
"You were doing something different than you usually do?"
"Yeah, I was trying out this new titanium coated bit. It definitely feels different. Did it sound any different to you?"
"Mmm...I could listen for it again. But it mostly just sounded like your regular jackhammering."
"Aw, nuts. I was hoping it SOUND different. You know, obviously different."
"Maybe it did and I just wasn't paying very close attention."
"You know, they're selling the titanium coated models now with a diamond tip. I think that might be worth trying."
"That sounds kind of expensive."
"Yeah, it probably wouldn't be cheap. But I already know exactly what size to order, since I like the size I currently have."
"What do you think that would do for the sound?"
"It would make the jackhammer even louder. Maybe a bit brighter too."

....
"Okay, once we get home we need to clean up the kitchen, and we should make sure the table is wiped off before we go to bed tonight...and...oh, you probably need to run your outboard motor in the basement for a bit, don't you."
"Well, I'd rather watch the game, but..."
"Do you think maybe you could take a night off?"
"I don't know."
"Really, you'll have plenty of time to make it up later in the week, won't you?"
"I just don't think I'd be able to relax and enjoy the evening if I knew that I hadn't cranked up the outboard motor in the basement for at least, I don't know, a half-hour or so. It'll be a light session though, I'll go as quick as I can."
"I don't know about the kids, honey. They're kind of squirrely."
"Just let the kids do what they want for a half-hour and I'll put them to bed once I'm done with the outboard motor. And then I'll help with the kitchen, okay?"

....
"Ah yes, Smith. Your reservation is right here. Non-smoking king?"
"Yes, that should be fine."
"We're going to have you in Room 304. Enjoy your stay!"
"Thanks very much. Hey, quick question for you..."
"Yes, sir?"
"I have a garbage truck that I'm going to need to drive around and operate for a bit...probably raise and lower the pressure lifter and run the compacter for about 45 minutes or so. Is there a good spot in the hotel for me to do that?"
"Hmmm...there are lots of other guests this weekend, sir."
"You don't have, maybe, an empty conference room or something? Or, if there's an empty room nearby where I am, I could make sure I'm pointing the truck in that direction?"
"Is it really necessary for you to operate a garbage truck in your hotel room, sir? While you're on vacation?"
"You don't understand...I need to do it every day. My wife can vouch for me on this."
"He definitely does it every day."
"It's kind of like being in perpetual Olympic-style training."
"Except louder."

Windy Night Alone With the Boys

"Alright boys, shoes and coats on, we're going to the bank and to Wegmans and to the bank."
"Which Wegmans."
"The Pittsford Wegmans."
"Oh. Are we going to the wine store too?"
"Yeah, probably. Are you going to just stay in your pajamas?"
"Yep."
"Alright, well at least put your rain boots on."

"Owen, do you want to bring your George?"
<shakes head no>
"Okay, we're going to leave him here. Is that okay."
"Huh."
<Start to carry him out to car>
"WAAAHHH!!!!"
<Reaches for George>

"Daddy, we need to go to the wine store FIRST."

<Take James out of his carseat>
"AIEEEE! The wind blew my hood off! I'm cold, I'm cold!"

"Hey Daddy! Hey Daddy? Do you see that big wine glass filled with Christmas ornaments? We should get one of those for OUR house."
"Mmm...probably not. I think that's just for the wine store."
"Oh, Daddy, look! The Eiffel tower!"
"Oh, over by the Bordeaux! You're right! And there's a French flag too."
"Yeah, we should get an Eiffel tower for our house too."

"But why not?"
"Because if you open up an umbrella in the car then I won't be able to see out the back window."
"But I NEED to open up my umbrella."
"You can, just not in the car."
"But what if it rains in the car?"

"Uh. Uh-uh! UNNHHHhhh!"
<Owen points furiously>
"What is it? What do you see?"
<points again>
"Oh...the toothbrushes. I'm sorry Owen, we can't brush teeth in the store. With the store's toothbrushes. We'll brush teeth once we're home."
<pushes the cart away>
"AIEEE!!!!"
"We'll brush your teeth as soon as we get home."
"AIEEE!!!!"

<stops cart>
"Owen, do you know where we are?"
"I know where we are."
<Owen looks, points straight at tub of cookies, opens mouth expectantly>

<takes James out of steering wheel cart>
"AIEEE! The wind blew my hood onto my head! Now I am too warm!!!"

"So do you think we should take a bath when we get home? With our new bath colors?"
"No."
"Even if we didn't use soap and it was just a fun bath?"
"Are you going to wash my peeenis?"
"No, I won't wash your penis."
"Are you sure? No peenises?"
"No penises."
<silence for a minute>
"You're SURE I don't need to wash my peenis?"

<unlocks James' door with Owen in one arm and lets James into the car>
"James, wait, no NO DON'T LOCK me...out."
<James looks through the window of the car and grins>

"Owen, how'd you get your shoe off again?"
"Dah."
"Hey Daddy, the groceries are blowing away!"
"Wait, AHH! That has Mommy's prescription in it!"
"Oh, no, Mommy's rescription! We need to get it!"
<both chase grocery bag blowing into dark backyard with Owen still half strapped into carseat>
"Daddy I need my flashlight!!!"

"Okay, I'm going to take Owen's diaper off in his room, yes I see that you want to brush your teeth, Owen...just don't"
<click>
"...lock the bathroom door on me."

"I'll put a color in as soon as I can get the lid off, it's just sealed really tight."
"You need to let me do it. You don't hold, I hold it."
"You need to remember your manners if you're going to put the color drop in."
"Hey, what's Owen doing."
"Uh!! Dah!"
<smiles up happily>
"...looks like he's peeing on the bathroom floor."

"OH NO! Owen, don't pull on your penis! You'll hurt yourself!"
<Owen laughs maniacally>

Not Fit for Public Consumption

Various photos on my phone that I chose not to post on social media for reasons of nudity, privacy, etc...but might be of interest to readers of this blog.

Prescriptions for my star trumpet student Matt. I took a photo of the list I'd made for his Dad so that I could reference it later when I needed to talk about what etudes he was ordering or what we should work on next. Looking it over makes me think..."gee, I should figure out how to play some of this stuff too."

Screenshot from some tacet-movement reading. I don't know if this is completely accurate or even if knowing these exact numbers would make a difference, but this should be handed out to every 4th grade trumpet student and taped inside their case.

It's hard to say exactly why, but this photo is completely Owen. Hair flying, funny facial expression, James standing upright in the background. He'd been screaming his lungs out moments earlier--now he's half-smirking, half-bored.

Because no one else will understand just how big a deal it is that Uncle Lucas will take you down to feed the cows and talk about their bowel movements. 

Because toga. I secretly want to wear this every morning while I read Martial at my desk. But I don't, because I want my wife and children to still respect me.

Because my wife. Dresses like this are how you get pregnant again even though you said you were done.

Because life was really awful for about three months, and we need to remember never to take a hot shower or an intact ceiling for granted. Thanks again, Dad Davis.

Because James in a bumblebee ballerina costume probably needs to show up at his wedding whether he marries Alexa or not. (Hint: He's going to marry Alexa.)

Because Owen loves everybody, but I think he can tell that Great Grandma is special.

Because this man is reportedly doing great after his surgery.

Because this is also pretty much Owen's attitude towards life in a nutshell.

Because even though you think you're going to buy storage ottomans to keep toys picked up, the boys will come up with better uses for them.

Because why wouldn't you bring a wooden roof slat and pair of binoculars for Thursday morning?

Because "Abigail's book."

Because some of us are good little monkeys but always very curious.

Because after awhile you just say to him "Fine, play in the trash. I need to make dinner and if you find an appetizer in there I can have part of your portion."

Because Owen respects no man's privacy.

Because Owen doesn't respect his own privacy either. He might be a little bit of an exhibitionist.

Because some people don't agree with older brother's plan to hole up in his room reading Berenstein Bear books for weeks on end.

Because sometimes you have a LOT of time to kill between services in Syracuse.

Rehearsal Today

"You ready for this?"
"Nope."
"You look like &#!"
"Thanks, you too. I stayed up way too late watching the Bills."
"Beer?"
"Yup."
"You know, I can have like six beers and I don't even feel a thing."
"That's nice."
"What do you have your B-flat for?"
<opens up to Mozart>
"For this note. This is why I got out of bed this morning...to come and play THIS note right here."
"You gonna pedal it or put it in A?"
(N.B.--In the Overture to Mozart's Don Giovanni the 2nd trumpet part calls for a bass clef D, impossible to play conventionally on the modern trumpet. The valveless crooked trumpets of the Mozart's day would have been able to generate the note as a fundamental tone, but to make the note come out on a modern instrument a player must either press down all three valves on a C trumpet and produce a "false" pedal note by lipping down a low F# or by extending the main tuning slide of a B-flat trumpet to pitch the horn in A and then also extending the 1st and 3rd valve slides to their full length.)
"I'm gonna put it in A."
"You could just play it up the octave."
"Do I look like a coward?"
"You should play the whole show on an A trumpet."
"Done. So what do I have to do for the de Falla...up a minor third?"
"Ha, good luck."
<rehearsing de Falla>
"I think I'm going to play each one of these Es with a different fingering."
"Okay, so 1&3, open, 3rd valve?"
"Yup."
"And...first with the first slide kicked?"
"Sounds awful, but that'll work."
"First and third with the third slide kicked?"
"Yup, that works too."
"We sound great."
<rehearsing end of de Falla>
"That actually sounded pretty good!"
<rehearsing end of de Falla again>
"That did not sound so good...what happened?"
"Haha, I think my slide keeps going further out when I play loud just from the force of the air."
"That's what you get for keeping your horn clean and your slides lubed."
<slide clatters onto floor>
"Okay, want to pull out to B trumpet for the next one?"

In Praise of Pittsford

Do you know how sometimes a line from a book sticks with you for years and years afterwards, even though it wasn't necessarily a central point in the book's argument or even particularly well-written? I haven't read Lewis Mumford's The City in History since we lived in North Carolina, and I still remember that what he wrote about urban planning--that the best designed cities are all about foot traffic over and against automotive traffic.

By the way, The City in History is an excellent book. Among it's other solid points were that Rochester, NY is a far better place to live than Greensboro, NC, which Mumford called "a giant parking lot." I was thinking about Mumford's insights when I visited Pittsford with James and Owen yesterday morning. We lived practically in Pittsford (technically on the Brighton side of the street) on the slopes of Mount Wegmans for one glorious year, and we still aren't ready to switch our library allegiances. I'm sure that the Webster and Irondequoit libraries are perfectly lovely--we haven't tried them yet--but James always insists that we go back to OUR library. The "Picksford Library."

There's a lot to like about the Pittsford Library. For one thing, every library should have Bruegger's at the front entrance. A cup of coffee in hand is totally the difference between a positive experience in the Children's section and the experience of having some random Mom with a stroller tap you on your shoulder because your kids started to pull down all the books in the 800 section while you dozed off in the armchair.

The children's section is really well done, of course. There are always creative displays up, you can't beat the quantity and selection of titles, and, of course, there is Library George. Library George is the exact duplicate of James' George except that, well...he doesn't look nearly so awful. Whenever I see Library George I look at him and think "Oh, THAT'S what George used to look like. And smell like. I remember now!" Interestingly, by the way, Library George was entrusted to Owen on this particular visit, who promptly kicked his little feet in delight and snuggled/kissed him repeatedly. There were many tears when we had to put him back.

The adult section of books is great too, but it's hard to really enjoy it unless you go with two parents. The boys are okay for about three minutes in the upstairs part of the library, so you have to go (in an ELEVATOR) with your call numbers already written down and then get out before they start "hiding" in the shelves and disturbing the patrons who are trying to get some Very Serious Work done. James and Owen did okay this time around. I had Owen in the stroller, so he couldn't get out...he just leaned towards the shelves and pulled off any loose books as we went by. James was wearing pants that were about twice as big as he needed around the waist, so he was kept busy by shifting stuffed animals from hand to hand as he trotted behind and yanked his pants back up every few steps.

We came out with many spoils--Curious George, the Berenstain Bears, Dr. Seuss, and (of course) Curious George Counts from 1 to 100. And this is why Pittsford is wonderful--when you finish at this beautiful library you can walk down along the canal for a mile and admire the boats in the water. Or you can cross the bridge over to Schoen place and get some gelato or pop into the bike shop. Or you can get some ice cream at the dairy...all without needing to get into your cars.

Yesterday I took them across the street to get some macarons from the Village Bakery. (And James requested a cake pop from Starbucks.) The Village Bakery might just be my favorite place to eat in Rochester. We looked at bread loaves, admired the different sweets, and picked out a few macarons to bring back home for J. I offered James a cookie from the display (no thanks, he'd like a cake pop) and then loaded him up on my shoulders (his pants were falling down with every step) and put the macarons in the back of the stroller with the library books. (Daddy, don't forget about my cake pop.)

He got his cake pop. We walked up to the main light and went into the high-end lingerie shop where I've occasionally picked up some items of a marital nature. It's hard to feel discreet when you've got a 4-year old (eating a cake pop) riding on your shoulders and a big stroller to push around, but we got into the store without seeing any former students from LCS. I thanked the clerk for helping us with the door and she exclaimed "Oh, I remember your son! How's Curious George doing?"

It had started to rain by the time we left and walked back to our car, but we went through the beautiful little park behind Thirsty's and listened to the drops in the leaves before making a break to the car. I don't think the library books got too wet.

To be clear, we will never live in the Village of Pittsford. The taxes are just nuts. But it's a pretty great place to visit.

Recovery

James lies on his Mother's lap. The two of them are on the couch with a stack of books beside them. They've been working their way through Frog and Toad books all morning. J will finish one, and James will ask in his raspy post-cold voice to have another one read to him. Finally they reach the end of the last book and James snuggles down into her arms. She looks up at me in surprise.

He's hardly ever openly affectionate, and even less frequently will he be held and snuggled just for the pleasure of it. She strokes his hair and face as he smells Steven bear and smiles up at her. His eyes are big and full of expression. She looks over at me, then back down at him.

"James?"
"Yes, Mommy?"
"What are you thinking about?"

He's quiet for a moment, then looks up at her with a loving smile.

"Eating."
"Oh?" What are you thinking about eating?"
"A jelly sandwich."
"No peanut butter? Just bread and jelly?"
"Yeah."
"What are you going to have for your vegetable?"
"A cucumber."
"We don't have cucumber. How about a carrot?"
"Green beans."
He climbs up on top of the couch.
"Hey, do you know how to be up here?"
"I see you're up there."
"I'm going to roll off onto you."

He does this multiple times.

I guess he's getting better.

Old Practicing

I found an old notebook earlier this week. Or rather, I looked through some of the older parts of a notebook that I'd apparently used for a number of years earlier. Some random entries typed out below...can't tell as I re-read them whether I should be thoroughly depressed about hammering away at the same licks for years on end or should feel a sense of peace and pleasure at the long and steady journey that is professional music-making...


7/30/09
fieramente--PROUDLY
-Charlier 1-good, still flexibility issues getting into line 5
-Charlier 22 page 1 too fast for quarter=92, dropped beats; A major sounds better than A-flat major; first 8 bars in one breath? Not very stylish--too notey

8/4/09
Charlier 5 (articulation in lines 8 and 9 messy)
Charlier 27-leaps to Bs in line 5 not high enough; still not making first double bar in one breath; f-g lip trill in bottom of first page claner; staccato binaire clean until end of second line; figure out tempo change into moderato tranquillo
Mahler 5 reh. 7-10 (Recording A66) 7 very nice style and articulation but can't feel time; before 9 splatted B-flat, no cresc. 9 lower on A, E-flat needs sustain 10 G-flats out of tune; play 10 with recordings for timing; fanfare triplet bad, 2nd note; don't give away mf; low A-flats wobbled

9/1/09
Duets with Adam
Listened to first lesson (Halsey Stevens) with Charlie "relax, bell up, don't play so loud. You are a good player, I'm going to give you some new techniques for prep."
Outdoor Overture (with score) playing along with Seattle recording. Trouble on initial entrance after count; Resolve by one breath motion -->
Too many short breaths in phrase? Ask Anita.
Ballerina and Waltz with score--not bad. Too heavy on ending Fs
Credo-too heavy handed
Bruckner-Major score/part discrepancy...different editions?
Find plunger mute, picc mute.

1/20
Nocturnes with practice mute; subdivide appearance of each rhythm; play pppp, ppp, pp; add tuner
Check for Rapsodie Espagnole 24-25
Pines last part p.1 very slow; downward slurs esp.
Bartok-Pitch of first notes, movement 2; C-F jump; also, slurred
PROJECT: List of all influential solos, excerpts, etudes CONCEPTUALLY

2/11
Find recording of Gershwin.
Listening-Bartok lost time between first and second phrase; cresc on E? Bartok 1a-true note on frist B-flat; def. faster, more accent on beat 1? Play with recording.
Leonore-Too much time before breath; decresc too soon. D-Bb intonation
Charlier 8-Jump up to 8v G; true note in jump
Scales not under fingers; jump up to B, downward slurs. Clean slur up B; 16th (illegible) Low D sounds too sudden before recap. Cresc through end of recap phrase; accuracy at end; too mellow, soft?

2/19/10 (15 days to audition)
Brandt 88
first part of Bitsch III
First part of Charlier VI
Shosti PC (all)
Ballerina
Till
83-get through 2nd note of each slur; bottom of on A in Ab really messed up; need more time on this
84-Bitsch III good start; airs out on occasion
85-Charlier 6-E-Db slur, nice dynamic; one note in trips; wrong GOOD
86-Ballerina; heavy handed triplet; catching notes sec. WAY faster in 2nd part
87-bottom C not in tune; p slur; top A doesn't resonate
88-Waltz-First note chipped; pitch on top A-flat; (can this sound more "in the orchestra?")
89-Till (first notes) too slow low Gs not speaking right
90-Shosti I an Eb missed in arpeggio; better 2nd time; more authoritative?

3/17/10
Ask Julie about Irons etudes
Clarkes (Prosser) with metronome for strength>perform
Horn exercises (last page) @quarter=50 +tuner
Russian etude p 94 (w soft at first, record)
Walter Smith (pp) I.7, II.2, (need metronome) III 1-9 (pp)
Carmen intonation (w/tuner)
Schumann II intonation (w/tuner)
Charlier 4
Brandt 24 (last section)
Brandt 23 in D on C

RECODINGS TO BE PURCHASED
Bach Magnificat (mvmnt 1)
Bach B Minor mass (Credo)
Bach Brandenburg Concerto (entire)
Brahms Academic Festival Overture
Bruckner Symphony no 7 (entire)
Debussy Nocturnes no 2 Fetes
Mahler III, V, VII (entire)
Pictures at an Exhibition (Promenade, Schmuyle)
Ravel Piano Concerto (mvmnt 1)
Schumann Sympony no II (mvmnt 1
Shostakovich Symphony no VIII (Entire) London 9.99
Also Sprach Zarathustra (CSO) 11.99
Ein Heldenleben
Tannhauser Overture
Parsifal Vorspiel Berlin 9.99

Sehr gemachlich-very slowly
etwas langsamer wie fruher-somewhat slower than formerly
wie aus weiter Ferne-from a distance
Frei vorgetragen-spoken freely?
Wie die weise eines Posthorns-In the manner of a posthorn
Zeit lassen-give time
Zuruckhaltend-held back
verhallend-fading
verklingend-dying away
weider-again

1/10/11
4 Collins etudes
2 Charliers "du style"
Ravel PC on D
Enesco ending
2 or 3 Bach
Paul's Cornet

Recital Ideas
12' 30" Hubeau
5 My Spirit be Joyful
3 Believe Me if Endearing
3 Bugler's Holiday
5 Seraphim
Steve's piece?
Nelhybel
email Barbara
call Paul
Katie G?

needed:
Curry Mouthpiece
Recording: Sonata Octavi Toni
fix cup mute

Note Shapes
d accent, d melodic tenuto, d accent fanfare, d timpani, d bowstroke, d straight-tone

Concepts:
Creating a sense of direction within a phrase
Practicing slowly to coordinate air/note changes
Taking smaller "sippy" breaths to keep tension out of playing
Being in love with your own sound and happy with every note that comes out of the bell
Using familiar acoustic (GPC) as reference for brightness/connection
High notes vibrate immediately
Rock solid dictated rhythm
Don't move while playing
Slightly rocking mouthpiece placement onto upper lip
Playing with a variety of colors, including covered, highly vibrant, vocal, bleak

5/18
BB buzzing routine-ascending to A; continued buzzing, break at d''; can't get real notes buzzed
BB Scales up to D, down to F half-quarter-quarter slurred
Articulation exercises on G, g, d, g' at fff and ppp
Pitch work with pitch primer
WM Smith Flexibility no 8 quarter 120; p17 1-9, quarter 112
Longinotti no 2 single tongued quarter 112-116 on B-flat
Getchell 65, 66-67 with tuner on A picc
Longinotti 1 in B-flat and C, pushing sharp/cracking; spreading sound @end note; practiced start
Vacchiano 1 on B-flat
Prayer of St Gregory on C w/drone
Pitch on A better on Bach 2

5/22
BPO Am; Louds better, more work on muted playing of all kinds
Irons group 2, 5, 7, 9; 72 did not go
Clarke 1,2,5; double tongued in Ab, B, D F
a little piccolo

Sat PM
John Williams concert-nerves sitting by JAX symphony trombone player; much better first half than 2nd
Some funny random fracks in Star Wars suite, w/mute? Might have impeded unisons
Drew remark about muted solo in Imperial march, mostly positive?
Pushed sharp on Bbs in Star Wars, Abs on last page of ET; missed 2 sections due to inattentiveness@page turns

July 30th
long tones; all notes to open of Charlier 6 w/drone
Irons e'' w/drone; WM Smith ttk etude; Flow studies on Bb and C
Corelli sonata 1st movment on picc (used)
PM-listened to Vaughan Williams; lot reps of L'Histoire helps to think 2+3
Corelli 2nd movement in phrases, 3rd movement pinging off F; trouble w/trill D-C
TTK smith etude was quarter=76 (marked quarter=112)
Loud scales in Mahler 5 pattern leads to good, HEALTHY tired

9/8/15
SWEAT an issue both performances
Sound is different in performances; less stable than "without" nerves
Earle of Oxford, Canzona Bergamasca, prelude at St John Fisher
Ablassan, Military Calls, Ketting, Tull, Gallagher @Cranberry Landing
Endurance an issue by end of Gallagher; (Also, underprepared)
Good, but in C; recovered start
Extremes of range compromised

November

There was a roaring in the wind all night
The rain came heavily and fell in floods

It's November now, and the sun goes down before dinner. There are damp leaves blowing through the back yard, and we need to remember to close the curtains and fasten the windows at night. The grass is stiff with frost in the morning, and in the evening it smells wet with decay and darkness.

Little boys get sick with croupy coughs and wake in the middle of cold nights. There foreheads burn and they lay under blankets with bottles of old water and salt crackers in plastic dishes.

In the evenings, I still sit in a black suit on a dazzling-lit stage, looking up at splendid boxes of people towering overhead as hundreds of different sound-colors buzz above me and the the orchestra tunes up. The ride home will be warm, a car full of merry young friends bundled in coats

But when I step outside into the dark street again it will be November. I find some pleasure and comfort in the chill and the darkness. It's good to be reminded of your own mortality--how life is dangerous and the weather can be wild. It's good to see your baby's fever break and to watch them get better. It's good to get under heavy blankets with a warm wife when it's cold and dark out, and to know that the roaring wind can't reach inside your walls.

A cup of hot coffee, a child on your lap, sturdy windows, and a bowl of hot soup never mean so much as when the real world has reminded you that it isn't a tame lion.