All-State Rant

First of all, I would like to acknowledge that I attended both middle and high school in Texas, a state with obsessively good band programs. However, I am pretty sure that Texas is not the only state that has All-State Band, Orchestra, and Choir; that has AUDITIONS for them; and that these auditions are free for students. I could be wrong that they are free, but I don't remember having to pay for them. Therefore I find it RIDICULOUS that a state as large as California doesn't hold auditions, but rather has your band director make a recording to send in of you, and you have to pay a $45 (!) application fee. I know CA is having a budget crisis right now, but this procedure appears to be standard, regardless of the budget. Kids should be given an audition experience, and for many students, making a CD and paying a $45 fee are really difficult. I am completely dismayed at this system. And so much more appreciative of Texas's labyrinthine system of region, area, and district auditions to place in an All-State ensemble, plus the region band and orchestra opportunities before that. California, once you fix your budget, you need to get on this problem. Oh, and if anyone knows of some good, less expensive opportunities for middle school band kids to audition for and place in an ensemble, please let me know!

yum

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! I am cooking sweet potato muffins and green beans, and then heading over to hang with friends. Eat well today!!


Soundtrack to cooking: Respighi, Ancient Airs & Dances, Boston Symphony/Ozawa; O Brother Where Art Thou?; Beethoven & Triebensee Trios.

Thanks for good music, good food, and kind friends!

General Montcalm

I would just like to point out that the fabulous production of Janacek's "From the House of the Dead" that so many people have been raving about was directed by Patrice Chereau, everyone's favorite French general in The Last of the Mohicans. Just because I think that's awesome.

it's diaphanous, not diaphamous

I know what "gossamer" and "diaphanous" mean without having to look them up. Is that really so weird?

I'm still here! Been busy--recital on Saturday. Went well. I am so proud of my friends who joined me for the Prokofiev Quintet--for three of them it was the first time playing it, and we did it in two days!



I thought I would share this cartoon. I agree. Flying doesn't scare me so much as the airport itself: security rules and lines, making sure your bag is under 50 lbs, separating your liquids, taking off your shoes, taking the laptop out of its bag, making sure you took your screwdriver and all your reedmaking tools out of your oboe bag and checked them, having to pay lots of $$$ for crappy airport food, waiting, having flights delayed, being delayed in lines, etc etc etc are WAY scarier than the actual flying part. I guess I am already getting anxious about holiday travel.