Maddalena Casulana

Tonight we took a quiz in research methods. The quiz was on music article databases and on databases for dissertations. Last week we worked on databases for dissertations and articles in class and turned in our classwork. Needless to say, I did awful on the quiz. I didn't know which databases showed the articles in abstract versus which ones showed full text. All I remember is searching databases and coming across the same articles in many of the databases. And that some of the articles had full text and some didn't. And no, I didn't remember the name of the dissertation databases because last week our grad TA told us just to google it. It was rough.

My research methods professor also opened up my bibliography to show the class (she chooses someone's assignment every week to go over) right after the quiz. It was not awesome. While the information I had down was not wrong, I did not cite which series the book and article/chapter title were from. She's letting everyone in the class go back and redo the assignment.

For those of you that know me well, you know that I do not like to do things incorrectly. And it's even worse in front of the class. I don't mind learning from my mistakes, but I get so embarrassed when it is in front of others.

On an up note, she did call me "so smart" because I knew who Maddalena Casulana was. We practiced writing annotations after we wrote a paragraph about her. As she was handing out the sources we were going to use, she said, "I picked a composer nobody will probably know anything about. Has anybody heard of Maddalena Casulana?" I said yes. She asked me what I knew. And I was able to tell her the very little I remembered on the spot: She was a Renaissance composer and I know she wrote at least one book of madrigals. She was also one of the first woman composers who had music printed. Had I been given an extra moment to think about it, I would have remembered the dedication of her first book of madrigals. She stated (I'm paraphrasing) how she was excited to be able to be supported in an art form that men think they are superior in. She was really quite awesome. Anyway, after I told the professor what little I remembered, she said, "Yes, exactly. You're so smart." And then continued on... I didn't think it was sarcastic and at least it made me feel better after the horrendous quiz and sketchy bibliography.

First Sick Day

Yesterday's Women Rehearsal went really well- although unfortunately we are doing a lot of note shedding. The ladies start sectionals this week and I think that will help. We have a lot of music this semester.

I have not been feeling well, so yesterday I cancelled everything except Women's Chorus. This morning I'm still not feeling well (about the same as yesterday) and unfortunately it is a fairly full day. My research methods professor sent out an e-mail on Sunday "clarifying an assignment" so I also have to run to the library to do a few more things for an assignment I thought I had finished before I went to the midwest.

Otherwise, I'll be trying to stay as relaxed as possible today and maybe even allow myself to sneak in a nap somewhere on campus? I'm not sure how that will work, but we'll see.

Almost Ready for a Trip Home

Today seemed like a very successful, steady day. I skipped my diction class to take notes for my paper/bibliography. I'm not actually signed up in the diction class- I'm just there to get Italian and English IPA in my head. And today they reviewed consonants. Next week they talk about a few things I want to be there for. I think it was the right choice. I typed up my bibliography tonight, did some follow-up things for women's choir, and am putting together my flight info and bag for tomorrow. I feel like I have everything ready, which makes me nervous. That's probably when I'll forget something. I'll be bringing homework with me for the weekend- I even prioritized what to take with me in case not everything fits. Hopefully I'll get some done tomorrow, however, in my two free hours. No homework will be done except at the airport (I will be there a couple of hours before my flight takes off) and on the plane ride back to CA- but not the plane ride to the midwest since it is an overnight flight.

I am slowly finalizing my Winter Festival pieces for the Women's Choir. More on that later.

First Paper

I was assigned my first paper tonight. Due in two weeks. However, we have to turn in our bibliography next week, which means my research (or at least my sources) have to be decided upon- which I won't know until I have a good outline of my paper. I leave Thursday evening and come back Sunday night. So tomorrow I head into school and straight to the library. I think if I'm focused, I can get enough done in a couple hours of research tomorrow morning- it's a short paper.

My Women's Choir rehearsal went very well last night. The pacing was great- the ladies were interested and engaged the entire time and we made great progress. The section leaders are going to lead some sectionals so that we can make more music and do less sight reading in rehearsal. I look forward to hearing some progress.

Tonight as I get to bed, I plan on taking out a text book and reading. I thought the reading was marked incorrectly on the syllabus so I didn't read it. But, I asked a friend in the class and realized that yes, the reading was marked. So I need to get that done.

Ceremony of Carols- SSA

Ceremony of Carols is resolved. I e-mailed the company and they are sending me the correct SSA version, plus a stamped envelope for me to send back the SATB version. Done.

My weekend is about to start. Not much happening- I have some school stuff today. I'll spend most of the weekend doing homework, enjoying the area, and playing for church. I may or may not get together with some school friends. I think what I will do is try to get a head start on my homework since I am gone next weekend. Some of the professors put their assignments for the entire semester on their syllabus. The only class I really will need to do anything for ahead of time is my theory seminar. I should be able to stay up late enough to do homework for those other classes.

Ceremony of Carols- SATB?

Strange situation: I ordered Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" on Amazon. My ladies are going to sing a movement or two out of it for our winter concert. I received it today- as an SATB arrangement and with a German translation underneath original language... and it's an arrangement by someone other than Benjamin Britten. First of all, I had no idea this existed. Second, there was nothing about any arrangement on the website when I ordered it. I think I'll be irritated if they do not exchange it.

Otherwise, I'm waiting on some perusal scores for our winter concert. It's exciting!

Teaching Conducting Students

I "taught" my first conducting class yesterday. I suppose I was a little nervous before it began, but like I am in any teaching situation where I feel a little nervous, I fake confidence and go forth. Each student had to bring a Bach Chorale and conduct their classmates while they sang it. When I was not sure of what the student was doing, I asked to see it again. I asked the conducting student a lot of questions while they were up front, as well as asked about text translation and meaning. They received two grades: one on conducting and one on analysis of their score.

Afterwards, I got a little bit of feedback. A few students asked to meet up with me during my office hours so they could work with me. Another undergrad said that (and this does not surprise me) that even though he was still nervous, it was less intimidating to work with me. He continued by saying that it was very plain I was their to help them improve and do well.

The other day I was thinking about the kind of teacher I want to be, both now and with my future students. I want to be demanding and I want my students to know that I have high expectations of them, but I also want them to know that I am here to help them succeed.

Grades

Tomorrow I hand back a quiz to the undergrad conducting class. There are multiple Ds and Fs. I feel bad. But I shouldn't, right? The teacher in me thinks, "If I have motivated students and they put forth an effort, shouldn't they do better than Ds and Fs?" But I've come to conclude that is the wrong perspective. In teaching high school, if our students fail than there is feeling that the teacher has failed. If any student fails, we have failed in our job. That mentality is very strong. I wanted to teach everyone.

Is it different in college? I'm not sure. I cannot give up on the idea that all students are able to be engaged and learn. But again, my perspective may be wrong. A bad grade does not mean they have not learned.

This thought process is a work in progress.

Tonight my goal is to fall asleep before midnight.

10 Years Later

I am conducting the first movement of the Rutter Gloria at the Winter Festival- with all the choirs and the brass. Pretty exciting! Women's Concert is November 5. Winter Fest is December 3 and 4.

Where was I September 11, 2001? My first year of college. I remember it vividly. Not understanding what was going on, a bomb threat on campus, prayer circles, candles.

Memorial Service

My conducting lesson went fine. I have some solid things to work on for next time- a direction to take. For example, I am not going to try to learn the Britten in one swoop. I will learn it in sections.

I received my rolling bag yesterday and transferred everything immediately from my backpack to the rolling bag. So excited. Plus now I can use the microphone pencil case my soon-to-be mother-in-law gave to me. John helped me go through the things I should and shouldn't put in the pencil case. I am sure he thought me asking for help was strange, but I will try to bring everything and get frustrated when it won't fit. He's a good filter.

Today I had an ACDA workshop about 35 minutes away. I went to two reading sessions and two workshops, plus got to meet some area conductors. It was a good, solid day and I have some ideas for music from one of the reading sessions.

I really think having that extra GA position takes up enough time to make me feel like I have very little of it. I'm okay with this because it's great experience and decent money, but I would like to really find a groove over the next two weeks.

Rejoice in the Lamb

I found today that I am having a conducting lesson tomorrow. My teacher said, "Do you know Rejoice in the Lamb?" I paused and replied, "I think so." He asked, "Do you think you can know it by tomorrow?" I said, "I sure can try."

So my first conducting assignment is to learn "Rejoice in the Lamb". Yeesh! It will be in rough shape tomorrow- especially since I did not have any time to work on it until I got home, which was about 8:00 PM. But I was not about to tell my teacher that I thought it was too intense of an assignment for my first lesson (taking place in less than 24 hours).

My back is feeling more pain and soreness than it did this morning. I ordered a bag with wheels. I should get it on Friday afternoon. If I can make it through tomorrow, Friday will be fine. It's a light day.

So in the mean time, above are some pictures of our San Diego excursion over Labor Day weekend. More explanation in a later entry. It was a good trip. The first picture is actually from our hike on Labor Day which we did north of Malibu. Again, more on that later.

Rolling Backpack

My back is a little sore. My book book bag is VERY heavy. I really do not want to a backpack that rolls, but the thought of carrying a heavy book bag around for the next two years? If my back is already sore after a week, what will happen after two years?

I think I may look for some cheap ones on Amazon. I'm going to look very uncool.

We had a great weekend in San Diego and hiking north of Malibu. Pictures coming in the next few days.