Priorities?

I did a little conducting tonight.  I need to practice.  It's really rough.  I have been so busy with everything, I have not had time to conduct.  Well, it's time to determine priorities.  I have a pretty intense thesis project report proposal deadline that I have been focusing on.  Actually, I have only one real issue with this process so far... I had written my thesis proposal two weeks ago.  I was ready for people to look at it.  I asked to get started on it so I didn't have to revise my proposal "last minute."  But my teacher just looked at it for the first time Wednesday and I had pretty extensive revisions on my proposal today (although no worries- it's a very solid proposal.  I just cut out some of the filler stuff.  Otherwise known as "BS").  And he will do more revisions (or tell me if it's a go).  My goal was to put it in one of the mailboxes of my committee members tomorrow, since all three have to sign it at the beginning of next week.  They have to sign it so I can get a code to register for two thesis writing credits.  It's confusing.  And a little stressful.  I would much rather have a heavier load this semester and a lighter load next semester during my recital preparations.

At any rate, I have been so busy with thesis proposal and trying to make sure I'm on top of things- I'm not really sure how I am going to give 110% to all my classes.

But tonight I had a thought: I shouldn't give 110% to all my classes.  It's really impossible.  I want to do well and I want to learn, but I need to let things go a little bit.  My priorities are not German diction and orchestral conducting.  But still, it's difficult to allow myself a more relaxed approach to those classes.

When I get nervous, sometimes I put a little hitch in my gesture.  That's a bad habit of mine.

Tomorrow is Friday and I have decided that on days that I don't have late classes, I will start my day "early" (8 AM-ish).  This means by 8 I should be doing school related activities.  However, it also means I should be done by dinner time as long as I put in a solid day.  The only time I will let myself work into the evening after a full day of focus will be if I need to conduct yet or if I have an important deadline or unexpected thing that came up.

The reason all of this came up tonight is because today was a stressful day.  I worked almost straight through and didn't get everything accomplished that I wanted to.

Here is what I wanted to get done today:  Finish score study of Elijah, review my thesis proposal to submit it to my teacher, German diction homework, start analysis of orchestral conducting pieces, warm-up and run through Chamber music, pick up some scores from the library, practice piano, practice conducting, print off needed documents and get it to said people (teacher, mainly), do some prep for women's chorus, and then go to choir rehearsal at 1.  Needless to say I only finished score study (which two and a half hours!), reviewed thesis (twice- once after teacher's revisions), and went to choir rehearsal.

Nobody has enough time in the day to do all that at 110%.  Everyday there are certain things I want to do (warm-up, conduct, review women's choir music).  But after that?  This is where the priority discussion with myself happens.  Which I am thinking about tonight.  After this post.  And after we finish listening to the Avett Brothers' new album.