German

Many exciting things here today.

First, I finished my last final.  It was German diction and was one of the easiest finals I have ever taken.  It was partly because I studied, partly because I have taken two semesters of German, and partly because it was a very clear assessment that just tested us on the basics.  I went in to do the speaking portion of the exam, and the teacher asked me if I had listened to the recordings.  I must have looked confused, because he said, "Don't the books come with CDs?"  "Oh, yes they do!  And no, I did not listen to them.  Should have I?"  "No, you sound very similar to the woman who speaks the recordings on the CD."  So I think that is a good sign.

After that, I met briefly with my teacher.  He told me I received an A for the semester and we touched base about next semester.  I will finish King David.  I will work on my recital pieces.  And I will conduct Beethoven Mass in C!  It's a big semester, but I am excited.

Then I spoke with a professor from the language department.  He quizzed me on my German (a basic conversation with me in German).  And for my exciting news of the week?  I will be taking second semester German next semester.  I took two semesters at Luther and could probably really study up over break and be fine in third semester German, but I don't want to get too crazy.  I really look forward to a refresher semester and hope to continue German in my future studies.  I would really like to gain fluency, or at minimum functionality, in the language.  It's an undergrad number so does not count toward my GPA, although I don't think that matters.

After that conversation, I met with my voice teacher to receive my jury sheets back.  All As!  I felt pretty good going into the jury (as far as memorization and some of the tone placement things).  We determined my rep for next semester (another five pieces).  I am excited, although it's more challenging semester.  My goal is to learn all the notes and start memorizing over break.

So my to-do list for break went from about two things to a million things.  Just kidding.  Not a million.  But a lot.

List: Learn solo pieces and start to memorize.  Refresh German.  Revise thesis.  Work on King David.  Start work on Mass in C.  Create sight reading packets for Women's Chorus.  Create part recordings for Women's Chorus.  Find one more recital piece from a large work or by a well known composer.  Find an English song (legato!) and a Baroque song for voice lessons (any suggestions?). Research more efficient ways of teaching polyphonic choral music.  Review and study choral masterworks for big final aural exam.

I think that's it.  Manageable in 5 weeks, right?  If I can get that stuff done, my semester will start off on a strong foot.

John and I listening to Leontyne Price sing Mozart.  We just finished up some hot cocoa (which I made on the stove and from cocoa powder... aka "homemade") as a snack to our sausage and kale soup.  It's a pretty pleasant evening.