ChipIn Widget

This widget is from a great site called "Chip In". It does not charge any fees for persons wishing to donate to my cause!!! (This is almost unheard of nowadays.) And the money goes directly into an account that I can use to put towards my tuition, room, books, etc. This is a great idea to help use technology towards a good end. I'm appreciative to any donation at all. Thanks!!!!

I'M READY!

....and a little impatient. I love summer, but I am excited for next year as well.

Serj Tankian for President

I am officially obsessed with Serj Tankian. (My significant other can easily vouch for that statement...) I listen to him in the car, at my apartment, on my laptop, and from my phone. Almost any chance I get I'm singing or humming his melodies. And there's good reason.
This is no mere man; this is no mere composer; and this is definitely no mere musician. I prophesy that he is the epitome of where music is heading for my generation. (Although, I have to say not all my generation supports metal the same unwavering and passionate way that I do...Lady Gaga comes to mind, unfortunately.) With his politically-driven lyrics forming the basis in his circus of melodic differentiations, he isn't afraid to singe on any touchy subject matter that happens to be sitting on his heart. Example-"I believe that you're wrong, insinuating they hold the bomb - clearing the way for the oil brigade, clearing the way for the oil brigade!" (Ouch.) -Truth of the matter is, this guy isn't afraid to say anything and his fans love it!

While the lyrics themselves are as honest as they come (and I do love to hear artists bear themselves against the popular and accepted common notion)- the melodies, key changes, and meter changes in his melodies are what really stick in my inner voice. I think back to an infamous assignment I had my freshman year of Music Theory. My professor, Mr. Hakoda, had required us to bring in a CD with a track of our favorite music. He made the challenge that with just about anything we brought in he would be easily able to dissect the music using only I, IV, and V chords. Sure enough, our dreams of somehow underhandedly foiling the plot of a Music Theory Doctoral Candidate were almost instantly done away. Even things that sounded dense and complicated to my young and not-so-trained ear were easily stripped down and detailed after only one audio sampling. Now that I'm older, smarter, and more educated (in theory...) my knowledge of musical structures has grown, and with it my cochlea's desire for more sophisticated melodies . Serj's music is something that pleases my need for loud metal, unexpected soft lullabies, and lyrics to spend time pondering over, but is also music that I believe would make Mr. Hakoda and say "Oh, tha's interesting!".

My advice to any adventurous and open-minded music lovers is to look him up, listen to a variety of his tracks, (not just one!!!), look over his well-crafted lyrics, and see how he is definitely more than just the former voice of System of a Down.

http://www.serjicalstrike.com/site/

Salina Municipal Band

Salina Municipal Band has got to be one of my favorite recreational activities during the year- not to mention for the heat-riddled days of the summer months. Summer is supposed to be all about stepping away from the monotonous pull of your everyday job (or schooling, in my case) and enjoying different pleasurable activities at a more relaxed pace. As a musician, however, you can't completely pull yourself away from this part of your life as it is, in essence, who you are. Musicians and music educators are in a field where people do not retire from their work - the only thing strong enough to pull them away is death. (First example to my mind: Dr. Joseph Figg, one of my most respected voice teachers.) It is in this spirit that I approach the Salina Municipal Band each June.

I sit in a section composed strictly of males, some aged and some not, and whereas any other occasion I would feel the need to prove that a female belongs in that section just as much as they do...the beauty of it is - I don't! I am not coerced into playing any notated line in any special manner other than the one dictated by my musical conscience. If I cannot read some rhythm or grasp some concept, the gentlemen in the section do not condescend tones or snort their disapproval lightly. They play the music right, (as it should be!) and use that as an example to teach the most important notion about music I've ever learned: You can be a good musician, and still ENJOY what you do! You heard me right! You can be a serious musician and not be judgmental and snooty about it! This equates to me that I've rediscovered why I will be involved in music in one form or another until I meet my very end. And it's not for any other convoluted reason than I simply love the feeling of being in an ensemble and letting the music flow!

Oh, and I must include at least one "Hakoda-esque" shameless plug:
Concerts are every Tuesday at 8pm in Oakdale Park at the Eric Stein Stage. Please join us!

No Reservations

The title "No Reservations" comes from one of my favorite travelers/television personalities, Anthony Bourdain. His show on the Travel Channel has been a wonderful source of encouragement and inspiration for a long time now. His jaded and cynical view of the world is only slightly less entertaining than his absolute revere toward every aspect of his host culture. His way with words conveys even the most complex of ideas effortlessly and entertainingly while still using his mental sharpness to cut his adversaries to the core. I secretly aspire to feel the same towards any host culture I encounter in the future - especially now, as I am making plans to travel to England for a year. I'm working towards my PhD in Music Performance and Education and I have felt for a long time that traveling to another country, maybe especially to get my Master's, has been just the thing I need. There are many emotions surrounding this chapter of my life: excitement, anticipation, nervousness, doubt, etc. But we can save the therapy session for another time.

I thought that the reason behind the title was justified, and at least somewhat interesting.