Obama for president?
Monsieur McCain didn't mention fine arts on his website. I guess it is just not a typical conservative issue. Obama says he wants to increase funding for the national endowment for the arts, and increase funding for public schools to have music education.
Here is a link to Obama's official stance on this issue.
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/additional/Obama_FactSheet_Arts.pdf
I think (but i'm not sure) Ms. Clinton had an even bigger stand for the fine arts.
Nobody running wants what I want. I'm not sure that I know what I want out of a president. I guess it comes down to supporting the arts and not killing babies. I hold by my beliefs about politicians: anyone who wants to be a politician, shouldn't be one. I just really hope there is a job for me after spending so much time at school.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
maturing
Today, for the first time in my life, I have made music.
It's like the news. You start with what is happening with you. The only things that matter are what directly effect change in your life. As you grow aware, you realize things effect other people that are close to you without effecting you directly. Then, you might become aware of your neighborhood, community, town, state, country, and then the world! The world is so overwhelming with news and happenings that it is unfathomable.
I started messing around with instruments, discovered intonation and pitch. Then I discovered rhythm and dynamics and so on and so forth.
Today, I made my viola do exactly what I wanted. Despite years of teaching and training, it took a few comments from a female German violist to cause this reaction in me. Now granted, the teaching is what enabled me to know what to do to get the sounds I wanted, but it took someone I knew for 15 minutes and will most likely never meet again to really make me listen to myself. I hope this isn't a bi-polar high. I don't think it is, because I had to work at it in order to make it happen.
It's like the news. You start with what is happening with you. The only things that matter are what directly effect change in your life. As you grow aware, you realize things effect other people that are close to you without effecting you directly. Then, you might become aware of your neighborhood, community, town, state, country, and then the world! The world is so overwhelming with news and happenings that it is unfathomable.
I started messing around with instruments, discovered intonation and pitch. Then I discovered rhythm and dynamics and so on and so forth.
Today, I made my viola do exactly what I wanted. Despite years of teaching and training, it took a few comments from a female German violist to cause this reaction in me. Now granted, the teaching is what enabled me to know what to do to get the sounds I wanted, but it took someone I knew for 15 minutes and will most likely never meet again to really make me listen to myself. I hope this isn't a bi-polar high. I don't think it is, because I had to work at it in order to make it happen.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
music growth
I am a father.
My son is a little over 1 year old. If I need to be more specific, he is 16 months old. I believe that he has hit his terrible 2's early. He has a vocabulary of about 30 words in english, but doesn't often use them. I've been informed that it is not the terrible 2's until the child looks you in your face and says "NO".
He seems interested in music. My wife and I have heard him sing, all in baby-language. He is also extremely interested in the piano. He has to play it evey time he sees it. We have a digital console piano, and he likes to get on my lap while I practice . He always starts to play with his arms straight out, fingers together, immobile wrists, and he bangs swinging his arms straight up and down. BUT, if you ask him "Can you play like daddy?", he relaxes his arms, wrists and hands, and starts to use individual fingers to push and pet at the keys. He looks at me and smiles.
When I practice viola, he comes up to my legs and starts to cling and suck his thumb. He might have been playing with other toys, not paying attention, and I go to get my viola, and he has to have my undivided attention. It's frustrating when I'm supposed to be practicing at least two hours everyday, and he only gives me 20-30 minutes at a shot. I talked to some of my teachers who have children and the best solution so far is to put in a movie that he likes to try and distract him.
I am curious about if he has any outstanding musical talent. One of the techniques that is practiced on the violin/viola/cello is double-stop scales in various intervals. One of the most difficult for most people, including myself is playing scales in thirds. Thirds have to be perfectly in tune. Eli, when I don't play them just quite right, starts to cry. I'm not sure about perfect pitch. I wonder when it shows itself. I imagine you have to have some kind of musical training before it is apparent. For example, I can recognize the color red every time I see it, but I wouldn't know it was called "red" unless someone had told me.
I've thought about if my son became a musician, what if he is better than I am. I know it sound horribly selfish, but what if I'm a thirty year old man and my son is a 7 year old prodigy who looks up at me and says "no daddy, you're doing it wrong." I suppose I will have to get over my competitive-jealousy at some point and I imagine that fatherhood will have bigger obstacles than a silly issue like this to overcome. Of course, I want the best for my son. I will do my best for him.
My son is a little over 1 year old. If I need to be more specific, he is 16 months old. I believe that he has hit his terrible 2's early. He has a vocabulary of about 30 words in english, but doesn't often use them. I've been informed that it is not the terrible 2's until the child looks you in your face and says "NO".
He seems interested in music. My wife and I have heard him sing, all in baby-language. He is also extremely interested in the piano. He has to play it evey time he sees it. We have a digital console piano, and he likes to get on my lap while I practice . He always starts to play with his arms straight out, fingers together, immobile wrists, and he bangs swinging his arms straight up and down. BUT, if you ask him "Can you play like daddy?", he relaxes his arms, wrists and hands, and starts to use individual fingers to push and pet at the keys. He looks at me and smiles.
When I practice viola, he comes up to my legs and starts to cling and suck his thumb. He might have been playing with other toys, not paying attention, and I go to get my viola, and he has to have my undivided attention. It's frustrating when I'm supposed to be practicing at least two hours everyday, and he only gives me 20-30 minutes at a shot. I talked to some of my teachers who have children and the best solution so far is to put in a movie that he likes to try and distract him.
I am curious about if he has any outstanding musical talent. One of the techniques that is practiced on the violin/viola/cello is double-stop scales in various intervals. One of the most difficult for most people, including myself is playing scales in thirds. Thirds have to be perfectly in tune. Eli, when I don't play them just quite right, starts to cry. I'm not sure about perfect pitch. I wonder when it shows itself. I imagine you have to have some kind of musical training before it is apparent. For example, I can recognize the color red every time I see it, but I wouldn't know it was called "red" unless someone had told me.
I've thought about if my son became a musician, what if he is better than I am. I know it sound horribly selfish, but what if I'm a thirty year old man and my son is a 7 year old prodigy who looks up at me and says "no daddy, you're doing it wrong." I suppose I will have to get over my competitive-jealousy at some point and I imagine that fatherhood will have bigger obstacles than a silly issue like this to overcome. Of course, I want the best for my son. I will do my best for him.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Destiny
I wonder about destiny.
If such a thing is true, then I, of all people, am destined.
Music, to me, isn't just a hobby, or an occupation, or a pastime. I used to dream of being able to say, as Louis XIV said of the state, "I Am Music." Of course, I've always had a healthy appetite of ego. I suppose now is the time to also mention that I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but refuse to take medication. With the even-keel of my wife, I've toned down, and I think that I can settle for "Music is me."
After high school, it became time to decide what to do with my life. I started with music at one college, and hated the school. I switched majors a few times before I dropped out and took a year and half off of school, during which I got married.
Now, I am at Stephen F. Austin State University pursuing a Viola Performance degree, and am loving every minute of it. This time, when I came back to music, all the doors got flung open for me, and I know I'm back in destiny's good favor.
If such a thing is true, then I, of all people, am destined.
Music, to me, isn't just a hobby, or an occupation, or a pastime. I used to dream of being able to say, as Louis XIV said of the state, "I Am Music." Of course, I've always had a healthy appetite of ego. I suppose now is the time to also mention that I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but refuse to take medication. With the even-keel of my wife, I've toned down, and I think that I can settle for "Music is me."
After high school, it became time to decide what to do with my life. I started with music at one college, and hated the school. I switched majors a few times before I dropped out and took a year and half off of school, during which I got married.
Now, I am at Stephen F. Austin State University pursuing a Viola Performance degree, and am loving every minute of it. This time, when I came back to music, all the doors got flung open for me, and I know I'm back in destiny's good favor.
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