The Fall 2013 Edition of The Big Push has officially concluded. About two hours ago, I typed the final words on my one remaining essay, printed the document, and sent it electronically to my professor. All I need to do for the remainder of the quarter is to show up and to complete three midterm exams, for which I've studied, and four finals (three of my courses have no midterms or finals), for which I have thoroughly prepared and need only review the material.
It's good that I've finished my work, as I have a scratchy
throat, a headache, and a bit of a fever. If I get sick, I can do so in peace without fifteen million assignments and textbook and related course readings for five classes hanging over my head.
What I have is not likely to be strep. It's more likely a classic cold or flu, possibly with some croup or bronchitis thrown into th mix just for a little added excitement. My Aunt JoAnne, who is an ENT, said she will come to check on me tomorrow. I have a few comfort-related pills stored away, but I don't like to take anything very potent without running it by someone who knows more than I when i'm sick, as opposed to when I'm having pain from some past injury. in the case of an old injury bothering me, I take medicine exactly as prescribed.
I have just two classes on Monday, which I will try to attend, but I will come home to sleep if I'm sick. There's no point in making the entire dorm sick needlessly. I have just over three weeks until my senior recital in piano.
I'm feeling reasonably prepared for that. everything hass been memorized for months. Once I finish my piano recital, I'll be able to focus on my violin recital.
I am the piano accompanist for a guy's cello recital on Friday. I will surprise him and not take his check. I am not sufficiently in need of the money to take it from my fellow students who are struggling more than I. If the cellist were a trust fund baby, I'd take the check, but he's not.
This blog is ended. Gon now to love and serve the Lord and to pay your piano accompanist even more than the going amount . . . if you're a trust fund baby.
When I had accompanists, I had to pay them in cash. It was a real pain.
ReplyDeleteI think it's generally expected in most settings. Most churches other than the LDS church usually pay their pianists and organists unless they have someone who chooses to donate his or her services.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how BYU handles the issue of accompanists for recitals. I could see them expecting piano majors to donate their services. that would be oK if the situation were strictly reciprocal, as in everyone was called upon equally to provide services, but some instruments are clearly more in demand than others, so there's no way music majors can be called upon equally to play for others. Furthermore, everyone deserves an accompanist who is not going to mess up his or her performance, and if all music majors were called upon eqully to play at each others' recitals, someone would get the short end of the stick.
at my university,those who are music majors have to qualify before we are placed on a list of approved accompanists. Some people don't jump through the hoop. A pianist can choose someone not on the list 9I did) but it's a "choose at your own risk" sort of thing. my Uncle scott oesn't have time to go to the university and jump through hoops, nor does he have time to play at anyone's recital other than mine, but the faculty know about him, so it's not a scay move, and he's at least as good as aonyone on the faculty. It's just that he's an MD and didn't have time to get a doctorate in piano performance.
I chose to go through the motions and be approved because I thought it would give me a more favorable impression to the people who would eventually adjudicate me. In the case of the cellist, it can't possibly hurt me, and playing with a talent cellist is far more pleasure than work. I shouldprobably marry a really good cellist so that I can hear cello music anytime that I so desire (assuming Josh Groban will not be available when I decide to get married).
Oh yeah, I know accompanists and other musicians get paid. My mom sure did. Her earnings were a very nice side income for her and helped pay for my horsebackriding lessons for years. I had no problem paying my accompanists. I just thought it was a pain to have to do it in cash. I didn't have an ATM card when I was in college... (long story that I may have to write tomorrow).
DeleteI wish I had learned to play piano decently. It's a useful and profitable skill and, I'm sure, gives you a lot of pleasure. Of course, there is no instrument as portable as the human voice. ;-)