Posts filed under 'Music'
This morning while I sat on the couch, recovering from my first night out in a long time (I didn’t get drunk, but our baby boy made sure I didn’t sleep well to punish me for abandoning him so callously) I watched the hour-long highlight show of the NYC Marathon on TV. First of all, I was disappointed that such a remarkable race only got a piddly hour on TV but I could change the channel and see a football game on every other station. I guess watching long distance running isn’t really appealing to everyone. Anyway, I enjoyed watching the finish in both the men’s and women’s elite groups, I always find it inspiring-they are just amazing. Then they turned their cameras to Lance Armstrong and followed him as he finished in just under 3 hours, accomplishing his goal. It was pretty cool-even though Lance is not always my personal favorite, I admire what he can do as an athlete and a humanitarian.
So I guess this is all leading up to the inevitable. I think it may finally be time for me to start running again. As long as I get cleared by my doctor this week I think I”m gonna try it. I’m terrified to think how hard it will be-although nothing can really compete with how it felt to play the violin again this week after 6 weeks off. This has definitely been the longest break I’ve had from the violin in my adult life, maybe even my whole life! I had a moment when I started playing for the first time the other day where I thought to myself, “Am I doing this right? Does the bow go in my right hand?” For the non-musicians out there, that’s tantamount to trying to remember if you’re right or left handed. It felt unbelievably foreign. I momentarily considered a career change (stay-at-home mom? chef? veterinarian?) and then realized that if I can just get through the first few weeks of getting back into shape, I’ll be ok. Here comes the epiphany-running should be the same, right? I should be able to get back into it after some pain and suffering at the beginning. And god knows running is a hell of a lot more natural than the contortions required of your upper body to play the violin.
My deadline for violin preparedness is January-that’s when I go back to work and I’ll be doing some chamber music concerts by the end of that month so I have to be ready (chamber music concerts require a bit more since I can actually be HEARD as opposed to orchestral work where it is more on the honor system since there are so many violins). I am reluctant to set any deadlines for the running, such as entering a race, etc. because I just don’t know how it will feel, it’s much more uncharted territory. Let’s just say I won’t be running any marathons by January.
Of course, the one little glitch with all these plans is that I am effing TIRED. Here’s some proof:
My eyes, I can barely keep them open. So all my plans may be for nuttin. Ashok, please let mommy sleep. She loves you.
November 5th, 2006
I learned this morning that a former colleague of mine, Charles Barr, a bass player in the Cleveland Orchestra was killed in an accident. He was only 31. He was riding his bike when he lost control and was hit by a car. I hadn’t been in touch with Charles but he, Brian, myself and several of our close friends were all in the New World Symphony together. As many of us who spent time at New World do, we kept track of who was where and playing in which orchestra. When we heard Charles had won a job in Cleveland, one of the finest orchestras in the country, we were all thrilled for him. For so many classical musicians, landing a job like that is the realization of a life-long dream, the product of years of extremely hard work and a true testament to their talent. For any life to be cut short is always a tragedy, but this hits close to home.
You will be missed, Charles.
Bicycle Accident Claims Life of Cleveland Orchestra Bassist
August 14th, 2006
First of all, I have been a lazy blogger. I’m sure it has really upset all five of you, so I apologize. Secondly, pregnancy has been a bitch lately. Those hormones that everyone talks about? Man, they are in full force these days. I have pretty much spent the better part of the last two days either crying, yelling at someone or eating. Sounds great, right? I’m feeling better today, mostly because I have the day off and have actually had a little time to relax.
I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that I can’t function on a day to day basis in exactly the same way as I did before I got knocked up. The last few weeks have had just a few too many 12 hour days that have resulted in the previously described tantrums. So, I am doing my best to restructure my schedule in a way that will be a bit more kind to me. That is one of the perks of freelancing-being able to decide (to a certain extent) when you work and when you sit on your ass and watch TV.
The good news is now that I have a little more free time, I am trying to get back into some mellow exercise. Twice this week I have taken Lucy for a three mile walk around the Rose Bowl. I love going there, that’s where I used to run way back when. Since living in New York, it’s the only place I have found on this side of LA that reminds me a little bit of Central Park. Not in terms of landscape, but the fact that there are always-at any time of day- people out there running, walking, rollerblading and biking. It has always been helpful for me to see other folks out there working out, it sort of keeps me going back for more. Plus, you get to know the regulars (for better or for worse).
Today I also went to my second pre-natal yoga class. It was very nice. While not nearly as strenuous as the usual yoga class I take, it was nice to get a good stretch since my back is starting to feel pretty stiff-probably a combination of the baby getting bigger and too much of this. I looked at my calendar today and realized that I have only had 2 violin free days (VFD) in the last several months. I don’t like those numbers. The VFD is key to my survival as a musician, not only mentally but physically as well. My shoulders, back, arms, pretty much everything from the waist up gets wound up pretty tight after a lot of playing. So, yoga felt great. I’m going to do my best to go at least a couple times a week from now on (famous last words).
Alright, enough rambling. Time to get back to destroying my back with the violin.
May 10th, 2006
So much to report from this weekend….although none of it is running/walking related. I swear, I’ll get back to that stuff eventually.
First of all, I had my recital on Saturday night. It went really well overall, I had a great crowd (a full house!), felt good about how I played, had fun, and most importantly, wore a fantastic new pair of shoes. I’m relieved it is done and that it was a success, but my busy days are far from over.
The most exciting event of this weekend? On Saturday, while I was preparing to play my big show, Brian was at the 2006 Nuts for Mutts show with Lucy. At about 2:30 I got the good news that she had advanced out of the Qualifying Rounds (yes, I’m serious) in the Most Beautiful category. A prouder moment I have never had. I actually screamed out loud and jumped for joy. (Sadly, she didn’t advance in the Mystery Mutt or Ear-resitible Ears categories.) Mostly I was excited because it meant that I could go back today for the final round and watch her compete. Unfortunately, she didn’t get a prize but she did get a chance to schmooze with the B-list celebrity judges they had on hand. Here’s a picture of her meeting Chyna, a person who I assumed was either a drag queen or transsexual and thought “Well, isn’t that a fun change from the usual cheesy soap opera stars!” Later, however,it was explained to me that Chyna is actually a real woman and a wrestler who has taken so many steroids that she has the build of a man and the husky voice to go with it. Plus, a big ‘ol boob job. Damn, I liked her much better as a drag queen.
Anyway, it was a successful weekend for all. We even managed to drag my mom to the dog show and I think she liked it, although she probably wouldn’t admit that in public. Tomorrow morning, it’s back to business as usual and I can’t say I’m excited. But at least the weather has finally warmed up out here and it is starting to really feel like spring. If I can get through one more month of craziness I should be sailing home free into the lazy days of summer. I can’t wait.
April 30th, 2006
I’m in the home stretch now, one more week until my recital. Things have been going pretty well, not counting the minor meltdowns I have every so often. It is great though when those moments happen to be able to blame them on pregnancy hormones and be done with it. Who/what is going to assume responsibility once I have this kid?
Speaking of kids, I am not the only one who has a big event next weekend. Lucy is registered to compete in the annual Nuts for Mutts Dog Show in Woodland Hills. Nuts for Mutts is a big fundraiser for New Leash on Life, an organization that rescues dogs and helps to find them new homes. And it is an opportunity for us proud owners of mutts (also known as All-American dogs, according to our dog trainer) to force their dogs to compete for prizes. Last year, we found out about the show pretty late and the only category still open was Best Dressed (that and best Chihuahua Mix, but we didn’t think she could pull that off, even with the ears). Oddly enough, my dear husband has had some experience dressing up our animals so we decided to go for it. Here is her outfit:
Isn’t she stunning? Make sure to look at the larger size of the picture so you can see the pearls around her neck (yes, they are fake…I’m not THAT crazy). Sadly, we didn’t realize the extent to which the other competitors would go to win the category. There was a dog dressed as Pinocchio with his owner dressed as Gepettto, a little pup with a spiked collar, kilt, punk t-shirt and green mohwak and, my personal favorite, the three-legged dog dressed as a pirate with a peg-leg. So, Lucy didn’t get out of the qualifying round and there was much sadness. When she got home that night, she smashed her pearls, threw herself on her pink canopy bed in tears and refused to play with her Barbies. Her only consolation was that we promised to enter her in multiple categories this year and play to her strengths.
This year she is registered in Most Beautiful, Ear-esisitible Ears, and Mystery Mutt. I can’t go to the qualifying rounds next Saturday because that’s the day of my recital and I will have to sit around at home and “relax”, but if she advances to the finals we all get to go on Sunday, including my mother who will be in town and forced to attend (hilarious).
Yes, I am crazy. But at least it is all for a good cause. Honestly, on Saturday the 29th I’m not sure what I will be more nervous about-my recital or Lucy’s big show. If she wins a ribbon, I told her she can retire early.
April 22nd, 2006
Lucy’s cousin Lola has been visiting this week. And when I say visiting, I mean that my sister and brother-in-law decided to go on vacation at the last minute and deposit their dog here on the way out of town. Not that I really mind, Lola is a sweet girl and Lucy loves having her around to play with. Unfortunately, ’tis the season for shedding and all their rambunctious behavior leaves my house full of dog hair. Every morning, I sweep up at least three dustpans full of brown and black doggie locks, mixed in with cat hair for flavor, of course. Between that and everything outside starting to bloom, my allergies are in rare form, particularly since I can’t take my meds because I’m preggers. But, this is the price I pay for my love of animals.
We’ve been doing lots of walking this week with the girls. We live right near the Arroyo Seco, the old dry river bed, in L.A. which is a great place to walk your dog(s). Right now, everything is growing like crazy and it is just beautiful. Lots of tall grass for doggies to bound through, which is always a good time.
Recital prep has been going pretty well. I had a bunch of work for this week get cancelled, so now I should have lots of time for practicing. Unfortunately, it will probably take me a couple of days to recover from this weekend. Six and a half hours of opera rehearsal last night (exhausting) and three more tonight, plus a rehearsal for my recital this afternoon and supposedly practicing this morning (which obviously, hasn’t happened yet). One of the drawbacks of being a musician: you don’t really get a weekend. All the days start to blur together.
I’m hoping for a few more long walks this week as well if the weather chooses to cooperate. I don’t remember such a rainy and cold April in all the time I’ve lived here. Here’s hoping for some sunshine.
April 15th, 2006
Oh good God, my recital is three weeks from tomorrow. I am a wee bit stressed out. This last week was a wash-I spent all day, everyday playing on the soundtrack for an upcoming summer movie starring Hugh Jackman dressed up as a wolf-guy. As much as I enjoy that stuff, when I get home from 6 hours of playing action-adventure-superhero music , the last thing I am able to do is practice. I am exhausted, especially since the creature living in my body is sucking all the energy out of me, forcing me to fall dead asleep every night at 9:30. Three weeks is still a good amount of time, but unfortunately I have to continue to work and make money while trying to get ready for this concert. I can’t help but think back to the days when I was in music school and all I had to do was practice and get ready for my recitals, but those days are long gone. A mortgage, car payments, student loans and the constant feeding of three animals has taken care of that. But I wouldn’t change any of it, even if I could. Ok, maybe I would lose the student loans.
Unfortunately, this week doesn’t get much easier. On Monday, I will be on a committee listening to auditions for the Principal Double Bass position with my opera orchestra (If you would like to know a little about the torture that is an orchestral audition, read this). I am glad my days of playing auditions are most likely over, and sitting on the committee to pick a candidate is fun, but 6 hours of solo double bass may be a bit maddening. Then later in the week there is more superhero work and many hours of opera rehearsal. But hey, I am a working musician, I shouldn’t be complaining. It’s just that the hours sometimes suck. I’m sure I will find some time to practice, even if it means it happens at 8:00 a.m., before going to work.
This morning, I am planning a long walk with Lucy, maybe three miles or so. She has been home alone a lot this week so I think she deserves it. Today at 7:00 a.m., she started howling like crazy-I guess we slept too late for her liking. Charming.
April 7th, 2006
I’ve come to realize over the years that true moments of inspiration come along every once in a while and you have to take advantage of them when you can. Yesterday, I had one of those days. I was very fortunate this year to be on an album that got nominated for two Grammy awards, and with the ceremony coming up this week, there have been lots of parties, etc. that I have the option of going to. Yesterday was a luncheon honoring the classical nominees and, in particular, paying a special honor to the Kronos Quartet. If you’ve never heard these guys, they are an amazing string quartet that has changed the face of modern classical music. I’ve been a big fan of theirs since I was in junior high school. The first violinist in the group, David Harrington, accepted the award and gave a great speech in which he talked about who his heroes are. For him, it was the three guys he plays with and his family. For the violist in the group, he talked about how music teachers were his heroes. It made me think a lot about who my heroes are and who inspires me in my everyday life-my husband, my mom, my friends and a lot of the people I get to play with. I got to meet Harrington after the ceremony and he was an awesome, gracious guy who seemed really genuinely interested in the projects I’m working on and what I’m doing as a violinist. He may get added to my list of heroes, you don’t meet people like that everyday.
Tomorrow is my 5K in Redondo Beach! I am hoping I can take some of the inspiration I am still feeling from yesterday and use it to help me run a little faster and smoother. It will be my first race running with Brian, which should be really fun. The dreaded shin splints seem to have finally gone so I’m hoping for a good run! I’ll report back tomorrow.
February 4th, 2006
So, I haven’t run since Tuesday because of the dreaded shin splints. In fact, all I’ve really been doing is walking the dog for the last couple of days. She keeps looking at me as if to say, “What the hell happened to you? Why are you so boring now?” Sorry, Lucy. Mama is in PAIN.
Here’s my dilemma: what do I do about this 10K on the Feb. 5th? My training schedule has pretty much stopped in its tracks and my legs are still feeling medium crappy (as opposed to full blown crappy on Tuesday). I think I will try to go out on Sunday and see how far I can get and based on that decide about the race. The thing I can’t figure out is if I do determine that I am not going to be able to run the whole thing, should I still go? Or should I just spend the morning moping around the house and probably eating everything within sight? I guess I could run/walk it but maybe it would be better to just rest until I am more over the unholy pain in my legs. As you can see, I am very confused. If anyone has any good advice, I would LOVE to hear it!
I have spent most of this week practicing for some chamber music concerts I have tomorrow and Tuesday night. I’ve gotten a lot good work done, which has been very satisfying, I think these concerts should go well! I never did end up going to yoga-the reason, you may ask? Oh, this is embarrassing……believe it or not, after not going to yoga for a month, I was concerned that if I went to a class too close to my performances this weekend, that my arms might be so sore that I would be unable to lift my violin to play. I know, ridiculous. But I am a weakling and it has happened before.
January 27th, 2006
Welcome to my new and improved blog. I grew weary of writing solely about the animals that live in my house and have decided to expand to the other areas of my life. I started running last spring and I guess I’m hoping this blog will help me stay on track with my training.
I have never been particulary athletic-I played tennis in high school but was forced to make a life-altering choice in 9th grade between the high school tennis team and the local youth orchestra, which rehearsed at the same time as the tennis team practiced. I chose the path more geeky, and my fate was sealed. I had years of abject poverty and artistic angst to look forward to. Luckily, those years are behind me now. Well, for the most part.
The main reason I got into running is our dog, Lucy. She is a year and a half old and has the energy of twenty thousand bunny rabbits. I used to walk her every morning in our hilly neighborhood until I just got bored and one day decided to run. I was dead after just one mile (Lucy was not) but I got hooked. Now, I ‘ve done a couple of 5K’s and I’m currently training for my first 10K on February 5th in Redondo Beach. So far so good.
January 20th, 2006
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