The Music World

So it's been a long time since I've updated this blog! I am finally done with my finals so I should have more time to post. Today was the day! It was an absolutely stressful day.

Well let me start with the choir class. All our performances are counted as tests or finals. I performed in all of them.

One of my favorite days was the choral festival held at Sierra College. All the choirs in Northern California performed before a judge. It was an all day event starting at 8:00 a.m. and going till 4:00 p.m. Our choir was first to sing....we did alright. I really liked the American River College Choir the best though. They sang a absolutely beautiful arrangement of "How Can I Keep From Singing". It was awesome.

All the other choirs did very well.

At the end of the day, all the choirs congregated in the front of the audience to sing "He, Watching Over Israel" a marvelous piece by Felix Mendelssohn. There were so many people singing that we all couldn't fit on stage so the conductor (the judge) stood on stage and conducted 200+ people in the audience. The volume was so intense at climax points in the song that my music was vibrating. That piece was the best of the whole day. If any of you readers want to hear it you can look it up on YouTube.

In Music Theory we haven't been doing much. Since we finished the book like 3 or 4 weeks ago all we did was come to class, ask questions about our finals, and then listened to music (and read it). I really liked doing that.

Well the I performed my final today in Music Theory. I had to write a song with at least 3 modulations and other requirements. I thought for sure I would get a C or less on it. I was totally unprepared. First off, I left my copy of the piece at home....so I started hand copying it between classes. Luckily I didn't have choir class today so I had a good 3 1/2 hour wait. So I copy most of my final out and go to a nearby piano to make sure it's right so far. I get to the third measure I realize that I skipped a measure! So all that work for nothing. I would have to erase the 50 measures I've written after it and I only have 1 hour left.

Then a fellow student comes in and wants to practice his finals with me. (I was supposed to do a bass guitar and piano duet with him). So I said, "I guess". Anyway, we practice for awhile and he finds out that he didn't write the bass part out right. So he goes and starts over. Meanwhile, I try to memorize my piece since I only have 40 minutes until class starts.

About twenty minutes later Ben comes back in to practice. Well, he figures out that he is not ready to play it at all. So he asks me if I could just play the piano piece by myself. "I know I'll be called up today since my last name starts with 'A'". So I said well, with all these complicated rhythms I can't guarantee that you'll get an "A" for my performance. I suggested he ask Natalie, an awesome pianist and sight reader, to play his final for him.

He finally finds her and she says sure! She looks at the piece and says....um with all these complicated rhythms...I doubt you will get a good grade if I perform it.

Meanwhile, class is starting and I go sit down. Ben comes in a few minutes later and says...you're on. I guess you'll have to perform my finals and hope for the best. I was getting nervous and was hoping that I wouldn't be called up today....I thought....last semester I was called up on the last day since my name started with "V". I'm almost positive I'll be safe.

Then they call Ben up....and he introduces my as his performer. I play his piece... very complicated. I don't know what grade he got...but I don't think it was very good. I felt sorry for him.

Then a few more people perform their finals. I was starting to feel relieved. Thinking "we only have 30 minutes left and we still haven't gotten to the letter B on the list....my last name starts with V surely he won't call me."

And then it happens.... He says "OK lets go from the bottom up now. SHANE!" I started panicking. I walked over to give him the score and try to explain that I tried to memorize it and that I left my other copy at home. He says, "Didn't you use the copier down the hall?" Then one of the students calls out...."it doesn't work". He says...."Well, I can look over you shoulder to make sure you're playing right....we can share the same copy.....or will that make you more nervous?"

Finally a solutions comes! "I'll tell you what, why don't I call someone else up and while they are performing you go to the next building over and see if you can't get a copy." I thanked him and hurried off to the next building. I found an office and got a copy.

As I walked back into the classroom, the performer was just finishing. The teacher calls out "Shane, are you ready?" I said "Yes". I give him the original and walk down to perform my piece. I didn't do very well. I made quite a few mistakes but used my "cover up" skills taught by my piano teacher Betty. I didn't think I could fool this Doctor though.

After finishing I walked up to get my grade. People complimented on it. My teacher says "That was beautiful!" He gives me my graded final back.... I hesitated to look at it.... it said I got an 'A' for the quality of the piece, and 'A' for performance, and an 'A' for the whole semester! I was like no way! I guess I did cover up my numerous mistakes well. I guess my analysis was right.

After a few more performances the class ended and the teacher announced that we will have class Wednesday to finish all those who still need to perform. I was relieved....

Then all of the sudden a man came up to me. I had never met him before....we was not in Music Theory.... he had come in to watch the performances and to perform one for someone else. Anyway, he came up to me and said "I just wanted to tell you that your piece was awesome. He said it sounded like something Chopin would write. Do you play Chopin at all?" I told him that he was one of my favorite composers and that yes, I do play Chopin all the time. He said "I could tell. I think his style is brushing off on you."

I was absolutely shocked. I'm thinking "Here I thought I was gonna fail my final....and not only do I get an "A" but it sounds like Chopin!?"

Well my work is not over... although the hardest part is. On Wednesday I have to perform someone else's final....a much easier one than Ben's. I will be playing with a cello and a violin....these two sisters, Natalie and Loni, are absolutely awesome musicians. It will be a privilege to be able to perform with them.

I will write about it when I can.