11/5 - Crunch Time.

I'd like to start this blog by talking to my mother for a little bit.

Dear Mom,
We can't both be M when we post stuff on here. That's confusing. It looks like I'm talking to myself.
I do appreciate the comments though :)
Love, Mason.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about things that really matter.

Today I couldn't force myself to get up at 8 because a certain roommate of mine's chest cold kept both of us awake until 3. I got up at 9:40, went to aural skills, took a shower, and was then ready to start my day.

So, sure, slow start. I'll take that.

But once I got to Jazz Singers, I was on my game. Didn't miss a cut off more than once, sight read like a boss and even plugged cords in quickly. I was in the zone.

And I had to be in the zone, because I was in lessons mode already. I had a lesson on Wednesday as a make-up for Monday, a lesson Thursday, and two lessons (well, that was the plan, anyways) today. So, after Singers, I ate some quick lunch and got to work. Since everyone else was at departmental (I already told you my policy about not going to class), I got to use the five octave marimba to practice on, from 1:30 to 3. I worked on my solo, spent some time on my method books, and sight read a little, and was totally ready for my lesson at 3.

And it was a good lesson. My solo was better, the method book things were good, and I wasn't too shabby sight reading. I had things to work on but not so many things that it's just a bummer.

From there, at 3:30 I went home and wrote a little bit until 4, and then practiced snare stuff for an hour until my lesson at 5. Everything was solid, even the rudimental stuff, which is my kryptonite. I would've rocked the house, but Jayce got stuck in traffic and we'll have to reschedule. Bummer.

But I didn't feel like I was out of energy, somehow. After 2 1/2 hours of almost constant practice and more than 3 hours of constant playing, I still had something in me to keep being productive. So I wrote a letter, registered for all of my classes, and organized my iTunes, all before eating dinner.

Today I learned that I really can be productive, and that I shine best under pressure. It took the fire of two lessons in two hours under my butt to get me practicing a lot, but I did practice, and it did sound pretty great. Playing well and being productive made me feel good, so I kept being productive.

If you've got the energy, use it. If you have things to do, do them. If you have the opportunity, seize it.

Here's my class schedule, by the way:

I don't know how much of that you can read, so I'll put it up here.
MWF:
- Piano III 10 am
- Intro to Composition 11 am
- Singers? noon
MW, not friday:
- English. Hooray. 1:30 pm
- African Ensemble 3 pm
- Brazilian Ensemble 4 pm
TR:
- Poli Sci 9:30 am
- Steel Band 8 pm
- Jazz Lecture at 2 pm on Tuesdays
- Gamelan at 6 on Tuesdays

- Departmental is at 1 on Fridays
- I don't know if I can be in Advanced S. Indian Ensemble yet.
- I don't know which Jazz Singers or Concert Band or Jazz Lab I'm in yet, if any.
- All of this may change if I become a Jazz Studies major.

So. A very tentative schedule, but an awesome one nonetheless.

Have a good weekend!

M