Husband and I have been very blessed to have a chance to go to a school full of opportunities. We have access to all sorts of resources that at my old college we didn't have, and the teachers are willing to talk with you and help you understand what you're learning. We have all sorts of opportunities for additional learning, too- they offer not only minors, but clusters, which are like two mini minors that you can take in place of one minor. It's so wonderful!
So why do I feel like I don't have enough time to do everything I want while I'm here?
Here's the deal: I'm a Bachelor of Arts in Music, kind of with a trumpet emphasis. I have a cluster in composition/conducting, and a second cluster in creative writing. I have a bunch of electives that I have to pick and take for my major, and I asked them if I could take non-major music lessons for those electives. They told me 'No'. This is terrible! I want to take trumpet, piano and organ lessons! But I don't have time! Isn't that terrible? I don't have enough time to take lessons because they won't allow me to. It doesn't help that I'm trying to finish in four semesters so that when Husband gets a really great job somewhere and if we have to move for that job then I will be able to finish (because transferring again would be awful!) and graduate college. But because they won't allow music lessons to count for electives, I'm stuck trying to pick classes that I don't want to take.
I'm kind of upset about the whole thing. I'm here to further my education, and I want to be able to play the piano and the organ and the trumpet, and be able to teach all those things to my future children and other people's children as well. They won't allow me to do what I would like... and I don't know how I will be able to do that after I graduate, except to find a piano teacher and have them help me learn more. I'm so frustrated. What on earth can I do?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Yockeyite Spotlight... Oh, How the Days Fly By
So, I was going to blog, and then it didn't happen, and then I was going to, and then it still didn't happen... Seriously, this month has been flying by! It's so crazy! Anyways, I have a few crafts I was going to post, but I haven't been able to take pictures of them yet so I'm waiting on that...But I've been wanting to do this post for a while, so it's all good.
Another Yockeyite who blogs is Michelle over at Guys 'R' Us. She writes about the silly antics of her family and her little boy, and it's so fun to read. Whenever the Yockeyites are all together, whether for weddings or temple trips or whenever, she's sure to post the goofy pictures. Her blog definitely shows more of what the Yockeyites truly are- a strange and unusual people. She also has more simple posts, like when she and her family went to the zoo and how her boy reacted to the different animals they saw. You can see so many different aspects of life when you read her blog! I'm excited that they're moving closer to us so I can see them in person more.
As a side note- remember at the end of the last Yockeyite Spotlight when I mentioned I wanted to post a craft but it involved spray paint? I finally finished it! Yay! I'll try to post it soon.
Another Yockeyite who blogs is Michelle over at Guys 'R' Us. She writes about the silly antics of her family and her little boy, and it's so fun to read. Whenever the Yockeyites are all together, whether for weddings or temple trips or whenever, she's sure to post the goofy pictures. Her blog definitely shows more of what the Yockeyites truly are- a strange and unusual people. She also has more simple posts, like when she and her family went to the zoo and how her boy reacted to the different animals they saw. You can see so many different aspects of life when you read her blog! I'm excited that they're moving closer to us so I can see them in person more.
As a side note- remember at the end of the last Yockeyite Spotlight when I mentioned I wanted to post a craft but it involved spray paint? I finally finished it! Yay! I'll try to post it soon.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Around the World in One Day (aka La La Land)
Today is Friday. It hasn't felt like Friday. I've hardly been able to focus on anything at all.
Instead, my mind has been anywhere but windy old Idaho.
I love to write stories. I'm working on a novel now, and I am finally getting somewhere, working through plot and creating deeper, more intricate stories for my characters.
I love being an author. The only thing is... my mind sometimes has trouble staying on earth. Admittedly there are a lot of times that what my mind comes up with is a heck of a lot better than things like school or math or being responsible.
I just hope that someday I'll be able to get my books published, and that my audience will love them as much as I do. I would be so happy. And then, you'll see the movie, and I'll help write and/or record the soundtrack, and it will be SO EPIC that you'll buy six copies of it to go on the golden shelf with the dozen copies of the book that you bought.
And then my dream will be complete. On top of the dream of a wonderful family, of course. I already have a good start on that with my amazing Husband. He likes to write, too, which is the best thing EVER because it means that we support each other and encourage each other with our dreams and goals.
So that's how my day went. These pictures aren't anything special, I just found them on good ol' Google... but they are a small depiction of what goes on in my head sometimes. So if you ever see me staring off into space, just grab a kleenex and wipe off the drool for me, pat me on the head, and love me anyways. I'd appreciate it.
Instead, my mind has been anywhere but windy old Idaho.
I love to write stories. I'm working on a novel now, and I am finally getting somewhere, working through plot and creating deeper, more intricate stories for my characters.
I love being an author. The only thing is... my mind sometimes has trouble staying on earth. Admittedly there are a lot of times that what my mind comes up with is a heck of a lot better than things like school or math or being responsible.
I just hope that someday I'll be able to get my books published, and that my audience will love them as much as I do. I would be so happy. And then, you'll see the movie, and I'll help write and/or record the soundtrack, and it will be SO EPIC that you'll buy six copies of it to go on the golden shelf with the dozen copies of the book that you bought.
And then my dream will be complete. On top of the dream of a wonderful family, of course. I already have a good start on that with my amazing Husband. He likes to write, too, which is the best thing EVER because it means that we support each other and encourage each other with our dreams and goals.
So that's how my day went. These pictures aren't anything special, I just found them on good ol' Google... but they are a small depiction of what goes on in my head sometimes. So if you ever see me staring off into space, just grab a kleenex and wipe off the drool for me, pat me on the head, and love me anyways. I'd appreciate it.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Irises...
...by our front steps decided to bloom. Maybe they don't hate me after all....
We were supposed to go camping today with our ward, but Husband told me that he has too much homework and things. I'm super bummed.
I hope ice cream is on sale.
On the plus side, it's Friday!
We were supposed to go camping today with our ward, but Husband told me that he has too much homework and things. I'm super bummed.
I hope ice cream is on sale.
On the plus side, it's Friday!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Of Sinus Infections and Little Blue Engines
It's a double post day, except not really because you're going to pretend that the last post happened yesterday like I meant it to. This thing they call "school" took up all of my time yesterday- I'm talking 9AM to 9PM straight with about an hour in there cumulative that I wasn't doing anything. So yes. You're pretending.
Anywho- So Monday night, while I'm trying to figure out how to take classes all year except August until Husband graduates, which is a lengthy process and rather tedious, my unusually bad hay fever allergies turned into something nastier equaling extreme pressure in my sinuses + earaches + headaches + body aches + general miserableness. Tuesday I didn't feel any better, and slept between appointments to take care of my classes situation. At one point I googled Mayo Clinic and looked up my symptoms, and it suggested that I had either allergies (this was worse than that), a common cold (again, worse), or acute sinusitis (which, assuming that meant a sinus infection, I deemed correct). I have never had that much pain in my face, ever... Not even when I got a pea stuck up my nose. (Ok, that wasn't very painful. Never mind.)
Tuesday night Husband called his mom, who is a nurse, and asked what to do for his miserable wife who was laying in bed crying. After being drugged up on another type of decongestant and some ibuprofen, I was resurrected and proceeded to eat a whole can of soup and part of Husband's dinner too. Plus an apple turnover from Arby's (because he loves me). So I have been feeling better, except for the waterfall of mucus running down the back of my nose. Moral of the story: Sinus infections are NOT fun. The end.
The inspirational thought for today comes from Shel Silverstein through my trumpet instructor, who informed us that he is addicted to Shel's poetry. The poem of the day is "Little Blue Engine". I shall now "read" it to you hopefully in a similar way that my instructor read it to us.
"Little Blue Engine" -by Shel Silverstein
The little blue engine looked up at the hill.
His light was weak, his whistle shrill.
He was tired and small, and the hill was tall,
And his face blushed red as he softly said,
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
So he started up with a chug and a strain,
And he puffed and pulled with might and main.
And slowly he climbed, one foot at a time,
And his engine coughed as he whispered soft,
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
With a squeak and a creak and a toot and a sigh,
With an extra hope and an extra try,
He would not stop - now he neared the top -
And strong and proud he cried out loud,
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"
He was almost there, when - CRASH! SMASH! BASH!
He slid down and MASHED into ENGINE HASH
On the rocks below... which goes to show
If the track is tough and the hill is rough,
THINKING you can just ain't enough!
He went on to say that he thinks that a major reason why musicians who go to big universities to study music and don't progress are those who stop being insatiably curious about the world and stop trying to learn everything they can, even things they might not exactly agree with or believe in, such as the ideology of other religions. You can't ever go into anything and say, "Self, I think we can do this." You just can't do that in today's society, or YOU WILL FAIL. You MUST believe in yourself, and if things don't work out, never give up.
Now, just to prove that I really am not super philosophical, here is a picture of the irises that are growing beside our front steps.
They are taking FOREVER to bloom, and they told me the other day that they're taking forever because they know it bugs me. Seriously? Not cool. I'm being made fun of by plants.
Anywho- So Monday night, while I'm trying to figure out how to take classes all year except August until Husband graduates, which is a lengthy process and rather tedious, my unusually bad hay fever allergies turned into something nastier equaling extreme pressure in my sinuses + earaches + headaches + body aches + general miserableness. Tuesday I didn't feel any better, and slept between appointments to take care of my classes situation. At one point I googled Mayo Clinic and looked up my symptoms, and it suggested that I had either allergies (this was worse than that), a common cold (again, worse), or acute sinusitis (which, assuming that meant a sinus infection, I deemed correct). I have never had that much pain in my face, ever... Not even when I got a pea stuck up my nose. (Ok, that wasn't very painful. Never mind.)
Tuesday night Husband called his mom, who is a nurse, and asked what to do for his miserable wife who was laying in bed crying. After being drugged up on another type of decongestant and some ibuprofen, I was resurrected and proceeded to eat a whole can of soup and part of Husband's dinner too. Plus an apple turnover from Arby's (because he loves me). So I have been feeling better, except for the waterfall of mucus running down the back of my nose. Moral of the story: Sinus infections are NOT fun. The end.
The inspirational thought for today comes from Shel Silverstein through my trumpet instructor, who informed us that he is addicted to Shel's poetry. The poem of the day is "Little Blue Engine". I shall now "read" it to you hopefully in a similar way that my instructor read it to us.
"Little Blue Engine" -by Shel Silverstein
The little blue engine looked up at the hill.
His light was weak, his whistle shrill.
He was tired and small, and the hill was tall,
And his face blushed red as he softly said,
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
So he started up with a chug and a strain,
And he puffed and pulled with might and main.
And slowly he climbed, one foot at a time,
And his engine coughed as he whispered soft,
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
With a squeak and a creak and a toot and a sigh,
With an extra hope and an extra try,
He would not stop - now he neared the top -
And strong and proud he cried out loud,
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"
He was almost there, when - CRASH! SMASH! BASH!
He slid down and MASHED into ENGINE HASH
On the rocks below... which goes to show
If the track is tough and the hill is rough,
THINKING you can just ain't enough!
He went on to say that he thinks that a major reason why musicians who go to big universities to study music and don't progress are those who stop being insatiably curious about the world and stop trying to learn everything they can, even things they might not exactly agree with or believe in, such as the ideology of other religions. You can't ever go into anything and say, "Self, I think we can do this." You just can't do that in today's society, or YOU WILL FAIL. You MUST believe in yourself, and if things don't work out, never give up.
Now, just to prove that I really am not super philosophical, here is a picture of the irises that are growing beside our front steps.
They are taking FOREVER to bloom, and they told me the other day that they're taking forever because they know it bugs me. Seriously? Not cool. I'm being made fun of by plants.
Dear Tchaikovsky,
I am a huge fan of your music. I love it. I listen to it. I heard the rumors that you hate your Nutcracker Suite, but it's a huge hit nowadays, especially around Christmas. Your symphonies are so wonderful...
But let's get down to business. It's about your First Symphony.
Now, I could be biased because I've only (sight) read it once with the orchestra so admittedly it's going to sound kind of weird... but so far it's not my favorite. I heard your teachers didn't like it either, and told you that you should throw it out. But, out of spite, you kept it. That's cool with me; after all, everyone hated Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and thought he was crazy too. But you broke my heart yesterday when we read through your First Symphony.
We started with the fourth movement because you didn't write a part for the trombones for the first three movements. Fair enough, Beethoven did that too. Then we went to the first movement, and read that. There were some interesting lines, it was ok... and then we went to the third movement because you didn't write a trumpet part for the second movement. Ok, that's cool too...
But, Tchaik, let's face it.... The part you wrote for trumpet in the third movement is unacceptable.
Yeah, I took this with my phone, so it's not a good picture. But you still get the point. Do you see how much we rest during this movement? Don't get me wrong, in the Sibelius Violin Concerto we rest a lot, too, but at least in that one we got to play something substantial. But here, for example, we rest for over 167 measures, play two notes over the course of four bars, and then go back to resting.
It's a good thing I'm married, or this would put a serious damper in our relationship. That is not cool, Tchaik, not cool at all. And through this experience I think I can answer why your teachers hated your first movement.... They were secretly brass players.
Sincerely, Ashley
But let's get down to business. It's about your First Symphony.
Now, I could be biased because I've only (sight) read it once with the orchestra so admittedly it's going to sound kind of weird... but so far it's not my favorite. I heard your teachers didn't like it either, and told you that you should throw it out. But, out of spite, you kept it. That's cool with me; after all, everyone hated Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and thought he was crazy too. But you broke my heart yesterday when we read through your First Symphony.
We started with the fourth movement because you didn't write a part for the trombones for the first three movements. Fair enough, Beethoven did that too. Then we went to the first movement, and read that. There were some interesting lines, it was ok... and then we went to the third movement because you didn't write a trumpet part for the second movement. Ok, that's cool too...
But, Tchaik, let's face it.... The part you wrote for trumpet in the third movement is unacceptable.
It's a good thing I'm married, or this would put a serious damper in our relationship. That is not cool, Tchaik, not cool at all. And through this experience I think I can answer why your teachers hated your first movement.... They were secretly brass players.
Sincerely, Ashley
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