Now that I got the sappy post out of the way, I'm ready to write something else!
(Don't get me wrong, either. I'm just ready for a happier topic)
This summer, I have an opportunity to play with the Hu Bei Dance Company in a performance called, "The Dream of Helen" in Hu Bei, Wuhan Province, China. While I'm super excited, I'm also nervous. I've never been out of the country before! In fact, I never have had a passport before this year, and I'm going to go play bassoon with a professional orchestra!! WOW!
I know this post may not get a ton of responses, but I'm curious to know - readers: what do you think I should do while I'm there? What kinds of things should I find to bring home? What should I "brace myself" for when I get there - in terms of culture shock?
My biggest question (OK! Fine, not my biggest, but pretty high up there...) is what's going to happen to my reeds?! Non-reeders won't understand. For people who play musical instruments, especially double reeds, you know that little changes in the earth's atmosphere, humidity, condensation, ambient temperature, wind speed, and air turbulence above 90,000 feet all play some kind of havoc on your precious instrument! (Ok... the last one was supposed to be funny...) I live in the mountains in southern Utah and find myself having to adjust reeds constantly. A reed that played well 10 minutes ago suddenly dried out, shriveled up, and practically died. Then, 10 minutes later, the barometer shifts again and the reed suddenly "springs" back to life! I swear I will never understand...
Single reed players have it bad once in a while, too, but it seems like oboe players have it MUCH worse than bassoon players, and bassoon players get it pretty bad.
Frank Morelli once said at an IDRS conference that he - when changing climate, altitude, etc - would close down the reed tip - both wires - and adjust as needed when he got where he was going. Sage advice from a Juliard professor. I guess the other alternative is to have a billion blanks ready to rock and roll, so when I get there, I can work on a few and get them all set for playing. That might be more bother than it's worth!
My question now is... do you have any tips or tricks for keeping your reeds from dying on you? What about keeping my instrument from physical damage (ie.: cracks - going from very dry to very humid)? Any comments are welcomed!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Deployment
Tonight was a lot different than I thought it would be. Anyone who has wished well for a soldier who is close to them understands what is going on in my head right now. Those people who have never had someone close to you go into the military, I want you to understand: it's REALLY hard.
Maybe it's my genetics, maybe it's just that I'm a softie at heart, but I got weepy tonight. My two younger siblings are headed off to "the sandbox." My brother left about two weeks ago and my sister is leaving in the morning. Both head to Indiana for a few weeks of training and then it's out to Kuwait or Iraq (probably the first) to help close the base. In my last post, I mentioned decisions and the difficulty it can be to make up one's mind about what they are going to do. In the case of deployment, no one has a choice. Well... yeah, you do, but you can be sent to military prison, and you REALLY do NOT want to be there.
It's been a hard couple of weeks. With this math class I'm taking, the siblings leaving, I'll be headed for China in a few weeks, and my parents preparing for a move to another state, there's a TON to do and think about and stew over. This is not to mention the excitement with going on a trip, being finished with a college degree, and summer break. This is the first time for a very long time that I've cried openly. When my brother left, I kept it in pretty well, but this time, ...well..., the tears flowed! MAN!
So, what got to me? This is my baby sister. My little brother (who is taller than me, and probably better looking) left, and now my two youngest siblings are headed for a very dangerous place. Who knows what could happen! (Mom: If you are reading this... that's the end of the sad part) Luckily, LOTS of people pray for our troops around the world. People who don't believe in God pray for our troops. How nice that people support the ones protecting us on many fronts.
Now I'm about finished being sappy. My siblings and I have always been close. It was hard when my older sister got married and I rarely got to see her anymore (she lives 500 miles from here, so it's hard to get to see her often). Don't worry, though. Skype is a wonderful thing.
If you are not one supporting our troops in combat, maybe you should get to know someone who has a soldier. Not just a little bit, either. Go - talk to them, get to know them as a person, as a human, and then see how it feels when they get deployed. I am honored to have people in our military who would be willing to "give it all" to the cause of freedom for our nation, and those around the world.
God bless the soldiers, guard members, and support staff of the United States Military!
Maybe it's my genetics, maybe it's just that I'm a softie at heart, but I got weepy tonight. My two younger siblings are headed off to "the sandbox." My brother left about two weeks ago and my sister is leaving in the morning. Both head to Indiana for a few weeks of training and then it's out to Kuwait or Iraq (probably the first) to help close the base. In my last post, I mentioned decisions and the difficulty it can be to make up one's mind about what they are going to do. In the case of deployment, no one has a choice. Well... yeah, you do, but you can be sent to military prison, and you REALLY do NOT want to be there.
It's been a hard couple of weeks. With this math class I'm taking, the siblings leaving, I'll be headed for China in a few weeks, and my parents preparing for a move to another state, there's a TON to do and think about and stew over. This is not to mention the excitement with going on a trip, being finished with a college degree, and summer break. This is the first time for a very long time that I've cried openly. When my brother left, I kept it in pretty well, but this time, ...well..., the tears flowed! MAN!
So, what got to me? This is my baby sister. My little brother (who is taller than me, and probably better looking) left, and now my two youngest siblings are headed for a very dangerous place. Who knows what could happen! (Mom: If you are reading this... that's the end of the sad part) Luckily, LOTS of people pray for our troops around the world. People who don't believe in God pray for our troops. How nice that people support the ones protecting us on many fronts.
Now I'm about finished being sappy. My siblings and I have always been close. It was hard when my older sister got married and I rarely got to see her anymore (she lives 500 miles from here, so it's hard to get to see her often). Don't worry, though. Skype is a wonderful thing.
If you are not one supporting our troops in combat, maybe you should get to know someone who has a soldier. Not just a little bit, either. Go - talk to them, get to know them as a person, as a human, and then see how it feels when they get deployed. I am honored to have people in our military who would be willing to "give it all" to the cause of freedom for our nation, and those around the world.
God bless the soldiers, guard members, and support staff of the United States Military!
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