wild reeds

Today has got to be the weirdest day for a long time - we had rehearsal at 2 for Carousel then opening at 7:30. You will recall (if you tuned in yesterday) that I planned to go over and stay since we only had about a two hour turn-around and it takes me about an hour and 15 to get home and back. So, what actually happened was...

I was getting all ready - dress out, hose, shoes, toothbrush etc - so good of me. And I got both cases of reeds wet (eh and oboe) since I figured we would be getting there shortly before two (I was carpooling with M who had to work). We got there just fine - I sit down and banter with the others a bit while I'm setting up, and I realize, there are no oboe reeds. NO OBOE REEDS!!!!! Had I forgotten eh reeds, I *could* use and oboe reed, but you can't do the reverse. And I am 40 minutes each way from home (where I realize I left the case after conscientiously wetting them). Rehearsal starts in 5 minutes, they had very adamently said we MUST be there for the downbeat. I had that very bad feeling. And I didn't even have a car - since M drove. She very nicely offered her vehicle (since no one in the city plays oboe but me - I am the teacher at that college, so no help there!)

So I decide to take my chances at the tiny little music store in town, I knew they had Jones reeds (which I have made many a disparaging comment about in the past). I get there in about 5 minutes, they actually are open and have some reeds (honestly about 10 - I have more in my case!) The man was very nice - he pointed out the fibercane reeds which were "his best ones". I declined those and went for a Jones med hard - I had no idea but I was afraid to get a hard one in case it wouldn't play at all...anyway it didn't seal and it made this raucous crow, but at least it did play! I got back to the theater and a miracle - they were having mic problems so they hadn't even started yet (2:15). So I rammed all the horns together and the reed sort of played! It was kinda nasty on sustained notes, but I must say it responded very well.

So I went home after rehearsal w/M and got my reed case - then we carpooled back together, it worked out fine. Was VERY glad to have my reeds again, but the eh is fortunately the big solo feature in this show. After I was kind of shocked but about 7 of my collegues said I sounded great on the eh. And these are people I really respect and admire - and play in the "big" symphony! So I was feeling really great - not often I bask in my glory, but I am so worked up about the Mozart (too bad I can't play it on eh!) it was a nice pat on the back.

Hope tomorrow is much less eventful - just my mother coming for a visit (eek!) and the final show. Weird to have it be all over so soon, but I'm glad!

another openin'

Tonight's the night - seems so far away. Last nights rehearsal went pretty well, better than Wednesday. The chorus was much better, maybe more people there. The conductor is pretty difficult to follow, typical choral kind of conducting where there are no downbeats and every meter looks the same! Fortunately it is an easy score to follow - just a couple of places that have to be timed and the concertmaster has that squared away now.

It is a LOT different to be on stage, feel much more exposed. And we can't have all our stuff with us (cases and reed stuff and water) I think I will bring my things anyway, I have a lot of changes and I just don't have time to mess with dry reeds.

Couldn't sleep last night so I got up and finished the wine tasting flyers. NEVER doing this again - ungrateful wretches. Actually they probably are grateful, just not grateful enough to pay me anything. Fine.

Did at least get through the Mozart yesterday - today is questionable. Really want to go to the gym and then must get D to the sitters by 1, meet M to carpool over to the rehearsal and then I will just stay for the show. M is coming back to get her kids, but I would waste another hour (plus) getting home and back, when I could just stay and practice. But that means taking all my lovely attire (tuxs and black). I told the flutes they didn't say whether the tuxes had to be black, so they should wear powder blue...

shows

I forgot how tired I get doing shows - thank God this one is only one weekend! I was happy I got in about two hours on the Mozart, went to the gym and had 2 hours of quintet yesterday before the show rehearsal - we are onstage and it is the biggest pit I've played in. The chorus is on risers behind us and the principals are in front although last night they were turned towards us. The principals are all great - but the chorus will hopefully get it together by tomorrow! Tonight we rehearse again, then Fri afternoon and Friday night is opening.

The first flute is a super player and I'm really glad he is there - so nice to have a pitch center to "lean" on! He is also really nice and not snobby at all. There are a lot of players from the "big" symphony, most are nice... I rode over with M last night, very fun to yak all the way; but tonight I have to teach early, and Friday she has to come back in between. So cool- the theater is catering dinner on Friday, AND they invited the band!

My reeds were not the worst but I need to get something better today. And mom and dad are coming and the house is still a mess - maybe the house fairies will come?

Carousel

Today we start rehearsing Carousel! I am kind of surprised, it snuck up on me because I am so focused on Mozart. But this should be very fun, with really good musicians.

I played for B last night, more nervous than I expected. But overall it went well, a few of the technical places I just played a bunch of notes, but I never stopped! And she had some great comments - real detail things that I could actually do. So I'm really glad I went. But when I got to the car it was 11:30! How did that happen? I hope she was able to get to school on time.

I am even up at a reasonable hour and hopefully I can practice an hour before rushing to the gym (with a fed and clothed child in tow) then off to Costco (the wonder store) for my contact fitting, home for more practice (again, hopefully); quintet - where hopefully E has remembered he is subbing for me in bells tonight; drop off D at J's work and off to Carousel!!! Nothing can go wrong or the day will collapse around me.

Must quit hoping and get practicing.

Black is the color...

I have decided to have different colored reeds each session, which is kind of what I've always done but not with a purpose. So now I will keep track so I can tell how old my reeds are by the color. Thrilling eh? But this week is black. Formal. Hopefully delightful sounding, although right now they are "settling".

Went to the gym (yay) and was accosted by water aerobics instructor to "get my baseline stats". I'm sure they have to fill quotas, and she's just trying to get bodies, but kind of annoying. Although since it is free I said I would come next week. I just don't want to start some big program right before Mozart day (april 14). At least I did work out.

This weekend is Carousel, rehearsals start tomorrow night. Fun - and my parents are coming this weekend, and I've gotten 3 extra sitters this week to cover rehearsal/show times. The house is a mess, but I should practice instead of clean, right? *sigh* Happily though, my mom will bring her pair of navy shoes that will hopefully go with "the dress" (and fit) saving me from more shopping!

Monday monday

What a weekend. I am tired now although we got home by 8:30 last night. Today is not scheduled, but the rest of the week is nightmarish! So I'm trying to get up the gumption to practice, but so far it is much more fun to play with my digital camera. Finally figured out how to get the pics off. Yay.

I did manage to practice both days I was gone, although I didn't do the long tone thing. Funny, I thought that would be the easy thing to do. I did find a dress! Wasn't even really looking but there it was, the only one in that style and it was my (unfortunate) size! So I just bought it. I think I could also wear it to J's Christmas party, it was really fancy last year. But we'll see.

Off to make reeds, tomorrow I'm playing the Mozart for B.

Palm Springs!

Ok, we're not really going to Palm Springs, we're going to see my brothers and all 6 of their kids, along with grama and grampa! So fun, three birthdays this month. Only a 4 hour drive, fortunately D is a great traveler. I actually got SOMETHING for the birthday boys, not wrapped yet of course.

Tried the nasty long tones with easier reed last night - wow! I can totally do it for a minute at a time. MUCH better, although I suppose using the stiff reed is like adding little lip weights. Must bring oboe to practice. *sigh*

I actually practiced Carousel last night, there are a few scary bits. It goes so fast, but it will be really fun to play I think. Did not do a lot on the Mozart, guilt guilt guilt. But I have a life here (at least sort of!)