Seven Ways of Looking at Music

First post for my Sophomore year: a poem, written in the style of Wallace Stevens' 'Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird'.

Seven Ways of Looking at Music

I

Black on white is not animated, but

the sound that comes from black on white

can be breathtaking.

II

Music left unplayed

is a wasted opportunity

to live.

III

A, F, G, E, C...

They are

they can be

So much more than letters.

IV

Both are beautiful: the potential that is in a beginning

And the thrill of making a perfect finish;

An empty staff

And a Symphony.

V

First there is panic as we seem to suddenly forget

what we have spent months perfecting,

though the music is in front of us.

But when our fingers find familiar keys,

we remember.

VI

The silence just before we begin

the anticipation

Can be more thrilling than the music.

VII

When I look at the notes, I see more than music:
I see memories.

Free Post: Jack Johnson

I just wanted to put up this recording of the Jack Johnson song Sitting, Waiting, Wishing because a) it's a great song, b) I can identify with it, and c) I figured that any song I've listened to 40 times in the last day deserves to go up on my blog. So here it is. Enjoy.

Essential Question Response: Solo!

What will make me happy?

First of all-- I had to put this in here-- one thing in the recent past has made me very, very happy. My class has, at last, finished 'The Woman Warrior', and while there is still a final paper to be written, I nonetheless greatly enjoyed the feeling of slamming that [expletive deleted] book shut.

Now on to the real post.

At 4:30 on April 27th, a bit more than a week from now, I will be sitting in an auditorium, preparing for my first band performance of 2007. Normally this would be a happy-- maybe a bit stressful-- occasion, but fun. Nothing to worry too much about-- after all, if you know the music, what could go wrong? Sadly, if you are first chair and have a solo, the answer is 'everything.'

Don't get me wrong-- I absolutely love band, love playing French Horn, and was thrilled to find that my favorite song of the concert (Into the Raging River by Steven Reineke) contained two solos for me to play. But as the performance approaches, I am getting more than a bit nervous. While I can play the music, and normally don't get nervous attacks at concerts, solo is obviously very different. Playing forte while everyone else is playing piano (or not playing at all) is fine. But doing so in front of a large crowd of people-- some of whom are judges-- is not.

I am not a stranger to panic attacks--I've had them during auditions, before performances, when a Certain Someone is in the vicinity-- and they are not pleasant. All I can say is that sweaty hands and a high heart rate are not going to help my musicality.

But now to cut off the rant of stress and panic. I am doing my best to view these solos as an opportunity. I have a chance to perform and show my love of music to people outside of my school, a chance for me, and me alone, to convey that love of music to everyone listening. If I focus on that, instead of imagining bloodthirsty judges with pencils poised to record every mistake (too late!), I know that I'll be able to overcome the panic and play for the reason I am in band: because I love music. And music makes me very, very happy. And by thinking of that, by getting lost in the music instead of the stage-lights, I can play well. Which will also make me very happy.