Welcome to Happy Land!

This summer has seen a lot of changes in my life. I got married, and its wonderful! I am sure I wouldn't have had the strength to make all of the other changes without his support and encouragement.

We bought a newer and bigger house. Both of us have our own studios and the dogs have a nice fenced in yard. A yard that they have pretty much destroyed, but as long as it keeps them from destroying the house I'm happy.

And if that wasn't enough change I quit my day job. I did it, I'm a full time musician. I spend my time doing some music engraving, teaching flute students, writing music for concert and multimedia. I've pretty much let web design go to the wayside. I just couldn't take the endless meetings, numerous bosses, and being trapped in an office where you were monitored all the time. Music is my deal, and I had to go for it.

Its been a little tough, but things are finally start to roll. By August things should be more comfortable with an influx of students at the music school. I've had quite a bit of free time to work out, cook, write music, practice, and it looks like I might actually get to have a hobby. No more working 9-6 and then coming home to do music. I do music full time and now have time to hang out with my husband.

However, his schedule winds up in August too. He'll start working 10 hour days then going to school on days he's not working. We're working for the day where both of us can be full-time musicians no matter how that may pan out and be parents. But, we'll enjoy this while we can. We're having the times of our lives!

Work and Radio

This past week had some pretty good news that may turn things around.

Because I didn't have enough on my plate, I'm starting work as a music engraver for Clear Note Publications. Fingers crossed that things will go well with this first score and I can do more of it and shake the day job!

On the composer front, my pieces "Mangosteen" and "Discombobulation" will be broadcast on WRSU in New Brunswick, NJ which can be heard locally at 88.7 FM and anywhere with an internet connection at www.wrsu.org. They have a new program that broadcasts new music by living composers. They will air on May 6 at 7pm. You can catch the full season schedule:http://epmusic.wordpress.com/explorations-schedule/

Now back to working, practicing, writing, finish setting up the new house, and healing from the beatings from my weekly personal training sessions.

Moving Right Along

I'm getting married. I'm moving. I'm teaching. I'm still working full time. I'm glad I have no concerts coming up.Its some hectic, happy, and exciting times, and I am ready to get on with it!
First big life change, getting married! June 13 is the big day, we're looking forward to it. We'll finally get both of our families together (outside of the parents) and our friends and have a big happy weddin. It will be good times, if I can get the invitations,veil, website, and music written, which will hopefully be done by April. Those 4 monsters are still looming...and they should be the most fun.

In the meantime, we've been keeping ourselves busy with the new to us house. Thanks, to Brian's dad who completely remodeled the upstairs bathrooms, and helped out with the electrical issues. Brian and I have been spending ALL of our free time painting, which should come to an end tonight. Then moving day on Saturday! Real pro movers this time. Its just too much to ask from friends. I rather have the pros do it and be done with it. No heavy lifting for me!

As in the job front, I'm teaching some students and its been great. I love it. My students seem to enjoy their lessons, even if they have to do scales :) I hope I get to do more of it. But it won't probably pick back up until August. And that's probably for the best.

I'm glad to be taking a break from concerts for a while, and focus on getting my life together. However, I am still practicing and taking lessons every once in a while just nothing public.
The next three months are going to be a little nutty, but will be some good times and I am sure some good stories.

Bring it on 2009!

Here's the 2008 Resolution Results:

1. Finish a composition! This did happen, and it was recorded. Whew! Finally I got something written, performed, and recorded in the same year.

2. Finish my website! Well, this bled into 2009, but its done. So I can stop being embarrassed about my cheesy website. This one is gonna be alot easier to update, and is certainly more representative of who I am. Maybe I should update this blog too?

3. Do new things! I didn't do too much out of the ordinary, but I did climb that rock wall and got addicted to Indian food.(Rose of India is the best!)

4. Take a risk! This is an ongoing process. I started teaching flute, and that's gonna help get me to the end result. I am auditioning, I am taking private lessons, and I am putting myself out there. Although I wouldn't call agreeing to marry Brian a risk, it certainly is exciting. He will be the unconditional, unstoppable, loving support that will help me pull through the tough times and celebrate during the good times. And I hope to be the same for him.

5. Don't forget others! This hasn't happened as much as I would like, I guess it never will, but I see it as I do my physical health. You can always be better. I made some tiny goals, but I'll keep at it.

Here's the 2009 Resolutions:

1. Be an awesome wife! This has to take priority. I got something good, I'm not gonna spoil it. We can really be there for each other, and he makes me happy. I hope his optimism rubs off on me.

2. Just do it already! I'm gonna cut the cord, launch my music career. I'm on the cusp, I've got a growing studio, all of my friends are confident I could do it, I have all the emotional support in the world, I just have to jump already. No one is going to push me.

3. Work on my faith! I've neglected this for a long time. Its important for many reasons. Maybe I feel more worthy enough to take this on than I have before. Its a tough challenge (hey I'm Catholic of course it is), and maybe that's why I've been avoiding it. Baby steps.

4. Get uber fit! I've been on a great health kick. I know the wedding puts a definate deadline on things. I've been working with an awesome trainer. My goal:decrease my body fat to well in the healthy range.

5. Help others! This is on my list again. It will never come off. I just need to find exactly how I should define this.

Coalescence and Accessible Contemporary Music

My string quartet, Coalescence, was recorded by an group in Chicago called Accessible Contemporary Music. ACM plays a piece of music every week by a living composer. I highly recommend subscribing to the weekly newsletter. You'll hear all sorts of fascinating music.

They put together a stellar performance for me here: http://www.acmusic.org/weeklystreaming.html

Coach and Be Coached

The more I teach the more I realize I need to be taught. So I've hired the help of ASO's very own principal flutist, Christina Smith, and boy what a change! She's corrected some things that I have feared were going quite south. And thanks to her help my tone has already improved over the last two lessons. I can only hope she can do the same for my articulation and technique. I'm pretty sure she can. Anywho, I am certain that she will get me in shape for the journey ahead.

As for getting in shape, I've also hired a personal trainer. And he is kicking my butt. Really? I am paying for this abuse? Well I'm sure I'll see a big pay off soon. I am sleeping a whole lot better at night.

As for coaching, Friday I got to live a little bit of the life I wish was everyday. I got to go to North Georgia College and State University for the North Georgia Guitar Summit and teach a composition masterclass as well as give a duoATL concert. What a blast! The students were good sports and it was just alot more fun than I ever anticipated. If only this is what it was like everyday. It certainly wet my appetite to keep on truckin!

Tiny Signs

I've started teaching flute. It's something I said I wouldn't do again, but I guess you should never say never. I've had many tiny signs thrown up at me saying its time to make some kind of leap into music land for a long time, but over the past couple of months the tiny signs have turned into big Las Vegas style neon lights that I can't ignore any longer. So I started teaching, and I have actually enjoyed all of it so far. I hope I can get more students and do this more often.

I've had a pretty cush job in web design, but after a long day of designing, coding, tackling problems that I rather not tackle, unfamiliar corporate rules, I just feel better after hanging out with a student teaching them all the cool things they can do on a flute and all the different music we get to play. Its really helped me find an enthusiasm for music again. I hope it continues. So my goals have changed...at least the time frame. Things are going to be sped up, they have to. I'm obviously more happy as a musician, that's my calling.