Lessons and Competitions

Well this week has been a week of "getting out there". I've submitted some scores to some competitions, and taken out some ads to get more flute students. I really do enjoy being able to write, teach, practice, and not feel rushed about anything. I can really take my time and enjoy being in the moment.

There's only two things that do stink about it all. You know me, I always have to complain about something. I am alone a good part of the day and that has taken alot to get use to. I use to share an office with someone everyday for the past 5 years, and people were always coming and going. I do miss seeing my friends everyday and now that our work schedules are flipped flopped since I work alot in the evenings its been hard scheduling to get together with them.

There's also that monetary guilt. Right now I am not making what I was while I was a web designer. Hourly I make more, weekly...well let's say I don't have the hours yet. Sometimes I feel bad that Brian is having to carry me some until I get the students I hope to get once school starts up and peopel get back from vacation. He's totally for it, especially since we hope he'll get to do what I am doing once he's done with his masters and feels confident he is ready to take the plunge. It'll be an adventure and I can't wait until both of us are living it together!

New Solo Piano Work, Nautica

Since I've had some free time I've never had before, I've been busily writing in the hopes to make up for my lack of music writing in the past. So I managed to squeeze out this four movement piano work over the past two weeks. Now I just have to get someone to perform or record it so I can get rid of this mediocre MIDI rendering:

http://www.nikkinotes.com/music/Nautica/Index.html

I am going to try and run this by some very talented pianists friends and see if they have time to work it up and put it on a concert, as well as try to submit it to some competitions. Wish me luck!

Wedding Music

Brian and I agreed as a wedding present to each other we would write our wedding music for each other. I wrote the processional (so I knew when to come in and to keep the wedding coordinator from jumping the gun and sending people out during the prelude music *sigh*).

So here it is (Along with other music in the ceremony)!

http://www.briannikki.com/Ceremony.html

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!