The North Land

Høst 2011

2011-10-28T08:53:00.001-07:00

It´s nearly November of 2011 and I can hardly believe it. Where did the year go? What did I accomplish, who did I see and what did I do? There were many family visits! How lucky am I?! My Mom, Matt, Alycia, Diana, and even Grandma came out to see me! Amazing! I played with a professional military band, professional orchestras, continued my struggle to learn Norwegian, went to Rome with one of my best friends in the world, failed miserably at a job interview på Norsk, joined an improv band, gained a beautiful niece and lost a sweet aunt, had many walks and talks with Corinne (thank the lord for her) and turned 26.

I have decided that I am quitting my pursuit of playing the bassoon professionally and I have new goals underway. I have told some people but I have decided it´s best to keep them off my public blog. According to a TED talk I saw, you are more likely to succeed at your goals if you keep them to yourself. The act of sharing your goals tricks your brain into thinking that you have essentially accomplished them and therefore you are more likely not to put in the hard work. Or so they say...

When I finish in the summer of 2012 I will have been in Norway for three years and three , I think , will be enough. See you all at Christmas. I think I am coming home after all.

Recently...

2011-08-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Moved to a new apartment with SIX roommates. Really like it and they all seem like kind people. Feels good to be out of my mold infested, dank basement, that is owned by one of the stranger old men I have met in my entire life.

Grandma is arriving to Bergen this Friday! Amazing! Watch out Ole Bull! We´re coming to see you :)

Emily Church has invaded Europe! We´re meeting up in Rome and it´s gonna be great. I´ll be the Gregory Peck to her Audrey Hepburn, but hopefully without all the lying and royal scandals...can´t wait to eat some real italian cusine and drink affordable wine surrounded by all that history.

Jeg trenger en jobb! hopefully someone takes pity on this Amerikaner soon!

Last semester in Bergen, so I better make this one count!

Bye Maria!

2011-07-01T02:57:00.000-07:00

My friend Maria is moving to South Africa to teach music and conduct brass bands. I´m going to really miss her! She really helped me practice my norwegian and was a good friend. I hope she does well in her new job in a new place!

Part II

2011-06-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

Mom, Diana and Diana's close friend Mary Ellen also made an appearance in Bergen. We ate lots of good food and saw many sights including Preikestolen or in english "Pulpit Rock", a very high cliff in Stavanger that I have been meaning to see for a long time. The day we went was absolutely perfect weather for hiking and you could see for miles down the fjords. It was amazing!

The Goins/Beck Family Saga

2011-06-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month with family visits this June! Four of my family members were able to make it all the way out to Bergen to hang out which is really great! Matt and Alycia arrived first. We went to see the Knitting Factory Museum, the Bergen Art Museum of Industry, the Bryggen Museum, where I was informed by the highest of tech film strips about the Hanseatic (german) trading history of Bergen, and of course we went up to the top of Fløyen. The weather was great for the most part and it was nice to just relax and enjoy the scenery.
Here are some pictures from their visit:

Recording!

2011-03-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a live recording of me playing a sonata for bassoon and piano by Alvin Etler. I performed it this past Thursday at a recital with all the bassoonists at the Grieg Academy.
Hope you enjoy it!
http://ia600603.us.archive.org/35/items/SonataforBassoonandPiano/AlvinEtlerBassoonSonata.wav

Elise and Hayley Visit the Northland

2011-02-21T01:24:00.000-08:00

I was lucky to have two of my friends from Minnesota come visit me in Bergen! They are both living in London and decided to fly north for the weekend and see what Norway was like. We were really fortunate to have really nice weather. The sun was shining the whole weekend. We hiked up Fløyen and took a beautiful train and boat tour of the fjords. Here are some pictures!

Recital

2010-12-22T05:37:00.000-08:00

Nordnes

2010-11-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here I am waiting to speak to the immigration office, one of the really fun parts of being a foreigner. The line is a mile long as always, so I took a number and walked over to one of my favorite cafes in Bergen, Vaagen Fetevaren (pronounced Vogen Fetavaren). It’s extremely colorful, filled with art and books. Extremely cozy as well, or as the Norwegians would say, “koselig”. Coziness is a high priority in Norway. They do about just everything they can to make the inside of their homes and restaurants as comfortable and beautiful as possible since they know they will be spending a majority of their time inside.
I recently moved out of the student hostel to a part of town called Nordnes. It’s a peninsula just ten or fifteen minute walk outside of the city center. The house is very old and the flat is quite chilly. There is no central heat ( which is pretty common here) but we have some good space heaters and have decorated so it is quite nice. I moved in with another student from the academy who is new this year. His name is Matan and he comes from Israel. He comes from Russian and Austrian heritage but was born in the US and then moved to Israel as a child. I love the way he speaks English. It is probably difficult to do it justice through writing. I love that he uses phrases that no native speaker would ever use but I still know exactly what he means. When he is walking in the cold he says his red nose is angry, or when he wants to put something up on a shelf has asks me to “put it upstairs”. I think speaking English all the time is exhausting for him and I feel lucky as a citizen of a globalized world that it is my native language. After having conversations daily with people who have to speak a second language on a regular basis I have learned to relax a bit about grammar and correct pronunciation. I used to be so picky about using certain words in the right way but really one has to remember that language is just a tool to communicate ideas and feelings and when that is accomplished you have to be satisfied. Saying that, it still amazes me how well the majority of Norwegians speak English. They are able to communicate such complex ideas and emotions in English that I would never be able to in Norwegian.

It is a relief to have moved. Walking everywhere I need to go and not worrying about catching a train is really a pleasure. I feel much more at home here and I am actually really glad that I came back. I feel a little silly saying that after I felt so strongly that I should leave here and never come back but I am feeling the happiest I have in a long time, darkness, cold and all.
That said I am still feeling a bit unsure of what it is I am going to do next year. I have been giving it a lot of thought but haven’t reached any solid conclusions. I try to reassure myself that it is ok for now. Matan says that the most interesting people usually have no idea what to do with their lives…let’s hope he is right.

This weekend I am off to London! :) I am really excited to go. I am flying out early Friday morning and staying until Monday morning. I am going with Corinne and another friend Maria Skranes. Maria is a really cool woman who is in a band called the Machine Birds. They are doing really well and have been on the radio here and are currently in a contest for the band of the year. If they win they will get a record deal so I hope it goes well. I am also really excited to be reunited with Hayley and Elise!! Two of my favorite women in the world. And I also want to say that a certain brunette, New York City, up and coming writer will be sorely missed ;)

As some of you may know I decided not to come home for Christmas. A decision that I feel ok about but am now realizing that I am going to miss everyone a lot over the holidays. I want Mom and Dad, Grandma, Albert, Jen, Matthew, Alycia and all my friends to know that I think of all of you often and that I miss you a lot.
Here are some pictures from the apartment and that I have just taken over the fall. Enjoy!

We are not amused...

2010-11-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

ok...maybe we are...

Winter Wonderland

2010-10-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned that weather is strange here?
I don't think I have ever seen snow this early...

Løvstakken

2010-09-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got up early and hiked Løvstakken with two friends. It was the most gorgeous day and I think I actually got a tan!!! Here are some pictures

Baking Weather

2010-09-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

It's always baking weather in Bergen...and so we did :)

New Bike!

2010-09-08T15:06:00.001-07:00

I got a good deal...what a steal!!
p.s.
I start taking Norwegian class next week
Snakke du norske? Ja!

Here I Go Again...

2010-09-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hello!
Here I am back in the North Land that is Bergen, Norway. So far things are going well as I have been settling back in. I've started two chamber music groups, a bassoon quartet and a woodwind quintet. I am also getting ready to give a recital at the end of September to make up the one that got canceled in the Spring. I'm also hoping to take a Norwegian course that is being offered through a church. Still waiting to hear back from them.
There are three new Americans at the Academy this year and they are all very nice. Two are flute players and one a bassoonist. I am hoping to find a new apartment with one of the flute players but we will see how it goes. Currently there aren't a lot apartments available but they should be opening up soon as the semester goes on. Also on the search for a reasonably priced bike and I may have found one. Checking it out tomorrow morning. I think that may be it as far as the basics of what I am up to with school and whatnot.
Tomorrow I hope to finally emerge from quarantine, as I have been very sick for the past four days. What a drag! I have literally been in bed for four days! And of course the weather has been gorgeous the whole time. But hopefully it will be nice tomorrow too.
As far as more fun things go I have a long reading list for pleasure and for my thesis research that I will post here. Also hoping to go on a fjord cruise and lots of hikes.

I think that is all for now. But I will write more soon.

Reading List
Feminine Endings: Music, Gender and Sexuality by Susan McClary
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
Death and Life of Great Cities by Jane Jacobs
The Economy of Cities by Jane Jacobs
Killing Rage: Ending Racism by bell hooks
The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel

Grandma's 90th Birthday!

2010-06-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

4 more days!

2010-05-31T05:48:00.001-07:00

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "Home" from Edward Sharpe on Vimeo.

Oslo

2010-05-28T03:15:00.001-07:00

Lysoen (Ole Bull's Summer Home)

2010-05-20T00:42:00.000-07:00

I made it to Lysoen!What a strange house Ole Bull built for himself. It includes a Russian onion style dome, extremely intricate wood carvings on the ceilings, stars of David and Solomon, and altered Norwegian flags. Ole Bull was a strange person though. He was such a superstar that his maid would save his washing water, put it in viles and sell them to women! He went to Pennsylvania and tried to start his own state called Oleana. There was no arable land on this property because he chose land that reminded him of mountainous western Norway, which also has almost no arable land, so the state failed. He also nurtured the careers of Grieg and Ibsen and made several investments in starting Norwegian speaking theater companies. But most famously he was known as a violinist. He made his solo debut with the Bergen Philharmonic at the age of 8. He had four violins and also attempted (and failed) to invent some new pianos. The island the house is built on is absolutely gorgeous! There are lots of trails to walk around on and the sea is so clean and clear. Good trip.

Professorial

2010-05-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I gave my lecture exam on classical music in the context of the modern day art community and what it needs to do in order to make itself relevant. I think it went well. My advisor and professor said I made good and original points and that my presentation was really clear.So glad it's over! Today I am going to Lysoen which is Ole Bull's summer home. I will put pictures up soon.

3 more weeks...

2010-05-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

Things I am doing before I go...
Ole Bull's House: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3759150293_73e63170c8.jpg
Seeing this Concert: http://www.rockefeller.no/sc250510.html
Going to this museum: http://www.nobelpeacecenter.org/default.aspx
4 mountain hike! http://www.bergen-turlag.no/index.php?fo_id=3924
Volunteering at this festival: http://www.nattjazz.no/?Lang=Eng

Library, Practice, Rinse, Repeat

2010-05-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

To Do:
1. Give lecture on the 18th
2. Go to Oslo May 23rd
3. Pack, Pack, Pack
4. Recital June 3rd
5. Fly home June 4th!

A Good Thing to Remember...

2010-05-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Take Back the Night

2010-04-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the annual "Take Back the Night" march and rally in Duluth, MN. Em has been planning it all year and I should mention it because it is such a positive event that more people should know about.
Take Back the Night marches have been going on for 30 years throughout the US, Europe and Canada. It is a chance for the community to speak out against violence and sexual assault which is a topic most people prefer to shut their eyes to. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) so it is no better time than the present to educate yourself about sexual assault and how you can prevent it. I know that I have learned so much this year just from hearing stories of what Em and her co workers at PAVSA (Program to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault)have witnessed people going through. It is truly shocking how often the victim is blamed for what they wore, or how they acted. I really admire the work PAVSA and other organizations like it are doing to help victims of these crimes and to prevent them from happening in the future.
Definitely check out if and when there is Take Back the Night march in your community!

Bassoon Madness: The Nordic Bassoon Symposium

2010-04-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

Headin' South

2010-04-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello!
I just arrived to Stavanger, Norway! I was lucky to land a gig playing with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra which is one of the major orchestras in Norway. We will be playing Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony and Bruckner's 9th which is also unfinished. I think they have a theme for the week ;)
Quick funny story:
I heard about this gig though Corinne who has played here before (She was nice enough to recommend me) A couple days later she got an email from a friend of hers who also plays with this group regularly. He was writing to inquire about a student of Per Hannevold who is subbing with Stavanger. Apparently "he" played a good Beethoven 9 with the Bergen Philharmonic and comes highly recommended. "Who is this guy?" hehehehe
Hopefully I don't disappoint with my playing or my gender...

I am excited to be here! The weather is nicer here, I get to stay in a really nice hotel for free and see the city in my off time which is plentiful. Not bad...

Here is a bit of the Bruckner 9 Symphony. Not a very commonly performed piece but it has some nice moments...

SUN!

2010-04-15T14:52:00.001-07:00

This week has been the first with perfect blue skies and warm weather(or it was til the volcano erupted). I am pretty sure Norway is the only place where you will see people standing in the street with their eyes closed, soaking in the sun like they haven't felt it in years. It's great though. Everyone is outside barbecuing and eating ice cream. Makes you feel glad to be alive!

VOLCANO!

2010-04-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/world/europe/16ash.html?hp
Most of you have probably seen this already since it has been front page news but I thought I would post it for posterity's sake.
Where's Tommy Lee Jones when you need him?

2010-04-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

About a week ago some friends and I hiked up Ulriken which is the highest mountain in Bergen. It was hard work and frankly a bit dangerous. The mountain was still covered with snow so the way down was slippery. Luckily there were guard rails installed that we gladly clung to as we climbed back down to earth. At the top it was so foggy that it felt like you were in a cloud but then briefly the clouds parted just long enough for us to see the entire city from above.

2010-04-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

Went to an Easter gathering at my friend Rebecca's house with other international students. We ate a lot of delicious food, too many desserts, dyed Easter eggs, played cards and charades. It was extremely wholesome. Easter is a very serious holiday in Norway. Almost everyone leaves the city to visit family or go to their cabins in the country which means the city is basically closed for four days. It was nice to spend time with other people who are far from home during the holiday.

2010-04-01T03:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=637218

Palm Sunday

2010-03-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

Playing a concert this weekend

First Day of Spring

2010-03-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the day I set out an adventure to see the Norwegian Knitting Industry Museum. There is probably nobody else weird enough to want to see it with me so I went on my own. Em and I planned to see it while she was here but we ran out of time. The museum is 17 km outside of the city center in a place called Salhus. Unfortunately because it was a Sunday it turned out one of the buses I needed to get out there was not running.

I began walking the rest of the way but when the sidewalk just ended, it looked too dangerous to walk on the side of the road and I admitted defeat. I will have to save it for another day.
Here are some photos I took while I walked.

2010-03-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Joanna Newsom is coming to Oslo May 25th! So excited!!!!

2010-03-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

1. I am reading "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. After em told me that "Atlas Shrugged" is considered to be the second most important book in the Library of Congress, I thought I should see what all the fuss is about. Even if I am not a promoter of laissez faire capitalism, far from it, like Ms. Rand, it is interesting to see things from another perspective. Plus, frankly, the story and the writing really suck you in and thank god because it's over 700 hundred pages long!
2. There is an American flute player here this week. Rebecca and I showed her around Bryggen a bit on Sunday and I told her about the school. She seems really nice and shares my new love for knitting. She also makes piccolos which I think is so cool!
3. I really lucked out because two of my friends happened to be giving away some really nice clothes and household items that they didn't want anymore. I scored 6 nice pairs of pants, some rain pants, a toaster and some really nice shirts! So exciting. It's probably close to 700 to 1000 dollars worth of clothes! I am definitely going to have to get rid of some of my own old clothes to make room for it all!
4. go Alycia and Matt! http://wiki.brokenja.ws/node/4 Wish I could be there to hear all the great insights you will share.

5. I wanna see this

2010-03-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0612sp1.htm

one more...

2010-03-09T10:23:00.001-08:00

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100322/hari

Please watch this!

2010-03-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/9/the_real_climategate_conservation_groups_align

Sierra Club: Take Action to Protect Our Clean Water from Mine Waste Dumping!

2010-03-09T01:23:00.000-08:00

Sierra Club: Take Action to Protect Our Clean Water from Mine Waste Dumping!

Love this Woman! (Thanks Emily)

2010-03-08T02:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ5En6j85wQ&feature=channel
Check out her website: http://skepchick.org/blog/

As a person who had two grandparents who contracted polio, and is extremely glad it is a disease that has been eradicated, I am all for vaccines! Let's listen to doctors and scientists when it comes to our health and not Jenny McCarthy!

Girls Gone Wild: BERGEN?

2010-03-08T02:00:00.001-08:00

Hello!
As you can see below I have posted several pictures, however, due to my limited blogging skills I was having some trouble putting captions underneath to indicate what exactly is going on which is sometimes not so clear. I may go back and try to figure out the formatting, but for now I will just say that Em came to visit me and we did a lot! We went to several museums including the science museum which is where the silliest pictures were taken(i.e ball floating in my hand, and me jumping a rope courtesy of a very cute robot), saw Danish bohemians perform with puppets, hung out with penguins,went up a mountain on a small train, posed with large gnomes, and ate a lot of bread and cheese. Many games of scrabble were played and on my side mostly lost. It was a good time.

The museums were pretty rad. Saw some modern art, old viking ships, learned about Antarctica expeditions, Darwin´s five year excursion to the Galapagos Islands and beyond(apparently he left from a Norwegian port and one of the turtle specimens taken c.1830 just died in 2006!) and Norway´s vast fishing and shipping industry. I have to give Em credit in that she did an excellent job finding fun things to do.

The current exhibit at the modern art museum was interesting. It was entirely Norwegian artists from the 1980s. A lot of video performance art, and large textural paintings but there were many mediums used. I for one do not have much knowledge about art but this is one of the better exhibits I have seen here in terms of variety and experimentation.

Overall it was a really great week.

2010-03-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

2010-02-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/15/vancouver_community_activist_am_johal_condemns

Project?

2010-02-13T03:27:00.000-08:00

Thinking about doing this...

Open Call for Submissions: OTHER TONGUES: Mixed-Race Women Speak Out

Co-editors Adebe D.A. and Andrea Thompson are seeking submissions for an anthology of writing by and about mixed-race women of Black/white heritage, intended for publication in Fall 2010.

The purpose of this anthology is to explore the question of how Black/white mixed-race women in North America identify in the 21st Century. The anthology will also serve as a place to learn about the social experiences, attitudes, and feelings of others, and what racial identity has come to mean today. We are inviting previously unpublished submissions that engage, document, and/or explore the experiences of being mixed-race, by placing interraciality as the center, rather than periphery, of analysis.

Please send one (1) submission of up to 2500 words of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or spoken word as a SINGLE attachment to othertonguesanthology@gmail.com
Black and white images and artwork should be 300 dpi and sent as attachments in jpg. of tiff. format. Artwork and photography limited to three (3) per applicant.

Please include your contact information, including your name, address, phone number, e-mail, title(s) of work submitted, type of submission, and a short artist bio (50 words max) in the body of the email, with your name and the type of submission in the subject line (e.g. “Jazmine – Poetry Submission”). All submissions are due April 15, 2010. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

If you prefer that your contribution remain anonymous, please include this preference at the top of your submission. All personal information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact the Editors, Adebe DeRango-Adem and Andrea Thompson, at othertonguesanthology@gmail.com

For more information: http://www.adebe.wordpress.com, http://www.andreathompson.ca or visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=276479812662

We look forward to reviewing your submission!

Private Lives

2010-02-13T02:24:00.000-08:00

I decided to make my blog private after realizing that there were certain people following my activity on Google that made me a little wary of having a public blog about my life. I never put anything too personal on it but I am cautious. Hope it isn't too much trouble to see it for those of you who have been invited.

Nordfjordeid

2010-02-11T13:12:00.000-08:00

Here I am in a small town called Nordfjoreid (pronounced: nor-fyor-ide) It's best to sing when you say the name.
The population is 5000 people and it takes about 5 hours of driving and two ferries to get here from Bergen. I hear it has a nice art gallery and jewelry store so I am hoping to check those out tomorrow.

A funny thing about this town is that last year they opened a huge opera house, which is strange considering the small population. It's cool though because people are bussed in from other small towns near by to see the performances. There are apparently some very passionate opera lovers here that requested funding from the state to build the Operahuset. From what I can see it seems to be a very good thing for the community. The high school students participate in the chorus and creating of sets and costumes and it brings new people to the area. If people don't recognize you they ask if you are with the opera and are very excited when you say yes :)

I am playing with a group called Opera NordFjord and we are performing Verdi's Requiem all this weekend. It calls for orchestra, choir and four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). When the conductor introduced the soloists, he informed us that the tenor was named Iceland's "Sexiest Man of the Year". You can tell he knows it too. It's a real honor to be in the presence of such a celebrity :)

My favorite thing that has happened so far is on the first day of rehearsal, when it was just orchestra rehearsing alone, the conductor sang every single aria along with us, full out and in the right range. It's hard to describe what it was like...something between a castrato (a man who was castrated in order to preserve his soprano singing voice before he went through puberty)* and Dame Edna if that's any clue.
In case you aren't familiar with Dame Edna here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV6Q4Q9u1pU

*This was a practice that discontinued in the 19th century

Sending out an SOS

2010-02-03T01:32:00.000-08:00

I am attempting to plan a benefit concert to raise money for the disaster in Haiti. Haiti probably could use more doctors and hospitals but doctors and hospitals I do not have. What I do have is access to a bunch of super comfortable middle class people who have all of their basic needs to taken care of by the government.
I am trying to get people together on a committee so we can get the ball rolling. I have written the head master of the school to see if he has any advice as well.
Does anyone reading this have any advice?

All in a Day's Work

2010-01-28T03:35:00.000-08:00

my life in bullet points

2010-01-28T03:27:00.000-08:00

-Feeling better about the whole thing
-Learned how to knit
-Got some nice post cards from Diana and Grandma. Thanks you guys!
-Reading an excellent book about the way we farm animals in the world by Jonathan Safran Foer called "Eating Animals" that I think any truly concerned citizen of the world should read before they buy another piece of meat. (This coming from a person who was back to eating meat) Eating cheap chicken three times a day affects more aspects of our lives than you think (environment, world health of humans, industry) I encourage all to read it! Seriously!
-Found a really nice cozy coffee shop to go to when I need to get away from school
-Having my make up recital on Feb. 9th at 14:30

2010-01-23T04:02:00.000-08:00

-I played a concert of wind serenades last night at school
-Bergen currently has the most polluted air in all of Europe due to a lack of wind and the fact that the city is in a valley surrounded by seven mountains.
-My friend Eric is getting married in Alabama today.
-My Mom is done working for Snyder's after more than 15 years!

Procrastination Station

2009-12-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

Why do I always leave things to the last minute? I guess I wouldn't be a member of the Goins Family if I didn't. It's sort of our thing.
Must dos before I head out:
1. Finish up the final touches on my paper
2. Pay my rent
3. Clean out my fridge
4. PACK!
5. Play the final Beethoven 9 concert
6. Support a fellow bassoonist by attending her final masters exam
and other little odds and ends....
I leave for the states bright and early Sunday morning. My flight is at 7:25am and I arrive to the US at 5:40pm (12:40am in Norway)
I went Christmas shopping today at a store called Julehuset which means Christmas House. It is entirely devoted to Christmas and open all year long. Christmas is sort of big here. They have what's called a Julebord which is a big Christmas dinner where they eat sheep ribs, marzipan pigs and drink this really strange drink with raisins and almonds in it called Glugg. There will be no "glugging" for this American! It's a fun tradition though and everyone gets dressed up. The school had a Julebord and an all night dance party that went until 7am. I left early though because Norwegians are not as into dancing as I had hoped.They love to drink and bob their heads. It was still fun though. I might go to a dance party here at Fantoft on Friday that some students from Ghana are putting on. It sounds like it will be a good time. We'll see.

See everyone soon!

2009-12-09T09:05:00.001-08:00

9 & 10 December at 19.30
Jesùs Lopez-Cobos, conductor
Victoria Nava, soprano
Kristina Hammarström, mezzosoprano
Robert Murray, tenor
Matthew Rose, bass
Bergen Philharmonic Choir
The Grieg Academy Choir
Håkon Matti Skrede, Choir Master

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Maestro López Cobos makes a welcome return visit to direct the ever-inspiring 9th Symphony of Beethoven. No effort will be spared by the orchestra and chorus in transforming ths concert into an unforgettable event. The all-star soloist roster is headed by Bergen´s exceptional soprano, Victoria Nava.

2009-12-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

I had the richest, thickest cup of hot chocolate I have ever had in my life. After hiking up the mountain with some friends I thought I would treat myself. Out poured a sauce like liquid that was so thick it slowly dripped off my spoon. I think they literally melted chocolate bars, added cream, served. AWESOME!

It's True

2009-12-03T09:03:00.001-08:00

On the Mend

2009-12-03T08:29:00.001-08:00

My arm is feeling better!
Thanks to everyone who sent emails of support. I was not expecting so many! And also thanks to my sis in law for some over the phone medical advice! I bet she loves doing that. But I appreciate it a lot!
A little ibuprofen and rest goes a long way.

In other good news I am planning to play Beethoven 9 next week as Per's assistant or "bumper" as they call it here. So basically I am playing during all the loud tutti sections (tutti means everyone in Italian, so where the whole orchestra is playing). Very exciting! I am playing about half the piece! I am nervous! He is the Principle player so when he's not playing I have to sound like him; loud and amazing! But no pressure...Luckily I have some good reeds.I am excited though. We are performing the piece three times next week. It really is one of the most famous pieces ever so I feel so excited to have the opportunity to play it with a high caliber pro orchestra. Gotta get back in shape in the next few days so I am ready to rehearse on Monday! It will be an excellent way to finish up my first semester here.

I am really excited to go home and see everyone! I definitely have a new appreciation for home, friends and family...not to get too mooshy.

I also wanted to say I was lucky enough to celebrate Thanksgiving twice!
Some friends and I rented a car and drove it out to the Hardanger fjord to stay in a cabin for the weekend. There was so much natural beauty! Everyone definitely needs to come visit!
Here are some photos:

Incensed and Inflamed!

2009-11-23T12:03:00.000-08:00

My wrist and hand and whole arm hurt. I can't play. It actually hurts to type this so I will keep it short. My recital was supposed to be this Friday. I was feeling good about it and looking forward to performing. CANCELED!!!!!
What a disappointment. I want to finish the semester asap. If it turns out that Per would rather me rest my hand than play with the Philharmonic on Dec. 9th I am definitely going to look into changing my flight to an earlier date. No use in literally sitting in the dark here by myself if I am not going to be playing.
We'll see what happens.
Not sure what is causing this pain. Seems to be tendinitis. I am wearing a brace and taking ibuprofen to help with the inflammation but I might just have to do this one Christian Scientist style and hope for the best.
UGH!

3 1/2 weeks...

2009-11-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

I miss fall in MN! I was so excited to get away from Minneapolis after living there for six years...but now I miss it more than ever. What a cliche. I miss the colors and pumpkins and the seeing the first snow fall.

Norway has not been perfect but I have learned a lot about being a better bassoon player. That was the point right?

Does anyone have any requests from the land of the vikings? Chocolate? Maybe a oversized sweatshirt with NORWAY written across the front? I could make it happen...

Pushing Up the Hill

2009-10-22T07:39:00.001-07:00

HELLO!
It´s been awhile and I thought I should make sure that I don´t lose my momentum in the blogging business.

What have I been up to these days???
For one thing the weather has been amazingly beautiful here. I know I talk about the weather in every blog but it really has a profound effect on how the city looks. Plus it was raining so much for weeks straight it is wonderful that it has been sunny and dry for almost two weeks straight! I have been trying to take advantage of it by walking around and getting my daily dose of vitamin D. The colors are amazing and remind me of autumn in MN.
Em´s visit was really nice. We went hiking through the mountains and saw the sights. it was really good to have her here. She got sick unfortunately but we still had fun.
On the bassoon front, I am making progress. Right now I am working on pushing more air through my instrument at all times along with articulation, vibrato, and just generally being more expressive. MORE MORE MORE!!! It´s hard work but Per is a really good teacher and encouraging. honest but encouraging. He tells me not to worry about making a fool of myself but to be crazy and put more of myself into the music. Also he says I have twice the sound I had a few weeks ago so I am heading in the right direction!
Tonight I am heading out to see the Philharmonic play Brahms 4th Symphony and the Barber Violin Concerto. Should be a good concert. I am so fortunate that I know people in the orchestra so I can go for free! Thanks Corinne!
This weekend will be busy. I have my first gig in Norway! I am playing a Mendelssohn Oratorio at a church. We have rehearsal Friday night, Saturday morning and then we perform Saturday and Sunday night. I´m excited. I hope it goes well and is a good experience.
Only about two months of the semester left. I feel like I have a lot to accomplish. A lot of research and practicing!!!
I also wanted to say thanks to my Dad for the pep talk he gave me the other day. It meant a lot. It really is a special time in your life to be a student!

2009-10-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

"Don't give up on anything even though you may be having some difficulties. Life is never easy!!"

Truer words have never been spoken. These past few weeks have been hard. My left arm has been bothering me making it difficult to practice and work on reeds. Today it is feeling better so I hope I am on the mend. I am hoping that stretching and taking lots of breaks while I practice will solve the problem. I had a really good lesson today which lifted my spirits. I really thrive off of learning and from someone else believing I can do better. I wish I could do that for myself more.
Despite that, I sometimes have my doubts about whether or not I will be able to become a great musician. I wish I could be one of those impervious people who doesn't allow anything to get under their skin. Utterly confident in what they do and how they do it and that they will succeed. That is not me to be sure. It is going to take great courage, dedication and self discipline to become the kind of bassoonist I want to be from the one I am now. And the scary thing is even if I do get there who knows if it will be what I expected or wanted? This is true of anything whether I was planning to be a lawyer or a hair dresser but it is scary neverthelss. I am at that age, nearly 24, where one is still trying to find their way but if you don't figure it out soon all the sudden you will be 30 without much to show for it.

On a completely different topic, Norway was ranked the best place to live in the world by the UN. It has been for the past several years. What's so bad about socialized health care again?

I do miss the US. It is hard to read about how bleak the job crisis has become. I hope with all my heart that it does not affect my own family and friends more than it already has.

To end on a happier note I am very excited that three of my best friends from college will be home for Christmas! It has been two years since we have all been together and this reunion is a long time coming! We have all been in all different parts of the world and I am so excited to hear about what is happening in their lives. They are three of the most wonderful women I have ever met and I am proud to be their friend.
Also the week has come! Em is visiting this week and we are going to have a great time! It will be so nice to see her and to show her the city and what my life looks like here. She is bringing me my computer so I will be able to put pictures up very soon! YAY!

That's all for now. More soon! Love to all my fans! :)

2009-09-29T04:38:00.001-07:00

My finger seems to be slightly injured from incorrect or tense practice. Hopefully it´s nothing serious but I will take some time to let it heal.

Bergen has the rawest cold I have ever felt. MN is a tropical paradise in comparison.

Tentative date for my recital: Nov. 27th

Sometimes it knocks you down...but just get back up

2009-09-20T12:55:00.001-07:00

Some random thoughts:

I am feeling very far away from the people I love most in the world tonight.

This week was a stressful one. I had rehearsal every day this past week for an average of three hours per rehearsal. One concert on Saturday and one today. Whew! I feel wiped out.
This week should be a little easier but still pretty busy.
It´s good though. I am feeling confident about my playing and feel like it should only get better as I continue to get used to these new reeds. I like them. They have a lot of kick! They are just a bit hard to control. But enough about that!

I resolve not to let myself get sucked into the backstabbing gossip that is the back drop of any music school. It already happened a little bit and I feel really awful about it. It´s not my jam and I don´t want anything to do with it.

I am very excited to soon see a very missed face...17 days!

I´m one lucky son of a gun

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

2009-09-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

It is gorgeous day today in Bergen. After many days of overcast and constant rain it is refreshing. I feel like I am in a scene from "The Sound of Music" sometimes.

Today I plan to walk to Bryggen which is a part of Bergen that was built in the 900s. It is a part of town that is mostly wooden structures that are near the waterfront. A tourist hot spot!
Here is where you can see a picture:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Houses_in_Bryggen_(Norway).jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Houses_in_Bryggen_(Norway).jpg&h=2896&w=1944&sz=1214&tbnid=DX5EWqA_Cerh8M:&tbnh=150&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbryggen%2Bnorway%2Bpictures&usg=__eNvlgUkJfVkcvSQjPPaZibvAV0A=&ei=w9qsSqSRHIuQsAbrmu3LBw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image

It really is amazing how old the city is. It is one of the oldest cities in Norway dating back to 1070! WOW. That is especially impressive to hear coming from such a young country. Reminds one what a blip humans are on the radar of time.

Speaking of which, I have been here for a month now! Feels like it´s gone by slow and quickly at the same time. A strange sensation to be sure. This week I will be rehearsing with the Professional Military Band for a performance of " Pictures of an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky. It is a piece originally intended for orchestra but has been arranged for wind band. It should be a cool experience to play with a professional group. I also have to pick an article to study and give a presentation about on October 2nd. I hope to find something this week so I can start formulating ideas. It can be difficult at times to keep focus because there is so much freedom here. And by that I mean I have a lot to do but without the strict schedule I have had in the past. But it is definitely a good thing for me. I am being treated like an adult and it feels good to be given the opportunity to show that I am mature enough to produce good work without someone breathing down my neck. I feel fortunate that both my professor and advisor are so supportive and open but also very intelligent and resourceful. Both of the lectures that I have had have been really interesting. They are 4 hours long but go by very quickly! An experience I have never had before.

Goals for the upcoming weeks:

To get a Norwegian bank account
Pick a date for my semester recital
get through "Ornamentation According to C.P.E Bach and J.J. Quantz"
Play well for the upcoming concert with the Military Band
get my free cup of coffee from 7-Eleven!
Start work on applications for grants for next year
Find out if there is a good place to volunteer once a week
Finish "The Heart is A Lonely Hunter"

more funny things bout Norway:

Hotdogs wrapped in bacon
girls don´t wear pants (shirts and tights and tall boots)

Musicophilia

2009-09-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

Listening to:

Vivaldi Bassoon Concertos performed by Tomas Benkocs (there are 37! the most contributed by one composer. Thanks V-meister!)

Wind Quintets by David Maslanka (hauntingly beautiful and so difficult to play. they make my heart swell and tummy flip flop. Even if you are not one to whip out a woodwind quintet recording to kick back and relax you will love this music. i think...)

Joanna Newsom (forever and always. One of the most beautiful song writers of this generation hands down)

Beethoven 3 Eroica

Pictures at an Exhibition

Tonight the Bergen Philharmonic is performing the Firebird Ballet by Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no.2, and a melody by Tchaikovsky arranged by Stranvinksy. Such an amazing program!!!

I have been reading Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks who also wrote Awakenings. It´s got some interesting things to say about how music affects our brains in so many different ways. Apparently a neurologist can look at an MRI of a professional musician´s brain and see visible differences. This is not the case with any other type of artist. Weird right?

Top Ten

2009-09-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

1. Everyone in Norway is in a couple and most likely lives with their boyfriend or girlfriend because of the tax breaks. Even if they are only 20 years old. seriously
2. I have never seen more pregnant women in one place at a time. And there are babies everywhere!
3. Norwegian locks are completely counterintuitive and they spin and spin with no sign of stopping or of the door unlocking
4. Norwegian bureaucracy is a drag. I will leave it at that.
5. I think that my big money making venture will be to bring mexican cuisine to Norway. Cha Ching!
6. All norwegian women are beautiful. it´s kind of freakish.
7. I might get to go to Japan to play with an orchestra for two weeks in the Spring!!!
8.I learned to gouge and profile cane today.
9. Did I mention I might get to go to Japan?
10. Food here is mediocre at all times...

A Sea Chanty of Sorts

2009-08-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first trip to the Dragen band Cabin. That´s right folks, the band I play in has it´s own rustic, circa 1928, cabin. No running water, a wood stove, and last but not least an outhouse. But of course it is still right on the ocean and is surrounded by beautiful green space as far as the eye can see! Also I can use the cabin if I should so choose. So if anyone feels like visiting on the cheap you´ve got a place to stay!

We all had a party there last night after a long weekend of rehearsing. Free food too. Unfortunately, for me, it was all meat and bread. So I had the choice to eat some yummy chicken or bread slathered in mayo. I chose the former. Big surprise. And I´m not going to lie it tasted pretty good. I´m still planning to be a vegetarian when I have control over it though!

After the food there were many Norwegian songs sung, and some American
80´s hits played loudly such as "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle. A personal favorite of mine. It was funny to watch the Norwegians try to sing the verses, fail miserably and then promptly chime into the chorus. Another fun activity of the night was when we were split into teams and given the task to write new lyrics to an Abba or Beatles tune of our choice, but the lyrics had to have something to do with band. Pretty geeky but it was fun to hear what people came up with. The only downside to the night was paying for the taxi to get out there and back. On the way out it was about 9 dollars and then the way back it was almost 20. And we were splitting the fare among 7-10 people! Crazy!!

I had my first class on Friday! The head of the Masters Program is our lecturer and he seems really really nice! Very open and warm and interested in us learning a lot. It seems important to him that we delve into a topic that fascinates us and will make an impact on our performing. He told us more about what the semester is going to look like, as well as resources to use to help us narrow down a topic of interest. I´m still feeling a bit lost as far as a topic goes but that´s ok at this point. I have a meeting with my advisor tomorrow morning so hopefully that will help point me in the right direction. I also met with my bassoon teacher for the first time since I arrived on Friday. He just got back from America. He was teaching at Aspen Music Festival which is a very prestigious summer music program. We met for a bit to talk about the plan for the semester;what he wants to start with and also to talk about what I want to work on for myself. We have our first lesson on Tuesday at 13:00! I´m nervous but really excited. He gave me a new reed to try, and a bunch of new music to get me going. YAY! I´m totally nerding out!

Things I Will/Want to Accomplish This Year:
Become really great at double tounging
Become a more confident sight reader
Take a professional audition
Play every day!!!!

Nerdy I know but it keeps me honest if I say it to the world.

It´s the start of a new month and I am ready to take on all that they can throw at me!! tally ho!

Things are starting to get busy...

2009-08-26T02:30:00.001-07:00

I have band rehearsal Friday night from 6:30-9:30. Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 5:30-8:30. WOW! I was surprised when I heard this. No wonder they are the Norwegian Champions! But on the up side we are all having a party on Saturday night to celebrate our hard weekend of rehearsing! So all in all it should be a good time and I am happy to be busy again. And people seemed to be pleased/impressed with my playing which is good to hear. Maybe I actually have a chance of hacking my way into this business after all...

On a low note I was sad to hear that Ted Kennedy passed away. He was a pretty good senator and the only Kennedy brother to die of old age.

Also I found episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" online. yay!

Pictures coming soon. I am in the process or ordering a computer but I might just cave in and go to a camera shop to have a cd made.

One more thing...
I made a new friend who looks exactly like John Turturro. Also he´s from Israel, uses Linux, plays 5 instruments and his last name is Elefant. Interesting fellow.

Things to Occupy the Time

2009-08-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

Reading: Steinbeck: A Life in Letters, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Listening: The Pleased, Joanna Newsom, Bon Iver, Tegan and Sara (emo time)
Writing: Post cards, letters I will probably never send
Eating: bread and cheese, cucumbers, baby carrots, bananas
Wish I was eating: guacomole, hummus, indian food, deep dish pizza (lots of grease preferable)
Making: reeds and sweet bassoon sounds

Comforts of Home

2009-08-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

I went out with some friends last night after the concert. They are really great people and I hope that we can get to know each other better. It's nice to know already that it won't be too lonely here. Corrine, the bassoonist, is the best and I love that she is here so we can talk about the weird idiosynchrosies of Norway, such as how they don't have good pizza and you never know which way the door opens. She is also a really great player and will be a good mentor to me while I am here. my intuition is saying yes!

Seeing her made me miss home a little. last night had some raw moments and I am feeling down today. The rain doesn't help either. Right now I wish I could curl up in a ball and watch a good movie in bed. Alas no TV or movies to be watched.

This will have to do for now...

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-august-19-2009/barney-frank-s-town-hall-snaps

Recent Events:

2009-08-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

I finally got my student ID card! YAY! Doesn´t sound like a big deal but it means real independence! I can access the buildings on campus on my own after hours, check out library books, and make copies. I am also eligible for highly sought after student discounts ;) WOO HOO!

All this week I have been singing alto in a choir. I haven´t been in a choir since 6th grade so I am out of practice to say the least. It´s actually sort of fun. We are singing songs about the first spring by Mendolssohn. The rehearsals are all in Norwegian though so I have to figure things out by body language for the most part. Although the director speaks so softly that the Norwegians can´t understand him either. Tonight is the concert. There will be other groups playing as well. The concert is going to be about 2 hours long so I better mentally prepare myself to sit and be patient. Afterwards I will be going out with some new friends. A trumpet player and another American bassoonist who came here two or threee years ago to study with Per and now is playing in the Bergen Philharmonic! She also studied with Mr. Miller so it´s sort of like I am follwing in her footsteps. We´ve heard so much about one another that it is about time that we finally meet!

It´s another beautiful day today! I better get out and enjoy it before it´s nearly 24 hour darkness and constant rain. Apparently a few years ago Bergen had rain for 87 days straight!! Almost the world record. I can´t imagine. But I guess I´ll have a pretty clear picture soon enough.

post cards will be coming soon to those of you who have given me your address...
if you want one you better speak up soon and move fast!!

Love to you all! I miss you!

Tales of Humility

2009-08-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Some funny things about living in Norway:

I live in a large complex that looks like a housing project you would see in a big city in the states. not the prettiest site. My apartment is very small. The main room is about 10x10 with a small hallway where the kitchen and bathroom lie. Lately for dinner I have been eating spaghetti. A classic choice for a college student and ever so cheap. Unfortunately though I only have one burner and no stove. So I have to hold the sauce pan above the boiling noodles so that the rising steam will heat the red sauce. A very minimalist cooking experience to be sure.

Also the bathroom is in a word, modest. There is a shower curtain and a shower head but no floor for the shower. Let me clear. There is one floor for the whole bathroom. no divider. Just the floor and a drain. So the water from the shower gets everywhere and my floor is completely drenched the rest of the day. Did I mention that this place is really cheap? it could be worse. There are several students, mostly from Norway who were accepted to the school late and are completely without anywhere to live and are relegated to sleeping on a mattress in the sport hall next door to the hostel. At least as a international student I am guarenteed an actual place to sleep. I can be grateful for that.

One more silly story...

So because I am a new student I do not have a student ID yet. What that means for me is that I do not have access to the music building after business hours and on the weekends. But as a musician you tend to go to the music building quite often since your main responsibilities are to practice and rehearse. So yesterday, a very rainy Saunday afternoon, I went over the academy hoping against hope that someone would be there to let me in. The best chance of getting someone´s attention is to go to the back door which is through the courtyard. The gate was locked, of course, so I had no choice to climb over this gate. I felt like quite the trespasser. I´m surprised that the dobermans didn´t come running out to chase me away. Can anyone say "Release the hounds Smithers!". Sorry, bad joke. Anyway. I made it through the first gate and then was on to try to get someone´s attention by knocking on the window. Of course the whole cafeteria was deserted with it being a Sunday, and I all I could really do was wait. But then I noticed that the bathroom window was ajar. AHA! A chance to break in! I was excited and the wheels in my head began to turn. now I just had to figure a way to hoist myself up to the ledge which was about level with my head. I looked around the courtyard and the only thing I could see that could possibly work was a big black plastic jug for depositing cigerettes. Disgusting! I drag this thing over to the window climb on top of it and I am still a little to short to climb in. Why didn´t I get any of the tall genes? So here I am in the rain, on top of a dirty, smelly cigerette depository trying to break into the school I attend through a bathroom window. I felt like such a fool! I stepped off of it and of course 15 seconds later someone came and let me in.

Quite the glamorous life here in Europe!

The First Cut is the Deepest

2009-08-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

First of all I want to say thank you to all of you for reading about my blog. I hope that it is of some interest. I can't say that I am the most fascinating of writers but I will do my best to convey what I am doing here in the most riveting way I can!

I have officially been in Norway for 6 days! It has been a stressful week but it has had many high points as well.

Stress factors inlcude:
1. missing all the people I love back home!

2. not knowing anyone the first few days, obviously. Everyone in the hostel it seems is either from Germany or France and brought all their friends with them for the semester. I am one of few Americans.

3. Everything is expensive! it is about 11 dollars for a decent beer and 6 for a bad one. The good thing at least is that Norway has very few alcoholics. Going out for dinner is also very expensive. About 1.5 times as much in the U.S. I plan to try to stay in to eat as much as possible but it is difficult to say no when nice people you are trying to become friends with invite you out.

Things that you don't think about before moving to another country:

1. you don't have sheets, blankets, pots, pans, cups, plates, salt and pepper. All of you back home don't take these precious gifts for granted.

2. Cell phones are a gift and a curse. They are of the great convenience when you have one. when you do not, it is impossible to find an available land line!!

But of course there have been a lot of good things too:

1. Everyone here is extremely friendly. The other students are very friendly and up for hanging out and getting to know people. It is apparent that students here value having a strong sense of community. This is very exciting for me especially coming from the University of Minnesota where there is virtually none. There is a student organization that welcomes all the new students called SIB. they have organized a bunch of different outings for all of us newbies. On Tuesday there was a scavenger hunt around the city and then free pizza! Emphasis on free. nothing is free here so you have to get while the gettin' is good! Last night they took us out for a pub crawl to show us all the best places to go out for a beer. But beer is so expensive I have a feeling I won't be doing that often. It was fun though and good way to get to know people. the norwegians here speak english beautifully and it has been very easy to communicate with them. Many of them ask why I came here though as if they cannot imagine why anyone would choose to live in Norway. Being from MN I can understand why you would wonder. I would often ask exchange students the same thing. But really this is a pretty great place to live. Free health care, free school, beautiful clean environment and friendly people. And luckily for me a wonderful orchestra right next door to my school!

2. It is absolutely gorgeous here!! I have never been in a city with more natural beauty surrounding it. The whole city is surrounded by mountains, covered with trees and is right on the sea! Who could ask for more?! The city itself is also very charming. The classic cobblestone streets, and buildings with colorful tiled roofs. Rain is a constant presence but it adds to the city's charm, at least for now :)

I start class on August 28th. unil then I will be keeping busy with a few different things. The school needs people to sing in a choir for a performance next week. And by need they are asking me so they must be desperate. Not sure if I am going to be asset or a detriment to the quality of that performance. We'll see how it goes. I also have been asked to play in a well renowned wind band. Apparently it is the best one in Norway!Rehearsal for that starts next Tuesday. And of course practicing and making reeds is a given. I am excited for things to really get going a little more next week. Now that the "getting to know you" part is winding down it will probably mean more playing and practicing.

That is all for now. I am sure there will be more to come soon. Stay tuned!

Love to you all!