I miss my old blog posts. I used to be witty, and have free time...

I have been posting to a blog for my Growing Up in America class, and though it's hard to find time to sit down and think of something to write, I really enjoy it when I do.

So hopefully, I will start writing here again.

As a starting point, a joke:

Q: How many trumpet players does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Just one. But three others have to stand at the bottom of the ladder and talk about how much better they could be doing it.

Ba-Doom-Shhhh!

- Christina
music: "Big Boss Man" Elvis Presley

"carrots and sticks are overrated" - Daniel Pink

Korean Airport

So I am sitting in the Korean airport. There is free wifi here, how nice :) It is 5am local time on Friday, March 12th. We time traveled while flying and just skipped Thursday altogether. We have a couple hours to wait, and then it's another 4 hour flight to Beijing. In total I will have been traveling for 28 hours. We will be flying right over Hack's "village" Dalian, I saw it on a map in the air plane.

Gotta go now, other people want to use the computer. More updates later!

Christina

Hello World

The last time I posted was right after I had gone dancing at Semeneya for the first (and next to last) time last semester. Ironically (or not), this post is also right after I have gone dancing at Semeneya (now Amora) for the first (and hopefully not last) time this semester. There are lots of updates to be made.

1) Classes

I am taking Music History: Beethoven through the Present, Music Theories IV (last semester of these, yay!), Intercultural Communication, and the usual hodgepodge of lessons and ensembles. I am also a peer tutor for a seminar called "Music and Identity in America." A peer tutor is just like a TA except I don't give grades, and only occasionally lead discussions. I do have office hours, though, which has been an experience.

2) Projects/Traveling

I will have two big projects this semester. The huge music history research paper hasn't been brought up yet in class, but the project/paper for Intercultural Communication (ICC) is shaping up to be really exciting. As you might already know, I am going to China with my voice prof. (Chia-Wei Lee) this spring break. We will be in Beijing and Kunming (yes, I'll be visiting the Shoreys), so I asked Dr. Hill if I could somehow work that into my final project. I haven't worked out the details yet, but while I'm over there I will hopefully be doing a little bit of research on Dongjing music, which is the native music of the Yunnan Province (which Kunming is the capitol of), and somehow tying it into ICC.

3) Pepper

Pepper is about 9lbs. now, and almost a year old. She recently had an outside experience that involved hanging out under Nik's house for a little while. That resulted in fleas which resulted in tapeworms (gross). She is alright now, though. The vet gave me some flea medication that cleared those right up, and her last round of medicine for the worms is tomorrow.

4) Dancing

Haven't been doing nearly enough this semester. As I said, I went to Semeneya (now Amora) ballroom last night. I was a little confused. The same owners were there, but the name and the procedures were different. I can't tell whether it's new management or just a new business model. Anyway, the cover price for dancing doubled, which I am not happy about. If I join the SASDS I can get in for $4 instead of $6, but I'm already a member of the Austin syndicate. It's kind of silly that I would have to pay for membership in both... Anyway, something exciting next weekend. I will be coming into Austin for a blues dancing workshop and outing. We'll be learning how to really effectively dance to specifically Seth Walker's music. If you haven't heard Seth Walker, you need to. Also, there's a portion on incorporating cha-cha into blues. We'll see how that goes...

5) CTME

At this point we're all pretty tired from TMEA. Nobody showed up to our meeting this Tuesday. We were going to finally have Mr. Gabrillo in to talk to us, but his mother was diagnosed with cancer, so he went to Dallas to be wither her. He said that they caught it early, so hopefully she will be able to come through it, but still, what a terrible thing. I kind of feel bad, because every time Mr. Gabrillo has set a date to come talk to us, either his son gets sick, or he gets swine flu, or his mother has cancer. It's kind of the the Spokane Indians. Every time they set up a meeting with the government to talk about the dam, things like Pearl Harbor or 9/11 happened.

Anyway, I'm also working on a big project that will happen in March. I filmed a lot of professors answering the question, "what is the importance of the arts in a liberal arts education?" Then in March, I'll show the video and have Dr. Hill respond to it, and have a group discussion with whoever shows up.

Time for theory class, bye!

- Christina

The Time Has Come

Ah, the days of hibernation have finally arrived. The weather is wonderfully chilly, the midterms are over, and both term papers are in the easy stages of research.

I am really looking forward to next week. Wednesday night is the annual Halloween dance at Semeneya. I will be going as Raggedy Ann this year. Then Thursday night I am skipping out on choir and orchestra and going to Mom's birthday dinner. Perhaps I will go to the Halloween dance at the Fed as well. Blues dancing on Friday night, Halloween goings-on on Saturday, and a quick return for the band concert on Sunday. Maybe I can actually get Jonathan to come dancing with me this time. Oh, and then there's Tuesday! Everything in the world is happening on Tuesday. Some high schoolers are coming to visit, and I am helping out with that. Then there's the CTME meeting from 4-5 where Mr. Gabrillo might be speaking. It depending on baby sitter status. Then dinner with Mom and Gramma I hope before the concert, then ice cream with the high schoolers after the concert (if any show up).

Pepper is still the most adorable thing ever. I am watching her explore a bag right now. Moments ago she climbed to the top of a chair and eyed the pull-chord for the light like she was judging the distance. Fortunately, she abandoned that endeavor.

Last Fall I had to write a term-paper about The Illuminati. It was relatively easy. This semester, I am working on TWO term papers at the same time (I have found out that is it not fun having two huge research projects going on together). The one for Philosophy of Music is on the topic of "understanding" music. What does it mean to understand a piece, and why are some people more qualified to correctly understand music than others? The term paper for Music History is going to be about Giovanni Gabrieli's "O Magnum Mysterium" from the Sacrae Symphoniae written in 1597 (as opposed to the Symphoniae Sacrae written in 1619) and it's place in sacred musical practices in Venice at the turn of the 17th century. Doesn't that sound like some boring, dry essay a professor would make you read? I did have fun listening to a recording of the piece today. It was on a record. I used a player in one of the classrooms in the music building. I had to practice dropping the needle in the right spot, and once I had the hang of the machinery, I messed around with playing it backwards and at the wrong speed. Dr. Heller may or may not have been listening to me messing around with it, since the room is right across the hall from his office. I don't know. Anyway, I am going to be an expert researcher after this.

- Christina

listening to: Come Together by The Beatles

"You know, we just shouldn't have tests. I should base this class off of whether you guys feel like you have learned enough....but I guess I can't do that." - Dr. Kramer (Music Theory Professor)

This is me overbooked

Remind me to never schedule myself into 19 hours and 3 reading-heavy classes.....

At this point in the semester I am rather tired, but things are going well. I survived the first music history test, and all of the ensembles are coming along nicely, getting ready for our first concerts.

I sold the crabitat, so the age of the hermit crab is officially over (it took me about 5 tries to spell officially correctly just now). They will be missed, but I know that Zeus and Hephaestus are living it up on the crabby Olympia right now....

I have not decided what to be for Halloween yet. If anyone has suggestions, those would be greatly appreciated. I think Marisa is going to be a lion. We thought about doing a Wizard of Oz theme, that is still an option.

Not much in the way of exciting things going on right now. I'm writing this to kill the last 15 minutes of work. Next it's dinner and orchestra rehearsal. Nik and I might go to an Accordian festival next week on the River Walk, so I'm sure that will liven things up.

- Christina
listening to: University Chorus singing "Terezin" by Charles Davidson

This is Trinity Choir at our Fall retreat that happened last month:

Oh Yeah, Walter!

I almost forgot! Some of you may have heard some distressing news about my car, Walter. Yes, it is true that I was not able to physically turn the key in the ignition, thereby making Walter immobile. Yes this was a distressing period of time. But Jim at the Olmos Park Chevron replaced the tumblers and ignition key today, and Walter is ready for me to pick him up tomorrow morning.

Can it Be?

Yes! It can! Tell your friends and relatives because after a 5-month layover the Tiger Years blog is back up and going strong!

Fist, as always, a schedule of interesting dates update:
- Pervez Musharraf (Ex-President of Pakistan) is speaking at Trinity on Thursday Sept. 17th at 7:30 in Laurie Auditorium
- Dr. Persellin has nominated me to be a collegiate delegate to the big MENC meeting in California this Spring, and my letter of intent is due on Tuesday Sept. 15th
- The San Antonio Symphony is doing Peter and the Wolf at 2:30...Ben and Beth?
- Choir Concert on Oct. 27 at 7:30
- Oct. 30th and 31st the 3 Phantoms are singing with the San Antonio symphony
- There is a guitar concert here at 7:30 on Nov. 2nd
- Orchestra Concert on Nov. 5th at 7:30
- Wed. Nov. 25th I am home for Thanksgiving!
- Dec. 4th Christmas Concert at 7:30 (performing in three ensembles)
- Dec. 5th Studio Voice Recital at 7:30 (I will have no voice by the end of this...)
- Dec. 6th Christmas Vespers concert at 6 pm (choir)
- Dec. 11th Finals start!

^ semester in a nutshell....

And now, I will do a quick magic trick involving logic. I will link together three separate classes from three separate departments that I am taking this semester. Oooooh!

We start in Dr. Kania's Philosophy of Music. This class has only met once, so I don't have much to say about the topic yet. However, our first discussion was over a reading where the man was trying to explain his idea of what music is. One of the main points is that music is a secondary object. Object because sound is not a property of something, is is produced by things, therefore it is a thing itself. For example, when you drop a pen on the ground and it makes a sound, you don't think that the pen is noisy, you think that the pen has made noise. On the other hand, when you write with a pen and the ink is blue, you think that the pen is blue, not that the pen has created blue. Secondary because music is something you perceive, but is not physical. Like a rainbow, you can see it, it takes up space in your vision, but it is not a solid, cohesive object that you can touch. Secondary object -> Perceptual knowledge, which leads us into Dr. Hansen's Classical Rhetorical Theory where we start off with the Sophists. People like Gorgias, Corax, Tisius, and Isocrates (not to be confused with Socrates). The sophists where a bunch of philosophers/rhetoricians/teachers that roamed around pan-Hellenic Greece with Athens as their base of operations. They were particularly gifted in the art of rhetoric, and in fact believed that arguing well was the basis of all knowledge. They taught this art to those who could afford them, and kind of became performers, by showing off their speech skills in public (especially Gorgias.....what an attention hog!) Anyway, the Sophists basically believed that knowledge is based on perception. That grass looks green to me, therefore it is green. The only problem with that, is that not everyone perceives the same thing. Plato thinks that grass looks more blue, therefore it is also blue? The Sophists say that we can never know the absolute, or transcendental truth, but that we can get close to "truth" through argumentation, looking at every angle of a problem, and making concessions. I think the grass is green, Plato thinks the grass is blue, therefore it is greenish blue. There are all kinds of possibilities in a world where truth is literally what we convince ourselves it is. This leads us, finally, into Dr. Montford's History of Music: Ancient Greece to Mozart. Plato and his pupil, Socrates, hate the Sophists. Not only did one of them steal Socrates's name, and a few of Plato's students, but the Plocrates team cannot abide by perceptional knowledge. They need things to be absolute, with empirical proof. They also do not like the "regional truths" that the Sophists accept. Something that is true in Athens must also be true in Sparta, Thessaly, etc. for it to really be "truth." Team Plocrates is very important in musical history because they have a lot to say on the topic of music education. They are of the opinion that music should be taught to the youth because it is enjoyable and a worthwhile pastime. Youth should not, however, seek to become professional musicians. The goal of the lessons should be to refine their taste in music, so that in their old age, they can appreciate good music. Performance early on is necessary to understand music, but performing should be given up as we grow older. And now I have masterfully connected the studies of Rhetoric, Philosophy, and History. I hope you feel like your brain has expanded a little bit.

Pictures of:

my crabitat that I am trying to sell. Current going price is $35, any takers?









And part of my walk back to the dorm from the music building at night after orchestra rehearsal:

- Christina
music:
"Breakdown" by Jack Johnson
"The Distance" by CAKE





"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein
"I never think of the future, it comes soon enough." - Albert Einstein

Quick update

Number one:

If anyone wants to come down to San Antonio this Sunday, I will have both a band concert at 3 (where I am playing one piece on the contra bassoon) and a Swing Bums performance with the Ropers at the Blue Bubble Ballroom (which will be followed by dancing). That is from 6:30-9:30.

Number two:

Here is what my schedule for next semester is looking like:

Theory, Aural Skills, and Keyboard Skills III
Music History I
Choir
Orchestra
Band (Only for contra bassoon)
Voice and Bassoon Lessons
Philosophy of Music
Classical Rhetorical Theory

That's 18 hours, because band and orchestra won't actually be on my transcript.

I wanted History of Medieval Europe and Intro to Prehistoric Archaeology, but they were full by the time I could register, so I substituted music history and Class. Rhet. Coincidentally, I have noticed that I have been taking a number of speech classes and have been enjoying them, so I may pick up a speech minor. I only need 18 hours for the minor, and I think it can be done. I will only have 6 hours of classes left to take in common curriculum after next semester, which shouldn't be a problem at all, except that neither of those classes can be in the music or speech departments because I will already be at the hour limit.

How have things been going this semester, Christina?

WELL...so glad you asked!

I have been very busy lately, actually, I have been REALLY busy for a month now. First, there was getting ready for choir tour, then there was choir tour, now, I have about 5 performances that I have rehearsals for. It's basically been class from 10-2 and rehearsals from 3-9 4 days/week. Add homework, and you have one busy college student!

I have started to do observations for my intro to music ed class. I have gone to a high school and a middle school so far. I am still thinking that I want to do middle school.

I have important dates that I did not have before:

I will be singing for NATS in Corpus Christi on April 4 -> 6 songs, woohoo!

Studio Recital is April 30. I have a really pretty dress, and a really pretty song!

The Opera (Die Fledermaus) is going to be on May 1 & 2 at 7:30 -> see above in regards to dress

We are getting ready for the final debate in Argumentation class. Our practice debates were absolutely terrifying, but they didn't turn out to be as bad as I thought they would. It was really weird. I got more nervous debating in front of 3 people than I ever have in a performance.

-Christina
music: Final Fantasy 8 music (sitting in Nik's room, Colin is playing)
"We need to be like an amoeba....you know, together....amoebas are flexible you know"
- Dr. Bigler in reference to the choir

facebook

It is amazing what you can learn about old friends just by messing around on facebook. Since I have last checked:
-- I friend (who I didn't even know could sing) is posting videos of himself singing and playing guitar, a song he wrote, asking what he should title it. I looked at his lyrics, and they were beautiful, with several layers of meaning. They were not the sort of emo trash you normally get from moody high schoolers who think they can play guitar.

-- A childhood friend is engaged, and looking at wedding locations this weekend.

-- Another childhood friend is now drop-dead gorgeous and modeling.

-- Someone from high school is swift becoming an alcoholic from the look of her pictures.

-- My best friend from 5th grade is in the Navy now

-- Silly drama is still going on between a certain two people. It has been 4 years now, people.