Dudamel's Inaugural Concert

Since I couldn't make it to Disney Hall for Dudamel's first concert, I was happy to know that it would be aired on PBS. I watched it Wednesday night and enjoyed it for several reasons. First, I got to hear John Adams' City Noir for the first time. We have tickets hear that work in November, and I like to know a piece a bit before I hear it in a concert. I know I will enjoy it more if it is somewhat familiar.

The other reason I enjoyed the concert was to hear Dudamel's interpretation of Mahler's First. That is such a grand symphony, and I especially enjoyed the lustig 2nd movement. Heavy on the bass end, slight pause before the 3rd beat. Of course, watching the conductor's expressions was a treat and not at all distracting.

Music and the Brain

Today I had my yearly physical, and my doctor told me that on my recommendation, he has been taking piano lessons for almost a year now, and he really enjoys it! Every year at my check-up he loves to talk about music, and now he has been enjoying it and thinks that it's been great for his thinking. He said that he started to think about all his patients who play an instrument, and he says that they are the most on-the-ball patients he has.

Start of School Year in Music

I have been teaching classroom music (general music) for 3 weeks now, and I feel as though this might be the best year yet. One big difference is that while I have larger groups of upper graders, they come in with their teacher, and I feel as though they pay better attention. It's also partly because we have an especially great group of upper graders.

Yesterday was the first day of string classes, and I had one class of beginners and one of 2nd/3rd year students. Both classes went well, and I had 19 show up for the second class, including 6 cellists! We had no music since most kids didn't bring their books, so we played scales and talked briefly about rhythms and key signatures. Today I have just one beginning class (17 signed up), and I know all the kids in it, and they will be wonderful.

Proportion

Today Bill looked at my John Muir string quartet movement. The most important thing, I think, that he talked to me about was proportion. I had variations on the tune that I had written, but now I will think about the scope of the movement a little differently. I look forward to revising this movement.