Masterworks Letters I

I’m writing these letters primarily as a way to keep in touch with my family and friends back home while I’m here at MW. They’re also a sort of journal for myself, so I don’t forget what happens. Therefore, they will likely contain all kinds of random material, interesting or otherwise…don’t feel obligated to read.

Sunday June 19: Traveling was good. Layover in Dallas (temperature: 102 degrees at 7-something in the evening). Taco Bell salad for dinner tastes really good when you’ve only had bananas, peanut butter and granola bars all day. The guy at Taco Bell was saying “sir” and “ma’am” to everyone. Made it into humid, rainy Dayton late at night; spent the night with my friend Shannon and her family, and drove here to Masterworks today. I think traveling is kinda nice, actually, because you have time to read. I read all of An Old Fashioned Girl between the second flight yesterday and today’s drive.

Monday, June 20: Shannon and I are rooming together (cheers!). We’re in a small apartment of four girls, in a house of 16. It’s quite bare, but sufficient—a main room with four desks, three chairs, and the dressed that really wouldn’t fit in our room; a small kitchen with a microwave, refrigerator (not working or not on), cupboards and sink; a bathroom; a closet; and two bedrooms. Ours is further back and has two windows, two beds with room for one dresser between them. Not long after our arrival you would have found Shannon vacuuming the (unfinished) closet, and me up on the bed wiping down the blinds. We managed to settle ourselves in our little room eventually. The windows do open, the closet door does shut, new paint on the walls (they were still running fans when we got there), all of our books lined up on the dresser; it works nicely. (Oh yes, there is a mirror too…on the inside of the closet door. ) We have installed all of our tea stuff in the kitchen. I brought a hot pot, a mug, and…a lot of tea. It’s necessary, people.

There are papers posted around with instructions on what to do in case of a tornado. #1 is something like “Do NOT stand outside and attempt to see the funnel.” Bummer.

Last night there was a faculty recital. It had everything from piano duet to opera duet to string sextet. An actor and bassoonist collaborated on a piece composed by the bassoonist; it’s called Paradise Lost and uses at least some of the Milton poem, interspersed (apparently) with bassoon solo music. They only did a little bit of it and will perform the whole thing at some point later; I might try to see that.

We’ll be getting in a lot of walking here. I need to add up the distance but I think it’ll easily be a couple of miles a day just getting to where we have to go. I have had a hard time getting a map of the campus in my head. It’s not a normal campus; it’s kind of interspersed through the town (or the town through the campus, or something like that). I’m getting my head around it slowly.

Shannon and I both left our umbrellas in our room this morning. After we got to the main building where practice rooms etc. are, it started pouring and kept it up for several hours. I ended up leaving my backpack with Shannon and running back barefoot through the rain to our apartment. That was the most fun I’ve had all day. The deepest puddle I found was almost ankle-deep. The weather cleared later and has been just lovely, but I’m not sure about getting my hair to stay curled in this here climate. :P

As far as piano goes: the faculty is great. Dr. Rhoden, our program head, is a sweet lady who considers herself a sort of MW mom. (Class today ended with injunctions to eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, etc.) There are several piano practice rooms, but it can be hard to find one when you want to practice outside of the time you’re signed up for. We have 11-noon and 4-6 every day, thereby making our three hours, and we’re going to try for an extra hour in the mornings when the rooms (hopefully) will be less busy. It feels odd not to be able to just practice when I have time…but I’ll get used to it. We have, after all, only been here for one day. It feels like longer. There are 21 piano students. Masterworks is a Stienway festival, but that includes Boston and Essex pianos. It takes some getting used to, playing on grands all the time—it requires a slightly different touch and more strength. It’ll be good.

We had placement auditions this morning. I did all right with the Elegie but kinda flubbed the sightreading more than I should have; apparently that last was standard enough that Dr. Rhoden said we’ll have a session on sightreading. :P Tonight I have a rehearsal with my accompanist for the concerto competition, which takes place tomorrow. My time is 4:42, and they only allow about 7 minutes per person, so I certainly won’t be playing the whole piece.

Last night after the faculty recital we had a worship time; we sang some hymns and choruses. It was a good reminder for me that it’s actually about Jesus, not me. (sigh of relief) We sang one song that I wasn’t familiar with, but we need to add it to our collection of choruses to sing…it’s called Knowing You by Graham Kendrick. I’ll leave you with some of the lyrics. Miss you all…it’s different being with all these different people (profound, that). It will be good, but you guys are…well, special. :P

All I once held dear, built my life upon,

all this world reveres and wars to own,

all I once thought gain I have counted loss,

spent and worthless now compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You.
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy,
my righteousness; and I love You, Lord.