And my musical career gets a boost

Poststructural Pub
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Uh huh, oh yeah… :slight_smile:

I’m getting a piano moved into my apartment today!! This is just the next step towards heading into a downright fulfilling and sustaining and exciting career in music.

My plan is to audition in the spring for admission to McGill’s Music Theory department. I am so psyched!!

What better thing is there, in this world, but to follow one’s dream? To actually take steps towards the goal, to feel the excitement of the possibilities! There’s something to be said about “feel the fear and do it anyway”!

I’ve been getting a lot of encouragement in terms of my passion for music in the past few months, and things are starting to fall into place, making it even more possible than ever for me to follow this wonderful journey.

My father, who, teamed up with my mother, would only support me if I was pursuing a “practical” goal, is now asking me how my plans for getting into McGill are going.

I got accepted to Acadia University’s Music Therapy program (but will turn it down, because it’s not exactly what I want, and it’s not in Montreal). Although I’ll turn that offer down, it was definitely a boost for me to know that they want me, even without having heard me play yet!!

My friend has been wanting to sell his piano, and couldn’t bring himself to do anything about it. When we met, we found so many things clicked so easily, including the fact that we’re both so into music - although he’s now put that to the side to pursue writing. Because of that love he has, it was hard to get rid of the piano, but after talking with me about how much I love to play and how this would fulfill a dream for me (and help him both financially and emotionally), he knew it would have to go to me. My neighbour downstairs, the only one I’d have to contend with, is also having a piano delivered to her place today and is really looking forward to hearing me play. My landlord has no problem with it either! How easy was that? This all came about in the last 8 days!!

And there’s loads more going on, but perhaps you’ve heard all you need to hear for now!! I’m very excited and am looking forward to playing a bit of Beethoven when it arrives. I’ll be going out with my friend afterwards to celebrate with a Second Cup Caramel Correto coffee - the ultimate coffee experience!! (You non-Canadians don’t know what you’re missing :slight_smile: )

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Congrats Moxy!

Isn’t it amazing when you struggle and work for ages and then suddenly everything clicks into place? :slight_smile:

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Can’t wait to hear you play that piano Moxy, you 've been talking about it for so long. Congratulations! Are you going to try to learn backing irish music with it? You might want to listen to Geraldine Cotter’s “Piano +” CD :slight_smile:

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Thanks Ava! Yes, it is definitely amazing. But for so long I thought it was downright impossible! I’m so glad to have been able to change that perspective. It’s so much more rewarding to believe that I can do anything I want, and I can have what I most desire :slight_smile:

And thanks Az for the encouragement. We’ll see about the Irish accompaniment - my first loves are Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Debussy. Oh yeah, and some Bach as well!! So if Irish music is to make an appearance in there, it might have to take second place… But I did sit in on one of Felix Dolan’s classes in the Catskills last month with the goal of understanding how he picks his chords, and what progressions he works with, and it was certainly interesting.

McGill doesn’t look favorably on Irish music in the audition :slight_smile: They have specific requirements, and they really tickle me with those. So I’ll certainly be focusing on those for the next few months. I’m told the Russian piano instructors are the best, so I’ll be looking for one at the Conservatory to help me along with the audition material.

This is really fun and exciting!!

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Congrats Moxy! There can’t be many who can earn their living entirely through their music.

If you can resist adding vamp-style vaudeville piano backing to Irish tunes, there are many who would appreciate your restraint! :smiley:

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Congratulations Moxy!

Your story is bringing back memories of when my daughter (also a pianist) took off for her musical college adventure. Best of luck to you. I am sure that you will have a blast! There is nothing more rewarding than doing something that your heart is so attached to!

Cheers,
Kathy :slight_smile:

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You’re right about that. I’m not sure I could do it either. My intention is to graduate from the Theory department, and teach Theory in colleges or universities (who knows where, the world will be my oyster!!).

I took a few music theory classes at McGill two summers ago, and spoke with one of my instructors about my passion for theory. She encouraged me to pursue this path, as there is a definite lack of good theory instructors who actually like what they’re teaching. Why it took me this long to actually do something about it is beyond me! But no matter, the important fact here is that I AM doing something about it.

So the goal after graduating (which is far in the future, but I see no harm in stating it here, even if it will change at some point) is to go back to teach it, with the passion that I feel for it.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I know my best learning is done when the instructor is passionate about the subject matter, no matter what that is. I’m an eager student as well, so this would no doubt feed the instructor’s passion. And that’s what I want to do for other keen music students :slight_smile:

Thanks chattiekathy for your encouragement too! I’m very happy for your daughter!

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I’ve never met someone as talented musically as Kelly. She learned whistle technique so quickly it’s unbelieveable, she could play many tunes perfectly after only a few months of practice. It was easy to see that she had a very potent musical background. I wasnt surprised at all when I heard her play piano beautifuly a few months ago, even though she doesnt practice piano anymore and havent done so for many years, if I’m right. You can see that she’s passionate about music, always wondering and finding out what keys tunes are being played in just by listening (That’s a C#Minor tune!!!) , and having an ear more accurate than my tuner :wink: In many occasions I was left wondering how of a musical genius Kelly really is, and it’s great to see that she will definitely have a chance to achieve more of her potential during the next few years. I think only an instrument like a piano, which to me is a big black monster, can really allow Kelly to let loose and use her full potential (meaning keeping her busy and being an pain in the arse sometimes, the piano that is). Well, maybe a fiddle, but I just can picture Kelly sitting and playing beautiful piano more easily.

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Thanks for the plug, Azalin! I’ll make sure you have front-row seats to my first concert!!

The movers are IN the building as I write! (delivering my neighbour’s piano first)

How exciting!!

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Here it comes!

Francine’s piano is in its place in the apartment below me, and I can hear her tinkering on the keys.

Mine is part way up the stairs by now. I’ve got the piano bench in here already, as that was the contribution I was asked to make towards the move, in addition, of course, to paying the movers :slight_smile:

I’ve got a few bottles of water in the fridge for them, poor guys, it’s such a hot muggy day, and this building really doesn’t offer any relief from that… If anything, the building makes things worse…

So, it won’t be long now!!

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Congrats on all the exciting developments Moxy.

Those poor piano movers, two for one building. Good thing they usually have special equipment to help them if needed. I helped move my brothers upright piano and even with five people it was a total bear.

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WATER!!!

You were doing great until you got to the “w” word.

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hee hee :slight_smile: yeah, water! Should I have offered them some Guinness?.. darn… Francine lives on the 2nd floor, but had this huge Gerhard Heintzman. I’m on the 3rd floor, but my piano’s smaller and lighter. They do have equipment - a dolly and some straps to hook themselves to the piano!! Poor guys… Yeah, maybe Guinness would have been more rewarding… But someone had to drive the truck afterwards!

So it’s here. I’ve played a few Beethoven Sonatas, and the piece from the movie The Piano, a Chopin Nocturne, and dabbled with some Billy Joel of all things… Then went to my friend’s place to watch yet another movie (Some Like It Hot - great movie!!). His back room looks so empty without the piano there. I keep doing a double take cause it’s so bizarre! But it looks so great in my room here :smiley:

I’m very excited!! I mean, look, it’s 1:30am and I’m still up! I’m buzzing! Oh… maybe that’s from the Caramel Correto I had four hours ago… but I doubt that’s the only factor.

Yep, this feels sooooooo right!

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Hey, get this - I’ve had the piano for 7 days now, and this morning was offered my first gig on August 20th!!

Better polish up those old Scott Joplin tunes :slight_smile:

This is soooooo much fun!!