Hometown: Victoria BC, Canada
Major: Collaborative Piano
Degree: D.M.A.
Current Teacher: Cameron Stowe
7:30 am - Since I live in a NEC dorm at 33 Gainsborough, I usually wake up to the early birds practicing across the street at Jordan Hall. It's usually the pianists who are keen in getting their day running by practicing their etudes and concerti. As a graduate student, I get my own room, so I don’t have to worry about waking anyone up.
8:30 am - I head downstairs for my 'Breakfast of Champions' at Bistro 33, NEC's Cafeteria. This is Bistro 33's quietest moment, mostly because everyone’s still trying to wake up, so it's always nice to gather my thoughts and plans for the day. It's also my time to read one of the local free newspapers, like the Metro, so I can get a heads up on today’s news.
9:00 am - Because a large bulk of my day consists of practicing, I like to start early in the day. You'll either see me in a practicing room working through song and sonata, in the Spaulding Library studying poetry, or in the Firestone Library listening and searching for new repertoire to learn. But I always remember to schedule in some sort of a break to see how my friends are doing in the Residence Hall Office.
12:00 pm - In trying to create a well-balanced lifestyle, I've taken up yoga again. Luckily, the YMCA is situated right beside NEC, so my friends and I can hop over to the Y and attempt to do flexible body contortions. However, in the end, I am at my finest form when doing the 'Corpse Pose.'
1:15 pm - It's lunch time with my friends at Bistro 33! The cafeteria is a lot busier and livelier during lunch. If my schedule allows it, I like to sit down for a proper meal and hang out with my friends to see how things are going with them.
2:00 pm – I head over for my lesson, and bring in specific repertoire that I'm currently working on. As a collaborative piano major, I often work with a singer or instrumentalist in my lessons, but I’ve just started new pieces and need to work on them alone for the earlier stages. This week, it's Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben.
4:00 pm – In Repertoire Class, we’ve been studying Late German Romantic Lied for the semester. About 4-5 singer/collaborative pianist duos present a song of this genre. Usually, historical facts and interpretational ideas are discussed. Correct diction and musicality is a must in this Seminar Class. This week, my singer and I are performing Strauss's Schlechtes Wetter.
6:00 pm - DINNER. A proper sit down meal is a must for me. I always take the time to have a good meal with my friends and have a few good laughs while doing it. This is definitely the highlight of my day. Hanging out with my close friends, eating with them and sharing a few good laughs - I can't complain!
7:00 pm - And the work continues... since everyone has classes to attend during the day, I schedule rehearsals to take place during the evening. Rehearsals can vary in time from 30 minutes to a few hours, but it usually depends on our concentration levels and how specific we want to delve into the music.
10:00 pm - Finally I head back to the Residence Hall. I Skype with my friends back on the West Coast and chat with my NEC friends who live on my floor. After a busy day, winding down is a must!
12:00 am - BED TIME
2009-09-11
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN