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This post covers Wednesday and Thursday.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
WEDNESDAY
I was up early to do laundry. Don't normally do laundry in the middle of the week but with the masterclass on Thursday and having been sick last week, I thought it prudent to do it.
It was a cloudy, cold, and dreary day, so I mostly stuck to indoor activities. Winter is a bummer like that! But I am behind on Foodie Finds, plus wanted to run the masterclass thing once more and pack for it. Forty-eight minutes, which is a bit long but I have nearly 90 minutes this time so that's still just fine. And my voice felt pretty good at the end! I am trying to remember to relax my throat and not allow the fight-or-flight access to those throat muscles.
In the afternoon the sun came out for a glorious millisecond, so I went outside to just walk in it! No destination and not enough time to actually do anything. The result was I did end up buying perhaps more candy than I ought to have :p I've been jonesing for Swedish Fish for the longest time. Also, the last two weeks were very stressful and perhaps my soul wanted some consolation foods. Chatted via text with Jameson...he is getting our faux hardwood floors installed tomorrow. He took a bunch of "Before" photos and I can't wait to see the "After!" It's going to take a few days as they're doing it in sections so that will probably be in a separate post.
Back at the hotel, lunch and a nap. The nap felt very good for once. The evening show was nice, audiences here are like they were in Texas, with lots of people interested to come see the band and interact with us :) The show went mostly-well, though my lips and back of my throat are constantly dry here and it can be frustrating when your body won't do what you're asking because of outside factors like that :/ I slather chapstick on night and day, and drink loads of water and use throat spray...not sure what else to do except keep trying!
After the show while walking back, I had some deep thoughts about this masterclass. I had looked up pictures of their current trombone studio, and there are 17 students...FIVE of whom are women!!
(photo courtesy IUP Trombone Studio)
Now, not all of these kids are MAJORS...some of them just enjoy trombone and participate in the studio because of that. But the fact that there are this many women on trombone AT ALL is a definite improvement. When I attended IUP, I was essentially IT. My friend Lauren played trombone as well and we'd practice together, but she was an ed major. As far as ensemble work and studio and a performance track, I was The Token Chick. And that has been true throughout all of my education and performance history.
Went to bed thinking about that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THURSDAY
Woke up early, nervous for this masterclass, but it wasn't until 2:30 so I had the whole morning to center myself. Stole some peanut butter from free hotel breakfast. Typed up this post, watch on the Ring doorbell as the flooring guys arrived and loaded their stuff into the house to tear up our old carpet and install the new flooring. Exciting stuff!
And RE: yesterday's thoughts about female tromboning, posted this:
Ate lunch a little early because I had to walk to pick up the rental car around noon. They scared me at first by saying they didn't have any rentals available, then when my face fell and I immediately pulled out my phone to call Budget, suddenly they "found one." Hmmmmm. Regardless, got a car and got to Indiana, PA right when I wanted to, a little before 2pm.
The professor, whose name is Jer, met me in the music building lobby. He showed me around a bit as the whole place has been rebuilt since I was last there (20 years ago!!!) It was SO STRANGE to be back on this campus. My memories of college are incredibly vague; my mom had just passed away a week or two before I graduated, and the first year or so at IUP were a whirlwind of financial burdens and classes and grief. I could remember some parts of campus very well, and others I didn't recognize at all. And usually places that I've visited before have a familiar scent-smell...this building did not. It has been too long, I suppose.
Jer brought me to a small recital room. The acoustics were great so I wouldn't need a mic. But then we had extensive trouble setting up my PowerPoint because their computer station just would not turn on at all. The tuba prof (who is tech-savvy) was brought in to help, and even he couldn't get it working. I can certainly do the presentation without the PowerPoint, but the two menfolk were insistent so I backed off. Eventually the tuba prof found an HDMI cable that connected my laptop with a large TV monitor, and I expressed that this was PERFECT, let's get started already because there's a time limit!
From there everything went great. There were only 6 kids, and the trumpet prof joined us later (his kids were supposed to come too but they had something else to complete?) But I don't mind a small group. The point is that this school is in the middle of nowhere, and it is rare for someone to come and share what careers in entertainment, and the application process for jobs in entertainment, are like NOW, currently. Their teachers don't know because they're not out in the world, they're teaching. And the job options I discuss are often not available in their hometowns. But I want students to know that all sorts of opportunities exist, and that they SHOULD apply for them, and HOW to apply for them!
This was a group that was engaged and interested because they were all music majors. Everyone was very receptive, and good questions were asked during the Q&A. The teachers asked several questions too. Afterward I thanked the kids for their time. Not sure how many will get up the gumption to actually reach out to me later, or apply for these jobs, but at least I can say I tried. And the trombone prof was borderline-emotional about it; he absolutely loved the presentation and I think we would have talked for another hour about igniting passion in young musicians if I hadn't had to leave immediately to beat Pittsburgh rush hour traffic! Overall, it was another good experience for me and hopefully for them.
On the drive back, Jameson updated me with The Floor Situation at the house.
Here is a picture partway through. I had thought he was only doing the living room and kitchen, but I guess it's going to be the whole house!!!
The big grey area is where the carpet was, and where the man is standing is the tile that you've always heard me say I'm mopping :p He's breaking it apart. It took them essentially the whole day, and they did the living room, dining room, bathrooms, and kitchen. I don't think he's having the bedrooms done just yet.
Another pic of the living room floor and the piano covered in plastic.
They're supposed to be finished tomorrow but we'll see what happens!
I returned the rental car just slightly late due to rush hour traffic. Walked back to the hotel and ate dinner (thank you, Past Me, for knowing I'd probably be late and prepping dinner for Future Me!) and then it was pretty much straight to the theater. Another good show, another stellar audience who cheered loudly for Gaston and Be Our Guest :)
In closing, here's a lovely picture that someone (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust?) took of our logo truck right outside the Benedum Center.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday: One evening show. I want to do a Foodie Find for breakfast or lunch, and some thrifting or a walk! No other plans.
Saturday and Sunday: Two shows each day, no real plans. Might try to see/do something on Saturday morning because the weather is supposed to be nice and I'm mostly feeling better.
This post covers Wednesday and Thursday.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
WEDNESDAY
I was up early to do laundry. Don't normally do laundry in the middle of the week but with the masterclass on Thursday and having been sick last week, I thought it prudent to do it.
It was a cloudy, cold, and dreary day, so I mostly stuck to indoor activities. Winter is a bummer like that! But I am behind on Foodie Finds, plus wanted to run the masterclass thing once more and pack for it. Forty-eight minutes, which is a bit long but I have nearly 90 minutes this time so that's still just fine. And my voice felt pretty good at the end! I am trying to remember to relax my throat and not allow the fight-or-flight access to those throat muscles.
In the afternoon the sun came out for a glorious millisecond, so I went outside to just walk in it! No destination and not enough time to actually do anything. The result was I did end up buying perhaps more candy than I ought to have :p I've been jonesing for Swedish Fish for the longest time. Also, the last two weeks were very stressful and perhaps my soul wanted some consolation foods. Chatted via text with Jameson...he is getting our faux hardwood floors installed tomorrow. He took a bunch of "Before" photos and I can't wait to see the "After!" It's going to take a few days as they're doing it in sections so that will probably be in a separate post.
Back at the hotel, lunch and a nap. The nap felt very good for once. The evening show was nice, audiences here are like they were in Texas, with lots of people interested to come see the band and interact with us :) The show went mostly-well, though my lips and back of my throat are constantly dry here and it can be frustrating when your body won't do what you're asking because of outside factors like that :/ I slather chapstick on night and day, and drink loads of water and use throat spray...not sure what else to do except keep trying!
After the show while walking back, I had some deep thoughts about this masterclass. I had looked up pictures of their current trombone studio, and there are 17 students...FIVE of whom are women!!
(photo courtesy IUP Trombone Studio)
Now, not all of these kids are MAJORS...some of them just enjoy trombone and participate in the studio because of that. But the fact that there are this many women on trombone AT ALL is a definite improvement. When I attended IUP, I was essentially IT. My friend Lauren played trombone as well and we'd practice together, but she was an ed major. As far as ensemble work and studio and a performance track, I was The Token Chick. And that has been true throughout all of my education and performance history.
Went to bed thinking about that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THURSDAY
Woke up early, nervous for this masterclass, but it wasn't until 2:30 so I had the whole morning to center myself. Stole some peanut butter from free hotel breakfast. Typed up this post, watch on the Ring doorbell as the flooring guys arrived and loaded their stuff into the house to tear up our old carpet and install the new flooring. Exciting stuff!
And RE: yesterday's thoughts about female tromboning, posted this:
Ate lunch a little early because I had to walk to pick up the rental car around noon. They scared me at first by saying they didn't have any rentals available, then when my face fell and I immediately pulled out my phone to call Budget, suddenly they "found one." Hmmmmm. Regardless, got a car and got to Indiana, PA right when I wanted to, a little before 2pm.
The professor, whose name is Jer, met me in the music building lobby. He showed me around a bit as the whole place has been rebuilt since I was last there (20 years ago!!!) It was SO STRANGE to be back on this campus. My memories of college are incredibly vague; my mom had just passed away a week or two before I graduated, and the first year or so at IUP were a whirlwind of financial burdens and classes and grief. I could remember some parts of campus very well, and others I didn't recognize at all. And usually places that I've visited before have a familiar scent-smell...this building did not. It has been too long, I suppose.
Jer brought me to a small recital room. The acoustics were great so I wouldn't need a mic. But then we had extensive trouble setting up my PowerPoint because their computer station just would not turn on at all. The tuba prof (who is tech-savvy) was brought in to help, and even he couldn't get it working. I can certainly do the presentation without the PowerPoint, but the two menfolk were insistent so I backed off. Eventually the tuba prof found an HDMI cable that connected my laptop with a large TV monitor, and I expressed that this was PERFECT, let's get started already because there's a time limit!
From there everything went great. There were only 6 kids, and the trumpet prof joined us later (his kids were supposed to come too but they had something else to complete?) But I don't mind a small group. The point is that this school is in the middle of nowhere, and it is rare for someone to come and share what careers in entertainment, and the application process for jobs in entertainment, are like NOW, currently. Their teachers don't know because they're not out in the world, they're teaching. And the job options I discuss are often not available in their hometowns. But I want students to know that all sorts of opportunities exist, and that they SHOULD apply for them, and HOW to apply for them!
This was a group that was engaged and interested because they were all music majors. Everyone was very receptive, and good questions were asked during the Q&A. The teachers asked several questions too. Afterward I thanked the kids for their time. Not sure how many will get up the gumption to actually reach out to me later, or apply for these jobs, but at least I can say I tried. And the trombone prof was borderline-emotional about it; he absolutely loved the presentation and I think we would have talked for another hour about igniting passion in young musicians if I hadn't had to leave immediately to beat Pittsburgh rush hour traffic! Overall, it was another good experience for me and hopefully for them.
On the drive back, Jameson updated me with The Floor Situation at the house.
Here is a picture partway through. I had thought he was only doing the living room and kitchen, but I guess it's going to be the whole house!!!
The big grey area is where the carpet was, and where the man is standing is the tile that you've always heard me say I'm mopping :p He's breaking it apart. It took them essentially the whole day, and they did the living room, dining room, bathrooms, and kitchen. I don't think he's having the bedrooms done just yet.
Another pic of the living room floor and the piano covered in plastic.
They're supposed to be finished tomorrow but we'll see what happens!
I returned the rental car just slightly late due to rush hour traffic. Walked back to the hotel and ate dinner (thank you, Past Me, for knowing I'd probably be late and prepping dinner for Future Me!) and then it was pretty much straight to the theater. Another good show, another stellar audience who cheered loudly for Gaston and Be Our Guest :)
In closing, here's a lovely picture that someone (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust?) took of our logo truck right outside the Benedum Center.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday: One evening show. I want to do a Foodie Find for breakfast or lunch, and some thrifting or a walk! No other plans.
Saturday and Sunday: Two shows each day, no real plans. Might try to see/do something on Saturday morning because the weather is supposed to be nice and I'm mostly feeling better.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-27 02:37 pm (UTC)