So. It was announced today that instead of having one epic opera round of performances next year, the DU orchestra will do two. Meaning that instead of having one two-week round of 26+ hours of rehearsal (in addition to regular rehearsals and regular rounds of concerts), we'll have two. And that other professors, other music departments, and other school departments, instead of grudgingly forgiving students from not being able to practice for lessons/show up to class/make it to rehearsals/attend performances for two weeks each year, will need to frown about this for two separate rounds next year.
When extra rehearsals happen as a grown-up, professional performer, I get extra compensation (even if it's tiny bitty). Sadly, I don't get scholarships or any type of payment for this decision of theirs to increase (by a lot) the number of rehearsals this fall. But, in exchange, I do get to to turn down paying gigs in order to accommodate their stupid new schedule. RAWR!
In general, it'd be best for them to audition for an "opera orchestra" for those folks who are anxious to have additional orchestra gigs. I'm not taking this class for credit and I object to having to cancel paying gigs, classes I need to take, and going to my "night" job to attend all these excess rehearsals and performances.
If they can't stick to the Monday/Wednesday class schedule (with the occasional Thursday concert), I don't have time in my grown-up schedule to accommodate them. It isn't written ANYWHERE that string majors/grad students have to participate in orchestra (except maybe in folks' scholarship stipulations), which doesn't pertain to me as non-scholarship student. All my paperwork says that students have to participate in two groups per quarter, and only one group if the student is part-time. I'm part-time and I have spent the last two years participating in string quartets as my one group.
I'm in school to be a better cellist, not to be a classical musician. I suck tremendously as a classical cellist! And this orchestra, while being one of the best I've played in, takes up WAY too much time and isn't helping me out in my degree at all. I've got a healthy history of being a rock cellist and being a studio musician. I was sad that my technique was getting sloppy from all the rock music I was playing, so I started focusing on the classical training that is common for a cellist, instead, since music doesn't get more technically demanding than classical training.
I currently have no idea what classes I'll be taking in the fall or next spring, but I do know that no matter how much I get talked about in staff meetings (the sole reason I was SERIOUSLY pushed to play in orchestra this quarter), my finishing this stupid degree is my top priority over making some prof somewhere feel better about themselves. I'm a grown-up and I've been around the block with "requirements" for a degree. I've also been around the block of being the "problem" student discussed in faculty meetings; I'm over it. It doesn't threaten me at 33 like it did at 19. If I have a Tuesday night class that I need to finish this abomination of a degree, that class takes priority over an additional rehearsal that was arbitrarily decided on one April afternoon.
I'm rant-y today because I've been working on this degree for so long, because I've put up with a bunch of bullshit (musical and otherwise) this week, and because I'm too old and WAY too tired to deal with it longer than I need to. Screw politics. I'm a free agent.
/end rant
An Erinku:
I need
a basketball
friend to watch games with
(I like Blazers and Nuggets and am surrounded by folks who don't watch basketball, sigh)
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