Wednesday, June 29

The morning started late with a little breakfast and some time sitting at Starbucks.

We got on the very random topic of teaching cursive writing to elementary students.  My opinion: the more penmanship (writing or printing) the better, because the computer has made fine motor skills (like gripping and directing a freaking pencil) to go out the window.  I have fourth graders who write like they are 2 years old.  Na' kidding.

Today we read Matthew Halls' Cecilia program: Handel, Britten, and Purcell odes to St. Cecilia.  I have sung the Britten before and finally it felt like I could lead with confidence on the a cappella style and vowel shapes.  Yay!  I am always curious to figure out a conductor's seating philosophy.  Kathy switches up our seats just about every rehearsal and changes her mind often about how she can find the right sound.

I walked all over God's green earth today.  I needed to return the Minnesota Beatle Project of VEGA productions grant and get it coordinated with my school, so that took me to the OBF office which has a permanent headquarters on the U of O campus.  Dave Goudy set me up with a computer, printer, and scanner so I could get the grant finished up.  It is of course due tomorrow.  It was so interesting to listen to the requests of special musicians, midnight runs to the airport, and the types of projects the office needed to work on: hotel rooms, daily pay, sick soloists, wine lists, sponsorships, etc.  I sent off the grant for a few final touches from my secretary and am hoping that my school will be the recipients of as many of these as $3500.00 can buy.