I have not figured out where to take my camera, and have not have any time to take it in anyways. So, no pictures this week. Instead, I will regale you with a string of miniature tales from the life of an SFCM violin student.
Doug Kwon is concertmaster for this set. He's ESL, and is always making the funniest comments in his Korean accent. In the middle of sectionals, around the time the break is usually called, he turned to Bettina (the teacher) and inquired, "Would we get a break?" She leaned back, regarded him, and replied deliberately, "No, we wouldn't."
We are experimenting with different stage set-ups for the orchestra. I know what you're thinking: "How many different orchestra stage setup schemes can there possibly be?" A great many, my friends. Scott wants the winds further upstage, closer to the front. I like that he is dynamic and wants to experiment. Erika (orchestra manager) uses home decorating software to diagram the different setups. Virtual chairs and pianos are alright, but there really isn't anything to represent the percussion gadgets, except for a rock-band-style drum kit and various geometric shapes. "Should we set up here? Let me see the diagram. Is that supposed to be a xylophone?" "Yeah, drum-set here, four circles there...."
We have night rehearsals these days. At one point the bassoons and contrabassoon were playing by themselves. The contra was blatting away, as contras do. Then the bassoons dropped out and the contra played a few bars on her own, very enthusiastically. It sounded so funny that I laughed out loud. Unfortunately I was the only one. I am in the back of the first violins and everyone turned and looked at me. Scott waited a few moments and said "Yes." Then everyone laughed and Scott continued "That was a laugh of encouragement."
On Wednesday morning there was another protest on Market Street. It seems like something or other is always being protested. There was incessant honking all morning, and Zoe said we should protest the protest: "Students Against Loud Noises". I could get into this.
I went to a concert of the Philharmonia Baroque, with Steven Isserlis as soloist. He's a joy to watch and listen to, with his long grey ringlets and expressive face. I was sitting between two old ladies. One of them told me about a Kreutzinger violin she had once donated to SFCM, and the other one gave me Altoids and said that once she told a doctor she suffered from O - L - D.
In chamber class Mack warned us that next week there will be some donors coming to watch the class. I guess they want to see where their money goes. He said "So, no throwing spitballs, getting into little fights and things like that. Just for next week".
The second group that played in class was doing the fugue from the Shostakovich piano quintet. They passed around scores. Maddy, Nick and I shared a score. At the top of the page was printed "Fuge/Fugue" and Nick exclaimed "Oh cool, a fudge fugue!!"
The third group that played in class was doing Janacek and as they were playing the lights in the hall began dimming and then went out. Everyone laughed. Some people got out their phones, and a few rushed up to the performers to shine light on their music.
We hosted Canadian Thanksgiving dinner at our apartment tonight. Some dozen people came, bringing food, wine and good cheer. We had a great time together, chatting, laughing, telling bad jokes, swapping myths and legends about Ian and trying to analyze his personality.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
- Antisocial Violinist
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