Yesterday included only one significant event, my lesson with Deirdre O'Donohue. It was my first lesson with her of the summer--not my first ever with her as I've been working with her on and off for almost two years now--and it was just the boost and direction I needed! As always, the lesson started with some pleasant conversation about this and that, my life and her life, and the ubiquitous joke about how I pronounce the word "no"--I guess she always gets a kick out of my northern "nOOO." I played the Chopin Etude op. 25 no. 2 for her and we quickly dove into adjusting my approach to the keyboard in a way that freed my facilities and allowed me to accomplish the technical demands of the piece more efficiently. After a couple hours of application at my Baldwin this morning, the results were stunning. With my metronome set to 40 bpm, I stepped my way through the work finding a relaxed and balanced position for every note and planned the intricate movements between these positions. The result of which--not including my neighbor's happiness from finally having enough of this awkwardly slow music--was a smooth and streamlined 'choreography' of the piece. The sounds exiting my Baldwin were now matching the ones I imagined in my mind.
I also played for her Debussy's "Girl with the Flaxen Hair" prelude. Perhaps with some hypothetical paint thinner, she adjusted the colors I was creating and helped me find the mechanics behind the sonorities that suited the piece a little more appropriately--turns out Debussy wasn't as German as I am. Finally, we tackled the exposition of the big Beethoven op. 7 sonata, a quirky piece that fits my wit and heritage wonderfully.
In the end, this lesson affirmed my decision of NYU as my graduate school of choice--not that I had been doubting it. I feel comfortable under the instruction of Deirdre and am very excited for the hard work and musical rewards to come. I find myself motivated by the air, sounds, and smell of this city as they meet me at my piano bench--actually a patio-furniture chair--through my window. I have the sense that the same streets I walk each day have been traveled by some of the world's most important musicians. This island feels to me like a Jerusalem and whether or not I make my way to stand on any of the greats' shoulders, it is comforting to know that I am in a place where so many have turned to continue such a great legacy.
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This gives me a nice segue into today's events. I practiced--here's where my father would add two more "practice, practice" for his always clever, once funny joke. It must have been 7 or 8 hours today behind the keyboard although it only felt like 2 or 3. While even 2 or 3 hours may seem like a lot, to the musicians--that doesn't include you, vocalists!--reading this, it is almost conservative. Around 5:30, my friend invited me to Yo Yo Ma's free concert in the park at 6:30. I quickly showered--it had been a while--and made my way to the park. Unfortunately, the grandstand was full and the view from the lawn behind it was severely blocked. Beyond that, he was appearing in a non-classical setting with some famous blues or something artists anyway. Regardless, I think I might have caught a glimpse at his figure! Well, we didn't stay long as this clearly was turning out to be something we hadn't envisioned, and calling our friend Saori, we met her and her dog Dolce along the walk to the river. A nice little cafe sits near the Pier i where we ordered some food and talked and entertained Dolce for 2 hours or so. The sun set behind New Jersey while we socialized, and although my dreams of hearing Yo Yo Ma's cello were, for the moment, crushed, the night turned out to be incredibly relaxing and enjoyable.
I am falling for this city already.
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