A Triad of Beauty

First week back on campus after a relaxing Christmas break and after two days of syllabi monologues, I'm needing to think about some of the more beautiful things in life - that don't involve forced class discussions. *shudders*
Hey, I just took a little test that reaffirmed that I am definitely an introvert! Announce that we're having discussions every class and you might see me turn a shade paler as my mind immediately goes blank. If you were to give me a piece of paper and tell me to write out my thoughts I could do that easily - but talking out loud to an entire class? While I might ramble on for about five seconds that feel like 10 minutes, I almost never manage to say anything sensible.

Hopefully I'll improve that skill this semester! Goals, you know ;)

Okay. So the triad.

1. Genuine Interest

This might seem a bit odd, so let me explain. Back on campus you have the same conversation with everyone:

A: "Oh hey! Nice to see you - how was your break?"
B: "Hi! It was good - how was yours?"
A: "Good!"

Lots of exclamation points and smiling, but hardly any content. Just what exactly does "good" mean? Hardly anyone takes the time to find out. So when you have the time to pause and have a real conversation, filled with sincere interest in what the other person has to say and exchanging stories and ideas, it feels beautiful because you are actually forming a connection with that person - and all humans crave connection with others.

2. Fine Cuisine

One word that will make you cringe: Cafeteria.

I have been so spoiled all break by the delectable meals that my mom and sister make for me! (Okay, that made me sound lazy...which is mostly true when it comes to kitchens, but I do help occasionally!) Whether it was dark chocolate truffles, risotto, mom's homemade bread, or whatever interesting new dish that was tried, the food at home is always a treat to the senses. Returning to school where I'm never quite sure what is in the food and there's next to no flavor just reminds me of how blessed I am to have slightly more refined taste buds!

3. Practice Rooms

It made me smile to return to my practice room, greeting the shiny Steinway and setting the adjustable piano stool to the correct height. There's something so satisfying about playing in a tiny little room, knowing no one but you can really hear what you play. Oh, sure, technically the entire music department can probably hear that someone is practicing, but there's no guarantee that anyone is paying attention to notice the mistakes - or the sometimes surprisingly pretty phrases. I got my two hours in this morning, and while it was a struggle to stay motivated that long (I need to work my stamina back up) it was incredibly rewarding and I look forward to seeing how much I can improve this semester!

And there - three beautiful things that took much longer to explain than I intended. Now it's back to homework and probably some socializing before bed and another long day of classes tomorrow!


"Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine." ~Ludwig van Beethoven 

In Theory...

Oh, if I could only count how many puns have been made throughout my five semesters of music theory classes...one of my favorites has to be "I'll see you in theory!"

And that's one of the clever ones. :/

I've been thinking a lot about music theory this week. My mom finally had her "I told you so" speech that I've been waiting for, since when I was in high school she was convinced that I should be a music major long enough to study theory - she thought I'd love it, or at least love knowing how to use it.

Of course I didn't agree with her and continued on my merry way to be a musical theater/dance major. Oh, sure, I'd take the fundamentals class so I'd know the basics, but otherwise I didn't think I could handle being a music major. I didn't believe I was good enough, especially after having a few older siblings who had majored in music at some point. Oh, how I have learned.

The first day of music theory we had to take a placement test, an assessment of how much we already knew with a possibility of testing out of the class to advance more quickly.
I maybe knew a couple of things, like durations and key signatures. Most of the test I left blank and I was panicking. This was never going to work, I didn't know music theory at all! When I turned in my test, the teacher told me "Oh, yes. You're in the right place."

Maybe that was supposed to make me feel better. All I knew was that I felt like an idiot for not already knowing theory and I formed a goal to learn all I could in that class.

First semester freshman year was stressful - I was extremely busy with my theater and dance focus, but the one class I took the most seriously was music theory. Oh, the nights I spent staying up late, agonizing over rhythm until the inevitable breakdown into tears... Even though I was consistently getting A's on the homework assignments, I was still convinced that I was bad at this.

Then one day I was the last person in the classroom, still checking over an assignment before going to my next class. My teacher came up to me and, upon seeing what I was clearly still puzzling over, he said "You don't need to worry about this. You're really good at theory." Gives me a quizzical look.  "What's your major again?"

Maybe he didn't mean it that way, but the words were like music (ha!) to my ears. It was almost as if he had given me permission to see myself as a musician, telling me that I could succeed if I just kept trying.

It was a turning point in my career. At the end of the semester I talked to him and switched to music as my major, and I have never regretted it. Thriving in theory, delighting in my piano lessons, and looking forward to choir every day, it is a lifestyle that I truly enjoy. I work hard - just this past semester I pulled two all-nighters in a row to get my music finals completed - but the work is always rewarding.

Now I have made it through all my theory classes for my undergraduate. There is a possibility of my being able to help tutor students next year, which has me excited. Even though I'm done taking classes in theory, however, I will always be able to use it. Today I started analyzing a piece that I'm working on for piano, and my mom could tell you I was sitting there with a pencil and my music, scribbling all over, exclaiming every now and then with an "aha!" or "oh, for cool!" as I geeked out over the Medtner piece.

Why do I now love theory? Well, for years I didn't know theory and I tried to play piano anyway, making it up when I didn't quite understand what was going on in the music. Now that I have the knowledge, playing is made so much simpler. Of course practice helps that, too, but understanding how music is written and the technicalities used by the composer are extremely useful tidbits of information when attempting to learn to play a lengthy composition. It's also exciting that something I have been working so hard to comprehend is now able to be a tool that I can use, in a way giving back some of what I poured into it.

Theoretically, music is one of the best life decisions I have made so far :)


"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off  of you." ~Maya Angelou  

Anticipation of a Happy New Year

I'm a little out of practice at blogging, so forgive me if this comes across as a bit cheesy. I often tell people I don't really plan these posts - I just write what's on my mind.

And right now the new year, 2015, is on my mind. 2015 and all it's promise and delightful mysteries that I look forward to unraveling.

While I have expectations of certain things this new year will hold, ultimately it's impossible to know exactly what will happen and I find that both intriguing and slightly scary. Here I am, halfway through my junior year at college, starting to wonder about what I'll do with the rest of my life and not knowing what my plan is.

But that's okay. I usually don't have a plan - I prefer to let God write my story. And so far he has done an excellent job of that, so I see no reason to try and take over now. Oh, of course I'll make some plans, but I usually don't get too attached to my ideas - I know my plans will never measure up to what He might have in mind for me, and I'd rather not miss the opportunities if I'm too focused on what I think is a good plan.

Usually.

That's doesn't mean I don't still make tons of lists and attempts to invent a plan for myself. Making lists is one of my favorite activities, you know!

Which is why it was so fun to form goals for the new year. Listing reasons to motivate me to better myself and my lifestyle so as to be healthier and happier in the long run. Here are some that I am most looking forward to implementing:

Spiritual:
~Reading "Magnificat" to maintain daily prayer time.
~Attending daily Mass at least three times a week throughout the school year.

Intellectual:
~Staying motivated in studies - as in, do the required reading on time and accomplish tasks without having to pull all-nighters.
~Diligently practice piano (since I'm a performance major now, I must stay focused!)

Physical:
~Come up with an exercise plan and stick to it! Running, abs, and stretching should be on a daily rotational schedule.
~Get enough sleep - no, an average of five hours was not enough last semester, so I must maintain a bedtime and get at least six hour per night.
~And eating enough food...people get concerned when I start shaking during the middle of the day.

Knowing myself, I will struggle with keeping up all of these (especially the getting enough sleep one!) but I'm feeling motivated and ready to try my best and hopefully be a bit less stressed because of a more balanced lifestyle.

There is so much to look forward to - I must be ready for it!


"You never know what's around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain." ~Tom Hiddleston

The Arrow is Green

While I have never actually read a comic book in my life, I do have a love for movies or shows about superheroes. Some examples that I have enjoyed include Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, the CW's Smallville, and The Amazing Spiderman (although I always liked the trilogy starring Toby Maguire, too.) 

Now I am sucked into the world of Arrow, a newer series on the CW. So far I'm a little over halfway through season 1, and it is intense. 

Why do I like this show? Besides having a compelling storyline with twists and turns that keep me guessing and characters that I have grown to love, it also has a great soundtrack - which was actually the inspiration for this post. 

The theme music is awesome! It gives me a little thrill every time. Have a listen and enjoy :) 

"To live I had to make myself more than what I was, to forge myself into a weapon. I am returning not the boy who was shipwrecked, but the man who will bring justice to those who have poisoned my city. My name is Oliver Queen." ~Oliver from Arrow

Saturday Adventures

Last Saturday I went for a 4-mile walk with friends around a nearby lake in the morning and explored a cave that same afternoon.

Yesterday I went running in the morning, hiked up a steep hill to see a magnificent view, and later walked up into the bluffs to enjoy a bonfire.

Apparently Saturday is my day for relaxing time spent outside, with friends, doing spontaneous activities.

I actually remembered to take my camera along yesterday, though, and got some shots of the beauty that is this area. Sharing is fun :)

The hike up had some rough terrain - this picture looks relatively tame compared to some of the spots we had to navigate.
I definitely used some muscles that don't get every-day use, let's just say. 

The view on the way up was already making the climb worth it. So much green!

There's a picture of the lake I walked around last weekend! It didn't seem that big when we were walking, but from above it looks pretty huge. 

Sitting on the ledge, taking in the view. 

My friend decided to try out her skills as a rock-climber. She didn't go very far, but I didn't feel compelled to follow her example. I'm not that daring!  

This guy, though, had all the right equipment and was having a good ol' time. I snuck a picture because I thought it was cool. 

Some really neat rocks and formations on this hill. 

Sunshine is always beautiful :)

So that was my afternoon yesterday. I didn't accomplish any homework yesterday, which is causing me some nerves today, but it was such a glorious day. I have decided that Saturday's can be my day of rest, since Sunday's I always sing choir for church and accompany, and then tons of homework has to happen so it's actually not a restful day. 

It's not always easy to take a break, but I think it's the responsible thing to do. 

And you get to see some pretty things when you take the time to look :) 

"Why not seize the pleasure at once? -- How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!" ~Jane Austen, Emma 

A Triad of Beauty

It has been almost a month since I first posted a triad of beauty, and you can read about why I started it here. My instincts are telling me it is time for another grouping!

1. Dreams

I'm talking about aspirations, about ideas that excite you and make you want to work with all your might to achieve them. My dreams are constantly in a state of change and refinement, and lately I've been questioning what my true dreams really are. The whole idea of dreams is mesmerizing to me. 

2. Impromptu 

Calling up a friend just to see if they want to go hiking or explore a cave with you; Having coffee at midnight with your roommate to have a study party; Saying yes to crazy ideas, just to live life and have new experiences. These and many more examples of living in the moment. 

3. Sound waves 

What if we didn't have sound? Wouldn't that be some sort of nightmare. The  most particular example of sound is music. However, there are limitless examples of how sound effects us every day, and all possible because of how sound works. Yes, physics of sound freaks me out, but when I am singing in choir I absolutely love the effects that are possible because Someone created sound. 

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The Thrill of Ambition

So, I wrote this post a week ago, then thought I needed to tweak it before posting it. After looking over it again, I made a few small fixes but want to share it - even if a couple of dates are outdated.

~ ~ ~

Friends, I am often thrilled.

Is this because I am never sad? Do bad things never happen to me? Am I unaware of the struggles of the world?

The answer to all of these questions is no. Sad, bad, and mad things are happening every day.

We can talk about how I cope with all that later, when I go off on a tangent about positive thinking and the benefits to your health (yes, I just read a chapter about that in my psychology textbook).

For now, I want to explain my findings on the topic of ambition.

These findings are relatively new ideas, so bear with me.

I've been at college for exactly one week now. Has it really been only a week? Time flies here! I'll take that as a sign that I am in the right place.

In that week, so many things have happened! I have started all my classes, switched my schedule around, begun a new job, auditioned for (and got into!) choir, discussed future plans with professors, hung out with friends, decorated a dorm room, and gone shopping.

It has been a busy week. I didn't even mention everything.

On to the point.

As I begin classes, I find myself becoming so excited about the materials and eager to learn. Picking up my theater history books, I opened them with a sense of wonder and delight to be learning about something that I view as fun - for a class! Starting my new job, I sort through stacks of old musical scores, glancing through composers and instrument names and stopping to admire especially interesting pieces before setting it on a new pile. Greeting friends, we make plans for the future and enjoy the present moments of fellowship.

What is this ambition word that made it into my title? Well.

I find that when I have things to look forward to, I am a much happier person. And lately, I have a lot of things to look forward to. Part of the reason for that is having ambition.

Ambition, as defined in the Oxford Dictionary: "A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work."

Things I am feeling particularly ambitious about:

~Classes. Learning the materials. Applying new concepts to my life. Achieving good grades and enjoying the learning process.

~Music. Commitment to practice times. Enjoyment of said practice times when possible. Freedom of expression in performance.

~Organization. Keeping track of my multitude of events in my planner but also internalizing what needs to be done and eliminating procrastination in my life.

~Serenity. Maintaining a sense of calm, avoiding stress when possible. Take everything that happens with a grain of salt, as it were, and remember that ultimately I want to get to heaven and everything that happens down here is just a blip on the road to eternal paradise.

~Friendship. Being a loving person who always has time for the fabulous people that enter into my life.

That's just a sampling, but you get the idea. I'm excited about the possibilities and intend to work hard to achieve them.


"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." ~Mark Twain