There is no way I can do justice to all the incredible things that have happened this week. I can’t remember what I’ve told whom, and don’t have time since I can’t even really figure out what all is in my schedule for this week! Suffice it to say it’s been busy, but good. Wednesday is my busiest day with classes. I had “instrumental workshop” with Ken Zuckerman, which was great! I’m not sure why that’s the title, but he worked with one student, teaching her a medieval tune by ear then playing around with the tune. They happened to be in E-minor, so I joined in on my whistle. That’s the way to teach a music class! I watched some of the advanced modal improvisation, but since I know little about Indian music I didn’t get too much out of it.
The evening’s improvisation and dance was quite fun and I was lucky enough to come into the good graces of the daughter of one of the dancers. For some reason she took to me, and I got to dance holding her hand and trying to understand her as she spoke to me adoringly between dances. Children are such a gift from heaven! Why can’t we silly adults learn to love with such abandon?
Thursday’s Indian modal improvisation class was ten times better than the first because I was able to follow so much more of what was going on. I was even able to understand the rules to one raga and improvise correctly (although shortly) in it on the right syllables. The big story of the day, however, is how I so casually treated the first application for grad school in my life. Ken had suggested I apply to the school, but I wasn’t sure and I thought the deadline was too soon to prepare for it (at that point it was a week). Thursday morning I decided to go for it if for no other reason than the experience. I really didn’t understand the application process (still don’t), but I prayed that God would either open the door wide or shut it and I’d be happy either way. I printed off my diploma copies and the application and did my best filling it out, then asked the inlingua teachers for help on the sections I didn’t understand. I still didn’t know which program to apply for, or even which instrument to apply in! How can one apply to graduate school like that? Somehow I got the silly idea to try so I went to the secretary and guess what? No problem? I can change the program of study easily. I can pick my instrument later since all medieval auditions are on the same day. I can even pay the application fee later when I’m sure I’m applying. I walked out of there in a daze. Is this really happening? Well, we’ve yet to see if I’ll pass the tests and if I’ll learn enough of an instrument to pass the audition. Ha! Whatever happens, happens! All I need now is someone to give me a bunch of money so that if I make it in I can come . . .
Friday I was absolutely walking on the air the whole 45min walk home. I met with a professor of medieval music who is willing to meet with me regularly to play and discuss medieval music. We hit off right away and the idea that I get 1 ½ hours with him every week is like a dream! He gave me lots of good advice and places to start looking, and showed me the little gem of a library that’s in the Schola building. I would never have guessed! Guess who’ll be holing herself up between classes to browse the shelves of books, many of which are in English!
Now my only problem is that with all these great opportunities and resources three months is looking pathetically short. That masters is looking very attractive . . .
Wait! The good news isn’t over yet. Saturday I had a great Baroque oboe lesson with Carol Wiesmann. She’s so sweet and claims her English isn’t good so we did most of the lesson in German. Sadly, the problems I’ve been having are partly due to equipment, so I’ll have to buy all new staples, but what else is new . . .
What was really great is that she not only acknowledged that I have a breathing problem, but she helped me find the solution! Instead of walking home on air, this time I walked home breathing it in deeply and naturally! My back didn’t hurt from the weight of my pack either. Of course it’s no quick-fix solution, but it opens my imagination and I have something to experiment with. Oh, how it helps my sound! It’ll be fun to try it on modern oboe as well. It sure helped my voice in church today. I went to BCF (Basel Christian Fellowship) again and met a bunch more people and I’m afraid I’m hooked. I’d planned to find a German speaking congregation for immersion purposes, but God had other plans. I can’t recall if I mentioned it, but last week I hadn’t planned to go to church (bad me) but I woke up and felt a strong call to go to BCF. I dressed and went, and you’ll recall how God blessed that day! Today we had communion and the service was great. I didn’t giggle at any hymns, but had plenty of joy (which sometimes might look the same from the outside) through the great ones we sang. The congregation really sang out, too. I had to lift my voice up in order to keep from raising my hands. I’ll make a personal note to Andy since he’s so faithful about reading my blog. You’ll be happy to know that God has worked through my deep problem with praise songs that I had in college. I’m still not their biggest fan, but the ones we sang today were good and done well. It was perhaps the first service I’ve seen where the mixture of musical genres actually worked. Kudos to Stephan for the great selection of songs and to Nils and Mary for their piano work.
I memorized half of St. Patrick’s Breastplate on the walk to church today (during which I saw a lady swimming in the Rhine!!) and I’ll always thinking of how my sister sings “tem-PE-stuous shocks” and then of course I picture her skipping down the isle to meet her groom. Love ya’ sis!
As I said I had great conversation with a number of BCF members after church. It’s so refreshing to have conversation after conversation that makes me think on what is good and beautiful.
I hope everyone had a blessed Sunday. I hope I won’t be posting for a few days because I have so much stuff I need to be doing. My day of rest is over and it’s time to attack Monday with renewed energy!
