... on my bachelor project. it pretty much takes up most of my free hours, I'm organising players, rehearsals and recording dates and trying to arrange at full speed. While I have lots of ideas for pieces which I try to blend into songs (or whatever the word is for these little tunes), I find it very hard to concentrate on the whole. I know that I want a good concert, which means: I want to show solid and somewhat idiomatic jazz piano playing, but I want the sparks too, I would like to take first steps in the direction of my own personal voice, whatever this may mean.
I would like to include strings, which sounds a little off, doesn't it - I'm a pianist and I already have a guitar on board, too! But still - the sound of a string quartet is very different, and I hope to combine all of those instruments in a convincing way.
It is also very hard, in my opinion, to include meaning, without it sounding cheesy or naive - it would just be nice to be able to express something. I guess you can't play well without some kind of an urge, but how to communicate this to people in the audience maybe not used to jazz, is at the moment beyond me.
So, lots of questions, as always, which will maybe dissolve by time, and of course, while thinking can't hurt, too much of it most definitely can.
But it's really fun, too! It's a project, my first real grown-up musical project! Any tips from anywhere very welcome!
2010/11/05
2010/09/29
A Day In The Life- Appendix
I was wrong! My day didn't end with laundry or cooking. I got a phone call from my father, who invited me to come and eat cheese fondue - he was just coming back from a hike on a swiss mountain, 4000 meter or 13123.32 foot high, with two of my brothers. So I went home, ate lots of fluid cheese and looked at pictures of the day they'd had - try to think of the bluest the sky can be, and the whitest the mountains, add some sweat, homemade sandwiches and cool mammut outdoor wear, and there you go!
Every word of this is true!
For dessert we had some Ben and Jerry's, which is all the rage here now, so no, we're not lost in our little swiss ways. Don't you worry!
Every word of this is true!
For dessert we had some Ben and Jerry's, which is all the rage here now, so no, we're not lost in our little swiss ways. Don't you worry!
A Day In The Life
I'm in the library of the jazz school right now and doing something illegal, or frowned upon, or taboo! I'm writing. All around me, saxophones are blown, drums are being worked on, people are singing or humming or tapping or clicking. It's a maddening atmosphere. The air is full of promise, so many talented people, some playing all day long, or so it seems, some quickly pouring coffee down their throats before getting back to their mini-practise-labs.
This morning, in the train, I put a 15/8meter beat on my laptop, practised crossfading rhythms on my way to the bus, and in the bus listened to two songs by Avishai Cohen, at school I practised for a while, got carried away, and forgot a meeting with a teacher. Later, in a arctic-cold room, I listened to another teacher talking about some new assignment, we'll have to do five reharmonizations of tunes, play them, solo over them and record them. In ten minutes, I'll go practise some more, then I'll have my piano lesson, will look at the 15/8-beat again, listen to some more Avishai Cohen, maybe do some arranging on the computer on the train, and will be home at about 5pm. Then I'll listen to John Coltrane: Coltrane and Cannonball, will briefly write about it for another assignment. At 7pm sharp, I'll stop working, and slowly my feet will touch ground again: I'll have to do laundry, do some cooking and cleaning, and maybe later I'll see the Paraglider who is playing a gig tonight.
That's just for today, but days are rather similar. I'm often wondering not only about other people's lives, but also about their day-to-day routine, I mean: how exactly does a day go for a police man? Or a social worker?
This morning, in the train, I put a 15/8meter beat on my laptop, practised crossfading rhythms on my way to the bus, and in the bus listened to two songs by Avishai Cohen, at school I practised for a while, got carried away, and forgot a meeting with a teacher. Later, in a arctic-cold room, I listened to another teacher talking about some new assignment, we'll have to do five reharmonizations of tunes, play them, solo over them and record them. In ten minutes, I'll go practise some more, then I'll have my piano lesson, will look at the 15/8-beat again, listen to some more Avishai Cohen, maybe do some arranging on the computer on the train, and will be home at about 5pm. Then I'll listen to John Coltrane: Coltrane and Cannonball, will briefly write about it for another assignment. At 7pm sharp, I'll stop working, and slowly my feet will touch ground again: I'll have to do laundry, do some cooking and cleaning, and maybe later I'll see the Paraglider who is playing a gig tonight.
That's just for today, but days are rather similar. I'm often wondering not only about other people's lives, but also about their day-to-day routine, I mean: how exactly does a day go for a police man? Or a social worker?
2010/09/13
Let's Build A Jazz Metropolis
Reading the paper today I found out two things. One: Switzerland is going to be "full" in 2020: people will have to cram themselves in small spaces, by military order buildings everywhere will receive ten floors more, no one except the highest political ranks will be allowed to eat meat (cows take away lots of space, and their empty barns will prove to be very useful), which will lead to a once again changed beauty ideal: the richest will be the only ones fat ergo fat bellies will once again be sexy.
Seriously, it's going to be a problem, but what a luxury problem: swiss people aren't used to live in high buildings, they need their little garden to put the garden gnomes in - looking for an appartment during the last few weeks I've found out how much this is true! I just couldn't live in a skyscraper (okay: 15 floors!), standing on the balcony makes me dizzy, and there are just too many people around... man, we really live in a little world of our own!
And the second thing I learned today: according to a an us survey, ten million people all over the world would like to immigrate to Switzerland. Wow! It brought me to think: musicians all over the world love to play in Switzerland, because of the good and warm food and the hotel beds. Apparently, jazz musicians in America aren't used to such a service. Well, okay! Everyone of you jazz musicians, come here! We'll choose a secluded valley somewhere, build an autarkic city, have our concert halls, make cheese and sausages, and maybe even create our own traditional costume? Won't we all live happily everafter?
Would be much easier for the government, too: everyone of them supervised with just one helicopter flight- They could even drop foodbags and social security cards all at once!
But look: it's not all perfect!
Seriously, it's going to be a problem, but what a luxury problem: swiss people aren't used to live in high buildings, they need their little garden to put the garden gnomes in - looking for an appartment during the last few weeks I've found out how much this is true! I just couldn't live in a skyscraper (okay: 15 floors!), standing on the balcony makes me dizzy, and there are just too many people around... man, we really live in a little world of our own!
And the second thing I learned today: according to a an us survey, ten million people all over the world would like to immigrate to Switzerland. Wow! It brought me to think: musicians all over the world love to play in Switzerland, because of the good and warm food and the hotel beds. Apparently, jazz musicians in America aren't used to such a service. Well, okay! Everyone of you jazz musicians, come here! We'll choose a secluded valley somewhere, build an autarkic city, have our concert halls, make cheese and sausages, and maybe even create our own traditional costume? Won't we all live happily everafter?
Would be much easier for the government, too: everyone of them supervised with just one helicopter flight- They could even drop foodbags and social security cards all at once!
But look: it's not all perfect!
2010/09/04
How Small The Worlds
I'm going to risk a few generalizing statements today. Playing with people studying at another jazz school than I last week, and talking about plans for the (professional) future, I realized once again how strongly jazz musicians are influenced by their upbringing, meaning their educational environment. I guess it's human to orientate yourself, wherever you are, to the leading ideas.
In my jazz school there is a rather international vibe. A lot of the teachers have studied in Berklee, or Graz, and we have many masterclasses by jazz stars such as Mark Turner, Eric Harland, or Esperanza Spalding. The best students talk about their plans to study abroad after the bachelor's degree. There is idealism in every corner. People are talking about getting better, about bands, and cd projects, and getting reassured by the teachers who have led very interesting lifes. Discussions about money, about the future and about a job are very rare.
In the other jazz school, the leading subject seems to be different - I've found a more down-to-earth approach. Of course people talk about getting better and their cd projects, too. But a lot of the people put an end to their jazz studies after the bachelor. One statement that I've heard more than once is that with a master's degree in performance you don't have a profession, and with a master's in composition you'll just end up writing for carnival groups (called Guggenmusik in Switzerland). If you want to be a teacher, you will study pedagogy, but if not, you'd better try to find a job that guarantees some financial stability and practice your instrument on your own. I have never heard statements like these in my jazz school.
There are a lot of other differences. For example, a subject I will elaborate on a later date, in the city I live in there is a large jazz scene. Newcomers can play in lots of restaurants or small bars, gig that are neither paid well nor attended by many people, but still, there is often more than one jazz concert a night. In the city I study in there are much fewer jazz locations, jazz concerts concentrate in one bar, open from wednesday to saturday.
I'm often astonished how quickly a rather self-orientated, self-sufficient subscene can build itself, and how quickly you find yourself believing that in there, you'll find the truth - not knowing that just a hundred kilometres away, there is a very similar subscene holding on to a totally different set of truths.
I guess I'm in a good position - studying there and living here!
In my jazz school there is a rather international vibe. A lot of the teachers have studied in Berklee, or Graz, and we have many masterclasses by jazz stars such as Mark Turner, Eric Harland, or Esperanza Spalding. The best students talk about their plans to study abroad after the bachelor's degree. There is idealism in every corner. People are talking about getting better, about bands, and cd projects, and getting reassured by the teachers who have led very interesting lifes. Discussions about money, about the future and about a job are very rare.
In the other jazz school, the leading subject seems to be different - I've found a more down-to-earth approach. Of course people talk about getting better and their cd projects, too. But a lot of the people put an end to their jazz studies after the bachelor. One statement that I've heard more than once is that with a master's degree in performance you don't have a profession, and with a master's in composition you'll just end up writing for carnival groups (called Guggenmusik in Switzerland). If you want to be a teacher, you will study pedagogy, but if not, you'd better try to find a job that guarantees some financial stability and practice your instrument on your own. I have never heard statements like these in my jazz school.
There are a lot of other differences. For example, a subject I will elaborate on a later date, in the city I live in there is a large jazz scene. Newcomers can play in lots of restaurants or small bars, gig that are neither paid well nor attended by many people, but still, there is often more than one jazz concert a night. In the city I study in there are much fewer jazz locations, jazz concerts concentrate in one bar, open from wednesday to saturday.
I'm often astonished how quickly a rather self-orientated, self-sufficient subscene can build itself, and how quickly you find yourself believing that in there, you'll find the truth - not knowing that just a hundred kilometres away, there is a very similar subscene holding on to a totally different set of truths.
I guess I'm in a good position - studying there and living here!
2010/08/24
Prisoner Of Her Passion
I saw an interview in a magazine today, with a ballet dancer from New York. Beyond doubt, a a) dancer who lives in b) New York must be the coolest person in the world! Yet she said:
"I wouldn't want for my children to become dancers. It's too hard. Every day, you have to face yourself in the mirror; you can't concentrate on what is good, only on what's bad, the mistakes. And perfection won't ever be achieved.
I love dancing, and I hate it. I suppose I love it more than I hate it, or else I would have stopped dancing until now."
Hello sister! (even if being a ballet dancer is in my opinion much harder than being a jazz student!) The piano is my passion, yet there is sometimes such a thin line between, let's just say, happiness and anger. People often tell me how great it is that I can pursue my passion, and I wholeheartedly agree! But (as it is with any other occupation) there are very mixed emotions involved.
I love and hate it basically for the same reason. I love that a part of my life will never be over or finished, there will always be music to listen to, people to find out about, and technique to be learnt. And with a constant anger underneath I also hate it: there will always be this striving, always people who play better, write better, and I hate that it won't ever be over, ever. And I hate that I dedicate myself to a "nothingness", and I love that I chose a discipline to dig deep into. And I hate the very practical aspect about it: if you don't practise, you lose your abilities very quickly, you snooze you lose, and I love the feeling of achievement after practising, and I hate to do something useless, and I love the freedom it gives me.
I don't mean to lament. It comes with the deal. But it's great to know that other people have thoughts like that. This is how Inna, the ballet dancer from New York, concluded the interview:
"I don't know what comes after death, but there has to be something. I just hope I won't have to dance any more!"
"I wouldn't want for my children to become dancers. It's too hard. Every day, you have to face yourself in the mirror; you can't concentrate on what is good, only on what's bad, the mistakes. And perfection won't ever be achieved.
I love dancing, and I hate it. I suppose I love it more than I hate it, or else I would have stopped dancing until now."
Hello sister! (even if being a ballet dancer is in my opinion much harder than being a jazz student!) The piano is my passion, yet there is sometimes such a thin line between, let's just say, happiness and anger. People often tell me how great it is that I can pursue my passion, and I wholeheartedly agree! But (as it is with any other occupation) there are very mixed emotions involved.
I love and hate it basically for the same reason. I love that a part of my life will never be over or finished, there will always be music to listen to, people to find out about, and technique to be learnt. And with a constant anger underneath I also hate it: there will always be this striving, always people who play better, write better, and I hate that it won't ever be over, ever. And I hate that I dedicate myself to a "nothingness", and I love that I chose a discipline to dig deep into. And I hate the very practical aspect about it: if you don't practise, you lose your abilities very quickly, you snooze you lose, and I love the feeling of achievement after practising, and I hate to do something useless, and I love the freedom it gives me.
I don't mean to lament. It comes with the deal. But it's great to know that other people have thoughts like that. This is how Inna, the ballet dancer from New York, concluded the interview:
"I don't know what comes after death, but there has to be something. I just hope I won't have to dance any more!"
2010/08/17
A Musician's Doping
In my short essay about jazz above (I compare playing jazz to going away on a holiday - practising like packing systematically makes sure you'll be prepared for anything), I state that jazz is primarily an intuitive art form. Trusting on skills and knowledge only as pillars, with freedom in mind, it's about expressing something.
And it's amazing how intuition can be trained!
Yesterday, I listened to different piano players for hours. If I liked a tune, I listened to it repeatedly. But I didn't play anything.
Today, as I started my daily practising routine, I heard me playing differently. Somehow, ideas, melodies, chords, and most of all, phrasing from the really great cats, had made their way into my brain, and parts of it came out through my fingers. Isn't that unbelievably cool? You can play better by doing absolutely nothing!
Of course, I know, I know: it won't last. Much like a common doping, the effect decreases. But it's still great to know that there's a way to trick your brain into playing better, without effort, without thinking even (what a pity, I like to do that so much). I've used this effect in the end of the semester before my piano lesson. Afterwards, I felt relaxed and inspired, which made me sound really good (my teacher said that).
Unfortunately, this knowledge has to be renewed often, in my case at least - I often practise more than I listen to music, because as a good swiss girl, I'm trained to believe that only effort and hard work can lead to success...
A picture of what went into the bin after my second year of jazz studies. Another thing I like to do since I'm swiss: to clean out!
And it's amazing how intuition can be trained!
Yesterday, I listened to different piano players for hours. If I liked a tune, I listened to it repeatedly. But I didn't play anything.
Today, as I started my daily practising routine, I heard me playing differently. Somehow, ideas, melodies, chords, and most of all, phrasing from the really great cats, had made their way into my brain, and parts of it came out through my fingers. Isn't that unbelievably cool? You can play better by doing absolutely nothing!
Of course, I know, I know: it won't last. Much like a common doping, the effect decreases. But it's still great to know that there's a way to trick your brain into playing better, without effort, without thinking even (what a pity, I like to do that so much). I've used this effect in the end of the semester before my piano lesson. Afterwards, I felt relaxed and inspired, which made me sound really good (my teacher said that).
Unfortunately, this knowledge has to be renewed often, in my case at least - I often practise more than I listen to music, because as a good swiss girl, I'm trained to believe that only effort and hard work can lead to success...
A picture of what went into the bin after my second year of jazz studies. Another thing I like to do since I'm swiss: to clean out!
2010/08/11
I'm A Pool To Want You
Browsing through the master library of my realbooks (containing the best known tunes used in jazz music), I found this cutest of all typing errors. He's actually a fool to want her in the song. But wouldn't a pool who wants something make a really nice children's book?
Two encounters I made in the past few days, which I'd like to describe because they're kind of stereotypical.
The first one: on an office break, somebody shyly brought up the subject of jazz, because of me of course. She said: so you play jazz? There aren't lots of people interested in that, are there?
How nicely put! I added that in fact, there weren't many, and let out my typical self-irony-ridden-speech, which brought the others to say: no, actually, I don't dislike jazz, I really like it, as a background for parties!
Which, if a jazz musician is really honest, isn't the best professional perspective, but it's nice to know people like it...
And the second situation: on a party, after someone introduced me as a jazz pianist, a woman came to me and avidly asked me about my studies, my practising and my perspectives, and was really interested. She, as an amateur classical cellist, said she thought it must be incredibly hard to improvise like that, and couldn't imagine what kind of pillars one had to hold on to, what to consider, and how to listen to each other.
Which made me feel warm and fuzzy. My career's interesting!
Often I can't believe why I really hold on to this, why I practise so much for so few people interested, how much work is necessary for the kind of career I'm expecting. But on the other hand, not many people know it, or like it, and not many people can study music like that, which makes it interesting. An aspect I kind of like... So I guess I really am a "Pool" to want to do this jazz stuff. But a least a special one?
Two encounters I made in the past few days, which I'd like to describe because they're kind of stereotypical.
The first one: on an office break, somebody shyly brought up the subject of jazz, because of me of course. She said: so you play jazz? There aren't lots of people interested in that, are there?
How nicely put! I added that in fact, there weren't many, and let out my typical self-irony-ridden-speech, which brought the others to say: no, actually, I don't dislike jazz, I really like it, as a background for parties!
Which, if a jazz musician is really honest, isn't the best professional perspective, but it's nice to know people like it...
And the second situation: on a party, after someone introduced me as a jazz pianist, a woman came to me and avidly asked me about my studies, my practising and my perspectives, and was really interested. She, as an amateur classical cellist, said she thought it must be incredibly hard to improvise like that, and couldn't imagine what kind of pillars one had to hold on to, what to consider, and how to listen to each other.
Which made me feel warm and fuzzy. My career's interesting!
Often I can't believe why I really hold on to this, why I practise so much for so few people interested, how much work is necessary for the kind of career I'm expecting. But on the other hand, not many people know it, or like it, and not many people can study music like that, which makes it interesting. An aspect I kind of like... So I guess I really am a "Pool" to want to do this jazz stuff. But a least a special one?
2010/08/05
Gwilym Is Not An Elb He's Just From Wales
Just one of these days!
I mean- it's great to have a job I really like, which gives me the faintest idea of being able to achieve something real. And I love to practise in the morning to get my share of crazy jazz stuff, and to go to work in the afternoon like a normal person. But I also love the (rare) days when I have no other obligations than to practise.
So that's how I find myself today: really bad weather outside, wearing a cozy jumper, checking out new jazz releases.
The reason for this entry is that I discovered Gwilym Simcock today, a name that instantly went into my "important-musicians-or-just-stuff-I-like-notebook. He is one of these new stars on the jazz firmament so easily checked out thanks to the internet. Just twenty-nine, he already recorded four albums, the newest of them will be released on August 10th. He has two trios, a quartet (with Steve Swallow), a quintet and a bigband, and is very active as a composer, for orchestras and choirs, amongst others. He has first studied classical music and then jazz, and still plays both. Apparently he is already rather well known and has won several important prizes. I'm sure that his is a name to keep in mind!
I mean- it's great to have a job I really like, which gives me the faintest idea of being able to achieve something real. And I love to practise in the morning to get my share of crazy jazz stuff, and to go to work in the afternoon like a normal person. But I also love the (rare) days when I have no other obligations than to practise.
So that's how I find myself today: really bad weather outside, wearing a cozy jumper, checking out new jazz releases.
The reason for this entry is that I discovered Gwilym Simcock today, a name that instantly went into my "important-musicians-or-just-stuff-I-like-notebook. He is one of these new stars on the jazz firmament so easily checked out thanks to the internet. Just twenty-nine, he already recorded four albums, the newest of them will be released on August 10th. He has two trios, a quartet (with Steve Swallow), a quintet and a bigband, and is very active as a composer, for orchestras and choirs, amongst others. He has first studied classical music and then jazz, and still plays both. Apparently he is already rather well known and has won several important prizes. I'm sure that his is a name to keep in mind!
2010/08/02
Audreys Fault
moving fast! the week of the wows.
a week ago, I was preparing for a cozy night at home with Audrey Hepburns movie Sabrina, eating junkfood and grinning, as I admittedly sometimes do when alone, with bliss. One hour into the evening, The Paraglider knocked on my door, told me he just came off the phone with his landlord who told him to move out (long story). Wow one.
Yesterday, I came home from a quick holiday with my girlfriends which was so much fun!!, and once again was really looking forward to the whole cozy night home idea, the same Audrey Hepburn movie and chocolate awaiting... when The Paraglider told me he was home. And how did I find him? In bed, with one elephant-sized foot and crutches, his first paragliding accident. Wow two.
Between being practical and nursy, cooking and going to the drugstore, and being scared to death once again of what could happen to paragliders besides a torn ligament, I managed to play the piano for one hour, the first one after my month of recreation. In these sixty minutes, I thought of nothing else, learned a standard (ironically: "This will be my shining hour"!) and wrote a little piece. Which I might call Audreys Fault. Because let's be honest: I'll never watch Sabrina, who knows what might happen next?!
a week ago, I was preparing for a cozy night at home with Audrey Hepburns movie Sabrina, eating junkfood and grinning, as I admittedly sometimes do when alone, with bliss. One hour into the evening, The Paraglider knocked on my door, told me he just came off the phone with his landlord who told him to move out (long story). Wow one.
Yesterday, I came home from a quick holiday with my girlfriends which was so much fun!!, and once again was really looking forward to the whole cozy night home idea, the same Audrey Hepburn movie and chocolate awaiting... when The Paraglider told me he was home. And how did I find him? In bed, with one elephant-sized foot and crutches, his first paragliding accident. Wow two.
Between being practical and nursy, cooking and going to the drugstore, and being scared to death once again of what could happen to paragliders besides a torn ligament, I managed to play the piano for one hour, the first one after my month of recreation. In these sixty minutes, I thought of nothing else, learned a standard (ironically: "This will be my shining hour"!) and wrote a little piece. Which I might call Audreys Fault. Because let's be honest: I'll never watch Sabrina, who knows what might happen next?!
2010/07/26
Coltrane does the trick
Every one know this feeling. It creeps into your soul, digs its sticky fingers into your intestines and slowly makes you feel cold, or lonely, or scared, or just worried. It might be about the end of something, or the start, about the future - or just an undefined unease. It's an unrequested visitor in thoughts, who often won't go after coffee...
Now what we jazz aficionado have in common is the love for an unusual kind of music, that invents and reinvents itself, that moves forward and requires a lot of the listeners, empathy with the players, persistence, and curiosity. We listen to it with open ears and minds and often get something quite undescribable out of it. It's almost like a force outside of everyday life, as if there will always be a backdoor to the daily routine.
Now there are blue moments that require even more than that. Moments when the mind is too lazy to try to figure out things, and they just ought to be beautifully presented on a platter. For moments like that, there is a jazz piece from John Coltrane. Of course - we all know that he was a genius, a thinker and a reformist. But of course he had a heart too, and so I can only recommend to anyone who has ever felt a bit low, to please listen to "I want to talk about you", from Soultrane, 1958 on Prestige, with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Arthur Taylor!
Now what we jazz aficionado have in common is the love for an unusual kind of music, that invents and reinvents itself, that moves forward and requires a lot of the listeners, empathy with the players, persistence, and curiosity. We listen to it with open ears and minds and often get something quite undescribable out of it. It's almost like a force outside of everyday life, as if there will always be a backdoor to the daily routine.
Now there are blue moments that require even more than that. Moments when the mind is too lazy to try to figure out things, and they just ought to be beautifully presented on a platter. For moments like that, there is a jazz piece from John Coltrane. Of course - we all know that he was a genius, a thinker and a reformist. But of course he had a heart too, and so I can only recommend to anyone who has ever felt a bit low, to please listen to "I want to talk about you", from Soultrane, 1958 on Prestige, with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Arthur Taylor!
2010/07/16
Marilyn's frigidaire
I'm through with love, I'll never fall again, said adieu to love, don't ever call again.
For I must have you or no one, and so I'm through with love.
I've locked my heart, I'll keep my feelings there, I have stocked my heart, with icy, frigid air.
And I mean to care for no one, because I'm through with love.
Yesterday I watched a Frasier episode (yes, really!), where Frasier Crane is once again frustrated about not being able to find a woman, and he feels so desperate that he starts to play this old standard (famous since Marilyn Monroe in Some like it hot) on his grand piano. I immediately had to stop watching and start playing myself! I love these songs, their harmony speaks of a long lost time, there's always a harmonic happy ending.
I played it as a cheesy ballad type hotel bar (which is always great fun), and in double-time with a walking bass and stride, and fooled around with reharms. I found out something new: I only listened to the text half-consciously, so I always heard Ella or Nat sing about an icy frigidaire, which left me wondering about the very graphic text-style...
I talked about it to the Paraglider, which brought us to a (long!) discussion about how to interpret the second chord of the tune, Ab diminished (first turnaround: Fmaj7, Abdim, Gm7, C7), because it can't easily be interchanged with a dominant chord. Aren't we geeks? At least we're geeks together (would now be the perfect time to form a Star Trek sign?)
Something I've found which I think is hilariously funny: there's a new jazz festival in Switzerland, in St.Moritz, which is a meeting-point for the rich and the beautiful. Unfortunately, their press material doesn't live up to the standards this particular demographic must be used to. Two pictures got interchanged, which led to this:
I don't know who this is, but it certainly isn't brown-haired, slender and "glassless" Brad Mehldau...
For I must have you or no one, and so I'm through with love.
I've locked my heart, I'll keep my feelings there, I have stocked my heart, with icy, frigid air.
And I mean to care for no one, because I'm through with love.
Yesterday I watched a Frasier episode (yes, really!), where Frasier Crane is once again frustrated about not being able to find a woman, and he feels so desperate that he starts to play this old standard (famous since Marilyn Monroe in Some like it hot) on his grand piano. I immediately had to stop watching and start playing myself! I love these songs, their harmony speaks of a long lost time, there's always a harmonic happy ending.
I played it as a cheesy ballad type hotel bar (which is always great fun), and in double-time with a walking bass and stride, and fooled around with reharms. I found out something new: I only listened to the text half-consciously, so I always heard Ella or Nat sing about an icy frigidaire, which left me wondering about the very graphic text-style...
I talked about it to the Paraglider, which brought us to a (long!) discussion about how to interpret the second chord of the tune, Ab diminished (first turnaround: Fmaj7, Abdim, Gm7, C7), because it can't easily be interchanged with a dominant chord. Aren't we geeks? At least we're geeks together (would now be the perfect time to form a Star Trek sign?)
Something I've found which I think is hilariously funny: there's a new jazz festival in Switzerland, in St.Moritz, which is a meeting-point for the rich and the beautiful. Unfortunately, their press material doesn't live up to the standards this particular demographic must be used to. Two pictures got interchanged, which led to this:
I don't know who this is, but it certainly isn't brown-haired, slender and "glassless" Brad Mehldau...
2010/07/10
jazz ain't summer music
It isn't, don't you think? In Switzerland, the weather is great since two weeks. In Berne there are (next to bears!) a lot of great bathing spots - you can, by river, see the most important buildings, slowly and lazily floating by for twenty minutes, getting tanned and doing some sightseeing!
For a week now, I've been working, been paragliding (yay!) and eating lots of grilled food. Never ever have I touched a piano. While a break is necessary for wrists and psyche, I still wonder about the compatibility of jazz for hot and sweaty times. When I listen to music now, it's Jimi Hendrix or Janelle Monae or hip new indie bands. I just can't really imagine sitting through Aaron Parks or David Binney or "the old cats" now. Doesn't fit! Can't do that in a little summer dress or a bikini!
The paraglider doesn't agree. As soon as the sun goes down, he's in the mood for playing - which still rules out the hot hours of the day. I wonder what others think about that?
Picture for today: the music academy in Basel apparently is a hot address for classical musicians in Europe. People who actually have soloist careers ahead of them because they're one of a kind come to study here. So there are one of a kind instruments here, too. They are so extraordinary and holy and awesome that they can only be played on very extraordinary and holy occasions. One of which happened last week, it was the diploma ceremony. And since the jazz school belongs to the music academy, the jazz school big band had to play there. And since I'm the piano player in this big band....
Well. It actually meant that I was allowed to play this holy thing! Wow!
(To be honest: I have no idea how it sounds. In a big hall with a high ceiling, there can't be anything louder than a big band, neither I nor anybody else present heard a single sound out of the grand piano. Still! I was allowed to play it!)
For a week now, I've been working, been paragliding (yay!) and eating lots of grilled food. Never ever have I touched a piano. While a break is necessary for wrists and psyche, I still wonder about the compatibility of jazz for hot and sweaty times. When I listen to music now, it's Jimi Hendrix or Janelle Monae or hip new indie bands. I just can't really imagine sitting through Aaron Parks or David Binney or "the old cats" now. Doesn't fit! Can't do that in a little summer dress or a bikini!
The paraglider doesn't agree. As soon as the sun goes down, he's in the mood for playing - which still rules out the hot hours of the day. I wonder what others think about that?
Well. It actually meant that I was allowed to play this holy thing! Wow!
(To be honest: I have no idea how it sounds. In a big hall with a high ceiling, there can't be anything louder than a big band, neither I nor anybody else present heard a single sound out of the grand piano. Still! I was allowed to play it!)
2010/06/30
Hello summer!
Only a short one for today: it's over! Exams, concerts (well, almost: one left for tomorrow!) ended today.
A warm welcome to the summer break: two and a half months in which one will have to plan, or at least start thinking about, the next big thing to come: the bachelor project. Which people to play with. Concerts to plan, so that all the nice people who support me so much through my doubt-and-irony-ridden days will finally see what I'm doing. A network to be built, so that after the studies there will be contacts and ideas left. Wow, sounds serious already!
But let's not forget: hello summer! long weekends with my friends, and two weeks in Germany with The Paraglider. It's gonna be grrrrreat (isn't this what the Kellogs Tiger says in the US?)!
And lo and behold: two cheesy summer quotes, just for the sake of it:
In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams
A warm welcome to the summer break: two and a half months in which one will have to plan, or at least start thinking about, the next big thing to come: the bachelor project. Which people to play with. Concerts to plan, so that all the nice people who support me so much through my doubt-and-irony-ridden days will finally see what I'm doing. A network to be built, so that after the studies there will be contacts and ideas left. Wow, sounds serious already!
But let's not forget: hello summer! long weekends with my friends, and two weeks in Germany with The Paraglider. It's gonna be grrrrreat (isn't this what the Kellogs Tiger says in the US?)!
And lo and behold: two cheesy summer quotes, just for the sake of it:
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus
2010/06/24
A night at the opera, and: I almost did it!
I've just had a crazy week. Exam time is almost over, everything went well (very well even) until now. I am so unbelievably proud and happy - one week to go and I'll have finished my fourth semester as a jazz student. I did it! I did it, I DID IT! Now, and if only for practical reasons, deciding time is over. In one year, I'll have my bachelor of arts in jazz performance (just saying it out loud makes me proud, writing it down is even better!) One year. 32 weeks of lessons. Not so long any more, and stupid would I be, would I give up now. I'll still have to take one step after the other, and I'll still have to face doubts (appearing out of nowhere like whiny old-lady-ghosts). And: I won't know what the heck I'll do afterwards, how I'll face everyday life as a part-time jazz musician. But I guess I'll have my music degree after all!!
For christmas, The Paraglider had given me opera tickets for yesterday, "Der Freischütz" von Carl Maria von Weber. Me, almost presentable in a nice dress and boots, with drum sticks looking out of my bag, in the Zurich Opera House! Known for pretty conservative productions, nice old building, red carpets and balconies with a view over the Lake and the city - an evening out at the Zurich Opera is really quite the event. I loved it! The Paraglider and me did some pretty ignoble things like drinking out of the faucet in the toilet and ordering a McDonalds-menu not five minutes after the last curtain. And: it's forbidden to take pictures, but I still did it, rebel that I am.
The Paraglider has a natural ability to fit in environments like that, while I may for a second look like I do, but the next will with absolute certainty do something inappropriate. I know he has a great career as a cultural manager ahead of him, he really has all the potential!
For christmas, The Paraglider had given me opera tickets for yesterday, "Der Freischütz" von Carl Maria von Weber. Me, almost presentable in a nice dress and boots, with drum sticks looking out of my bag, in the Zurich Opera House! Known for pretty conservative productions, nice old building, red carpets and balconies with a view over the Lake and the city - an evening out at the Zurich Opera is really quite the event. I loved it! The Paraglider and me did some pretty ignoble things like drinking out of the faucet in the toilet and ordering a McDonalds-menu not five minutes after the last curtain. And: it's forbidden to take pictures, but I still did it, rebel that I am.
2010/06/17
About dis- and -satisfaction
"Feeling dissatisfied motivates us to practice and improve or change or advance until we once again feel somewhat satisfied - and the process continues, ad infinitum" - I've read some chapters of trombonist Hal Crook's new book* in the past few days.
Basically he says that satisfaction cannot exist without dissatisfaction, and while dissatisfaction can lead to frustration or anxiety, it is also a pushing factor. Of course this sounds painfully obvious. But let me tell you, as a beginner in jazz improvisation, there is just so much to be dissatisfied with, it's overwhelming, like timing and rhythm, hearing ability, melodic and harmonic concepts, accompaniment, musical development, voicings, etc., etc. What people like me (who are always thinking too much, instead of just doing it) need to do is to find a way to live with dissatisfaction, because it's always going to be a partner in our musical careers. There is always going to be a weak point, or a person who plays better or differently. I always thought that I would one day reach a level when I would approve of my playing, being able to do certain basic things, which would allow me to present myself as a musician equal to hundreds of others, one of them - still wanting to improve, but basically doing ok. After two years of intense studies at the jazz school I'm not so sure when I will reach this point. When something is mastered, there are already a hundred new topics a-waiting. I guess I can say that I am doing well, I get good grades, but I often think that I am so far away from being an individual musician who ought to get on stage.
After reading Hal Crook, I got the feeling that maybe there is a line that needs to be drawn. A line between dissatisfaction and satisfaction, which in fact would define self-confidence. For me, it would maybe sound like that: "Yes, there is a lot to be learnt and practised, and it's good to be aware of that, however, look back on the past few years and start to realize how far you've come (better start doin' that or I'll slap you)".
For example: two months ago, I wasn't really able to improvise freely in 5/4, 7/4 or 11/8. Next monday, I'll play two oddmeter tunes in a concert and in my piano exam on Wednesday, I'll play a solo piece in 5/4. Which means that I am on my way, I guess!
A little picture to lighten the once again philosophical mood: I played a little concert in the basement of a house full of musicians last week. And of course said musicians don't have a normal guestroom with a bed, a nightstand and a lovely flowery lamp - this is where I slept. I've never slept in the same room with a steinway AND a drum (and a blanket with a giant burn mark) before! Cozy and a little scary at the same time...
*"Beyond time and changes: a musician's guide to FREE jazz improvisation", Hal Crook, 2010.
Basically he says that satisfaction cannot exist without dissatisfaction, and while dissatisfaction can lead to frustration or anxiety, it is also a pushing factor. Of course this sounds painfully obvious. But let me tell you, as a beginner in jazz improvisation, there is just so much to be dissatisfied with, it's overwhelming, like timing and rhythm, hearing ability, melodic and harmonic concepts, accompaniment, musical development, voicings, etc., etc. What people like me (who are always thinking too much, instead of just doing it) need to do is to find a way to live with dissatisfaction, because it's always going to be a partner in our musical careers. There is always going to be a weak point, or a person who plays better or differently. I always thought that I would one day reach a level when I would approve of my playing, being able to do certain basic things, which would allow me to present myself as a musician equal to hundreds of others, one of them - still wanting to improve, but basically doing ok. After two years of intense studies at the jazz school I'm not so sure when I will reach this point. When something is mastered, there are already a hundred new topics a-waiting. I guess I can say that I am doing well, I get good grades, but I often think that I am so far away from being an individual musician who ought to get on stage.
After reading Hal Crook, I got the feeling that maybe there is a line that needs to be drawn. A line between dissatisfaction and satisfaction, which in fact would define self-confidence. For me, it would maybe sound like that: "Yes, there is a lot to be learnt and practised, and it's good to be aware of that, however, look back on the past few years and start to realize how far you've come (better start doin' that or I'll slap you)".
For example: two months ago, I wasn't really able to improvise freely in 5/4, 7/4 or 11/8. Next monday, I'll play two oddmeter tunes in a concert and in my piano exam on Wednesday, I'll play a solo piece in 5/4. Which means that I am on my way, I guess!
*"Beyond time and changes: a musician's guide to FREE jazz improvisation", Hal Crook, 2010.
2010/06/12
the hairdrier gang
As I mentioned, I went to a performance for a master of arts in music and new media performance this week. What these people do is at least as crazy as what we jazz students do!
Voilà, this is the setting before the perfomance. Before it started, my friend hung a small block of ice in the middle, and changed the light to blacklight. She had connected all the hairdriers to a mixing desk.
So, after a few words from her teacher, it began.
It was almost completely dark, except for all the teeth and white clothing which, due to the blacklight, put an extraterrestrial glow to the room.
Slowly, the hairdriers began to blow, like an orchestra - first only one, then two, then some together, sometimes all of them, sometimes only a few. You couldn't see stands or cables, only their heads. It looked unbelievable. Somehow, they started to look like creatures! Each of it had its own sound. At some point, the ice started to melt from the heat, and little neon green drops fell on the small table and were blown around, creating moving pictures. Out of many speakers hanging on the walls came sounds that swelled up to a climax, which together with the sound and the smell of the army of hairdriers, the melted ice, the neon colors and crazy white teeth of the people standing around, had an amazing effect, connecting almost all of the five senses.
I have never seen anything like it.
And I have no idea how someone could possibly grade this, or what thoughts and preparations led to it, all I know is that my friend is a wizard in audio engineering - and that apparently she did really good and the teachers were enthusiastic!
I really wonder what kind of career she will find. She's a dear friend of mine, and we have found it a relief to talk to each other about the similar problems or questions we encounter (or in her case encountered!) during art studies in the broadest sense. And I think we both have two sides: the one who is realistic and pragmatic, and the other who can go completely overboard, losing track of time and common sense when working with music.
So, after a few words from her teacher, it began.
It was almost completely dark, except for all the teeth and white clothing which, due to the blacklight, put an extraterrestrial glow to the room.
Slowly, the hairdriers began to blow, like an orchestra - first only one, then two, then some together, sometimes all of them, sometimes only a few. You couldn't see stands or cables, only their heads. It looked unbelievable. Somehow, they started to look like creatures! Each of it had its own sound. At some point, the ice started to melt from the heat, and little neon green drops fell on the small table and were blown around, creating moving pictures. Out of many speakers hanging on the walls came sounds that swelled up to a climax, which together with the sound and the smell of the army of hairdriers, the melted ice, the neon colors and crazy white teeth of the people standing around, had an amazing effect, connecting almost all of the five senses.
I have never seen anything like it.
And I have no idea how someone could possibly grade this, or what thoughts and preparations led to it, all I know is that my friend is a wizard in audio engineering - and that apparently she did really good and the teachers were enthusiastic!
I really wonder what kind of career she will find. She's a dear friend of mine, and we have found it a relief to talk to each other about the similar problems or questions we encounter (or in her case encountered!) during art studies in the broadest sense. And I think we both have two sides: the one who is realistic and pragmatic, and the other who can go completely overboard, losing track of time and common sense when working with music.
2010/06/07
what swiss people do on weekends
I spent the loveliest weekend in Appenzell, a beautiful, typical swiss-postcardy region. In fact I was hired as a nanny - a great deal for me, because I got to spend the day with my godson, and in return I was given a night in a b&b plus a free meal (I have just great friends!).
So The Paraglider and I had a nice appartment in a b&b somewhere at the end of the wold (just before you fall off the face of the earth!) to ourselves, enjoyed the balcony, a glass of wine, the view, a swiss accordion player and a yodeler (not exaggerated! it's true! you should come and see for yourself how sweet our little country is) and a pedaling and giggling and completely adorable baby. Later, I had to change the latter, which was kind of rock'n'roll, because he farted really loudly the moment I took the nappy off, which put me in a laughing fit (and the baby too!). What didn't help was the TV blasting and the whole changing procedure taking place on one of these really old scratchy armchairs.
The next morning, the sun was shining so persistently that I decided to go read on the balcony, a decision which, due to the creaking floor, didn't make The Paraglider very happy. After an hour in complete bliss all alone on the balcony, the others got up and the nice b&b-owner treated us to a world-record-breaking-breakfast.
We then decided to go to Appenzell, a town that offers every swiss cliché a person could think of. My friend and I went to a shop for traditional costumes and we almost tried something on (I'll have to do that some time!). And then we found ourselves on the Landsgemeindeplatz. In this, let's just say it, conservative region of Switzerland, people used to get together on the town square and do the votes and elections with their hands up. On this very spot, nineteen years ago, women where allowed to vote for the first time, the last place in Europe and the last swiss Kanton (at federal level, women could vote since 1971, which isn't so long ago either!) to finally "give in". IT WAS 1991!!! You're welcome to comment on this particular tidbit of swiss history.
After this royally enjoyable weekend, I found myself having a major mind lapse today. After so much real world, it takes time to get back to the crazy world of the jazz schools. Just a brief summary of my day: I had three band rehearsals, I learned some things about jazz history, did some eartraining, practised on the drums and the piano, mainly 11/8, 7/4 and 5/4, will have a rhythm exam tomorrow. And I will tomorrow listen to or watch a performance of a friend who is doing something with hair driers, it's her master of arts in music and new media project. Which might be quite the event and mentionable here!
Off now to go see The Paraglider, who is sick. Who has a nurse outfit to spare?
So The Paraglider and I had a nice appartment in a b&b somewhere at the end of the wold (just before you fall off the face of the earth!) to ourselves, enjoyed the balcony, a glass of wine, the view, a swiss accordion player and a yodeler (not exaggerated! it's true! you should come and see for yourself how sweet our little country is) and a pedaling and giggling and completely adorable baby. Later, I had to change the latter, which was kind of rock'n'roll, because he farted really loudly the moment I took the nappy off, which put me in a laughing fit (and the baby too!). What didn't help was the TV blasting and the whole changing procedure taking place on one of these really old scratchy armchairs.
The next morning, the sun was shining so persistently that I decided to go read on the balcony, a decision which, due to the creaking floor, didn't make The Paraglider very happy. After an hour in complete bliss all alone on the balcony, the others got up and the nice b&b-owner treated us to a world-record-breaking-breakfast.
We then decided to go to Appenzell, a town that offers every swiss cliché a person could think of. My friend and I went to a shop for traditional costumes and we almost tried something on (I'll have to do that some time!). And then we found ourselves on the Landsgemeindeplatz. In this, let's just say it, conservative region of Switzerland, people used to get together on the town square and do the votes and elections with their hands up. On this very spot, nineteen years ago, women where allowed to vote for the first time, the last place in Europe and the last swiss Kanton (at federal level, women could vote since 1971, which isn't so long ago either!) to finally "give in". IT WAS 1991!!! You're welcome to comment on this particular tidbit of swiss history.
After this royally enjoyable weekend, I found myself having a major mind lapse today. After so much real world, it takes time to get back to the crazy world of the jazz schools. Just a brief summary of my day: I had three band rehearsals, I learned some things about jazz history, did some eartraining, practised on the drums and the piano, mainly 11/8, 7/4 and 5/4, will have a rhythm exam tomorrow. And I will tomorrow listen to or watch a performance of a friend who is doing something with hair driers, it's her master of arts in music and new media project. Which might be quite the event and mentionable here!
Off now to go see The Paraglider, who is sick. Who has a nurse outfit to spare?
2010/05/29
"some jazzy philosophics"
For today, just some philosophical thoughts about jazz (one of my favorite pastimes!)
if you take all of mankind, and separate the people who have once in their life heard jazz from the people who haven't ever, and take from the first group the ones who actually like jazz, and again, divide the remaining group into the ones who really do like jazz in all its glory and the ones who only like ragtime and dixie (which by the way I have absolutely nothing against), there are maybe two people left in the entire world, and one of them probably is a jazz student and dreams of a concert career.
and if this takes place in the states, it's still kind of plausible, because well, it all started out there. but what now and again strikes me as extremely funny (I mentioned it before, but I will again!) is that there are so many people studying it in switzerland - the land of cuckoo clocks and yodeling. There are six jazz schools in our sweet little land! In each of these schools you'll find 50-100 students (I'll do a little research for next time!), so there's a whole lot of young people who'll learn to play Someday my prince will come. Kind of a jazz army, really, who plays at weddings, funerals, birthdays - always at your service for a good time! if it's not too loud, 'cause please, we're eating here, and could you maybe play something with a melody?
And who sometimes even lands the occasional gig, in a nice jazz club, with a bunch of nice people! really a great thing to happen.
I'll keep posting about the swiss jazz scene and the everyday life as a jazz student, but any questions or inputs are welcome!
if you take all of mankind, and separate the people who have once in their life heard jazz from the people who haven't ever, and take from the first group the ones who actually like jazz, and again, divide the remaining group into the ones who really do like jazz in all its glory and the ones who only like ragtime and dixie (which by the way I have absolutely nothing against), there are maybe two people left in the entire world, and one of them probably is a jazz student and dreams of a concert career.
and if this takes place in the states, it's still kind of plausible, because well, it all started out there. but what now and again strikes me as extremely funny (I mentioned it before, but I will again!) is that there are so many people studying it in switzerland - the land of cuckoo clocks and yodeling. There are six jazz schools in our sweet little land! In each of these schools you'll find 50-100 students (I'll do a little research for next time!), so there's a whole lot of young people who'll learn to play Someday my prince will come. Kind of a jazz army, really, who plays at weddings, funerals, birthdays - always at your service for a good time! if it's not too loud, 'cause please, we're eating here, and could you maybe play something with a melody?
And who sometimes even lands the occasional gig, in a nice jazz club, with a bunch of nice people! really a great thing to happen.
I'll keep posting about the swiss jazz scene and the everyday life as a jazz student, but any questions or inputs are welcome!
2010/05/25
Family reunion...
I saw my whole family yesterday, there were almost a hundred people, and I'm telling you, I had to fight for words. What just a day before seemed to me like the rock'n'roll, unconventional side of me lived out through jazz (the crazy music nobody cares for - "ooh, you know, I love jazz, I'm going nuts over some good old dixie"), appeared shallow and useless, when described to people who couldn't know less about what I'm doing. People who got married very young, had four children and that was it (not meant to sound condescending at all). When faced with one's own history, it can get really frightening, somehow one gets thrown back and has to look at oneself as others might, and although I'm happy (at least most of the time) about the road I chose to take, it's still hard to see that I'm so fundamentally different from almost everyone of them - people who are my family.
So that led to rather blue thoughts. Really bad day today.
So that led to rather blue thoughts. Really bad day today.
2010/05/22
The Paraglider and coffee and newspapers, and for once: no doubts!
This saturday seems to start out as THE perfect day! First coffee and newspapers with The Paraglider, which we haven't done in ages. Some other time I'll have to describe The Paraglider. Let's just say today: he's more than a nice guy...
Piano playing is going very well lately. I'm learning quickly, have good ideas, my hands seem to be in a very good condition, and pretty hard things seem not so hard after a few days, which makes me feel for a second like a giant brian with a future...
Yesterday for just a split second I had some sort of vision, complete with accessories and everything. I saw myself sitting in an office, and getting the blues for a life not moving forward - exactly like it often happens to me now. This got me thinking - if I do complete my jazz studies, I'll always be able to look back and think: man, these were the days, when for three years I did something really rock'n'roll and out of it. So just for today, I don't have any doubts about trying to pursue a small jazz career on the side. I'm still longing to start livin', you know? to be able to buy things. but still.
I always beat myself up metaphorically when I'm complaining about my life, because I know I'm granted a big chance - being able to study what I think I want, even if it has also rough sides to it. give me a second, and I'll say: nothing worth having comes easy (as Dr Kelso put so nicely). Let's put an end to this cheesy stuff.
But it's nice feeling warm and cozy!
And loved. man, the Paraglider and me, we're having a great time, since almost four years. in fact, I don't really know how it's possible that two people can be so good together. I just hope, if somebody ever reads these scribblings, that you can say the same about your relationships. feels kind of indescribable.
Piano playing is going very well lately. I'm learning quickly, have good ideas, my hands seem to be in a very good condition, and pretty hard things seem not so hard after a few days, which makes me feel for a second like a giant brian with a future...
Yesterday for just a split second I had some sort of vision, complete with accessories and everything. I saw myself sitting in an office, and getting the blues for a life not moving forward - exactly like it often happens to me now. This got me thinking - if I do complete my jazz studies, I'll always be able to look back and think: man, these were the days, when for three years I did something really rock'n'roll and out of it. So just for today, I don't have any doubts about trying to pursue a small jazz career on the side. I'm still longing to start livin', you know? to be able to buy things. but still.
I always beat myself up metaphorically when I'm complaining about my life, because I know I'm granted a big chance - being able to study what I think I want, even if it has also rough sides to it. give me a second, and I'll say: nothing worth having comes easy (as Dr Kelso put so nicely). Let's put an end to this cheesy stuff.
But it's nice feeling warm and cozy!
And loved. man, the Paraglider and me, we're having a great time, since almost four years. in fact, I don't really know how it's possible that two people can be so good together. I just hope, if somebody ever reads these scribblings, that you can say the same about your relationships. feels kind of indescribable.
2010/05/17
oh and I nearly forgot: I saw Rocky Balboa last night. my personal conviction is to let bad movies stir for a while, so they can really sink in later (and so my friends can painfully be reminded of them again).
but wow!!! i will never need a seminar on how to be life-affirming again.
and sylvester stallone has the craziest biography, quitting university shortly before his degree to shoot very questionable movies.
i'll admit it: i've never cried so much to a movie. so the question raises itself: is rocky the perfect hero for a chick-flick??? my my
but wow!!! i will never need a seminar on how to be life-affirming again.
and sylvester stallone has the craziest biography, quitting university shortly before his degree to shoot very questionable movies.
i'll admit it: i've never cried so much to a movie. so the question raises itself: is rocky the perfect hero for a chick-flick??? my my
the living absurdity of the swiss girl studying jazz music
so, being a jazz student basically involves behaving as a storm in a waterglass (as swiss people would say), watching a little herd of other waterglasses happily prancing about - while nobody on the whole entire planet would ever give a rat's ass about the teensiest bit of it all - it being a storm in a waterglass.
why? who fricken listens to jazz anyway, except for the poor watermstormglassians and their even poorer waterstormglassianteachers?
and all we do is try to stir it up so we can attempt to create something special to put on a cd to which nobody in their right mind will ever listen to, or come to listen to in concert (there's not much hope for escape with an audience consisting of mum, auntie trudy and a stranger in a tent-like-t-shirt dancin' himself to the stars).
to me personally, the funniest bit of it all is the following: i'm swiss!! it's just hilarious. would i be cool, like from brooklyn, i could say, yeaah, you know, i'm from brooklyn or whatever, it's my national heritage, and anyway, i'm from brooklyn, so everything i do is cutting edge, and i like to play in rotten places, 'cause if gives me something to do you know, and all the cool cats are here anyway.
i admittedly have loads of clichés about the us of a, but let's return the favour: think of your typical swiss person. see a mountain there, a nice little blue lake, and two cows, an older man with a twinkle in his eyes, holding a cuckoo clock in one hand and a fondue pot in the other? or even better: think of your typical swiss girl: does she have braided hair and the happiest smile one person could ever have shown to this ugly world?
and now, brace yourself: imagine this heidi-figue PLAYING THE JAZZ PIANO!!! what a disrupture of such a lovely sight!
man.
(for all the concerned: of course over the past few years i've come to love jazz music, and most of the time find myself enjoying it deeply, all the while not being sure about needing a degree for that. and: i'm not a spoiled brat, i'm working hard and always earned my money for myself. of that i'm proud.)
It's just SO MUCH FUN to stop and think of the slight absurdity of the life i'm leading at the moment! so much fun. and sometimes not so much. but hey: i'll always have my music (pffhaaahaaahaaa)
why? who fricken listens to jazz anyway, except for the poor watermstormglassians and their even poorer waterstormglassianteachers?
and all we do is try to stir it up so we can attempt to create something special to put on a cd to which nobody in their right mind will ever listen to, or come to listen to in concert (there's not much hope for escape with an audience consisting of mum, auntie trudy and a stranger in a tent-like-t-shirt dancin' himself to the stars).
to me personally, the funniest bit of it all is the following: i'm swiss!! it's just hilarious. would i be cool, like from brooklyn, i could say, yeaah, you know, i'm from brooklyn or whatever, it's my national heritage, and anyway, i'm from brooklyn, so everything i do is cutting edge, and i like to play in rotten places, 'cause if gives me something to do you know, and all the cool cats are here anyway.
i admittedly have loads of clichés about the us of a, but let's return the favour: think of your typical swiss person. see a mountain there, a nice little blue lake, and two cows, an older man with a twinkle in his eyes, holding a cuckoo clock in one hand and a fondue pot in the other? or even better: think of your typical swiss girl: does she have braided hair and the happiest smile one person could ever have shown to this ugly world?
and now, brace yourself: imagine this heidi-figue PLAYING THE JAZZ PIANO!!! what a disrupture of such a lovely sight!
man.
(for all the concerned: of course over the past few years i've come to love jazz music, and most of the time find myself enjoying it deeply, all the while not being sure about needing a degree for that. and: i'm not a spoiled brat, i'm working hard and always earned my money for myself. of that i'm proud.)
It's just SO MUCH FUN to stop and think of the slight absurdity of the life i'm leading at the moment! so much fun. and sometimes not so much. but hey: i'll always have my music (pffhaaahaaahaaa)
2010/05/16
fine days for anybody!
this blog should be about mary anybody, mid- (or rather end-)twenties music student, who after getting her degree as a teacher decided to still try to be as good as possible at piano playing, so that seventy-year-olds could watch her at their early-bird-bashes on the lake of zurich.
so you see: not always happy with her decision. and looking for people who maybe share her many interests, who might have similar blue feelings on sundays. Even if we are really ashamed of them, because we were lucky and still are, and still seem to fight for a normal life, and still fight for something outstanding.
bucketload of blabla already! It's disgusting.
Anyway, people all over the world, who are in their midtwenties, who think about taking their relationships to the next level, who think about what their goal for the next year could be, and generally about how to find a nice cozy place, physically and metaphorically - Mary Anybody would be so happy to hear from you! And she would be thrilled to hear from people who also turn twenty-eight this year and already have found a lot!
this blog should be about mary anybody, mid- (or rather end-)twenties music student, who after getting her degree as a teacher decided to still try to be as good as possible at piano playing, so that seventy-year-olds could watch her at their early-bird-bashes on the lake of zurich.
so you see: not always happy with her decision. and looking for people who maybe share her many interests, who might have similar blue feelings on sundays. Even if we are really ashamed of them, because we were lucky and still are, and still seem to fight for a normal life, and still fight for something outstanding.
bucketload of blabla already! It's disgusting.
Anyway, people all over the world, who are in their midtwenties, who think about taking their relationships to the next level, who think about what their goal for the next year could be, and generally about how to find a nice cozy place, physically and metaphorically - Mary Anybody would be so happy to hear from you! And she would be thrilled to hear from people who also turn twenty-eight this year and already have found a lot!
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