Instrument Frenzy

This is the tale of a pianist...
...turned string and wind player!

KIDDING! I'm practicing more piano than ever, but I'm also getting to experiment with other instruments.

This semester I'm in string techniques and woodwind techniques II. On Wednesday, I brought home an alto saxophone. I was delighted when, earlier that day in class, I played my first notes on my first try! Hooray for not being a complete newbie to reeds (because last semester's six weeks on the clarinet made me an expert all of a sudden). The alto is borderline large for my locker, but I think it'll fit just fine.

Today is a different story altogether.
Today my life changed.
Today I was given a cello.

Because we ran short on time in string class today, my teacher didn't get a chance to go over my instrument. Needless to say, it's missing an A string and the bottom string (yeah, I don't even know its name yet) needs replaced. But that's okay, because I really don't know what I'm doing anyway.

And anyway, you don't have to have a fully functional instrument to carry it around school all day. That is just what I did, from 8am until 6pm. Two trips to the music office to beg for a bigger locker proved unsuccessful. (No one was there both times!) What choice did I have? I carried my cello in its large, hard case from class to class. Yes, I was jeered at. Yes, I looked cool. No, I still don't know what I'm doing. Even hoisting the instrument onto my back was a big feat. Even more complicated was taking if off! Thankfully, I had my cello handling assistant (aka Erin) around to help me. (We have five classes together, so she was stuck with me.)

When we went to Music Forum today (music school-wide concert every week) we had to sit in the back so I could lean my cello against our chairs without blocking anyone's view. If you're wondering what all the real cellists do, they keep their instruments in their lockers.

(Still don't know how to rotate.)
Sorry I cut your face off, Erin. Unintentional, I promise. That big black thing peering between our heads is my cello (not very conspicuously hiding in its case).

FYI, I don't know the correct sitting/standing positions for sax yet. This week was sort of like, "Hey, here's an instrument for you. Have a great weekend!"

I know this doesn't quite count, but I thought it needed mentioning.

Last week at a music conference, I purchased a little soprano recorder. I figured it was probably a good thing to have as an aspiring music teacher, right? Well, soon after making my purchase, I attended a workshop in which recorders were given away. So then I had two. Well, I picked up my books on Tuesday for my elementary music class, and guess what came with them?! Yes, a recorder. So now I have THREE.

Looks like oboe and bassoon are next. Look out double reeds, here I come!