Where Has the Time Gone??

Life is in full swing. I can't believe a month of school is gone!

Between practicing, teaching, observing classroom teachers, and attending classes and concerts, I don't have too much free time. I'm really seeking to find balance while at the same time work harder than I ever have. This proves to be quite challenging, but I refuse to give up living life. I'm settling for less sleep as a result. My family and friends have been very understanding. (For instance, yesterday Tyler had to settle for sitting on the couch next to me while I read textbooks.) So far I'm functioning, but this morning I almost fell asleep at the piano. :)

Erin has been bringing a dorm-size coffee maker to school and making coffee in her practice room at 5am. The other day she brought decaf, and I was a happy camper! Why they insist upon freezing us out I'll never know! I dress for winter inside and then sweat the whole way home with no A/C.

I'm so ready for winter! That means Tali Rose comes home, and I get to meet my sweet nephew!

Fridays and Fugues

Boy, am I thankful for Fridays! I had a great 4.2 mile run this morning!
I'm especially thankful for Wednesdays this week!

I had a wonderful piano lesson, and Ty came home! Doesn't get much better. :)

I've been working on Bach's 2nd Partita in C Minor. Two movements down, four more to go.
On Thursday I turned the page to the third movement. While it is a mere two pages, it is going to be a pain in the neck. I love, love, love Bach, but sometimes his music is insanely frustrating to learn! (Scratch that; it's usually frustrating to learn!) Nothing like a fugal movement that starts in measure one with four parts! I decided I should work on the fourth movement instead. :)
I'm just postponing the inevitable.

One of my classmates has played it before, so I asked his opinion; I knew already what his answer would be: learn it voice by voice.

Let me describe the process of learning a fugue.
1. Learn voice one.
2. Learn voice two.
3. Learn voice three.
4. Learn voice four.
5. Put voices one and two together.
6. Put voices one and three together
7. Put voices one and four together
8. Put voices two and three together.
9. Put voices two and four together.
10. Put voices three and four together.
(The word learn here really should read memorize, because that's the only way to guarantee you know each part.)

The Fugue from WTC Book 1 that I played last year was also in four parts. I clearly remember the struggle, but I also remember it was one of the most beautiful pieces I've played. It will be worth it.
But right now I'm only on step one. :)

This is for your listening pleasure (and please appreciate how much care went into creating such a lovely sound).

Recovery Run

I just ran 3 miles for the first time in seven weeks.
It took me 34 minutes. 10 minutes longer than my good summer runs.

Cringe.

This is a very humbling thing to admit.

But the facts are the facts, and there's no getting around them.
The fact that I actually completed my run is success in my book.

So where do I go from here? I'm back at square one, but I don't intend to stay here. I didn't push myself today, because I'm letting my body tell me how much and how far; slowly I will work back up to a good pace.

Here's the long and short of it:
I am training for a half-marathon in January!
I've decided to make this my recovery race. No rigorous time constraints. Just completion.

Stay tuned.