The Middle

Sometimes it seems like the middle is a very good place to be. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck.

Sometimes, in an argument or disagreement, the middle means a compromise. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck, an argument you didn’t want to even be involved in.

Sometimes, when you are playing fast triplets with lots of string crossings, the middle of the bow is a very good place to be. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck, when you’re not really sure what kind of articulation you are supposed to be doing.

Sometimes, the middle is the goal, the bullseye of a target. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck, when you didn’t lose the race, yet you didn’t win.

Sometimes, the middle means maximizing space and opportunity. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck, when you don’t know which opportunity to take.

Sometimes, the middle means lots of friends and fun. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck, where you have to conform to fit in and don’t know who you can trust.

Sometimes the middle means balance, a very good state to be in. Other times, the middle is that awful place you get stuck—in mediocrity.

How can the middle be sometimes so right, yet other times so wrong?

Maybe the middle is not an answer of where to be but rather a question of how to live.

How to know when the middle is the place to be?

How do you use the middle?

One time at music camp...

As we are now approaching the half-way point at the Round Top Orchestra festival, I found it was time to give an update on what has been going on here. (Also, it happens that my internet is actually working right now *cross fingers*)

Round Top....Oh Round Top. This area never ceases to surprise me with its peculiarities. The campus is full of strange things: sculptures of faces, seashell covered ceilings, elfish pictures, botanical gardens, ornate fixtures and locked doors that lead to who knows where....

The food is quite good, so that makes meal time ever more exciting (and I’m always so hungry!) However, this cafeteria would have no place in New York. Fried fried fried things are coupled with butter soaked everything, and the vegetarian options consist of either tofu or a veggie burger. Pork quesadillas for dinner? Let's just plop a veggie burger on a tortilla and say it's like the same. There is a lovely bumper sticker posted in the kitchen which says "Save a cow, eat a vegetarian"....Last I checked, there were plenty of cows in Round Top.

Coffee...well, let's not talk about it. I usually just tell myself "It could be worse..." The nearest Starbucks is 30min away...Are you coming to a concert? Please deliver!

The orchestra is getting better, especially as we get to know each other better. In the first week I had a lot of fun playing the name game: "Oh you go to Eastman/Rice/UT/etc? Do you know ____?" And as usual between musicians, it only takes one degree of separation to have a mutual friend.

We come from a wide range of places and it's very interesting working with a new conductor each week. Needless to say, it seems that the cafeteria conversations almost always inevitably touch on imitating the conductor/praising him/complaining about him. It seems like every musician has something to say about that person on the podium. I really hope that conductors also get together sometimes and get to rant about "those musicians..."

Tonight is "Ladies' night" at the only bar in town. I've gone the past two weeks as a designated driver. It's usually a lot of fun, loud talking and dancing around the jukebox. This night I decided to stay in. I'm pretty tired from these days of 4 hours of Mahler 9 rehearsals and I am enjoying the peace and quiet of my room. I'm also looking forward to going home this weekend with a couple of friends--a chance to get away from the bugs, from the dirt, from the drama of new festival-relationships and the craziness of musicians after a Saturday concert.

If you’re nearby and not too busy, please come to a concert! The next two weekends have 3pm orchestra concerts, with chamber concerts at 7:30pm. I’m playing in two quartets on the July 9^th concert at 7:30pm. The closing concert is on July 16^th at 7:30pm, and there’s a big reception afterwards (free food/wine, anyone?)! The schedule with program information can be found here: http://festivalhill.org/schedule-of-events/2011-summer-festival/

So that's about how things "roll" here in Round Top, just like that one time at music camp...

Love,

Violamad

NYC-The Woodlands-Round Top

So when I heard Round Top was a small town, I thought, ok, there's a few little shops in the center. Wrong, there is no center, there is not much of a town at all. I don't really know what else to call Round Top except for "land". However, the Round Top Festival is on a special piece of land, decorated by a wide variety of buildings, each of which is elaborately furnished with antiques and consists of many ornate, hand-carved wooden structures. Nevertheless, I'm still in the middle of nowhere.

Rewind a bit.

In the past month, I have experienced a wide variety of company and scenery. The first two weeks of May were crazy- juries, final exams (meanwhile the weather in New York was gorgeous!) Then the third week, which I had kinda free, it rained almost every day. But there were plenty of highlights to end the year. This semester particularly I have had the blessing of being surrounded by this loving and supportive group of friends and I enjoyed spending time with them as we all prepared our goodbyes--running with Avigail, walking with Santi, biking with Fernando, shopping with Isabel, dutying with Adarsh, hugging Justyna in her Snuggie and wandering with dinosaurs with Lena. (and of course any other time we spent together!)

I was sad to leave New York on May 21st. I was in denial for a few days when I came home, missing my friends and the city which has taught me so much. Nevertheless, it only took one obnoxious text from my friend Trey to remind me what I should be doing instead of moping at home for two weeks- planning a friend get-together!

Morning runs with Tara were re-initiated by the end of the first week I managed to bribe my friends to come over! It was a fun night of crazy fajita cooking (a wonderful group effort I might add...) and ended with cookies. I got to see a few more friends over the weekend, my former teacher, Joan, and her family as well as Daniel, who I see on too rare of an occasion. Unfortunately me + Daniel + fish for dinner did not go so well and Memorial Day was celebrated with me and the toilet. (Oh, and Trey came over to veg with me on the couch while I watched more TV in one day that I ever have in my life). And actually, that day started a new addiction for Trey and I- it's called Firefly. Fortunately, it only had one season, otherwise we could've been watching those episodes nightly for two months!

I got most things done on my to-do list for my two weeks at home. Got a bow rehair, bought new running shoes, planned out (most) of my trip to Italy in August and found a good 18-week marathon training schedule. Oh, and PRACTICING. That kinda took up my day hours. Which is good :)

So, now I'm back to where I started. Round Top. I've only been here a couple hours now, so I'm sure I will have much more to say later, but here are my first observations:

-It's hot, there's a lot of dirt and not enough trees

-There are lots of bugs. Ew.

-Air conditioning is abundant. Good.

-Food...seems good.

-Roommates...pretty chill :)

-Practice rooms too resonant

-Night-life. HA!

-Nearest Starbucks- 30min.

-Coffee in dining hall...ehhhhh

-People: too many Americans ;)

If only the Blue Bell factory in Brenham was open on Sunday...

Orchestra auditions tomorrow morning and rehearsal on Bartok Concerto for Orchestra tomorrow night! Wooo!

Love,

Violamad