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getting out in the world

sunset on the mall

One of the chief benefits drawbacks of being finished with my masters’ work is that I am no longer required to travel to Cambridge three days a week. I certainly don’t miss the rush hour morning commutes, or getting up before sunrise. However, having a excuse reason to be in the city forced me to get out of Connecticut and interact with the greater world, go to restaurants and concerts, and feel like an adult…not just a boarding school teacher.

With that in mind, I headed south during my mid-winter break this past weekend. On the one hand, it was a nondescriptly relaxing weekend: seeing friends, lounging around the house, cooking food, going out for sushi, and taking walks. On the other hand, I had access to Washington, D.C. We went to the National Gallery (new van Gogh acquisition & a Byzantine art exhibit), wandered the mall (see sunset over the Smithsonian above), and had drinks in Dupont Circle.

I returned to my cottage this morning, and I have been sitting in front of the fire for the past several hours. My prep work for another week of school is mostly ready, and I am planning my summer recording session. Hopefully I can call the studio tomorrow and book a few days. It was important to get away and be in the world. It is always good to remember it is all still there!

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winter arrives at dunbar cottage

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It is so very quiet here.

After so many weeks crazy weeks of commuting to Cambridge for graduate school, teaching classes, performing, and communing with friends, it was high time for a little break. Tonight, I was supposed to be playing in New York for the annual Pomfret Holiday party. However, mother nature threw this curve ball. The NYC bus was cancelled. I was in class in Cambridge when I received the news (yes, today I had originally planned to go to class in Cambridge, head to Manhattan for the party, back to CT for the night, and then back to Cambridge early Wednesday for class). After a moment of sadness (for I do love heading to New York), I was relieved that I would have a more sane day after all. I had a deliciously relaxing lunch. I purchased some green tea. I ran errands. I came home and took a nap.

Tonight, I am going to spend several hours working on my research paper. With freshly steeped tea in hand, I am getting down to business. Meanwhile, the silence outside reminds me how lucky I am in this moment. The first real snowfall is always a beautiful event. Here’s to many more!

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play me, i’m yours (pt. 2)

Today turned out to be a great day! I had to head into Cambridge for an event. It is nice to be a student exclusively this semester, so I can have days like this: ones that are entirely devoted to the arts! After a couple of rehearsals, I went to inspect venue where I will be performing for retirees next week. The piano there was in excellent shape, and the staff is wonderful…more on that next week!

Then, since I had the entire afternoon until my performance free, I ditched my car at a free (!!) spot and walked the 2 miles back to Longy. It was a perfect fall afternoon. My stroll took me up Brattle street, which I had never really explored. There are more historic houses on that street! It really gave me a sense of time and place to walk so far in such a historic area. The small size of the streets makes more sense on foot than it does from a vehicle. I could imagine early Americans walking to town, or riding their carriages. this would have been (and probably still is) a nice place to live. The brick sidewalks were great, and reminded me of a great piece I watched the other day about Groningen, a city built almost entirely around bike traffic. I definitely wish there were more places like that stateside!

I spent the afternoon practicing, and reported to Longy’s street piano at 4pm for the second installment of “88 in 88.” 8 student composers each wrote an 88-second piece for solo piano. It was a really fun project to work on…some strange and beautiful and creative music was made! If any of the videos that were recorded surface, I will be sure to add the appropriate links. Dr. Peter Evans contributed a piece as well. All in all it was an excellent afternoon!

By the end of today, I walked 4 miles, premiered 8 pieces, drove over 144 miles, took care of a bunch of emails, updated a web form for work, troubleshot a wireless network, and wrote this post…not bad for a Friday!