Sectional Fun

I have had so much fun these past two months! I have now been home for almost three months, and have stayed busy in the music scene but with schools and symphonies!

I have to thank Marcus Voght at Eastmont Middle School, Lena Wood at Midvale Middle School,
Brandon Cresshall at Brigham High School, and more teachers who have gotten a hold of me and have allowed me to work with their students! I have loved seeing them grow, and keep in touch with my music education. This Tuesday I will be attending South Hills Middle School to do some sectional work with them as well! I'm happy to add them to my list of friends and associates!

Keep practicing and enjoying the music! There is nothing as satisfying as playing music and listening to it live! My family was able to attend the Utah Symphony performing the "Magical Firebird" conducted by Vladimir Kulenovic. It was an amazing concert in which Vladimir talked the audience into understanding the story behind the music, which passages meant what, and how Stravinsky put it all together!

Music is like that, it needs a story behind it, and then it will blossom and develop into something more!

Movie Review

So I'm trying to remember all the movies i've seen this summer... and i realize it's not very much, but I hopfully will add to them soon with all the other good movies out there :)

How to Train Your Dragon

This was a great movie! I think it was perfect for any age- It was easy to understand, and the picture was vivid and colorful. It never left the viewer bored, and brought in the feelings of different disney/pixar movies into this movie (for some reason I kept thinking Lilo and Stitch). The voice casting was amazing they did a great job portraying vickings in the olden days and what they stood for - sometime I'll figure out why they had Scottish accents for vickings. The music did not distract from the movie- it went along perfectly and added to the feel of the characters. I think the ending was a great suprise, but to the eyes of a little child (if they are easily scared) it could be seen as scary- so cover their eyes if necesary!

quote: Hiccup: And now the spinning. Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile.


Karate Kid

I thought that this was a really good movie. They did a great job of keeping the expectations of the original movie. The major difference was, instead of learning karate in CA, he learned Kung Fu in China. They still managed to follow the basic story line: of kid in new surroundings, finding a girl, and getting picked on by that girl's "boyfriend" who happens to be in the high class of karate/ or kung fu. Jackie Chan did a great job or portraying the mentor, and Jaden Smith (Will Smith's Son) did a great job in his first major movie.

I know for me, the movie made me want to come home and learn kung fu- or just get into better shape :) It was a fun watch, and a great addition to the Karate Kid name!

quote: Mr. Han: Your focus needs more focus.

Summer

Wow... it's been a long time! So updates: I have graduated in Music Education... and have no desire to actually get a job in teaching in a school. Funny how the world works, isn't it? I do have a desire to teach on a one-on-one basis in Flute, however... so if you know anyone who wants to pick up the flute again, or for the first time in the Salt Lake area... send them my way please!!

I'm also working on the other end of the spectrum in Outdoor Rec at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. This has been such a fun job this summer! I mean, how many people can work in the mountains all day and take in the view every minute?? I'm suprised at myself how much I've enjoyed it (espectially for all who know me and how I don't really like the outdoors)! I'm sort of looking for part-time work on the side now that we're in the inbetween seasons, and I'm only working weekends. :(

So yup... that's my summer... now what to do with myself now that i'm not working 40 hours a week (yet) and have no flute students?? hum...