This weekend, a Master of Music in Jazz Performance was conferred upon me by the President of the University of South Florida. It all sounds much more grand than it actually is and, for a moment, it all felt pretty grand as well. What, with the 500+ Graduate Students receiving degrees, Doctoral Students being referred to as “Dr.” for the first time, and the thousands of spectators, it was rather inspiring.

I’m not sure it will last, though. Here comes life.

This does mean more posts, though.

And, in case you were wondering, Pink is the official color of the discipline of Music as laid out by the American Council on Education in their Academic Costume Code

Look for upcoming posts on:

a|Finals and Juries

b|Educational Blogging/Graduate Blogs

c|My “new” bass (at least she doesn’t sound like the bass I’ve been playing).

I anticipate a bit of free time soon, so look for these coming up shortly.

Come out and here me play. Concert starts at 8:00pm in USF Theater I. You can get information by contacting the CVPA.

ps – this means Monday night guys are moved this week as well.

Meetings with the library staff, learning to preserve our commissions and scores.
Securing books for the Jazz Surge – Miles Ahead and Newport Jazz Festival Suite.
Finding out and old friend is the Executive Director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.
Trying and failing to secure a hotel sponsor.
Setting up a database with Filemaker and teaching myself how to work with it (can anyone help me with scripts?).

I’m trying to keep up with school. I’ll be working a research project on Bassist/Composers. Off the top of my head, I’m interested in Mingus, John Patitucci, John Clayton, and Dave Holland. Any other suggestions? We won’t actually be doing the research for the class, just the theoretical framework business. I plan to folow through next year (spring/summer ’07) and get published, God willing.

Other than that, just trying to practice as much as possible. Transcriptions are a pretty difficult bag for me. Just trying to keep my head above.

Concerts coming up soon. Jazz II (the Deuce) and USF Symphony Orchestra. Stay tuned.

Monday night, the USF School of Music will present the faculty jazz combo and Jazz I with Leisl Whitaker and Pat Harbison (trumpets). This event will be at USF Theater I and is open to the public. Admission is minimal ($12, I think – $7 for students) and it is well worth it. The very first time I stepped foot onto USF’s campus was for a Monday Night Jazz with Rufus Reid. That changed my life and I don’t think I’d be a Double Bass player had I not seen Reid that night. (More later)

Come out and see the University if you can.

It’s been a taxing first week of Graduate School. I passed the Theory and History placement exams. Other than that, it’s been quite discouraging. After four push-backs, my bass is now scheduled to come Tuesday night; after another round of classes without it. Not only do I feel under-prepared for auditions/school/ensembles, I haven’t been playing on an instrument that is comfortable. Compound that with my complaining about a poor instrument (excuses, excuses), and I feel like I don’t quite belong.

I really just want to start lessons and work hard. I’ve felt stagnant already – no lessons yet, my instrument in MD. I’m counting on the Klotz to bring me out of my funk.

It’s quite an exciting program for the Orchestra this year (I made 2nd chair/4). The fifth symphonies of Thaichovsky, Beethoven, Rorem, and Mahler, Copland’s Appalachain Spring, Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks, and much more are quite exciting.

It’ll come.

I passed my theory placement exam, a minor miracle (Who am I kidding? There was nothing minor about it), and am waiting for the results of the history exam. God bless the child, right? I really cannot afford to pay for the undergrad review course, so I really want to have passed.

Southeastern students, keep checking back for information on classes. Several people have yet to sign up and several others are signed up for the wrong class. Fix this!!!

See you soon, guys.

When: Monday, August 07 2006

My Assistantship starts real soon!