Addio del semestre passato

Hello from Dallas, TX! It's the point in the semester for myself (and I'm sure for my colleagues and students) where we feel like imitating our beloved cat Panda ...

 

And it's time to think, and re-think, what went great, when it was "working," and what needs to be tweaked (or tossed). 

What worked ...

This is the first semester that my husband and I have been homeowners. While this comes with the obvious benefits of building equity, being able to deduct mortgage interest, and getting a serious upgrade on space and storage, we are able to make our own decisions (small and large) in terms of decorating and even structural elements to the house. Zheng has spent some spare time building walls and laying concrete. His most recent project was to demolish and re-finish the fireplace in slate. (We have some popular DIY shows to blame for this!).

This is also the first semester (even though it's the fifth at UNM) where I have been in a more secure position with my job. Last year was a harrowing year in terms of applying for tenure-track positions, as my job (full-time lecturer at the time) was getting converted to a tenure-line. I was the equivalent of an NYC apartment in a building that was "going condo."

This year brought additional, important professional opportunities - increased work with Santa Fe Opera, Opera Southwest, my first time teaching at OperaWorks, and more opportunities with the New Mexico Philharmonic - 2017 will bring more abundance. I am continually greatful.

I joined a yoga studio (this one) and have been practicing regularly at one place since August. 

It shouldn't be rocket science to a musician that there is no alternative to practicing. 

I'll keep this up in 2017 and will adjust my teaching hours slightly to fit different possible classes into even more of a practice routine. 

(Did I just put myself before my career?) 

Another major change for me has been adhering to a strict ketogenic diet since August. I may never go back to the years of loving bread and its progeny ... not only has the weight-loss been sustainable and significant, but my chronic imsomnia is greatly improved. 

Tweaks (I'm sure more are coming ) ... 

People discuss "resolutions" and mine is a stolen one from a dear friend. It is simple - book 45 minutes per day of reading time. And stealing from another great artist in the collaborative piano field, which is to read and write one poem per day. 

Natural Spirituality

Szia! 

(This means, "Hello" or "Goodbye" in Hungarian, for either males or females, and regardless of plural-singular).

I am very happy to be here. Since we had an extra week in Sárospatak, to prepare Don Giovanni, we are at the beginning of Week 3. 

This past Saturday was wonderful and definitely worth sharing. Teaching was as the usual schedule (Schumann "Frauenlieben und Leben" in the morning, and Ady-Dalok following), lunch, more teaching individuals. 

"Creative Church" is one of my favorite events at Crescendo. The Institute moves into the Reform Church in the center of town, and we combine the two things the institute does best (worship and music). I got to share the podium with Timothy Bentch (tenor) and Ellen Rose (viola) on Vaughn Williams' "FOUR HYMNS." I felt that the piano was a little difficult to control, but many people thought the performance was especially moving, from their feedback. Because of the unfamiliar instrument and acoustic to me, I felt like I was hanging on for dear life, even though I knew the piece and the text extremely well. But so many people remarked about the "color" of the instrument. 

At the conclusion of the music, we were free to walk around the church and write, go to the wailing wall and leave our prayers for God, write thank-you notes to people in the Institute, or walk around and greet our colleagues and "brothers and sisters." I was relatively calm throughout the whole event, but did get teary at some sights or even some greetings that I shared with people. 

I have been pondering for a while the differences between organized religion(s), denominations, and different ways that people are "spiritual." I believe that we are all created spiritual beings (much akin to Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's belief about "every child being musical.") For many of us, we can be easily drawn away from this spirituality by life events, an experience within a particular community or congregation, or from a lack of curiosity. 

Creative Church is unique because of its multi-dimensions of scripture, message, music, and the ability to be in community in prayer and thanksgiving. Every year has been different and every year has been beautiful. 

PHOTO: Sárospatak gives a lot of stunning views by both sunset and sunrise. (I've seen both). This is by sunset, on the way to Creative Church. 

Reservoir of Peace

Today in Small Groups we continued talking about the Roots and Fruits of Christianity (Galatians 5:22). A question came up, which went something like:

"Why is it so easy to understand and speak about joy, and much harder to understand and speak about peace?"

And then I thought - we have all of these tangible ways of measuring money. We learn to save, at some point. We can look at our balance, and hopefully, if we've saved enough, we're able to give money away or retire someday. 

Can the same thing be true for peace? Is peace something more empty (burdens being removed) or full (needs satisfied, not hungry, feeling loved)?

The answer I received tonight is that only the Holy Spirit can be the bringer of peace. If that is true, we should all swim in this, because we will need our spiritual reservoir for when times get hard. I will continue to meditate on this while I'm in Hungary, because I think it could be a lifesaver.

Artists can have a wretched time feeling peaceful. Financial worries can nip at our toes. We must feed the guilt-monster that reminds us to practice. We must painstakingly work on our craft, and the same time, maintain relationships, work towards goals, and care for ourselves and others. 

Touring China with Ellen, and hearing about her preparation process, taught me a lot about "practicing in advance." Those of us who read quickly and learn even quicker know that we can get a lot of work done (musically) in a very short amount of time. However, if "life" happens - extra projects, emergencies of a variety of sorts, etc. - that "cram time" is then put in question - and then we are in real trouble. Ellen's method of practicing things in small ways - gestures, bowing, breaking down different elements, and also practicing in advance, served her well on the tour. When things like illness or fatigue visited, there was no panic about preparation or an ability to pull off a concert. She was thoroughly prepared. She had built her "preparation reservoir." 

What is our spiritual equivalent of this? Daily prayer? Reading? Discussions with other Believers? Writing? A daily walk in silence? Anyone who has any responses or answers, I would welcome them wholeheartedly. 

PHOTO: A lovely snapshot from near the "Teacher's Room" at the Reform Seminary College, Sárospatak, Hungary.

Traveling can be a "breeze" ...

Greetings from Hungary! I flew yesterday from Princeton to Zurich and then onto Budapest. For those of you reading from the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, you know that the oppressive heat which we endured during CoOPERAtive became stifling and movement-reducing. It even got hard to breathe.

So imagine ... getting off of the plane in Budapest and being introduced (greeted by) to beautiful weather, sunny, 75 degrees and a breeze. I almost wept.

The flight here was also worth mentioning. Those of you who have been readers since China (where the blog started. The travels have been ongoing for years!) remember my raving about the Chinese airline service. The Swiss also have it down to a science, and the Chinese and the Swiss still beat any American airline that I've serviced as of late.

The "pampering" on the flight included: hot rolls, hot food which was good, complimentary chocolates served on a tray, good yogurt for breakfast and probably the best airline coffee with milk I've ever had. (key word = airline). I also had the distinct pleasure of the company of a delightful seatmate, a really accomplished PhD Economist who was from Kenya but had spent about 8 years in Italy. We even shared a coffee in the Zurich airport before taking our respective planes (she continued onto Venice).

This is the first time that I've flown to Hungary instead of continuing here by train from other work which preceded it in Europe. So the idea of jet-lag here is foreign to me. It is remarkable to be back in Sárospatak, where such important spiritual things began for me two years ago, and where they were really tested and tried all of last summer. Now, with the bulk of the doctorate behind me, and the blessing of a wonderful fiancé (who is new to my life as of Hungary last year), being back here feels different.

Wonderful-different. My room is quiet and is at the end of the hallway, so I have no neighbor on one side. I also don't get internet in my room, which I think will be a good break (I have to walk about 50 feet to pick up WiFi). That will keep me disciplined into going to bed at a better hour.

I will keep everyone updated as to how this institute progresses. My schedule in Princeton didn't allow me a lot of writing-time, but Hungary always does.

It is, in many ways, a necessary artistic retreat.

PHOTO - is from 2012. These are flowers which are in small groups along the streets in Sárospatak. (The photo has received little post-production magic.)

Life returning to "normal"

Hello, everyone! And greetings from the Chicago O'Hare airport. This is my *last* layover before landing in Rochester!

I've some funny things about myself during the trip back to the United States:

1. Complete expectation of my fellow countrymen to dress like complete bums and completely weather in-appropriate (old man wearing sandals with socks and shorts and no coat in Seattle).

2. Still looking at the menu for surprise delights, but not finding any.

3. No more "royal treatment" on economy flights (no food on American flights at all anymore).

4. Walking into restrooms fearlessly, not being afraid of what I would or wouldn't find. (The American-Standard of relatively clean throne with toilet paper is NOT standard everywhere!).

5. Chopsticks are by-request only.

6. It's funny to hear only one language spoken on the airplane.

7. Americans *really* like their space.

8. I am in disbelief and denial about how much work I have to get done before December 21st.

9. I miss: Zheng, Aying, Mari, Amber, the eclectic people we met on the trip, and hearing all of these different languages spoken around me.

10. Water in America - huge with ice. Water in China - smaller glass and usually heated. I don't think I can go back to ice water, actually.

Photo: sweet mini-pastry at breakfast.