I feel like this year has been the busiest ever. That’s probably not true, but it’s certainly been a busier year than most in St Louis. Possibly all. I moved here in 2008 and since I’m a freelancer, it does take time to build up work and connections. I’m finally feeling like I’m at a great point here (means it’s probably time to move, hahahaha!) where the phone keeps ringing (email really, please email as it’s just so much easier to respond and give information for anything!) for students, gigs keep coming, and great chamber music opportunities abound. And I don’t like to say no, especially when money or potential musical satisfaction are at stake, so that means, busy, busy!
Right now I’m preparing for another performance of the Irish Quartet on Saturday (after two weddings I booked), the Perseid Quartet concert this Sunday, a concert with the Metropolitan Orchestra (a new-to-me group that I considered linking to but has an auto-play website and I just couldn’t…) on the following Sunday, and a neat set of concerts with the Illumine Ensemble called “Play with your food.” I have a couple other random things and one of my two student recitals…before we go to Italy. I think it’s safe to say that the time will fly by?
People often talk about a work-life balance. Often it’s in regards to women with children (I guess men don’t care, or at least that’s the impression I get from most media) but I think it definitely fits for people without children too. We have to balance work with our relationships—friends, family, partners. It can be tough. I haven’t had real issues with the partner side, and my family lives far away and I do visit some (I should do better), but the friends can be tough! I always wish I saw my friends more often, but it’s hard to do it with work—both theirs and mine. And it’s always easy to think, oh, after this activity, or that activity is done, I’ll have more time. Occasionally that’s true (giant exam, huge project, audition, solo recital), but other times after a time-sucking activity is done another pops up to take its place. Fellow freelance musicians (or other adults!), how do you balance work and play? Aside from the obvious, work with your friends, which I also do.
Well, I’m off to practice. I was just typing this while drinking coffee. I’d thought to myself, I used to blog a lot more, and that was fun. Why not two days in a row? Why not indeed? And now practicing, a run (weather permitting) and teaching await, with possibly Mexican-themed celebrations at the end of the evening since Louie has a big test.