I’d been dreading/looking forward to yesterday for some time. I played concertmaster in a small orchestra for a performance of Swan Lake with a visiting ballet company, two rehearsals and a performance all in one day. Dreading: long day, big solos (stress!). Looking forward to: amazing music, big solos (fun!). Yes, I know I put big solos on there twice.
Anyway, today is weird, because it’s like, that’s over, it went really well, I was pleased with my performance and the level of preparation I was able to do with the time I have, and it was really fun. And then, now today is a normal day, and it’s kind of weird. My fingertips hurt though.
On other notes, I can’t believe next week is the last week of classes at my college job. WHAT. And then just over a month until we go to Japan. We have a terrific itinerary planned, and I am just really so excited about it. I am also excited that some of the busy gig time is finally winding down, yesterday pretty much capped off the insanity. And this weekend is the NFMC Festival for my students–only 5 are performing this year, 2 backed out due to not being or not feeling prepared. It’s been a tough year for my students, everybody is so busy and stressed out and I’m not sure I’m doing the best job helping them through it.
But summer is almost here, and with it, always, some regrouping. The summer is pretty low-key work wise, hardly anything outside of teaching right now, though I know more will pop up. We are always traveling more than in the past, and I’m THRILLED about it (obsessively researching as well) but it leaves less time for work. As I near my “late 40s” I am really thinking about what do I want to do the time I have left in my career, as well as simply, the time I have left, whatever that is. I’ve been wanting to travel more, so that’s one thing I’m doing, and I’m thrilled about it, beyond excited about our summer trips, and other plans. I’m also terrified, that fuel shortages will derail it, it wouldn’t be the first time the orange menace ruined our summer plans (COVID), and who knows what will happen.
How is April going for you? Did you survive Tax Day?