post-application

I guess we'll see. Its hard to figure out my next moves for some reason. I think I should probably start on the second robot...probably.

I'm going to be working with dancers, again. First rehearsal is tonight.

I think I need my own project, though... and need a day-job.

I've started to learn Irish folk songs... First one, Bedlam Boys... then, 'whiskey before breakfast'...

update on grad school messessssssssss

I am almost finished with applications. Last is this damn UCSD application which demands two writing samples. The first one is easy: my thesis. But the last time I wrote a lot of papers was in undergrad, now almost ten years ago. Although, I think my Shostakovich paper could have been great for this... partly since it contrasts with the experimental nature of my thesis. GAH. But I just realized that I wrote a paper about the dsp involved in my 'balancing act' piece... I have to download Open Office again to read it... but I have it, at least.

Hopefully this one will work out, because then I might start have to use my reader's response papers to the biomusicology class last semester @ Dartmouth, and basically consist of rants. At the very least, I'm not making any real arguments or taking any positions I have to back up... DSP papers tend to be pretty cut and dry. I did just re-read one of the biomusicology papers (Miller, G. F. (2000). Evolution of human music through sexual selection. In N. L. Wallin, B. Merker, & S. Brown (Eds.), The origins of music, MIT Press, pp. 329-360.) and damn if it doesn't still make me see red.

This process is hella exhausting. But part of it is my fault. I finished and recorded four accordion parts for "Origami Cranes" -- aka. the origami piece. It turned out better than I thought it would at first. It turns out that piece really needs practice before you perform it. Associating pitch with color did NOT come naturally to me.... although the rhythm part was relatively straight-forward. I think it would take even more practice to be able to sightread it and create the music on-the-fly as per my original vision (this is still an option in the score).

I also re-recorded the dancing chair robot and spliced that footage with my previous performance. Its a reel that lasts for about a minute. It was a bit of work, but I wasn't extremely picky... the sound conditions for the second recording were abysmal, though. So much feedback.

Also, everything takes longer than you think, it seems...

Even though I desperately want to get in one, I fucking hate grad programs right now.

No, I haven't done anything for a next project. Talk to me after this is DONE.