Wednesday, January 10, 2007

It's Almost Time!!!

Here is a note I wrote to my dear friend, Christi Chavez today! She came to the rescue of friend on shaky ground with just the right thing to prop my confidence up! I thought it was a good summary for a post!


Registration and orientation are successfully completed, and I am now waiting for Monday classes. Orientation yesterday was actually quite fun. The schedule included all kinds of good stuff like meeting the faculty and staff, having the rules and grading system explained to us, and some time with the 'course leader' for the Berkley Transfer Program and my Foundations Certificate in Music and eventual Bachelor of Professional Music. So, the BTP (Malaysians LOVE acronyms!!) students will be at ICOM (International College of Music) for two years and complete their degree at Berklee in Boston and the rest of us will study for 4 years and receive a degree awarded by Westminster, UK.


Yesterday started out with introductions led by Victor, a spunky professor and director of marketing. We were joined by some returning students who supervised a competitive game of charades. That was a hoot with the language and culture differences although much more reserved than your typical college freshmen in the states. That is the norm with Asian culture in general, really. Too bad I am so NOT reserved! Even though I am aware of it and feel like I simmah don na', I could not blend in if my life depended on it. I will settle for being a complimentary shade. It’s going to work well; there is so much to learn from the other students, most of them accomplished musicians already, and music crosses any boundary you can think of.

One cool thing is that two students introduced themselves and right away said they were Christians. I really admire that especially in an environment that values the collective group and shies away from being singled out. Not to mention our faith is one more thing we have in common. During some down time I whipped out the ipod and swapping favorite artists and music ensued. I also got some laughs when I opened my computer and showed everyone the pictures of my big fluffy dog and the rise and demise of the late great towers.

Today we had placement and evaluation auditions. I called a taxi to come at 11am because there are two parking spots in front of the school and I didn’t want to risk being late for the 12pm audition. The driver shows up 30 minutes early and I decide to be grateful that he is not late and resolve to snag a practice room at school and warm up there. Except there are none open and I have to sing in a class room on the same hall as auditons with the students outside. No biggie, that’s how it goes in school- but I was surprised to see several peeking faces through the window during the auditon. They were giving me thumbs up (international sign language for ‘way to go’ ). That felt good. =]

We already have assignments that are due in the end of the term and I am a bit intimidated by all these things I said I wanted to learn and now must turn in for a grade! Among them are sequencing a song with sound changes, value changes, sine waves, and a jet engine for good measure (ok, something a bit less complicated but just as unimaginable), and writing a Bach-style chorale with all kinds of stuff like deceptive cadences, borrowed chords, SATB voicings, and progressions I’ve never heard of. Mommy!

I can do this. Heck, I have teenagers- I can do anything! And if I can’t figure it out, I’m sure Ashley and Brooke can help me with my home work! I mean, of the very legal and acceptable-to-ICOM's-administration sort.... The girls already have to explain all the junk on my computer. Then there is Greg who could teach a doctorate level seminar on time management. Not to mention my successful, encouraging, super-smart friends and family! What a bunch of smartypants!

*Sigh of Relief Here*


Love to all~
Chryl

chryl left the ground at 17:05 4 comments