Evil Mommy » Music

Back (sort of) at work

spyderkl — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:24:12 +0000

I’m, for the moment, a stay-at-home mum. I’ve done a lot of other things in the past to make money – office work (which is mind-numbing fun with a paycheck at the end of the week), electronics repair (I found that I vastly prefer doing it for fun without the pressure of a quota per day), teacher’s aide (the job I had working as part of a pull-out program was easily the best job I ever had working for someone else), and musician/music teacher.

Being a music teacher is something I’m good at; the reason I know I’m good at it is that other people (like people who’ve entrusted me with their little angles for 30 min/week) have consistently told me I’m good. When we were placed with School Girl I quit rather abruptly. We had 2 days notice – I didn’t tell anybody anything until after the TPR had been signed, and we were placed 2 days after that – and I really didn’t have anyone to help while I gave lessons. So I quit. In fact, I quit playing altogether for the first 3 years of School Girl’s life. Between then and now I picked at things here and there, but nothing major.

Now I’ve got to go back to work. As in yesterday. I’ve talked about it before, but it’s time. Last week I put up a couple of flyers, talked to School Girl’s BFF’s mum about wanting to work again…and started practicing.

I’ve done some little things here and there, but not the way I used to when I was either a student or a teacher. Not the routine of scales-etudes-little pieces-big pieces. Nothing like that until the past couple of weeks.

I hauled out my old books. Hanon. Chopin. Bach. Debussy. My fingers and hands aren’t quite up to Brahms yet, or Clara Schumann, but I’m working on it. It’s been fun, actually, which isn’t quite what I expected. I found that I remembered far more than I’d thought, and that reading is still easy for me – easier than the discipline I need to actually work up a piece and not just stomp through on a sight reading.

I haven’t had my flute out for longer than a few minutes at a time, but that’s due to my own fears. It just feels good to get started again doing something I missed so much.

Friday Random 10: Birthday Girl edition

spyderkl — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:58:32 +0000

Jack the Ripper – Screaming Lord Sutch
Manic Monday – The Bangles
Let’s Get Crazy – Hannah Montana
It’s All Right Here – Hannah Montana
Ice Cream Freeze (Let’s Chill) – Hannah Montana
Who Said – Hannah Montana
Love Song – The Damned
The Other Side of Me – Hannah Montana
China Girl – David Bowie
Smash It Up, Pt. 2 – The Damned

We have an 8-year-old in the house today (and for 1 year). (Alena) me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday Not-at all Random 10: Just for you, here’s a love song

spyderkl — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:17:06 +0000

Sunday Kind of Love – Etta James
Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl – Bessie Smith
The Last Beat of My Heart – Siouxsie and the Banshees
The Desperate Kingdom of Love – PJ Harvey
Somebody – Depeche Mode
Song for the Siren – This Mortal Coil
Us – Regina Spektor

Northern Sky – Nick Drake
Love and Affection – Joan Armatrading
I Will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie

Happy ~~Hallmark card day~~ Valentine’s Day. I’ve got some knitting to finish…

Friday Random 10: Xmas Vacation edition

spyderkl — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:37:11 +0000

School Girl’s vacation officially starts today. For the next 2 weeks there will be cookie baking, trips to see the houses all in lights, a visit to the candy factory, and (speaking of visits) a big visit tomorrow. Oh, and seeing how long we can all stay awake on the Winter Solstice.

Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
Transmission – Joy Division
Mongoloid – DEVO
New Rose – The Damned
Discipline – Nine Inch Nails
Money Changes Everything – Cyndi Lauper
Symphonie Fantastique: I. Reveries. Passions. (Largo – Allegro agitato ed apassionato assai) – Berlioz
Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
******* (Plastic Jesus) – The Flaming Lips
Shaday – Ofra Haza

If you’d like to play along, just fire up your mp3 player of choice, set it to~~stun~~ shuffle, and list the first 10 that come up. No cheating…

Friday Random 10: Pre-Thanksgiving Fun edition

spyderkl — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:02:08 +0000

At least here in the US, this weekend seems to be the official “let’s clean out the grocery store in preparation for the Mighty Feast” weekend. Whoo.

Cascade – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Love in the First Degree – Bananarama
Oscar Wilde – Company of Thieves
I Remember Nothing – Joy Division
Atrocity Exhibition – Joy Division
Hello it’s Me – Tod Rundgren
She’s Lost Control – Joy Division
Galang – M.I.A.
Back on the Chain Gang = The Pretenders
Good Thing – Fine Young Cannibals
Bonus: The Spirit of Radio – Rush