I'm not sure if I can post pics right now. I would like to, but this dinky little computer I'm on is so outdated that half the other dinky computers in this tiny lab are not working. Don't get me wrong!! I'm totally grateful to have internet at all right now, even if the hours are limited and the security only lets me get on a handful of sights. I was actually surprised it let me onto blogspot.
Right now I'm in Hot Springs, AR. The little town of Hot Springs, right in the center of Hot Springs Natl Park. It's pretty amazing here. I came here (and last year) to participate in the Hot Springs Music Festival. Apparently my resume and recording were impressive enough to make it in as an apprentice last year. As an apprentice, I come and play my brains out in rehearsals and concerts for two weeks on full scholorship. In other words, they pay for me to come and play my brains out and all I have to do is bring my harp, clothes, and money for food. The harp mentor, Shana, told me that if I wanted to come back, she would take my application first. So here I am, out in the hot woods of the south. I surprised a lot of ppl with my new haircut too, including my roommate from last year who I thought was going to have a heart attack when she saw me...
So today was my first day. I got in yesterday evening. Funny story. The key for room they gave me and had me signed up for had a guy already in it. So I just walk in, thinking it's my roomie from last year (we requested each other but we didn't get each other in the end) and there is a guy sitting on the bed. I ask if this is his room and he says "yep." We discuss briefly what room it is and if we had a coed room on purpose, we agree "no," and I go back downstairs, slightly embarrassed and greatly relieved that I didn't walk in to find something less innocent than a guy sitting on the bed...yeah...
So then they looked, sure enough I was signed up for that room, and they issued me another key, and said it was a single. Well, it wasn't. But that's ok becuase my new roomie is really nice and, most importantly, a girl.
So I was going to get up at 7am with the intention of running...only to be woken up by one of the girls in the room adjacent that we share a shower with at 6:15 in the morning. I try to go back to sleep, but it's no good. I lay there for a while, and finally get up at 6:30 when our neighbor is done with the shower. And then I remembered it was Sunday. So I got up earlier than I intended, and didn't go running. Usually in these situations you would sleep in. That's life in an old, zero sound insulated dorm building for ya. At least I got to do my hair all nice :)
So I met with my mentor (I'm the only harp apprentice) at 9am and we went over the music we had to know for rehearsal this afternoon at 2pm. Mind you I had only gotten the music the night before, so I was sightreading. But, I am an excellent sight reader, so we got through the rehearsal pretty well considering. I only missed a few cues.
So here I am. Typing becuase I have nothing else to do and I can't practice anymore today. I haven't really practiced as much as I should lately so I already have blisters on my fingers from playing so many glisses...though if I were in practice shape today's 5 hours of playing would have been blister free. There is a cabaret concert tonight at the Arlington Hotel, so I'm going to go eat before I go. I will try to post some pics later.