Lurong Living Paleo Challenge

Hi!!  For those who do not know, I have joined a workout club called CrossFit.  It has been a new great way for me to stay in shape and I have gotten so much stronger with it.  You do all sorts of things like box jumps, pushups, pullups, rope climbs, kettle bells, squats of various forms, lunges, etc.  and also weight lifting forms and technique.  The Workout of the Day (or WOD) is different every day, although there are certain WODs that are standard.  It has been really awesome and I really enjoy being there every day.

"CrossFit is a core strength camp; conditioning program that delivers a fitness that is by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Elements of track & field, gymnastics, weightlifting, and strongman are combined in short intense daily workouts to maximize results for any individual. CrossFit teaches functional movement patterns, or, movements that you find in real life -pushing, pulling, squatting, jumping, throwing, carrying, and sprinting."

Our gym is participating in a country-wide CrossFit challenge sponsored by Lurong Living, the Lurong Living Paleo Challenge.  It is a 9-week challenge that incorporates a paleolithic diet as well as doing certain benchmark WODs and recording your progress throughout.  You also take pictures and measurements at the beginning and end of the challenge.  There are prizes given to both your gym and individual for participating.  I am really excited about it!  The diet is going to be hard, as you are not allowed to eat any grains, legumes, and dairy....so no milk, cheese, beans, rice, peanut butter or bread!!  Although there are lots of alternatives to making things without using these things that I hear are really good.  But still, no milk and cheese and PB for 2 months will be hard.  But I can do it!!!  And it's not like it's for a year or the rest of my life or something like that lol.

I'd appreciate everyone's support on this!  It's going to be challenging but I'm excited to be in the best shape and health of my life since before high school, and I am excited to be sharing this journey with you!!

"Music Alive" -- Graduate Harp Recital (plus Live Webcast)

Ok, friends and family, the time is finally almost upon us, this Saturday!!  My last recital for the completion of my music education!!  I have been very blessed to be able to have so many supportive people to help me along this journey.  I am also blessed that NIU has the amazing technology to stream their concerts live online, so that my friends and family are able to watch, listen and support me from afar.  While I will hope to continue performing in the future, it will be sad to lose such a great tool.  If you have not tuned in before, (or attended if you are able) this will be your last chance via NIU.  I hope you are able, this concert is going to be really good and is my last hurrah of sorts. :)  Here is the announcement I have made about my concert:
 

 

 -MUSIC ALIVE-
Saturday April 7, 5:00pm CENTRAL TIME
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, NIU
 
Come and enjoy an evening of contemporary harp music! This is my final recital for my music education, and is for the completion of my Performance Certificate, emphasis in contemporary solo and chamber music.

This recital will feature a compilation of contemporary music on the harp written by living composers, most of whom are working and living in the Chicago area. This is a great opportunity to experience new and unique music written for the harp.
In addition to each piece, I will be presenting a brief introduction/lecture about each piece for the audience as well.

This concert will also be streaming live from the NIU Live Webcast page, for those of you who still want to listen or watch but are unable to make it out. (And we will cross our fingers that it will work this time). Also make sure when you watch that you update the latest version of your flash player for optimal viewing.
http://www.niu.edu/music/media/webcasts.shtml

~PROGRAM~

Variations on a Basque Carol-----Adam La Spata (b.1979)


Haboku für Flŏte, Vibrafon und Harfe-----Akemi Kobayashi (b.1965)
--Assisted by Clarice Castilho, vibraphone and Zach Weiss, flute


Racconte: In Memory of Lucile Lawrence-----Gustavo Leone (b.1956)
--Commissioned by Faye Seeman for the 2007 Lucile Lawrence Centennial Celebration


Prelude for Harp and Oud-----Aboud Agha (b.1982)
--Assisted by Aboud Agha, oud


Despedida-----Mischa Zupko (b.1971)


***Meet the composers in a small reception to follow***
**Poster artwork by Aleesha Sramek**

 

Weather updates and other news....

Wow spring has come early here in Illinois!!  Well, probably has come early everywhere else too, but I don't live everywhere else and IL is usually still coldish outside until around May lol.  But it's the middle of March, and already it has been in the 70s ALL WEEK!!!  And it's not supposed to get back cold any time soon, at least not forecasted right now.  You always know when it's a good weather day, because I can sleep with my window open and not be cold lol.  Those are the BEST.  And keep my window open all day too lol.

A lot's been happening.  My final graduate recital is 3 weeks away from today.  Even more scary is that I will be done with school once my recital is over.  Well, maybe have a few lessons but other than that, no school.  I can even take a break from practicing if I want, which I will probably do.  Not indefinitely, but at least a couple weeks.

Make a note on your calendars....my recital is on Saturday April 7, 5pm central time.  And before you ask, YES:  IT WILL BE WEBCAST (see link on the side of my blog page under "important links."  If you happen to live in the Chicago area or close by, you should come out in person!!  If not, then at least try to tune in online.  It's going to be a really really cool concert.  It is called Music Alive because all of my music is contemporary music by living composers, most in the Chicago area.  So I guess there is a chance that you may not like the music...it is definitely different than music I have done in the past.  You won't necessarily walk away from it with a tune in your head, but if you take the time to let your imaginations wander and think about what the music is saying to you, emotionally, then you should be able to walk away from it pleased.  The music I play is less melodic and more intellectual....it has more to do with playing around with the different sounds on the harp, and the different effects it can produce.  Really really cool stuff though, I promise!!

Another really cool aspect of my recital is the poster that will go along with it.  This year some of the music students are collaborating with the graphic arts department to make our posters into pieces of art.  We each paired off with an art student, play for them, talk about ideas, and for all intents and purposes, commission this person to create a poster announcing our recital.  The finished products will be mounted and hung in the art gallery wall that is just outside the Recital Hall in the music building.  Some of the ideas that my artist has come up with are really cool so far, and I'm excited to show you the finished product.  I'll post it up here for y'all to see when it's done.

So that's about it.  I think I'm going to go enjoy the good weather, roll up my sleeves and get some sun while reading...I have to soak in as much vitamin D as I can while it lasts lol....Ever since I found out that I am vitamin D deficient, I feel I must take every opportunity to soak in the sun, like I'm solar powered or something, recharge lol.   After I clean my room of course, that needs to be done first.  All for now!

I really hate it when I let myself get my hopes up.  Doesn't even matter what it is....I try not to let it happen because it always turns out badly.  Am I bad person for that? Am I a hypocrite because I tell people they should take risks when maybe I'm too scared to make them myself?  I hope not.

I'M BACK IN ACTION!!!

Hello there!  (again)  I am back.  I have been busy and kinda forgot that I had a blog, but I'm going to do my best to keep it up now.  Being out here so far away and doing music, with so many 'fans' of my harp playing (thank you very much to all my family for supporting me in my endeavors), I know many people like to keep up to date with what is going on with me all the way out here in the heart of the midwest, branching out of the comfort zone and conformity of the place called BYU, where ALL my family has gone before and after.

Don't get me wrong...I love it that everyone is out west (or in TX of course).  Gives me places to visit, as soon as my busy schedule will allow of course.  I wholeheartedly support you and BYU!!!!  It just wasn't the place for me.  At least not then.  Who knows, anything is possible I guess.  Anyways....

Well, for those who need catching up, I am unofficially finished with my Masters degree in Music, and am now in my final semester (I hope) of pursuing a Performance Certificate from Northern Illinois University.  Basically, I practice lots of music and perform recitals for a year.  It's pretty intense, but I like the program at NIU because they give you a lot of freedom with how you want to go about it.  This year I am focusing on contemporary music, both solo and chamber ensembles.  It has been a lot of work, and I'm no where near finished, but I will update you with how things go.  Just be warned, there may not be much to report since all I'm doing is practicing.  Well, at least for school.  I am pursuing a couple other projects as well, which I will tell you about as they hopefully get up and running soon.

I am also currently working at the Kishwaukee YMCA as the Masters league swim coach.  It has been a good growing experience for me as a swim coach.  I am also trying to get into helping out doing some coaching with the age group team...my real love is working with kids, as everyone who knows me really well already knows.  I am also still teaching private harp through the NIU Community School for the Arts.  I am excited to get back to teaching soon.

Well, that's it for now.  Congratulations, if you've read this far.  I won't be a stranger if you won't!  Feel free to comment on any of my posts (link at bottom or under post title) or Follow by blog.  It's nice to know if anyone actually reads it, makes me feel more connected to the outside world.  If not, that's fine too...either way, it'll be good for me. ;)  TATA!!