Home Stretch
I didn't think that ten weeks could go faster than they did last fall, but I was wrong, the ten weeks of winter term sped by faster than I ever imagined they would. Winter term has been amazing, full to the brim with changes, some exciting changes, some changes that brought deep sorrows. Through all the changes I rejoice in the knowledge that life is not a pit of despair but a state of being in which to find joy, even through pain.
Academically there were lots of changes in plans for me this term. The first day of classes I was registered for English 108, Philosophy 208, Piano Performance, Choir, and Creative Arts 102, by the end of that first day I was no longer planning on taking the philosophy class and in its place I took a Astronomy class. Fast forward several weeks and just when I'm settling into a set schedule and starting to get into my English project my Music adviser suggests that I should consider stepping into the middle of the second week of the second term of Theory and Aural skills I. At first I was pretty sure that it wouldn't work, over the last ten years of piano lessons I knew I'd had some theory but wasn't confident that my background would be enough to start in with the second term, much to my surprise it was. So into my schedule was added Music theory and out went English 108. The next couple of weeks were a rough transition, but that change was one of the best choices I made this term.
I had officially decided to work towards a Bachelor of Music the end of December/beginning of January, but taking the theory class this term really confirmed that decision for me. I'm not sure what I want to do with my degree when I finish, but I really enjoy the kind of thinking that it requires. I like the fact that so many of my classes will build on each other and the concepts can be applied on a much larger scale than what we can do in an hour of class time. It's definitely a plus that the music faculty here are amazing, they are gifted at what they do and I look forward to working with and learning from them over the next four years.
This winter was a time to grieve as well as to be excited. Several deaths touched our family between February and these first two weeks of March and though I didn't know either of these women well, I mourn with and for their families. At the same time I rejoice, knowing that they are in a place of perfect rest. Like most farewells in life, the pain of death is felt more acutely by those left behind than the ones leaving.
Through this term I was reminded of the intertwining of all aspects of life, it's like an orchestra, there are many instruments each sounding an individual line, but the piece is not whole if you separate the instruments from each other. I was amazed to see the grief that I felt over death reflected in the choral piece "Lay a Garland" and comforted by an incredibly stunning arrangement of "Amazing Grace" and the double choir motet "Coelos ascendit hodie." In astronomy I learned about the movement of the heavens, late at night I'd wake up and look out my window over the course of the night I saw the stars follow their paths across the heavens and knew that I was watching the motion of earth. I stayed up late painting and making cutouts and realized that I thrive off creativity. There are small connections in everything I do, threads weaving together a fine tapestry in the midst of a a somewhat crazy schedule. I like that, there's something beautiful in a life that's not compartmentalized, I love that this time in my life is spent living at home, that my family is here every day to come home to and I don't have to wait until intercession to see them again, that they can come to piano recitals and choir concerts and that I can sit in church with them on Sunday mornings and eat dinner with them. Lots of students talk about how glad they are not to be living at home anymore, I'm so blessed to have a family that I love to spend time with, that I can't wait to come home to in the afternoon.
This term was filled with joy and sorrow, pain and laughter. Over the last ten weeks my cup overflowed with life, fragile and stunningly beautiful life that I am truly grateful for.
Academically there were lots of changes in plans for me this term. The first day of classes I was registered for English 108, Philosophy 208, Piano Performance, Choir, and Creative Arts 102, by the end of that first day I was no longer planning on taking the philosophy class and in its place I took a Astronomy class. Fast forward several weeks and just when I'm settling into a set schedule and starting to get into my English project my Music adviser suggests that I should consider stepping into the middle of the second week of the second term of Theory and Aural skills I. At first I was pretty sure that it wouldn't work, over the last ten years of piano lessons I knew I'd had some theory but wasn't confident that my background would be enough to start in with the second term, much to my surprise it was. So into my schedule was added Music theory and out went English 108. The next couple of weeks were a rough transition, but that change was one of the best choices I made this term.
I had officially decided to work towards a Bachelor of Music the end of December/beginning of January, but taking the theory class this term really confirmed that decision for me. I'm not sure what I want to do with my degree when I finish, but I really enjoy the kind of thinking that it requires. I like the fact that so many of my classes will build on each other and the concepts can be applied on a much larger scale than what we can do in an hour of class time. It's definitely a plus that the music faculty here are amazing, they are gifted at what they do and I look forward to working with and learning from them over the next four years.
This winter was a time to grieve as well as to be excited. Several deaths touched our family between February and these first two weeks of March and though I didn't know either of these women well, I mourn with and for their families. At the same time I rejoice, knowing that they are in a place of perfect rest. Like most farewells in life, the pain of death is felt more acutely by those left behind than the ones leaving.
Through this term I was reminded of the intertwining of all aspects of life, it's like an orchestra, there are many instruments each sounding an individual line, but the piece is not whole if you separate the instruments from each other. I was amazed to see the grief that I felt over death reflected in the choral piece "Lay a Garland" and comforted by an incredibly stunning arrangement of "Amazing Grace" and the double choir motet "Coelos ascendit hodie." In astronomy I learned about the movement of the heavens, late at night I'd wake up and look out my window over the course of the night I saw the stars follow their paths across the heavens and knew that I was watching the motion of earth. I stayed up late painting and making cutouts and realized that I thrive off creativity. There are small connections in everything I do, threads weaving together a fine tapestry in the midst of a a somewhat crazy schedule. I like that, there's something beautiful in a life that's not compartmentalized, I love that this time in my life is spent living at home, that my family is here every day to come home to and I don't have to wait until intercession to see them again, that they can come to piano recitals and choir concerts and that I can sit in church with them on Sunday mornings and eat dinner with them. Lots of students talk about how glad they are not to be living at home anymore, I'm so blessed to have a family that I love to spend time with, that I can't wait to come home to in the afternoon.
This term was filled with joy and sorrow, pain and laughter. Over the last ten weeks my cup overflowed with life, fragile and stunningly beautiful life that I am truly grateful for.
posted by Bethany | 4:04 PM
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