Here Ye, Here Ye!

This is a public announcement of the newly formed chamber ensemble, Two by Four. Or maybe that's 2 x 4. We'll have to see which one looks best on a CD jacket and fan T-shirts. :) Anyhoo, I've teamed up with awesome bassoonist of the world, Dr. Karen Atria, currently of Columbus, OH, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, formerly formerly the "Lady of Pearl Cottage" in Scotland, and formerly formerly formerly formerly, a graduate school colleague and apartment mate at 1818 19th St. in Boulder, CO. We've performed A LOT together, but not in the recent past, so this will be a BLAST for us to create some music together and share it with you, our listeners. Upcoming events include the 2010 Eau Claire Summer Series, and then we'll take the world by storm. So, watch out and stay tuned for more information.

Any you, gentle reader? What have you created in your musical world since our last meeting? Any interesting New Year's resolutions to share? PLease feel free to post comments below!

For now,

Oboe and Out

Happy New (School) Year!

It's that time of year again. The nights are getting cooler, and shiny white sneakers and notebook paper are on sale---the school year is about to begin! I've always found this time of year fascinating. More so that New Year's resolutions, the new school year is a chance to create positive change for oneself and others. Like a snake that regularly sloughs off its old skin, we have an opportunity to change unnecessary habits and seek out ways to renew our efforts as artists. After a summer to rest and reflect, we begin a semester energized and hopeful.

So, dear reader, I ask: What are your goals for the semester and year? What kind of student do you want to be?

I hope you'll look to the new semester as a time to develop yourself, delve deeply into your studies with curiosity, and seek out new experiences and inspirations that inform and strengthen your own creative endeavors. I'll be doing the same with my own teaching and learning and look forward to our collaborative journey.

Before you walk into your first class, lesson, or practice room session, ask yourself: what are your goals for this new time? How will you achieve these goals? I encourage you to submit your comments/thoughts/goals to this blog so you can share your ideas with all of us.

There are exciting times my friends; make the most of our yearly renaissance.

-Christa