Completely unlike the musical ambassador I think I am, I didn’t post even a hint of what I was up to last week. This is because I spent practically all my time in the car, and almost no time sitting down happily at my computer. And because we seem to have entered a cycle of low-budget Pops and Education concerts, and because I agree with Thumper – if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.
A highlight, though, was the Legend of Zelda concert I played last Thursday in Chicago. A lot of loud, a lot of high, a lot of fast – and really really fun. We played to a click track the entire time, which is kind of like having an entire orchestra accompany me while I sightread with a metronome – except that there was also a huge and enthusiastic audience, who knew all the notes better than I did. What a blast!
This week (tomorrow! Details HERE) we’re playing Pops in Northwest Indiana with our chorus and the Purdue University Glee Club. I know the audience will enjoy it. Our conductor does a great job programming these, and the concert will no doubt flow beautifully and the crowd will laugh and cry at the appropriate times. It will be fun – you should come – but forgive me if I am not so enthusiastic. From where I sit it feels like a lot of uninspired loud playing of pop songs and show tunes and I am not -yet- on board.
But it’s going to get better. Sometimes work just feels like work, but surely that is the case for everyone. I love what I do but I don’t have to be over the moon about every gig.
I’ll keep you posted.