Yikes! Should be fun though - looking forward to it.
So tonight I make my conducting debut
6 months ago at a symphony benefit, my wife won in a live auction to be the conductor during the piece "Sleigh Ride" at the Baton Rouge Symphony's wonderful Holiday Pops show. Of course, I envisioned it as a fun but ceremonial activity - the orchestra can do Sleigh Ride in their sleep without some random guy up the waving his arms. When I saw the orchestra's associate conductor this week and told him I was excited about the experience, he asked me with wide eyes "You mean you haven't had any lessons yet!?" I informed him I had the rehearsal this week. His response was "No they don't really instruct you during that; they run through the whole show". He immediately made an appointment for a lunchtime lesson this past Wednesday. "You want the orchestra to respect you! You want to look like you know what you're doing" (but I don't). So I was fine for months, then all of a sudden, was quite nervous. My knowledge of musical scores is passable from past piano and guitarwork, but I've never read an orchestral score before. Plus I've very left-handed and conductors keep time with their right hand (with few exceptions).
Well after an hour with the conductor, tons of practice on my own and playing "Sleigh Ride" about 30 times over the past two days (curious if it will rise up on my scrobbles list), had rehearsal with the full orchestra last night. Happy to say it went well - never lost time and timed the "whip cracks" perfectly. Really a lot of fun.
Of course, tonight is the big show in front of an audience of 1500 of my closest friends
Does this mean people should call me "Maestro" after tonight?
There is after the bear catches you.There's wrestling in the World Wildlife Federation?
) but it's a fun thing IMO. I lived in Cleveland for a year and recently took the boys, wife to the Hall on a trip this year. Sure several people should be in that aren't, and others are in when perhaps they shouldn't be. Still, the Hall is a fun celebration of music and music history - and I'm all about that
2018 Class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is announced:
Bon Jovi
Dire Straits
Moody Blues
The Cars
Nina Simone
Sister Rosetta Tharp (Early Influence)
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/n...aits-the-cars-lead-hall-of-fame-class-w513945
I know most people don't care (I always seem to be the one who posts this annually
Do not have a problem with any of the inductees (though some of the list that didn't make it probably could have jumped some of these). All left their mark on music in certain ways
Particularly happy about Nina Simone (not rock but awesome just the same) and Sister Rosetta who I was stunned was not in already as an early influence - totally deserved. She should get more attention (know Sam agrees)
It would be so easy to invoke their familiar song titles to make a snappy comeback, but that idea died horribly, once shot through the heart.
It would be so easy to invoke their familiar song titles to make a snappy comeback, but that idea died horribly, once shot through the heart.
Livin' on a prayer, are we?
Crazy holiday schedule.
