Articulations again

 I am so much better than I used to be at starting articulations at zero. This is such an easy thing to do on the clarinet! But on the oboe, it is a huge pain and I struggle so much. 

Today I was doing an F sharp major skills starting on F sharp and going down to the low A# all was well. Then I noticed When I jumped up the octave, there’s a catch at the beginning of the notes in my left hand. Here are the things I am remembering so hopefully I will do this every day  

Blow all the way through the Oboe past where the speaking tone hole is. 

Don’t blast all your air to the embouchure place- Make sure the embouchure Is set and really supporting. It feels like a pocket of air held a little further back than right at the embouchure- This seems to help me focus on “firmer” grip of the reed 

Keep the roof of your mouth In line with your spine, it goes all the way up to your front teeth. 

The jaw releases down - Your neck does not need to move to allow the jaw to open

Make sure your spine is not stuck, it is curvy and strong

Feel the cushion embouchure all around the reed and don’t be afraid to move. 

Holding things still or feeling brakes on muscles is not my goal. 

Spring again

It has been a busy winter, Dan came back from LV And spent the holidays with us before moving to Baltimore a second time in February. So far things are looking good, and he has a job at a cafe next door to the apartment. 

Jim’s health is pretty much as perfect as possible, such a relief after last summer. I am really focusing on the Oboe and personal practice time. It seems kind of ridiculous. I’m figuring all these things out at this late date, but it has been to see my progress. 

And once again with feeling

Dan is in Las Vegas now, about 2 months. Still looking for a job, trying to figure out life. He's living with a couple of friends and seems pretty happy, hopefully he will find some direction soon.

Jim had a horrible summer of prostate problems (seems like way too small a word). Excruciating pain and 9 trips to the ER (each many hours to days), before they finally admitted him and he was at Sacred Heart for 9 days! We were expecting he would need surgery but scheduling was months out - but then a procedure (prostatic artery embolization) which he had undergone to alleviate symptoms unexpectedly provided relief and surgery is currently unnecessary. Still reeling - he's coming off a boatload of drugs and things are kind of back to normal after 2 months of complete crazy.

My life was pretty much on hold during that time, but I have just started back playing and Jekyll & Hyde opened this week, and our little symphony has their first concert next week. So lots of playing! Hoping to do some of the visiting that got put off (my dad, cabin, C in Wyoming) after the show closes next week. Looking forward to a much less busy fall!

Whiplashing

So Dan went to Baltimore, and was back in 3 days. He is now planning to move to Vegas at the end of July. Hoping he finds a path to happiness one way or another. But the upside is that he can join us for the July4 parade! This will be the first time without Leonard, but nice to honor him by continuing the tradition.

I've been oboeing hard these days - lots of shows and random gigs. Jim is struggling with the front gate, something is not working right with the software code and it's giving them fits. We still havent made it up to Silverwood this year, too much going on. But (as I always say) next week will be calmer! HAHAHA

We are down to one cat now (Popcorn) and I've been thinking we should repopulate. It is nice to have the kitties even though they are outdoors only.

Hoping to kayak this summer, and get up to Silverwood, and do the Cathey reuinion in Cle Elum and some sort of Hooperfest in Leavenworth or Yakima, and my Alexander Technique workshop and the NW Oboe Seminar and finish up the run of South Pacific and Secret Garden and Sandpoint Festival How to Train Your Dragon! Before end of August. Also trying to plan my fall recital and go visit C in the Tetons. Sigh...

Empty Nesting

We took Dan and Ainsley to the airport Sunday, I am excited and worried but I think they are in a good position to make this work! The apartment is ready for them to move into on the 31st, so they have one day to clear Ainsley's studio. Fortuitously the lab where she works is closed this week so they get a little vaca before the big move. I guessing Dan will start active job hunting after they move, I think he feels pretty confident since he has saved a good amount from his job here. Really hoping he finds something he likes, maybe at a museum or one of the colleges? 

Jim and I played for a memorial day service in Fairfield - was kind of our 4th of July band (first time w/o Leonard) with a few extras. I think it came off pretty well, missed having our boy there.

End of an Era

Dan will be leaving home Sunday. I guess this

is really the second time, since in the fateful year 2020 he did go off to college (at the University of Montana) for about 18 months. But this time he's off to Baltimore, moving in with his best friend Ainsley and doing all the adulting sort of things. I'm excited for him and hoping he finds fulfilling work. 

We have a teenager

Hard to believe we have lasted through 13 years of parenthood! Daniel is doing great in his first days as a teenager, sleeping in, being generally grouchy, do you thing around, and of course being a lovable little dude- although he is 100 pounds as of today! I can't believe his first Spokane youth orchestra concert is next week, they are playing Carmen  among other things. 

My goal is to paint and put flooring in his room by thanksgiving. Since he is all big now, we got a new bed and he's spent a lot of time culling his things. All the Legos have gone (gasp)-- mostly he has books and bird items now.