Long time, no post.

I'm back, I'm back, I'm baccccccccccccck. After a long hiatus, due to summer, visitors, moving to our new house, auditions, more students, and any and all possible other excuses, I am back here... writing.

My life has just been a whirlwind as the summer has closed and fall is creeping in. I wish it would creep a little faster though... or at all. It is my favorite season and we don't really get it in the desert. It doesn't stop me from buying everything pumpkin flavored and attempting to wear the cardigans in my closet.

I am once again an oboe player, making reeds and teaching students, and now; making reeds for students (only my high schoolers). I am trying to avoid the fact that I need a new oboe, my current one has cracked more times than I care to remember, (though ironically not since moving to the desert) and I am really starting to feel it aging. The poor topjoint just doesn't have the same ring that it once did though, it still feels somewhat decent. This supposed oboe purchase will be the first one I have attempted on my own, so it will be interesting. The whole, figuring out where to get $8000 thing. It is kind of like a riddle or puzzle, and I haven't quite figured out what to do.

I now proudly have 7 oboe students- 3 high schoolers and 4 middle schoolers, and I am pleased with all of their work and progress. Especially my older students who are all studying out of Barret and Ferling and even though they are sophomores and freshmen are advanced to a point that I am satisfied with. They are a bright spot in my week, and I love teaching ALL of them!

Since school has started, this of course means that I am also back to paraproing. Kind of a mobile oboe doctor of sorts for all of the schools in the district. The bulk of that job includes making suggestions on reeds, repairs, simple embouchure set ups, air support-- as much pertinent oboe info as I can cram into a 45-50 min. class period. It is hard because the main thing that they need to know is that they need a private oboe instructor... and I'm not saying it has to be ME, but it should be somebody.

No gigs yet this fall, and it has me starting to brainstorm some ideas. It is that constantly overriding question in many musicians minds; take control, or be controlled?

I don't know if I want to spend my life being controlled by external musical forces; auditions, politics, circumstances, other people. Maybe I want to gain some of that back for myself... still trying to figure out how to do that, but I know that is what I really want to be able to do. So I am thinking recitals, wedding music, chamber music, what can I do? I know that I want to have fun, and play music with bright, caring, like minded people. I kind of have a feeling this is how many a very special chamber group has gotten started...