One Thing Leads to Another
This is a longer post of how one journey can lead to others along the way. There is a point to my analogue I promise.
It all started when I had a dream that I was teaching choir to jr. high students. I felt it was important and that I was making a difference. I also had a dream that I was going to school at the University of Utah. I felt my dream was very important and even some urgency there.
So I stopped by the U to check out their program. As I stepped out of the car, I was nervous, but excited. I went to the front office and asked who I needed to talk to about their choir education program.
The academic advisor happened to be in her office and free. She spent a lot of time with me helping me understand their program and help me figure out what classes I needed to take. It so happened that there was a class she recommended called Intro to Music Technology because I wanted to learn how to produce music. I didn’t know it at the time, but this class would be a gateway to other projects. This advisor was wonderful to talk to and very helpful.
As I looked into applying, it turned out that there was still time to get in my application and transcripts for spring semester. I was able to turn it all in a few days before the deadline. Everyone I talked to was helpful and supportive and I was grateful. I kept asking questions and getting the answers I needed to get the whole process completed.
My advisor said I needed to try out for the education program by singing in front of the professors in the department. It so happened the deadline for this tryout had not passed and signed up for this in the office.
I had a dear friend Nicole Thorpe, who went to the U as a music performance major. Her husband Austin also went to the U and got a masters in music education. Nicole helped me with some audition songs so they could sound better. But She also helped me to realize how enhance my educational experience. One of her ideas was to talk with her husband about music conducting and observe him and others as they conducted choirs to learn from them. This sparked an idea I would use later.
I had a friend who could play the piano for my audition. And a neighbor to watch our children while we were both gone. The day of my audition I was a little nervous because I knew that some people have tried out for their program and had not passed, so this was a big step. My audition went well and the professors were kind and reassuring.
Nicole’s husband Austin is the choir director of Harriman High School. I happened to have a few weeks off of school between spring and summer semester which made it possible for me to watch Austin conduct his choirs.
I knew he would be leaving Utah soon to get his PhD, so this was really my only chance to get to be with him and talk with him about his program.
It was an amazing, inspiring, and touching experience. He was very generous with his time, answering my questions about how to conduct a choir and what it requires to be a quality conductor and help his students produce beautiful heartfelt music.
While I was there, his pianist was using an ipad to read her music. She was also using a foot pedal to turn her pages for her. I was in awe of such technology. I asked her about it because one of my challenges is turning pages quickly. As I saw this foot pedal, it reminded me of my dream to play for receptions. Seeing this, I felt very excited and bought myself a foot pedal and a scanner. These were my special tools to help me move forward. I could not wait to use them. So the reason I was at the school was not only to learn more about conducting, but it was so much more.
At the time I took my music technology class, I didn’t know it would help me so quickly to follow other paths along the way. My music technology class did teach me how to edit music. But it also taught me that in five rooms of Libby Garner Hall, there are recording devices that turn on when their door is opened. You open the door and it automatically starts to record. You play the music you prepared, and then leave the room and it turns off. It is genius. Not sure how many music students know about it, but I think it is pretty awesome. So then you just go to the library, tell them what time period you want to retrieve and they will give you a copy of the file that you can edit at will. All this is helping me realize a dream. I can record myself and not have to pay large fees for a recording studio. Because of these things I could record and edit this music without feeling overwhelmed. I now have sample music recorded and posted on my website so people can listen to it and decide if they would like to hire me for their next event.
While I was editing my music my kids kept asking me, “is that you playing the piano?” An amazing revelation. They are so used to hearing other people play through my computer, it was fun to say it was me. I am grateful for this journey. When I finished putting the finishing touches on my website, I felt elated. It felt complete. And I am so excited to share it with you
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Sometimes there are still doubts, but I keep remembering how long I have had this dream and that it has been important to me all this time. It keeps me going. I have faith it will lead to new roads. I have confidence as I continue, I will be helped along the way. I keep asking questions and finding answers. I am inspired by what I see and hear everyday.
Pathways may be winding. They are usually not direct. There is a refinement. And as I continue along this path, it leads to others. The journey continues one step at a time. If I had not decided to go to the U in the first place, I would not have decided to start a business. Going on the journey, leads to other things along the way. As one is pursued, others fall into place. I’m excited to see what will happen as I go.