Objectivity

Why is it that sometimes I think I can objectively support a point using a personal example, when in all actuality, I can't separate emotions from rationality enough to argue my point?

How long does it take after someone dies before you can talk about it out loud again? (I think I've moved on alright, I really do. I just can't seem to actually say it out loud, straight forward, without skirting around it and saying something like "the time I sang that S McL piece" instead of "when T died." Which is silly, because really, I'm totally fine, and I've come to terms with T, and T's death, and myself. So, why is it that I can't use anything I've learned from that experience as objective fact? I am so frustrated with myself!)

In any case, I cried at school today at a meeting that supposed to be not about me at all, but I accidentally made it about me when I tried using this thing about T as an example supporting my argument... but I never got to deliver the argument because I wimped out because I started crying and got all embarrassed.

This sucks.

But on a brighter note, the meeting went well, as a whole! Next time I will remember to leave all personal examples out of the conversation. Clearly, they are not so helpful at this point in time!

An artist at work

I had the amazing opportunity today to watch abstract expressionist painter Cesan D'Ornellas Levine as she created a vibrant painting in front of her eyes at the Petroff Gallery in Toronto. My friend H and I sat and watched her for a bit as she transformed a wooden canvas into a part of her Sun Series Paintings. It was super cool!

While I know very little about visual art and art history (and I hope to learn more soon), I really enjoyed watching Cesan D'Ornellas Levine paint. I would never have thought of some of her techniques. She used white a lot; she would paint with colour, and then 'take off' portions of the dried coloured paint with white paint. She used water; spraying the paint with water seemed to create a really interesting effect. She used a wood-carving knife to etch patterns into her painting since she was painting on wood, rather than canvas. She used paper towel to make a soft, unique texture.

It really is amazing how many opportunities are available to people living in and around the Toronto area. Cesan D'Ornellas Levine's exhibition today was free of charge, and I am sure there are many such events around Toronto that go by without Torontonians taking full advantage. Concerts, art exhibitions, historical sites -- there is so much to see and do, and so little time to do it all!

Post-Graduate Aspirations

It's the start of a school year, and high school seniors throughout the country are spending countless hours at university fairs, booking guided campus tours, and surfing an uncountable number of university websites. Despite the wide variety of available resources in our quest to identify our post-graduate aspirations, many of us still feel overwhelmed and confused.

With application deadlines quickly approaching, there is not only the pressure to improve and maintain grades and demonstrate commitment to extracurricular passions, but the 'obligation' to discover one's interests (and potential careers) seems stronger than ever.

It is important to remember, however, that post-secondary studies and activities are not about setting one's life path in stone. Rather, post-secondary studies is just another stage in life where each individual as even more opportunities to delve into the areas in which he or she enjoys, be they traveling, sciences, thinking, music, research, medicine, entrepreneurship, volunteer work, and so much more.

The difficulty therefore lies in determining one's passions and identifying what areas and fields are enjoyable. What does one do when one would like to do it all?

Thought as a Form of Music

Today was our last day of classes at school, and yet it didn't really feel that way. We had one of my favourite classes for last period; it's a very thought provoking course, so once we it had finished, my friends and I were all a little sad about it being over. I suppose it might've been just a way of extending the course and avoiding saying goodbye, or perhaps it was just an attempt to procrastinate and avoid actually doing work and studying for exam finals, but we ended up going to the music room at school and just hanging out, thinking, and talking about identity, life, and emotions.

We were in a music room, and we weren't exactly singing or jamming on the instruments. There were no guitar cases open, no violin bows in our hands, no clarinet reeds between our lips... And yet, there is some sort of music-like feel in the thinking that we did today. Thinking has a rhythm and a flow, much like the way music does. And when you finally pull yourself from your seat, from the conversations, from the spoken thoughts to go home and get back to your studying and day-to-day life, you carry with you the feeling of thinking, the feeling of music, the feeling of I-thought-today and I-feel-good-about-it.

There's a sort of beauty in this 'music.' It's not exactly the same as instrumental, vocal, choral, orchestral, and all the other sorts of music... It's not Classical, it's not Pop, or Hip Hop... but it's beautiful all the same, and I'm very glad that we got to experience this beautiful music this afternoon. I may have not studied for my science exam, but in all truth, this was so much worth it.

Cello Choir at Music Night!

Last week, the Cello Choir performed for students, parents, faculty and staff at our school's Music Night. We played "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica (arranged for four cellos by Apocalyptica). "Nothing Else Matters" is a beautifully powerful piece, and I hope that you all enjoy listening to it here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTozgoj9OQ

We hope to perform it again in the upcoming weeks, along with Fauré's "Dans Les Ruines d'Une Abbaye" and traditional tune "Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)" arranged for three cellos.

Here is "Dans Les Ruines d'Une Abbaye." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOgyCbxwSuo

Music and Philosophy

In one of my classes at my high school, we're reading Astra Taylor' "Examined Life," which is a transcript of the film version by the same name. In "Examined Life," Taylor attempts to bring philosophy closer to the people of the streets (or rather, the everyday people and their every day lives) by having walking (or driving, or boating, etc.) conversations with some of the world's leading philosophers including Peter Singer, Slavoj Zizek, Michael Hardt, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Judith Butler (with Sunaura Taylor), Martha Nussbaum, Avital Ronell, and Cornel West. So far, we have only studied in class Singer, Zizek, Hardt, Appiah, and, most recently, West.

The reason why I have decided to mention this aspect of my class is because of the interview with West, which has striking references to music. Cornel West is not only a philosopher, but a musician as well. I highly recommend that you read West's conversation with Taylor from "Examined Life." Who knows? Maybe you will also decide to read all the other fantastic conversations as well -- philosophy and music are both extremely interesting, after all.

Beatstock -- A Success!

Our school's annual coffeehouse, Beatstock, was a superb success! It was on Friday, February 5th, from 6-8PM (although it went over time to about 9:30PM).

We raised over $2000 for Beatz to da Streetz, a fantastic organization that helps underpriveliged youth through music and self-expression. This year's coffeehouse is possibly the most successful Beatstock we've had ever. Almost all the seats were filled (and we had more seats than we usually do); some people were standing at the sides or sitting on the floor, even. Everyone had fun.

For more information about Beatz to da Streetz, take a look at their website: http://beatztodastreetz.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your support everyone!

Cello Choir

My school's cello ensemble, also known as our Cello Choir, has a new piece!

We're learning the aria from the fifth suite of Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras.
I'm super excited to play this piece. It's gorgeous.

Have a listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06B1SQjRRQ

P.S. Beatstock is in less than a week!

Beatstock, our coffeehouse music event

On Friday, February 5th, 2010, around 140 students from various schools will be coming together to celebrate music as we listen to student singers, bands, and other groups perform at Beatstock, our coffeehouse music event.

All proceeds raised will be used to support Beatz to da Streetz, a youth-led arts program that changes the lives of underprivileged teenagers through music. Beatz to da Streetz uses the power of music to promote those values through creative expression and self-discovery. The program reintegrates youth with their communities and provides support for achieving long-term livelihood development. Unfortunately, it is an under funded organization and is in need of support to expand and maintain their services.

At our coffeehouse, we will generate change with music as we build our community while helping Beatz to da Streetz.

You're welcome to come to this event! Check out our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=243994357019&ref=mf

For more information on Beatz to da Streetz, view their website:
http://beatztodastreetz.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. :)

Thank you!