I confess, this post has potential to sound like a "kids today -- geroffamylawn!" missive --
But really it is simply a dose of reality for young (or any) people thinking that they are interested in pursuing the life of a professional musician who is a sole or equal-share breadwinner in a household.
I am leaving out people who have a "day job" or for whom music is part-time work. I don't have experience in either area!
Instead, I am simply opening a window into the amount of music that has to be learned/practiced/memorized/taught in an average week when music is a full-time, living-wage job.
Funny thing about music -- though I do need some periods of silence to clear my head, I find that the more deeply I am into learning and practice, the more I want to listen to other artist's work. Not just to clarify pieces I'm working on but also to hear different and fresh things that have no relation -- during the week I charted I was obsessed with the remarkable pianist Jeremy Denk, and listened to everything he has recorded, from the Bach Goldberg Variations to Legeti and Ives. Amazing work. I also became acquainted with "Honeymoon in Vegas," getting my all-important Jason Robert Brown fix.
This is an average week of music from Sunday morning through Saturday night. It was not a performance week (aside from Sunday morning, which I treat with the same intensity and preparation as a performance) and I do not have the same memorization requirements as a stage performer -- but I make up for the lack of memorization by having to learn more parts!
Some pieces are repeated -- practicing and score study is a different experience than actually rehearsing, as is score study from practicing on piano, and each process takes up separate time.
SUNDAY!
(Lim needed a sub for Handbell Choir so I rehearsed once in the morning and then played twice)
Handbells:
Revelation Song
Cornerstone
Singing on Worship Team (These are memorized, performance ready, and done for two services)
Light the Fire Again
I Need Thee Every Hour
10,000 Reasons
Let the River Flow
The Wonderful Cross
Overcome
Practiced to Conduct/Accompany Young Frankenstein (Selma Performing Arts)
Roll in the Hay
Man About Town
Vocal Coached (This means I have learned the song, accompany, and coach)
Sebben Crudele
Art Thou the Christ
Butterfly Kisses
Maybe
We're All In This Together
Happy Working Song
Reflection
I Wish I Could Go Back to College
Just Once
I Want You Back
Killing Me Softly
Piano Lessons
Worked through 6 beginning songs from the Nikolaev Book
MONDAY!
Practiced to Conduct/Accompany Young Frankenstein
Listen to Your Heart
Surprise
Frederick's Soliloquey
Please Send Me Someone
Puttin' On The Ritz
Score Study/Rehearsal Prep to Conduct Broadway Concert (Fresno Grand Opera Chorus)
(Entire Program for run-through)
76 Trombones
Lida Rose
Sweet and Low
Till There Was You
Pick a Little
Goodnight Ladies
June is Bustin' Out All Over
This Was a Real Nice Clambake
If I Loved You
You'll Never Walk Alone
Tonight
America
Somewhere
Maria
One Hand, One Heart
At the End of the Day
I Dreamed a Dream
People's Song
On My Own
Bring Him Home
Les Mis Finale
No One Mourns the Wicked
The Wizard and I
One Short Day
For Good
Defying Gravity
Popular
The Phantom of the Opera
Angel of Music
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
Vocal Coaching
I'm Yours
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Bushel and a Peck
I Dreamed a Dream
Learn Your Lessons Well
Riptide
Little Black Rain Cloud
Piano Lessons
3 Short Nikolaev Pieces
FGO Rehearsal
Conducted run-through of above program, cleaning rehearsal in second half
TUESDAY!
Vocal Coaching
In quelle trine morbido
Je suis Titania
Je suis encor tout etourdie
Seize the Day
Poison in My Pocket
Still Hurting
Much More
Honey Bun
Goodbye Until Tomorrow
Ani hava selet
On My Own
I Have a Dream
Alma del core
Younger Than Springtime
You Have to be Carefully Taught
My Girl Back Home
Route 66
Heidenroslein
A Dreamer's Holiday
Piano Lessons
6 Short Nikolaev
Practice Young Frankenstein
Together Again
Roll in the Hay
Conducted/Accompanied Kids' Bach Passion of St. John Rehearsal
#1 Lord, Lord
#7 Chorale
WEDNESDAY!
Vocal Coaching
Honey Bun
Where is Love
In My Life
A Brand New You
Seize the Day
Don't Cry for Me, Argentina
Wonderful Guy
Twin Soliloquies
Another World
Part of Your World
Route 66
I Had Myself a True Love
Young Frankenstein (Conducted/Accompanied Rehearsal)
Together Again Finale
Deep Love Finale
Hang the Doctor
He's Loose Reprise
Surprise
He's Loose
Together Again
Please Don't Touch Me
The Brain
Happiest Town in Town
The Law
Roll in the Hay
THURSDAY!
Vocal Practice
St. John's Passion Contrapuntal Chorus Pieces
Vocal Coaching
I Always Knew
Another World
Watch What Happens
Circle of Life
Maybe
Once Upon a Dream
On My Own
Backson Song
Into the Woods Narrator Parts
FGO Rehearsal
Conducted run-through of above program, then heard 21 solo auditions
FRIDAY! (MY DAY OFF!)
Practiced to Conduct/Accompany Young Frankenstein
Roll in the Hay
He Was My Boyfriend
Puttin on the Ritz
Together Again
Life!
Accompanying
Do Re Mi
Little Black Rain Cloud
SATURDAY!
Rehearsal for Bach St. John's Passion
Sang Alto of all chorus sections
Vocal Practice
Learned/Memorized "Love is War" for Sunday Service
That is... Wait for it....
OVER 250 PIECES that I was responsible for in one week!
To be honest, it even scares me... but you just can't think about it -- another musician friend who has an equally ridiculous schedule advises "focus fully on what you are working on at the time and be sure to schedule in down time -- and when practicing, take a break if your brain can't absorb anything else."
As they say in "Avenue Q" -- this is real life -- You're gonna love it!
