Still without wireless

We still don't have wireless internet. It is as if NEC is afraid to move forward. I wonder what IT has to say about this. Everyone wants it. The technology is extremely available and practices and policies regarding the use of wireless is commonplace. It can't be a technicality. I don't even think it's money. That's too easy. There has to be something deeper like a tumor that's just making everything difficult.

What will it take to make NEC go forward? Is it really just money? Could it be the administration? Maybe it's just the it ain't broke so don't fix it retro mentality that pervades NEC.

What happened to the annual BBQ?

NECSA--NEC Student Association--doesn't exist this year (2006-07.) The proof: there was no annual welcome BBQ this year. To some that just means free food; to others, including myself, who have known NEC for a few years, this is yet another example of NEC at the service of the students. I should have saw it coming too--last year's end-of-school BBQ actually ran out of food after 30 minutes.

As for the non-existent NECSA, rumor has it that the student director stepped down from his position last year, he failed to notify the dean of students and other parties of NECSA's plan on the coming year. I wish I knew some more details.

You would think that NEC is doing well, especially with the captial campaign and good news in the press, but what kind of capital campaign deprives the students of social activites? NEC can't even get us burgers and dogs. At least we got an ice cream hour sponsored by Ben & Jerry's.

Summer... are you around?

With school out of session my sanity has been somewhat restored. There are still outstanding balances though. For example, my history teacher from fall 2005 still hasn't returned my paper and all my E-mail inquiries seem to have been conveninently... "never received." On the flip side, rumor has it that the DMA warden* will be replaced very soon by one who might have a better chance and bringing balance to the force.

But why dwell on the past? It's summer and I was quite surprised to find out about some of the events that were taking place at NEC, not to mention some really good FREE concerts. The Boston GuitarFest 2006 with Eliot Fisk directing was a stunning event. Another program focused on contemporary music and presented some free concerts, one that featured compositions by Augusta Reed Thomas. Next week there's the flamenco institute, which should be fun, complete with dancer, guitar and percussion. Hot. No doubt, the school takes on a life of its own during the summer. Very cool!

I wonder if the students know about it though. True, many of us are gone but for those of us who are delighting in the smell of the roasting trash cans on Huntington Ave., the duck-loads of tourists or even just the plain old deserted party scene that is summer in Boston, NEC still has a good bit to offer.

To that I say, "gosh I wish NEC could communicate with the students through E-mail with simple updates about what still goes on in the building." Don't need any fancy HTML--plain text will be fine.

* I watched Shawshank Redemption recently and I can't help but compare and not contrast these two wardens.

A year in review.....

At the end of every semester, my teacher likes to sit down and discuss the year behind us and make a plan for the year in front of us. It's a very useful conversation, usually filled with exciting new ideas and possibilities for the coming semester and perspective on things that didn't go as planned.

A lot of things didn't go as planned this year. I met a fantastic pianist who has an addiction to high notes and therefore desires to give many recitals with me, and we have a wonderful time collaborating on some fantastic repertoire. I went to New York, care of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, and sang on a masterclass with some of the best young singers across the country, and I got to meet the lady herself. I went to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time. I was admitted into my first summer program, and I'm going to be beating my head against Gilda for the next two months and I think it's going to be fantastic.

I also learned to prioritize my education. Since I entered school in 1984 (don't bother doing the math), my success in the classroom has been top priority. This has, almost always, been congruent with my personal pursuits, my career pursuits, and my goal-oriented sense of accomplishment. I'm a good student, I don't shy away from theory or musicology, and I enjoy a good challenge. In our year-end review, my teacher noted that this year had a lot to do with shifting my focus from my degree to my career. What does this mean, exactly?

It means that, while I will continue to tenaciously pursue the reform of the DMA, my happiness no longer depends upon it. I have made the decision to not allow this degree, its requirements, or its warden - I hesitate to use the term advisor - control my state of mind or my success. Whether or not I am considered an asset to the program is immaterial. When I graduate, I will be a walking and talking advertisement for NEC, and all of its parts. People will ask me about my experiences and, as most of our readers know, I am not one to shy away from telling the truth.

There is so much potential in this conservatory. So many resources untapped, so many faculty past their prime occupying the spaces that should be taken by young, vibrant musicians. So many old world philosophies that say "this is how we've always done it," philosophies that only hinder the progress of conservatory students. And so many possibilities for greatness. This is why we write the letters and have the meetings and get reputations as the squeaky wheel. Because the scholars and performers of the next generation deserve more, and NEC deserves the opportunity to take its place as one of the great music schools in the US. To shake the dust off the procedures and say, "we're an educational institution in the 21st century, and we have some serious music-making to do."

So that, my friends, is the year in review. This is not a spectator sport - your education is only truly yours if you've got skin in the game.

We're getting there

"Not Enough Computers" -- We've all noticed the new terminals! The old CRT monitors--which don't fit in our spacially challenged NEC (or Boston, for that matter)--are slowly dying out. The flat screens are nice. Computer lab is great. Student lounge is much more usable. The E-mail terminals, recognizable by their anti-terrorism bomb shell and awkward keyboards are ok... I guess. Yea yea, more bandwidth would be nice too. Patience. And have faith.

There's no question NEC is concerned about providing some good technological doodads for us. Not sure who to thank but the important thing is, we're getting there! Get ready to cross off "Not Enough Computers"!

"No Ethernet Connection" -- According to rumor, well... it's only a rumor. Let's just say my hopes are up.

Bartok and Schoenberg

You could tell that the students who performed the Bartok String Quartets 1, 2, 5 and Schoenberg "Transfigured Night" all new their pieces inside and out. They probably spent the whole semester looking at those works and were coached by (I'd really love to know how) the members of the Borromeo String Quartet. Perhaps one of the best concerts I've been to this year.

I couldn't help but think of the great divide between musicology and the actual making of music. These kids studied the heck out of these works and at the end of the semester presented us with an unforgetable concert (accompanied by solid program notes.) That is, I think, an example of a genuine and sincere form of schoarlship that is undervalued. Sadly, AMS would never accept that concert as a form of scholarship. They're missing out.

Damn good burger!

I was skeptical. But I need to eat. A lot of the food just didn't look so great (though the All-Clad continues to steal the show.) Browsing the menu with a grim face I said to the friendly staff, "bacon and cheese. burger."

Dear Bistro 33, it was smashin'. I was very impressed by the texture of the meat, the combination of the bread and the veggies and the perfectly cooked patty. The pickle was nice too. Next time I'll just ask them to toast the bread just a tad more.

My credit card didn't mind the $3.19 either.