One of the reasons I decided to come to Oberlin was the amount of music that occurs on campus. I've been playing the violin since fourth grade, and while I knew I wouldn't be applying to the Conservatory, I still wanted to be able to keep playing at an advanced level. I haven't been disappointed. If anything, I've had too many opportunities to be playing music--sometimes I just have to say no so I can have some time to devote to studying.
This week, for instance, I'm playing in the pit orchestra for Music Man, which the Avon Lake high school is performing. I should probably have said no. Most nights this week, I haven't gotten back to Oberlin until nine o'clock or later, at which point I have to find something to eat and then actually try to get work done. It's probably not the healthiest of schedules.
However, I've probably said it before, but I'll say it again: I love pit orchestras. There's something about providing the music for a whole show that is just really cool. That is a lot of music to get under your fingers, but I think for me that's probably half the fun. That extra dash of terror because I don't really know what will happen next in my part is always exciting. Plus, it leads to me writing awesome notes in my part to myself, such as "Haha, you should have been counting."
Also, playing in the pit is like actually performing the musical, except without people staring at you. And you don't have to sing. For me, this is a very good thing. Besides the no singing aspect, I like performing for a good two hours but knowing that the audience's attention is elsewhere. Is this a bit of an odd mindset to have? Probably. But that might also explain why some people really don't like pit orchestras.
On a completely unrelated note, here are the top three books I read over break (in no particular order):
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
Daughters of the North by Sarah Hall
Running Out Of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
