Dr. N.A.N.’s Blog
News, views, and how the world skews from Lincoln, NebraskaAnatomy of a collaborative experience
Craig backstage of Kimball Recital Hall and one of his 3 (!) tubas.
Besides the leaves turning and the temperature dropping, fall always means a tuba recital. Craig Fuller and I have been playing together since I arrived at UNL in 1995. Craig is part of the low brass faculty at the School of Music where he teaches euphonium and tuba. I remember the first time we played together–the director at the time sent me an email telling me that Craig was looking for a collaborative pianist and would I please step up to the job. I remember being annoyed because I didn’t want to play for a TUBA player. I was hoping to collaborate with a visiting bassoon player who had a big reputation coming from an important music school on the east coast. Alas, I was not given that assignment but instead was told to play with Craig.
Well, that was 14 years ago and Craig and I have played at least one recital every year with few exceptions. We have covered the tuba repertoire as well as many pieces that Craig “borrowed” from other genres. He has lifted French horn repertoire, voice repertoire (Brahms, Beethoven–An die ferne Geliebte, Schumann, Wagner), oboe music, Bach viola da gamba sonatas–you name it, we have probably either played it or at least considered playing it! What’s amazing about Craig is that when he plays the tuba, it doesn’t sound like a tuba. Well, I guess it always sounds like a tuba but he can play with the speed and accuracy and lightness one would expect from a flute. This man can even execute trills on the tuba!
Last night, Craig and I played yet another recital at Kimball Recital Hall. Click here
Craig Fuller - Tuba Recital
for a blow-up of the program. After it was done, Craig made a very wise observation. He said that as much fun as it is for us to perform together, our rehearsals are even more fun. I have to agree with him. Our rehearsals are often filled with laughter, gossip and silliness. And, we have an understanding–Craig always brings the coffee and chocolate. No rehearsal is complete without these two things.
For the next several weeks, I know I’ll keep checking my calendar looking for my rehearsal schedule with Craig only to be disappointed because the fun has come to an end. Of course, until next year…
Amy, my student and expert page turner
The Other Kind of Green
You know, it isn’t easy being a vegetarian. I guess it’s kinda like Kermit being green. I made the decision to go meat-less in 1992. I still remember the conversation I had with a couple from Springfield, Missouri. They didn’t set out to change my carnivore habits but simply explained to me why eating vegetables was a better choice. In the 16 years that I haven’t eaten meat, I have eaten some fowl and I continue to eat fish (fish feed themselves). I could never give up dairy products or eggs (my “world’s best chocolate chips” wouldn’t taste the same if I didn’t use eggs or butter). For me, being a vegetarian is a personal choice. I don’t expect anybody else to adopt my lifestyle choice. The only problem is that my cats refuse to join me in my meat-free diet. They insist on eating chicken and turkey and one of them even likes pork products! What is a mother to do?
I love almost all vegetables with the exception of zucchini. I have hated zucchini since I was a little girl. My mother still doesn’t understand why. I think it is the bitter taste that the nasty vegetable leaves in my mouth. I remember when she would serve her famous zucchini boats (even the mere thought of them makes me cringe), I would look for ways to “dispose” of my portion without her knowledge. I spent many an evening waiting for her to leave the kitchen so I could quietly dump the boat in the trash.
I do like zucchini bread so go figure…
Did you know that eggplant in Arabic is zaalook?
That chickpeas in French are poi chiches?
That the word for chocolate is almost universally the same?
That fried tofu is actually very tasty?
“Piano-in-Tow” update
I’m almost reluctant to mention it but I think the details for “P-i-T” are finally coming together. The reason that I’m reluctant to even write about it is that I have learned from experience that nothing is 100% reliable and the moment that I think it is, BOOM!, everything falls apart. So, with some fear and trepidation, I give you a “P-i-T” update. My first tour will include several towns in almost-central Nebraska and in Beatrice, Nebraska which is south of Lincoln. I will visit with 6th grade music students in Schuyler on October 14 and high school band students on the 15th in Beatrice. I will also give a more formal performance for Beatrice parents and community members in the evening. The following week, I will be in Albion and Columbus for both school and evening presentations. I felt a twinge of excitement when the temporary tattoos I had ordered showed up on my doorstep yesterday. Can you imagine 100 kids running around with “P-i-T” stickers on their faces, arms, ankles (and goodness knows where else…)? Parents will really appreciate me for that. “Piano-in-Tow” t-shirts should be available soon. Let me know if you would like to purchase one–they will be VERY reasonably priced!
One other note, I had a productive meeting with an enthusiastic producer from Nebraska Educational Television the other day. I am hopeful that she will be able to supply me with a video camera and tripod so that I may create video blogs from the road. Now wouldn’t that be funny. Your nightly update on Dr. NAN’s excellent adventure…
Lots of Kitties
Mom and her Boys
Anyone who has really looked around this blog knows that I love cats. Now, I actually love all animals but am particularly fond of cats, both big and small. I think the reason I’m partial to cats is that I grew up with them. (My family has always had a Mitzou (name adopted from the main character in the opera Madame Butterfly) and they are currently on Mitzou IV. Minou, Mitzou’s brother, is considered a cousin for lineage purposes.) Many years ago, several friends and I decided to start The Cat House–a not-for-profit, no-kill cat shelter in Lincoln, Nebraska. That was in 1999. The Cat House has come a long way since that first year. We have a free-standing shelter in downtown Lincoln, we maintain a feline presence at two different pet stores and we support a program called TNR for feral cats. Trap, neuter and release is a concept that has been around for quite some time and is the only truly effective means for dealing with a feral cat colony. The idea behind TNR is that by trapping, neutering/spaying and returning members of a feral colony to their previously established location, the colony will eventually cease to exist (through attrition) and a new colony will NOT establish itself in its place. The Cat House is very fortunate to have several volunteers dedicated to our TNR program. One of these wonderful volunteers has even started a blog about the cats in her neighborhood she has helped through TNR. Her name is Sheila and you can read daily updates and see pictures of the cats that have wormed their way into her heart. Her blogsite is:
http://www.washingtoncat.blogspot.com/
A Must See…
Even if you have already seen this video on YouTube, it’s worth watching a second time.
My take on Fathers, Food, Felines and Francaix….
A Best Friend
Most all of us have had at least one best friend. I know I certainly have had several . But, there is only one friend I have had through the years that has seen me through more life experiences (and stood by me through those experiences) than any other person. Her name is Penny. I first met Penny when I joined a local health club because I was in desperate need of exercise and knew the only way I was going to get it was to pay for it. (Guilt can be a tremendous motivator.) I naively signed up for Penny’s spinning class thinking to myself, “How hard can it be to ride a stationary bike?” Whoa. Little did I know how challenging spinning could be and then to add Penny to the mix only magnified the difficulty by 10x. Although that first class was very humbling, I knew I wanted more. So, I signed up for Penny’s classes as often as I could, knowing that Penny’s way was the only way. It wasn’t long after I started spinning that I approached her about riding outside. She kindly agreed and our first ride was a 24 mile trek on crushed limestone from Lincoln to Eagle. (For those of you familiar with the extensive trail system in Lincoln, NE, we rode the MoPac trail.)
Standard issue: double latte in a "to-go" cup
Fast forward ten years later and thousands of cycling miles behind us, Penny and I are still riding, laughing, drinking coffee and yakking it up. Sometimes, Penny can make me laugh so hard that I cry. Frequently, in the late evening, I’ll find her logged on and we’ll start iming about the day’s activities. It is almost inevitable that our “conversation” will digress and Penny will have me howling. It is for this reason that I have asked Penny to be my road manager for “Piano-in-Tow“. I know she would be fantastic at engaging the students and keeping me in line. Now all I have to do is convince her to say yes!
P.S. I have also been pestering Penny to write a guest post for this blog. So, stay tuned…
Hear Ye one more time
Many thanks to Bill Stibor for giving me a platform on which to share the piano music of Jean Francaix! I thoroughly enjoyed our repartee during his “Friday Live” program for NET Radio. For those of you who missed it, a podcast can be downloaded at this address: netnebraska.org.
I would also like to thank my wonderful friend P for snapping some pictures while Bill and I were chatting!
Hear Ye, Hear Ye
Hello to all of you interested in my Jean Francaix antics!
This Friday, August 22, during the 9am hour, I will “sit” for an interview with Bill Stibor, host of the very popular radio program, “Friday Live” on NET Radio. Bill’s vast knowledge about classical music and his ability to ask insightful questions should make this a very interesting experience. I hope you can join us!
“Friday Live” can be heard at: netNebraska.org/radio
A Florida tradition
Every summer, my family and I spend a week in the panhandle area of Florida. We have been coming to Fort Walton Beach for 30+ years to drink margaritas or mojitos or whatever the adult beverage du jour is, walk on the white sand beach and generally do nothing. Sometimes we get lucky and the weather is sunny throughout the week and sometimes we aren’t so lucky. Since we always come at the end of the summer, our visit coincides with the hurricane season. Perhaps not the best planning but it’s tradition.
Our holiday always includes a trip to Nick’s Fish Camp, an unassuming bar/restaurant on the edge of the Basin Bayou. Nick’s is home of the “fried-fried”. This term was coined by my long-time friend Randy A. when he was describing a particular dish at another favorite restaurant of mine in San Antonio. I think Nick’s motto should be: “If it ain’t fried, it ain’t worth eatin’”. Highlights of the menu include fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried fish, fried hush puppies and of course, the ubiquitous French fries. A side order of coleslaw is available. I think the coleslaw is Nick’s attempt to round out the food pyramid. Another food tradition that we observe in Florida is the seven-layer bar. My Aunt Joanna always favors me (and my sister) with a pan of these thunder-thigh confections during our visit. Imagine a multi-layer pan cookie with a graham cracker crust and chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, pecan and condensed milk heaped on top which is baked to a gooey treat. 
Another tradition that we enjoy is the company of guests that join us for the week. We have had friends visit from all over the country and world! Although the accomodations at this condo complex aren’t exactly Hotel de Crillon, we do offer the basics–cable tv, pool, laundry and pizza delivery. We rely on our guests to entertain us so if you come, be prepared to tell us stories, take us kite-flying, deep-sea fishing or anything else that will keep us occupied.
I’m not napping, I’m listening
The other day while teaching a lesson, I noticed that my responses to the student’s performance seemed instinctive—I wasn’t pondering the situation like I have been known to do on so many other occasions. Now, it is possible that this instinct is actually the product of the thousands of piano lessons I have had and the endless hours of practicing (or banging my head against the wall). Regardless, my most inspired teaching seems immediate and without hesitation. I respond to what I hear and see. Sometimes, I’ll close my eyes to hear better. (On those occasions, I do reassure my student that I’m not napping.) I also find that asking questions of the student gives me insight into his or her way of thinking about the music. Questions I typically ask are: what color do you hear? Do you have a scene or image in mind while you are playing this piece? If not, do you hear dialogue? (I sometimes hear dialogue but not specific words—just inflection, rhythm (anger, sadness, joy, inquiry)) Answers to these questions help me guide the student to play with greater clarity.
