(no subject)

[chelseagirl]

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful supportive messages; if I haven't responded yet it's because I'm spending a lot of time in various libraries, since my apartment is currently a tv-friendly zone, and your message is in my in-box at home. M.'s okay -- pretty depressed but he's got the Sunday Times at home and he's promised to sit down and get out some resumes.

Fabulous stuff happening on campus today: first I brought in all my job market paperwork to Prof. S, the job market advisor, and he felt it was all in good shape. So a few minor things and I'm ready to meet my November 1 deadlines. He even complimented it as well-written and engaging. Okay, he did warn me that I'm more likely to meet a positive reception at solid middle-rank schools than at "Yale or Chicago", but . . . duh. ;-) I'm not a theorist, I've taken my time finishing, and etc. At this point any job at a good college in a decent location is a good job. Plus, I'm realistic about the fact that I'm more likely to land my job next year with finished dissertation in hand, so I'm just mailing stuff out and not stressing.

Also I had a wonderful meeting with my mysterious third advisor (sort of like a fifth Beatle, I guess). I'd been emailing her and hadn't heard back, so R. spoke to her, and we had very energizing meeting. We laughed a lot. It's probably too late for her to write me a recommendation for any of the fall jobs, but she'll get me one for spring jobs and for next year, and more importantly, she's back on board for the commenting and the etc. And it turns out she's been having sporadic problems with her email so the disappearance wasn't on purpose.

Sang my first and last Sunday with the Holy Trinity Choir. The music director and I agreed that I'm not up to speed on learning music the same morning I perform it; I might check out a few other churches with choirs but unfortunately I seem to be in a real middle place. Small churches with small choirs that sing simple music actively try to recruit me but the music bores me; places with music programs I can respect (Bach!) are too professional for me. We talked about my trying to find some kind of larger ensemble that puts on performances of longer works a few times a year, so that I can really work on the music; he also thinks if I studied voice for a year I'd get up to speed. (Apparently my vowel formation is not correct and I do something called "masking," whatever that is.) He feels bad because he doesn't want me to move on from Holy Trinity over this, and I do like it there (much as I'm still mourning St. P's), but I also do want an opportunity to sing. In any case, he offered to help me find an ensemble and or a teacher when I decide what I want to do. (I want to study, just for my own pleasure, but I want to wait 'til I'm done with the dissertation.) So we'll see. In any case, the Chelsea Community Christmas Choir will be starting up soon, so I've got that to look forward to. And lots of people there sing in various choral societies, so maybe some of them would have leads.

Comments

[trouvera.livejournal.com]

FWIW, have you looked at the Teacher's College Chorale? It's a blend of two or three groups actually, the Greek Choral Society, the TC chorale, and something else, I forget what. It's run by Dino Anagnost, who also conducts the Little Orchestra Society of NY.

It's a good little group, rehearses Sunday afternoons, usually does one or two concerts per semester, often at Lincoln Center / Tully Hall. It was a little slow for me, and some of the ladies in the soprano section, well, to be honest they drove me nuts, but if you're looking for a purely musical experience and not a social group, it might work for you.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the lead. I will probably ask you more about it after the holidays.

Why did the sopranos drive you crazy? (I'm an alto so can probably avoid them. ;-) )

[psycholibrarian.livejournal.com]

"We talked about my trying to find some kind of larger ensemble ... lots of people there sing in various choral societies, so maybe some of them would have leads."

OOh, do keep us informed on this subject! I've been itching to try to sing again, but have no idea where I should start. I've been out of the music loop for so long.

Good luck with the job hunts - both yours and M's!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I'll let you know what I come up with when I start looking in earnest. Meanwhile, if you want to ease your way in, the Chelsea Christmas Choir is starting up on 11/10. It's for six weeks, fairly low key and not the biggest challenge in the world, though most of the people in it do sing elsewhere, but John is fabulous and tries to keep up a good standard. It would definitely be a way to ease in. (Plus I'm in it and my friend Jess who leads a Latin jazz band and is very cool . . . )

Thanks for the good wishes!

[harrietthaspy.livejournal.com]

Best future employment wishes for the both of you.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! My search is very longterm; I look now for next fall, I look next spring for next fall, I look next fall for the fall after. Easy not to be too stressed this time! And he's starting to get into the swing of looking.