A Diary Entry About Musical Madness and ADD

The Experiences from the Mind of A Classical Musician (and Specifically An Opera Singer)

Morning. I need coffee. I need it because if not, I will stay in bed thinking about the music I have to practice today. I sit at the table looking at rehearsal schedules.

I suddenly start hearing the music from rehearsal
four years ago
for that one show
I never ended up doing.
 
It finally occurs to me— this is the La Traviata mens’ chorus music. I sing it before I remember what it’s from, in Italian, and then amuse myself with the ridiculously inaccurate translation that we used to have.

I feel like aliens have taken over my brain and are using me as a radio system. I write down this fact because I didn’t even remember that I did this. But I remember the music. I fear I am going senile for everything but classical music.

Shower. I sing an entire piano piece melody (and some of the supporting left hand parts). I can’t remember why I know it, and I still haven’t had coffee. Please just drink coffee. I still haven’t drunk the coffee I poured at nine o’clock.

I start to stretch and warm up, so that my constantly tense back/neck of a 90 year-old coal miner doesn’t inhibit my ability to perform.

My roommate must think that
I’m either doing tongue exercises,
or judging by the sound,
masturbating to piano music in the living room.

Yes, it’s just tongue exercises. I can’t believe I do these in public.

By lunch time I’ve looked through all my music for the day and sobbed inconsolably (at least on the inside). By just after lunch I have finally drunk my coffee, now cold. I make tea.

I have to go to work. I practice for a few hours, get dressed and run to the train. On the train I hear repetitive melodies in my head, so I turn on some completely different music to shut off my work. I get to work just exactly on time, not sure how. I spend a lot of time singing the tenor’s arias from the show in my head, which are much catchier and easier to love.

At work I try to hold back my excitement every time someone mentions music or art, because the geek parade that would escape from my mouth is painful to hear. I don’t like to be friends with other artists because they are obnoxious. But I can’t be friends with normal people without alcohol, because then we have very little to talk about.

I get home, feel guilty for the little time I have practiced, and punish myself with translations and musical analysis. In a few hours when that guilt has worn off and I’m too lazy to consider any more practicing, the wine and Netflix emerge from the shadows. It is time. I can bear planning lessons with my students much more easily with wine.

…But I will still take notice of every clipped piece of classical music in the movie's soundtrack. And what the music really means. And you will hate me. And I will not care.

Bedtime is usually difficult. I hate bedtime but I don’t want to get sick. Depending on how busy I am, I may have a dream that takes place in rehearsal. God help me.

The "Super" Bowl, Trends in Music, and A Lesson in Junk Food

The Super Bowl was all right to watch. This year was pretty intense, and the game was well played on both sides. I've never actually sit down to watch a whole game before (and paid attention), so this is new for me.

The thing I have noticed about the Super Bowl this year is an overwhelming change in music and format. So, I decided to quickly research the history of the Super Bowl performances.

1960s: For the first few Super Bowl halftime shows, we see only performances by college marching bands-- which is typical of a football game. Sometimes the spectators get a treat, like military drum corps or the navy band.

By the 1970s, there are special guest hosts, celebrity personalities, etc. Still, however, we see a marching band as the main event. We even see some international bands with different world music.

By the early 80s, there are more regular celebrity performers, but again-- marching bands are the main event. However-- by the late 80s, the celebrities are taking over the show. We see Disney characters, TV personalities, pop singers, and maybe a drill team if we are lucky.

By 1991 we see the headliners as Disney characters and New Kids on the Block. No band.

By the mid 90s there could be as many as 6 celebrity performers.

You also see, starting in the 80s, that these shows begun to have big companies as their producers, unlike before. The Walt Disney Company had become a regular supporter and producer of the Super Bowl shows. Radio City Music Hall also had a pretty big hand in the halftime shows.

As we head toward the 2000s, she list of people involved gets longer and longer. Now, every show has not only a headliner, but a producer, and a sponsoring company (usually something colossal like soft drink names, banks, or cellular phone companies).

I researched two recurring producers from the 2000s and 2010s: Hamish Hamilton and Don Mischer. These are concert directors/producers who are responsible for some of the most successful TV events, such as the Grammys and the Academy Awards, and even social functions for the President.

Between the classic marching bands era (60s - 70s) and the pop singers (2000s - 2010s) we had world-famous, legendary performers (such as Ella Fitzgerald, Chubby Checker, Michael Jackson) combined with incredible stunts, and the occasional marching extravaganza.

It seems that we're slowly dumbing down even our sports entertainment, which was already fairly simplified junk food of the masses.

I'm not trashing "junk food" tv, because everyone needs time to relax and unwind, to not think.
I'm saying that it's not even edible anymore.