Corrine

Just a quick update for Mom and Dad-

My midterms went quite well. I got an A in both theory and sightsinging, which I expected; although, I inteded to get A+'s (in the 98-100 range) and I got A's and A-'s (93 and 96). This is unacceptable to me, and the mistakes I was making were really stupid. I got a 97 on my sociology midterm, and I have no idea what the hell is going on in keyboarding. It's easy, but I am kind of lacking in attendance, but somehow I still have an A. Whatever.

I am overly stressed right now. I have a major composition due on Wednesday, which has to be bound and copied in ink with a cover page. This will take much work and money, due to the fact that my comp teacher is a douchbag. There is just so much stuff going on, and I can't wait for it to die down. Ugh. But I guess I kind of miss the hectic-ness.

My thesis went well, kind of. I just have so many expectations for myself, that my version of okay is really exceptional. I put so much pressure on myself.

We went out for dinner for Jess's birthday and I ended up spending 50 dollars. It hasn't shown up on BankOne yet, which is... lightheartening. I'm doing okay with finances because I don't really go out and I leave my debit card at home. But the 50 dollar thing was my major investment for this month.

Another thing that lightens my load is the fact that one of my best friends visited me like 4 times + in the last week or so. I love Kelly Nichole Michael Boyd; seeing her just makes me forget my burdens for a little while. I used to be able to just drive around the suburbs in my car to relieve my stress. She is my new car. And oh yeah we're going to Wilco on May 6th.

That's basically it. I'm probably gonna buy food again in the next 3 weeks or so, but I'm good for now. I'm really tired but I'm going to a diabetes convention with Chris and Allison.

I learned to much in my Contemporary Eurpoean Nationalism class today. I took so many notes. During that class, I was thinking about how different my classes are from first to second semester. Although taking all music classes last semester was fun and really really satisfying, I think that this semester I have a healthier mix. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation that my general education classes offer, as well as the excitement of my numerous music classes.

Also, I am very satisfied that I am once again reunited with a band. During lunch, I was looking at all my musical instruments and realized that with all the stuff I have at the apartment, I can form a band of my own. I truly miss the subconscious comradory that exists within the members of a musical group. Hopefully I find what I am looking for in this ensemble; I'm sure the force will not be as strong as it was in high school, but as long as I feel it, I'm happy.

---

My theory professor is hilarious. He makes me realize how much of a nerd I am. I'm seriously the only one who laughs at all his music jokes (I think this is because I am the only one who understands them.) Anyway today, he made me look at chords in a totally different way. I love music.

p.s. I made the Dean's List.

My second day was much more interesting.

Sociology. The teacher reminds me of Mrs. Burkhalter. Anyway we did a fun little exercise to get to know each other; it turns out that a lot of other kids in that class are music majors also. I've been in luck lately of having friends in classes. Nicole is in that class with me, and I enjoy her company.

New Music Ensemble: I FINALLY GET TO PLAY AGAIN!!!! I was the first person to walk in, so I just fiddled around with my mp3 player until more people showed up. The whole band is comprised of about 15 kids, most of who were not there today. It was awesome because everyone just looks so cool. No more band geeks. Anyway I wasn't that bad, except for the fact that THE SONG WE'RE PLAYING FEATURES ME AND I'M THE LEAD. Jesus. It was scary. The other trumpet girl like gave me the part. In a way i think it was her plot to see how well I played. Well, I sucked, according to my standards, but it wasn't that bad. Doug is an awesome instructor, and we're supposed to have many gigs this semester. Drew and Dan are also in that class. I'm looking forward to it! Yes!

Sightsinging, Musicianship and Ear training III. So it turns out Nick is also in this class with me. I really like that guy. Anyway this class is HARD. My professor reminds me of Snape, except with long, uncombed brown hair. The first thing he did when he walked into the room was sort of like this:

"What's your name?"

Uh, Corrine Mina.

"Okay. Sing me a phrygian scale with solfege."

Uh, Okay.
*thinks*
Do ra may fa so lay tay do. Do tay lay so fa may ra do.

"Okay. Now do it faster."

Uh.
doramayfasolaytaydo dotaylaysofamayrado.

"FASTER."

Doramayfasolaytaydo dotaylaysofamayrado!

"Good. Nice to meet you, Corrine Mina."

He made us sing allll scales, SO INCREDIBLY FAST, with pentachord, triad on the root, and inversions. Then, he made us sing all diatonic triads with solfege SO INCREDIBLY FAST. It was so much for the first day, but somehow I got through it. I know this will kick me in the ass because he doesn't care about theory terms, and I SUCK at solfege. But I'm so excited! Come on, I get to sing and dictate music for a grade! This is seriously my dream come true in college!

Also, I'm planning to take advantage of the city more. I've already been downtown three times since I got my Upass. I plan to visit the museums, the aquarium, everything. People actually come to visit my city. I should actually know what's in it, you know?

Today marked the beginning of my second semester of college. I can't believe I'm halfway done with my freshman year! God, I still feel like a kid.

Keyboarding I. This class is meant for people with minimal experience with piano; it is my first real lesson since I was 11 years old. I admit, I was scared that I wouldn't know anybody because they were all already in their own cliches and groups from last semester. How surprised was I to see my friends Nick and Dan in that class!! Nick is a really good, talented classical pianist and Dan is a first rate alto sax player who was also in my Theory II class. My teacher is this cute old lady who seems really nice. Oh my Gosh, this class will be such a breeze for me, but I need the Keyboarding credit (and plus, I get to play the piano for class! How exciting).

Contemporary Eurpoean Conflict and Nationalism. Don't ask me why I'm in this. Anyway, my professor looks like Professor Lupin, except he's hardcore Irish with the accent and everything. Everyone in that class is so COLLEGE INDIE and SCENECORE, it's nuts. I naturally sat next to the guy with the most tattoos and obscure face piercings. His name is Mike and he's such a sweetheart.

Theory, Harmony and Analysis in Tonal Music III. One of my two night classes. My theory professor is kind of awkward in his demeanor and the way he talks. He's so fidgety and always looks as if he is deep in thought. This particular class is the second section of theory III; I tried enrolling into the first section with the better teacher, but it was full. Anyway, I was also nervous of not knowing anybody. When I walked in, I saw a familiar face with unfamiliar hair. It was my buddy Drew, a jazz and rock&roll drummer, except he cut off all his dreadlocks!! Julie from THA II was also in it with me, and we sat next to each other, making fun of our professor together. This class reminds me most of AP theory with Wiebs in its course material (granted, we learned way more advanced stuff in AP theory). My professor said many things that changed the way I thought about music once more. I'm excited for theory this year. I can tell that it is one of those classes that will seriously effect my decisions of life, carreer-wise.

Well, that's all. I have seventeen credits in all- tomorrow I finally play my trumpet after like eleven months of stagnancy!

Anyway Happy Valentine's Day. I have about five Valentines- I can feel the love.

So much music, so little time!

Today I aced my sightsinging final.

Afterwards I saw this amazing groove band in the concert hall. Why were they amazing? Answer: they played with blindfolds over their eyes because the drummer was blind. BLIND.

It inspired me to whip out my horn (sounds weird) and play straight scales for half an hour. It's amazing what a little bit of theory can do for your performance life.

Anyway we listened to DaDaism music in humanities and I totally fell in love. It seems that lately I've been awe-struck by all the -isms.

At 6 I headed over to the concert hall yet again, accompanied by my trusty mp3 player, to the jazz combo fest. I was a witness to what was probably the coolest array of artists I've ever seen. There was one jazz combo that consisted of two differently tuned guitars, an organ, a bright blue oboe, a cello, and a drummer. Another one had seven guitars and a steel drum. I love Columbia. Drew (drums) and Charlie (double bass) were phenomenal. It's crazy to see my friends on stage playing really good jazz music.

Anyway I glanced at my watch, and it was 7:50. I gasped... oh my God, I was late for Milton's Appolo Talent Show! I slipped out of the concert hall, missing the last two bands, and sprinted five blocks north as fast as I could to the Alexandroff center. I was dodging old women, getting run over by cars (okay not really) and somehow got there on time. Oh. My. GOD. Milton Hughes is the best performer I have ever seen, EVER. WOW. He ROCKED THE HOUSE DOWN! I have never seen anybody not famous make people scream that loud. Woo. Anyway, he came in second out of fifteen fine artists. Should have been first.

During the show case, I got a call from Conrad saying "Dude, where the hell are you?" It was 9:45, and I had just missed his indie rock band, Shoplifter. I apologized profusely and ran west towards the Hokin Center to catch a last glimpse of the band Dormlife. As much as I love the indie scene, I must say, it does annoy me.

Now it's almost 11 and I'm supposed to head to the Open Mic over at Belmont, but Braveheart is on and I like how Mel Gibson dies. Plus the score is great. And I'm tired.

So much music, so little time...

Yes! I'm home for the holidays. I know I don't update this thing often, and I question sometimes why I have it in the first place. This was supposed to be my "college journal" so my parents wouldn't freak out about stuff. Whatever. I will start to make the difference between journal-writing and college-writing in the future.

So I have so many projects to do, but no effort to actually do them. So far, my break has consisted of waking up really late and doing nothing the whole day. I don't think that this is really healthy, but the way I see it, I'm home, and sleep is important.

I've had a lot of down time, and a lot of thinking time. Whenever I do, I always think about the future and where I'm headed. Is it such a bad thing that I still have no idea what I want to accomplish in life? There's been so much pressure in my life so far, and I blame a good high school and loving parents. I'm always being pushed, but not pushed to the extent that I want to kill myself of the pressure. The music industry is such a crazy, non-idyllistic place that I actually don't really want to penetrate. I think right now I just want to know everything there is to know about music, and we'll go from there.

Really though, what careers are there for me in the real world? A musician... yeah, hopeful. A teacher... I would kill the kids. A songwriter... I would be mad that someone else was singing my song. A composer... too hard to get into. Sometimes I question why I chose music as my field of study to begin with. Why couldn't I pick something else, like engineering or English or culinary arts or psychology or something with a surefire career, or at least a job market that doesn't include selling yourself out to a business that will probably screw you?

Anyway. We got Comcast and I'm not really sure how that affects our house. We need a router because I hate dial-up connections. I'm so damn picky.

I am so amazed by music. I never thought a Neoclassical prelude could make me cry, but it did. My goal in life is to be one of the people that college students learn about in Music History class.

This is what I want to do with my life, guys. It's exciting, fun, and -weird, I know- new. I want to make this music. I want to conduct a Philharmonic Orchestra and have old women and men in nice dresses and tuxedos come to my shows and discuss my program pieces over tea. I want to break down in the middle of my song and just cry, and have everyone in the audience look at me with mixed faces: amazement, confusion, empathy, humility, afterthought. It all starts somewhere... thank God this passion is the only drug that keeps me alive and healthy.

I wish everyone could have something like this.

I love music passionately. And because I love it, I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it. It is a free art gushing forth, an open-air art boundless as the elements, the wind, the sky, the sea. It must never be shut in and become an academic art

Claude Debussy. I wish I lived in the post-Romantic and Impressionist age. I think I was born in the wrong century.

There was a fire outside of my building this evening!!!

( CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS )

It's a lonely Friday. As I sit on the 26th floor in a shaggy apartment building on the southside of Chicago, staring out of the musky sky, watching the ambulences roar and the policecars chasing runaway cars, with Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers as white noise, I can't help but to wonder what lies ahead. I mean, I basically spent a whole day doing nothing. Part of that is because of my horrible stomach ache: a sickness catalyzed by the shitty food I've been eating here. "Where Will I Be Tomorrow? Where Will I Be Next Year?"

Part of my deliberation is stemmed from the registering of classes for next semester. Oasis is really screwed up; I can't find anything I want to do on there. I hate the internet at times.

But the girls and I (and by girls, I mean my two room mates, Robyn, and Whitney) are thinking about renting our own apartment next year to save on housing expenses. Plus, it will be three times the fun, due to the fact that none of us are really into the whole "campus scene." We're city girls, all with the exception of maybe Liz- but lately, she's been an introvert. I blame the homesickness.

School as a whole can be summed up into one word: easy. I got a 99 on my sightsigning midterm, a 94 on my theory midterm, and I'm about to get a 100 on my Chant to Zappa midterm. My humanities class is getting interesting; we no longer study the effects of marijuana, drinking, and too much sex on the performing artist; rather, we've taken an unexpected turn and are learning about Roman mythology through the great words of Ovid. I'd be lying if I said I was not amused. Sometimes, those Gods really crack me up. What else... I got a 100 in my Freshman Seminar class. Each week, my theory that the class is completely and utterly useless grows stronger and stronger. Luckily, all of my professors are two steps down from total stoners. Their history is seen from the point of view that text books omit on purpose, for the sake that America's youth will not grow up to be liberal "commies." It's cool, though, and a good change from a catholic high school that required its students to wear gold-plated nametags. I ask myself why I'm in the city, and I just think about those god damned nametags, and for some reason, a feeling of gratitude overtakes my body, and I feel like I have to spit out of the window. Hmm.

My "crowd" is also a bit different from my usual friends and the people I've grown to love. Somehow, the punk-rock rebels and indie elitists aren't the minority here. It seems as if everybody has something to say, and sooner or later, it all clobbers together like one mass pigeon ambush, and I'm running into the shade to avoid getting hit by bird shit. I've hung out with each of the stereotypical crowds here, and even though I like all equally, I'm still looking for that one. That one who won't mind sitting home, watching an indie film or carousing the streets for amusement. The one who values the quality of spooning and screaming way-too-emo lyrics. Probably the one who is sitting by their laptop, staring at the misty skyline him(her)self. Whatever it may be, fate has a way of either screwing up a life or making me smile. I think I'll buy my odds. I'll buy a vowel- someone else has to complete the puzzle.

Thanksgiving plans? Eat turkey, relax, appreciate home, play with my dog, maybe get together with old friends. As long as I have no view of the Sears Tower, I'll be good to go.

Wow, it's been a while since a hearty update. Many things have happened over the course of two weeks. First things first.

I voted for Ralph Nader. It's funny because my apartment is so divided- and by divided, I mean WAY LEFT and WAY RIGHT! Liz is hardcore for Bush, Allison is hardcore against Bush but for Kerry, I'm hardcore against both Bush and Kerry, and Jessica is a swing voter. It's been fun, though. Two days ago, Liz bought this blow-up John Kerry doll. We've had a lot of fun with that. It helps us let go of our aggression.

I also met Billy Corgan, the lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, yesterday. It was kind of random, because I went with this girl from South Africa that I didn't even know, but it was cool because Billy Corgan rocks. Oh yeah, Lena (the girl from South Africa) is staying at our apartment because her bus never came. She's really cool. Now I can say I know someone from South Africa.

( See pictures of Billy Corgan )

This weekend is Halloween weekend, which means a lot of parties. For some reason I just don't like going to parties here. Instead I'm going up north to Wisconsin to Erin's little shin-dig, which is pretty sad for me. No offense to my friend, but if I have to go 40 miles north to be happy, when there are like 34 parties in Chicago to go to, that is pretty sad.

Jessica's boyfriend Paul is also coming this weekend, and I'm so excited! I think I'm more excited than Jessica is haha. Their one-year anniversary is on Monday, which is super cute.

Classes = easy. There's really nothing I can say about them.

I've been pretty good with spending money, but this weekend will blow my wallet away, I just know it.

It's been a while since I've updated you fine folks with an entry with actual meat and potatoes, so here it goes.

Friday, I skipped class. Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I wasn't pulling a Ferris Bueller; I wasn't feeling very well. Think in the terms of cramps and forced laziness.

I felt better Friday night, and decided to find something to do with Whitney. There was absolutely nothing to do. I mean there's always some sort of party going on, but I always feel so alone at those little drunken get together things, just because I feel like high school is over and I would actually rather have someone to talk to than... throw up on.

Down the hall, there's this guy named Spike who seems to have some kind of interest in me. At first I thought it was flattering, until I realized he was gay, and then I felt really salty. Anyway, I hung out with him a little bit and watched some transvestite comedy, and guess who else was there? MY LESBIAN STALKER! I swear to God she's everywhere! It really freaked me out because I turn around, and I felt like someone was looking at me, and it was her. Eh how creepy.

Saturday was pretty sad, too. Both Liz and I got ready for the day at 7:00. In the evening. I then went to the Chicago Temple Church to play my guitar for little kids. Actually, they weren't really little kids. They were more like thirteen through sixteen year olds who wanted to start their own youth group. As I was looking around, I realized how old I was. I was a freshman in college. These high school kids looked up to me. I was the veteran. Then, I started to freak out because I felt really old. But the kids' enthusiasm was probably the only reason I stayed. Never have I seen a group of such diversity come together for such a good reason and be totally excited about it. It made me reevaluate what I thought college life should all be about. There's so much opportunity for ministry in the city. I shouldn't waste my time on useless nonsense.

It also made me realize that I don't want to become what everyone says I should be in college. I'm just going to do my thing, work hard, hopefully find a job around here, keep playing music, and live a fruitful life.

And no, I'm not just writing this cuz Mom's reading it.

Classes are going well. I'll give you a little update.

Music theory: I feel so smart in this class. I don't know. I still feel somewhat awkward being one of the only freshmen in that class and knowing more than most of the kids in there. Today the professor went over four part writing, which is such a breeze for me. I was analyzing everything in my head and answered all of his questions right while the rest of the kids looked at me questioningly. I hate to sound cocky, but it all just comes like second nature. Plus, the teacher is really good. He made me look at the circle of fifths in a way I'd never thought of it before. An easy A.

Sightsinging: This class scares the hell out of me. The problem isn't the fact that I can't sightsing, because that actually was one of my many strengths during high school. The problem is that I don't know solfege! (aka do, re, mi, etc.) When Joe (my professor) asked me to sing this melody out to the class, I sang it perfectly in tune and every pitch was on target... but I couldn't say the right syllable! It was somewhat embarassing, but I did better than most of the kids in that class anyway. It's really hard, but I know it will benefit me in the future, so I'm doing it. Plus, Mom bought me a keyboard, so I have opportunities to practice.

Humanities for the Performing Artist: I'm still not sure what this class is about. All we've talked about so far is marijuana and sex. I'm not complaining.

Seminar: boring. I feel smart in this class too. Today we had to read this peice about being average, and I said something, and the teacher told the whole class to think like me because I was a critical thinker. I think I'm developing into one of the kids that people hate because they're better than everyone else.

Zappa: pretty cool, haven't bought the book yet. All we do is listen to rock and roll and Classical.

So basically everything's okay. I'm kind of homesick and depressed because my laptop is broken, I have no cell phone, and my trumpet didn't come in yet. Things will look up, hopefully. It's so hot in the apartment!!! I hope we all get naked.. no wait, what?

The walk down Michigan Avenue was a little bit tough today. The sun is deceiving; it's sunny, but cold as hell. Times like these I wish I brought my leather jacket to Chicago.

Mondays are always slow, due to the fact that I have one class in the morning and the rest of the day to dilly-dally. Today I actually contemplated on doing some actual work, but laziness took over. Oh well. My manager's going to be pissed because I didn't help our team in the SLC push. I kind of feel bad, but in the same token, I didn't have a cell phone, thus having no means, or want/effort, to do any appointments. Oh well.

This weekend, Jessica drove us to Northbrook to buy some apartment stuff. Actually, scratch that. This weekend I went home to sweet home Round Lake Beach (or Alabama, as Dad likes to call it) and slept in my own bed and took a shower in my own bathtub and ate Filipino food. It was a good remedy for my bad case of home sickness. I've been really homesick for some reason. Anyway, we went to Target and had a lot of weird fun. I have pictures that I will upload later. Afterwards Jess took us to her sushi restaurant (Oysy) and treated us out. I was freaking out because the bill was like 60 dollars, but she paid for it all! How generous. Liz and I ate whole balls of wasabi and we almost died. Another fault of mine: I never let down a dare.

I think I'm kind of screwed because the book store ran out of stock of the book I need. One of them I need tomorrow, but I'm not too worried because I can basically bullshit the assignment, which is to write about your favorite touch. I'm still not exactly sure what this class (Humanities for the Performing Artist) is about, but it's easy for now.

We cleaned the apartment, and by cleaned, I mean Liz cleaned the bathroom, I set up all the lights in the living room, Jessica cleaned the kitchen, and Allison sat on her ass. At least it's clean.

I had dinner at Kat's apartment with Liz. She's the girl who lives directly above us. I also met a ghetto fabulous chick from NY named Whit. We had chicken and mashed potatoes with asparagus and biscuits. It was the most eloquent meal I've had here, so far. That is sad.

Yesterday was my first day of college.

I passed out of a semester of music theory, so I was the only freshman in the class. At first I was scared because everyone else was older than me and looked cooler than me, but it really wasn't that bad. I thank Mr. Weibers because everything he taught me really helped. My professor did a review, and I knew all of the answers. At the end of class, he asked me if this class would be too easy for me. I just smiled and said "we'll see." Music theory will be a breeze, but the books cost me around $130.

Today was my second day of college.

My sightsinging isn't that great, so I was freaked out about going to my sightsinging/musicianship class. My professor looks so crazy. He was wearing bellbottom flares, a 70's psychadelic tank top, a scarf, and beach flip flops. His hair came down to his armpits. He was really built, and he had a tattoo of batman on his arm. Anyway, we did a practice test and I got everything but two questions right. I just need to work on my ear training. He said that we should, on average, practice sight singing one hour a day. That's kind of hard to do without a piano, but I think I can manage. My books in that class cost me exactly $100.

I am going to drop my African American History class for another class. I just don't think it suits me, and I really have no idea why I signed up for it to begin with. I'm thinking I can take a philosophy class or a theology class instead. But oasis isn't working right now, so I'll try later.

So things that I want/need:

- my trumpet
- a keyboard
- more Propel
- walking shoes

Things at the apartment are okay. All of us, minus one room mate, are clean freaks. The three of us talk about her behind her back (haha) about how messy she is. Everything's walking distance, so I really haven't had the opportunity to use my U-pass yet. Okay, that's all for now.