#2 son has an audition

[reyd reid reed]

with LSU's music department on February 10th and I've never been to Baton Rouge...anyone familiar with the area who can answer some questions and put my mind at ease at least a little bit?

[lizziegrace]

1. so it *is* LSU

and not USL. ;)

[reyd reid reed]

2. Jup.

How are you today?

[lizziegrace]

8. peachy

;)

you?

:hug:

[reyd reid reed]

12. I've been running around

like a chicken with my head cut off...girly-poo to the library and bonehead to the school and then to his friend's and then to the music store...and Danny's sick today so I had Danny gak to clean up in his room and one of the cats gakked on my bed.

It's been 'interesting'.

I got my turkey, though. Figured I'd get it now before all that was left were the puny little 16 pounders.

I'm so not ready for all this to start.

:scared:

[datasuspect]

3. baton rouge?

decent town.

hot as hell in summer.

that's kinda in my neck of the woods.

[reyd reid reed]

5. Typical college town?

And I can imagine what it's like in the summer...it's gotta be unbearable. Heh...and he's coming from Colorado where the humidity's usually in the teens somewhere.

:scared:

[datasuspect]

7. eh . . .

louisiana is a strange creature.

i don't think it is like a typical college town. it is a southern town.

[reyd reid reed]

He's a good kid and has a good head on his shoulders...very focused. If it doesn't involved band or baseball, it sinks to the very bottom of the list of priorities.

Still, I worry, y'know?

You know anything about hotels in the area? The university suggested one (Lod and Carole Cook Conference Center and Hotel) and I'm wondering how close it is to the campus -- he doesn't drive yet.

I know, I know...but it's not my fault.

Not entirely.




:hide:

[AllegroRondo]

4. What instrument?

[reyd reid reed]

6. Trombone

I don't know what his audition music is, though...I keep forgetting to ask him.

[AllegroRondo]

10. I was a bassoon major

If his audition is anything like the ones I took, his score will be 50-60% sight reading, 30-40% prepared music, and the rest scales. But having a good prepared piece is a must.

Good luck to him!

[reyd reid reed]

11. Thanks...

he does fairly well with sight-reading, but scales...that's been a problem for him in the past.

[AllegroRondo]

20. Scales are more important than they seem

they may only count for 10% or so of the score, but they are usually the first part of the audition. If you can rip through your scales at an A+ level, it sets up everything else. The judges may decide "hey, this kid is prepared, lets skip the easy sight reading and go to the hard stuff" and right there his sight reading score goes from a starting difficulty of D to C or B. Big advantage.

[reyd reid reed]

22. Yup.

He doesn't work on them as much as he should -- he's always preparing for this concert or that competition. He needs to Make the time.

[lizziegrace]

13. I couldn't remember who the other

bassoonist on the board was. :hi:

I got two years of college paid on a music scholarship playing it.

[AllegroRondo]

18. Hi again!

I got to tour the world with the Army Band playing bassoon.

[lizziegrace]

19. I'd still be playing

but my parents couldn't afford an instrument. I always played one owned by the HS or university. I broke down a few years ago and sold my reed making tools. :(

[AllegroRondo]

23. I'd still be playing

but I got Bell's Palsey a couple years ago, and never got my embrochure back 100%.

Want to buy a slightly used bassoon?

I still have all my reed making tools too, but my daughter raided my reed thread to make hair wraps. I had some great colors too! Flourescent orange, blue, and green, and some nice variegated stuff. Every Christmas, I used to make red and green reeds.

[lizziegrace]

25. What brand do you own?

And I'm sorry you had to give up playing. It's hell having a body sometimes, isn't it?

:hug:

[AllegroRondo]

26. Its a Kohlert, made in 1924

(sorry to bore all you non bassoon geeks!)

Czech Republic, I think the label says Graslitz, Bohemia. The company was bought by a German company named Moosman in the 70s or 80s, and I was able to look up the serial number through them.

Anyway, I had it professionally refinished in 2000, but I think the tenor joint keys are starting to leak again, so it may need some repadding. Its a beautiful tiger maple, I had it finished in a light gold stain. And yes, real ivory on the bell, yellowing and cracked.
Because its so old, it does not have a high D key (wasnt invented yet!) but the upper register just sings.
They dont make 'em like that any more!

[lizziegrace]

29. Sigh... It sounds like a wonderful instrument

I should buy a lottery ticket. I was looking at used Puchners for $14,000. Not in my lifetime. :(

[reyd reid reed]

24. ...

:hug:

Why is it that instruments are so damned expensive? Bonehead's been playing a school instrument -- he desperately wants his own, though. It's gonna cost him a fortune. WAY more than Steven's bass or girly-poo's violin.

And I just can't afford it, much as I'd like to.

[ceile]

27. I'm so jealous!!

I played bassoon in jr and sr high, but gave it up in college. Regretted it ever since. :(

[AllegroRondo]

28. Another Bassoon player!! Welcome!

just dont tell anyone the secret hand shake.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Good luck to him!

I'm sure he will do well!

My god, is he old enough for college already?

:hi:

[reyd reid reed]

14. He is.

#1 son turns 23 next month, Bonehead's 17.

Scary. It's like I just dropped him off at kindergarten. The expression on his face when I walked out of the classroom for the first time -- it's like it was yesterday.

What happened???

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

15. Good luck to #2 son !

[reyd reid reed]

16. Thanks

This morning he suddenly realized that February isn't that far away and the nerves started to hit.

He'll be fine, though. He's level-headed and determined and hard-working and he's good. He'll be fine. Some luck wouldn't hurt, though.

Thank you.

:hug:

[LSK]

17. all you need to know

Is http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?sid=4554c84f71ff1&ADDRESS=&POSTALCODE=&COUNTRY=&STATE=LA&CITY=&PRODUCT=&PRODUCTFCT=&LAT=&LON=&UNITS=MILES&RADIUS=10%7C50&USECENTERPOINT=&W2GI_LASTEXTENT=-125%7C22.2375%7C-60%7C62.7625&SORTBY_AuthorizedDealers=DISTANCE&START_AuthorizedDealers=0&COUNT_AuthorizedDealers=8&REVERSE_AuthorizedDealers=FALSE&W2GI_QUICK_ZOOM=30.4365%7C-91.06%7C30.4165%7C-91.08&W2GI_QFIELD=NUMBER&W2GI_QVALUE=&DISTANCE=&W2GI_DNAME=&W2GI_DADDR=10250%2BPlaza%2BAmericana%2BDrive&W2GI_DCITY=Baton+Rouge&W2GI_DSTATE=LA&W2GI_DPOSTALCODE=70816-8172&W2GI_DID=152&W2GI_DINDEX=3&NAV_INPUT_TYPE=POINT&NAV_CMD=W2GI_QUICK_ZOOM&NAV_ALLOW_RECTANGLE=0&SCALE_ZOOM=&client=cracker3&template=locator&RADIUS=10%7C50&dlat=&dlon=">this

[reyd reid reed]

21. LOLOL!!!

With this kid, that is paramount. The only thing that he does better than play baseball and his trombone...

is eat.

[BarenakedLady]

30. No advice

But good luck to him!

:bounce: :bounce:

[reyd reid reed]

32. Thanks.

:hug::hug:

[buddhamama]

31. Hey, rrr

I can't offer any advice but I will wish your son Luck and Best Wishes for Y'All. :hi: :hug:

[reyd reid reed]

33. I'll tell him...

and keep your fingers crossed for him between now and the middle of Febraury.\

:hug::loveya::hug:

:hi:

[u4ic]

34. Best of luck to your son, rrr!!

:toast:

[reyd reid reed]

35. Thanks, hon.

I'll pass it along. Along with the admonition to WORK ON THOSE SCALES!!!!!!

A mother's work is never done.

:eyes:

Thank you.


:hug::hug::hug: