Missing Flights...
That hasn't happened to me in several years: I missed my flight. In my calendar which I am always synchronizing between the cellphone and my laptop it said that I had to catch a flight at 5:52 pm leaving Newark to Spokane via Seattle. Minutes before I had to leave the apartment at 4 pm, I checked my e-mail and found a reminder from Orbitz that my flight was leaving at 5 pm on-time from JFK. I raced with the car which was waiting in front of the building to JFK just to get completely stuck in traffic and arrive 10 minutes after the departure of the flight.
How that can happen? No idea, maybe it helps to accept that I am a complete airhead. While this is very annoying it gives me a free night in New York in which I can write another little blog about my experience at Opus 118, this music school in East Harlem. Roberta Guaspari, the founder, had prepared a little concert/open dress-rehearsal for me and the little audience consisting of parents, teachers and sponsors. I was really impressed by the energy and love with which these young people played the most difficult in the world. Their posture was perfect, and most impressive their bowhands - the way they were holding the bow was just right. For somebody who doesn't know about string instruments, this doesn't sound like anything, but let me tell you: how to hold the bow is the most important step in the life of a string players, and even many college students don't do it as well as these kids.
Also the intonation was impeccable - altogether a wonderful little concert. Afterwards it was my turn which I regretted since I would have preferred listening bit more to the kids. I had chosen some Bach, Ligeti and Rostropovich (my usual encores I always like to play for these school concerts) and they were as good listeners as they were players. The best came after the little question and answer session: eight of the kids took their violins back out and started to play just for fun, gathering around me while Dorothea, the mother of my homepage man Alexej, took photos.
At dinner I had a chance to talk to Roberta - what a woman! Since 28 years she is teaching the violin at public schools, touching the lives of many children who otherwise wouldn't ever have experienced the beauty of classical music. And she it tough with them - playing the violin is no joke, it demands lots of discipline, but the great thing is, the more you demand, the more the children respond. They feel that she is in it with her heart, and they seem to adore her completely. If I compare my life with hers, I must say, she wins, because she really changes the lives of so many youngsters, while people like me are absolutely replacable by any other musician. Yes, that might sound harsh, but it's true. And I am not exaggerating or depressed about it, it just gives me more incentive to do more of this school projects. Thanks, Roberta and Opus 118 kids!
My friend and pianist just arrived at Ollies to pick me up, since I couldn't get a hold of my host of the last 2 weeks, Annaliese, so until now I was sitting at this Chinese restaurant, hoping for a warm bed, since I am really, really tired...