Well, only one actually calls itself a midterm... but anyhow...
Speech class, I got more wrong than I thought I would! I wish they would let us look at the test sheets (not just the Scantrons back) to see what it was we thought we knew but didn't! Anyhow, I got 20/25 right, which is 80%. However, to make it out of 45 points like the syllabus said, he did the math in our favor. He said take your correct answers, multiply by two, and make that out of 45 (instead of out of 50 like it would be). So I got 40/45 points for it, bringing it up to an 88.8%. New grade: 117/125, 93.6%. I really want to keep this up in the A range, so I feel that I need to really nail the last two speeches to make up for any potential further missed points in exams. I think there's a final written exam. And there's a paper, which should be interesting.
My Health exam was a whole other story... We theorize that he purposely makes it hard because it's open book! =P Open book, open note, work with a buddy if you choose, look it up online if you're able... Yet, I still got 72% on this! I didn't even miss any classes between the last test and this test! All of the questions are compound, all of the statements (two to three per question) have to be true for the question to be true, except in certain cases where two false statements make the question as a whole true. Luckily, the professor gives a 10 point bonus for being an active class participant, which brings it up to 82%. I wonder how the people who sit in the back of the class are doing. New grade: 170/200, or 85%. This professor lets you drop the lowest test score out of the 4, which would be this 82% so far, last test was 88%.
In Piano class, we have a quiz on Tuesday, seven short pieces. Yesterday, I could only play first one right in class! I practiced for an hour or so today, and now the first four are alright, as is the 6th one. The 5th and 7th ones still confuse me greatly. Mostly because the fingers move around more than once, and not just up and down a scale! Those two won't look pretty in class tomorrow morning, but I'll have it by quiz time! I was listening ahead in the CDs, and the pieces from later on in the semester sound complicated! (Current grade: Still 11 A's and 3 A-'s.)
Going to a concert tomorrow between classes. It's convenient timing, really. Class is over at 11:05am, concert starts at 11:30am, concert ends at about 12:45pm, next class starts at 1:00pm. I believe it's the Jazz Band tomorrow.
In Chicano Studies class, well, we're not doing much... I've had a few very interesting conversation with the professor about his methods and about the community college system. I have to say, if I hadn't talked to him personally, I would have felt that he wasn't an effective instructor. Having seen his logic now, however, I respect what he's trying to do. I still don't have any letter grades for this class though, which just feels awkward! (Current grade: There's an A in my head, but not on paper.)
When I talked to the professor yesterday, I also let him know that I would most likely be attending the USC presentation rather than his class on Thursday of next week, which he seemed quite pleased to accommodate. He said one of his books (which we had to buy for this class but haven't gotten to reading yet) talks about how to choose a university, which I may find helpful. I will look into it when we get there in class, or between semesters if we don't get to it.
I emailed CSULA about my transcripts that they never sent. (Or the post office lost two separate envelopes from them to two separate addresses.) They cashed our check many months ago... January 12th! I need to find a phone number to harass them at, but in preparation for such action, I first ordered a (free) copy of the check from the bank. Should be here in a week or so. (It's been so long, it's already off the online check viewing database!) I need to order transcripts from UOP as well, the transfer center said they should be transferable. They're accredited, after all, but they seem to be a special case if you ask the internet...
Hmm, there's more I'm sure, but that's all for today! (Future topics: Business stuff, mostly.)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Where does the time go...? Oh, yeah, to school
Well, I'm reading my past Twitters as I write this to remember what's been going on in the past 15 days! Get ready for a long post!
First, school update (in the order that the classes occur each week):
Speech:
I got 50/50 points in my informative speech about plastination (random topic). Then yesterday, we took the midterm, 25 questions worth 40 points. I don't know how he's going to do that math! I should have the results tomorrow. (Total: 77/80)
Health:
Took the second exam of four yesterday in this class as well. Results tomorrow. (Total: Still 88/100)
Piano:
I went to a string quartet concert at school. It doesn't count toward my three concerts I have to go to for my Piano class (they have to feature a piano), but I became aware of this free concert series through my class. It was very nice, it made me want to obtain music from Shostakovich, as well as tango music and Irish music. Yup, good concert. =)
I got an A- on the C,.D, and G major scales. All one grade, expected that to be three separate ones. The minus is because I stopped and started over when I pressed a key and no sound came out. I know I should have kept going, but it really threw me off! Remember, strike the keys, don't press them! I got an A on the four pieces. I did better there, I missed something I don't quite recall now (didn't play all the notes in a chord or something) but I kept going like nothing was amiss. He's trying to turn us into performers, so he respects that.
This next quiz is harder, fingers moving throughout pieces to new keys... I'll get it though, with enough practice. I start out each time I practice by warming up with all the quizzes we've done so far. Not only warms up my fingers with familiar movements, but it's a psychological trick too. I remember when those things were difficult, and that makes me confident about making these new difficult things easier! (Total: 11 A's and 3 A-'s.)
Chicano Studies:
The group presentation went well. There were a few technical errors, small things really, like a photo that was attributed to a certain culture by the internet, but was not really representative of them. There was no grade given to it, or if there was we were not told what the grade was. Overall, the professor seemed to be very happy with it. (Total: Nothing's been graded, but I think I'll get an A)
Transfer Center:
During lunch today, I talked to the CSUN representatives who came to my school to talk transfer. The host, the Transfer Center (what a suitable name!) also had a table advertising upcoming presentations. So I went to the Transfer Center after classes to get more general information, and I talked to one of their counselors. We've decided that my first choice transfer school shall be USC and second choice UCR. I should probably apply to three schools for good measure, third choice will probably be CSUN or CSULA. I have an appointment to talk to a UCR person, and I'm on the waiting list for the USC guy (he doesn't come very often). I'm going to a presentation by said USC guy next week.
I was a little concerned that my grades from 10 years ago in the Early Entrance Program at CSULA might bring down my GPA too much (I was a C student back then), but the counselor said that they do take the time into consideration. Now my new concern, having come home and read the paperwork I was given, is that they'll consider it "courses taken before high school graduation." Technically, they were that, but I wasn't concurrently in high school too, as their definition implies. I was a full time college student. Hopefully, they don't apply this "before high school graduation" rule, or I may have to re-take a few classes just because I'll have too many "before high school graduation" credits to transfer in.
Oh, and I need to take a lot more math to get into USC than I have to take for my A.A. degree, so I need to get cracking on that!
Then, personal stuff...
Family:
I picked up the pictures from our top secret last minute trip. We went to Yosemite for our anniversary. Not a ton of pictures, but some. Check them out at my new picture home, Flickr.
Friends:
My "brother" Albert's girlfriend Kat is in her school's colorguard. I went to their first field show competition of the year with Albert, Julio (another "brother"), and Momma Lebsch (Albert and Billy's mom). It was a lot of fun, and they got 3rd place out of 5 for their color guard. Band and percussion didn't get any awards though, but that's probably because the show isn't ready yet. I can relate. Downside of the night, aside from getting very cold, was that my prescription sunglasses got lost! They fell, and we tried to follow where gravity would have taken them under the bleachers, but no luck finding them! That means they either ran away, or they were "found." Who would want to "find" prescription sunglasses and not turn them in though? I emailed the band director, and he's going to let me know if they appear, but they hadn't as of the Monday following the competition. In the next few paychecks I shall consider getting new sunglasses. Until then, I have normal glasses and non-prescription sunglasses.
My "brother" Billy's birthday is tomorrow, so I went to see him on Sunday. I took him, Albert, and Kat to the mall (by I took them, I mean I'm the only one with a car). Our other friends had work. Boring, aren't they? We had lunch, did some shopping, then we dropped by Pavilions to see a friend who works there and get a birthday cake. I told them we needed milk to eat cake with, and they introduced me to lactose-free non-alcoholic eggnog! I like it!
Things I've done:
I dropped my laptop accidentally, breaking my external wifi dongle... It made me sad, even more sad than when my internal wifi stopped working. Add those two together, and it means no wifi for me! Charles is going to buy me a new dongle, he says he wants to pick it out so we're sure it's compatible. Until then, blogging from the media server. I haven't made another attempt at blogging from my phone yet, but I will eventually.
I downloaded Google Maps for my BlackBerry. I like it, and I appreciate the effort they put into making it say "Do not use while driving" when you start it up. =)
I went to the California RV Show. I basically wandered around and stepped into everything that I could! We're ready to buy what we like, but since there were so many RVs in one place from different manufacturers, I figured it would be a great chance to make sure we aren't missing something even better! Turns out we're really not. Of course, there are different things for different people. But for our purposes, the Outlook is still the best. Other things that impressed me, but not for us: Airstream trailers are nice, and I saw a fifth wheel with three bedrooms! Three! Oh, and one class C (that I might have otherwise liked better) tried to eat me! It somehow snagged my shirt when I was stepping in!
I went to the cemetery to visit with Lexie, Grandpa Salvador, and "Grandma" Soledad. (My grandmother died when my dad was very young. Grandpa's second wife Soledad raised him and his siblings.) I've put together a list on Twitter of things to take next time to tend to their grave markers. In case anyone's ever unclear about what I want, I want to be buried at Rose Hills, someplace where you can hear the water from the Sycamore Valley. When we have some disposable income, I may talk to Charles about putting a down payment on a suitable place. I strongly feel that this is something that should be done before death. (I have very strong opinions on death and dying, for reasons discussed in an earlier post.)
Things to do:
We're going to become all official as a business. Charles and I ordered business cards today, and I've been figuring out where I have to go (and what I have to pay) to get our fictitious business name filed. After that, run the name in the paper for four consecutive weeks, then open a bank account. Still to do: act on all of the above, and research business license requirements. Meanwhile, Charles makes the product. Teamwork!
I think that covers everything... be back tomorrow with exam results, I hope. =)
(P.S. I think that LiveJournal's spell checking dictionary should know the word "blogging." It doesn't, go figure...)
First, school update (in the order that the classes occur each week):
Speech:
I got 50/50 points in my informative speech about plastination (random topic). Then yesterday, we took the midterm, 25 questions worth 40 points. I don't know how he's going to do that math! I should have the results tomorrow. (Total: 77/80)
Health:
Took the second exam of four yesterday in this class as well. Results tomorrow. (Total: Still 88/100)
Piano:
I went to a string quartet concert at school. It doesn't count toward my three concerts I have to go to for my Piano class (they have to feature a piano), but I became aware of this free concert series through my class. It was very nice, it made me want to obtain music from Shostakovich, as well as tango music and Irish music. Yup, good concert. =)
I got an A- on the C,.D, and G major scales. All one grade, expected that to be three separate ones. The minus is because I stopped and started over when I pressed a key and no sound came out. I know I should have kept going, but it really threw me off! Remember, strike the keys, don't press them! I got an A on the four pieces. I did better there, I missed something I don't quite recall now (didn't play all the notes in a chord or something) but I kept going like nothing was amiss. He's trying to turn us into performers, so he respects that.
This next quiz is harder, fingers moving throughout pieces to new keys... I'll get it though, with enough practice. I start out each time I practice by warming up with all the quizzes we've done so far. Not only warms up my fingers with familiar movements, but it's a psychological trick too. I remember when those things were difficult, and that makes me confident about making these new difficult things easier! (Total: 11 A's and 3 A-'s.)
Chicano Studies:
The group presentation went well. There were a few technical errors, small things really, like a photo that was attributed to a certain culture by the internet, but was not really representative of them. There was no grade given to it, or if there was we were not told what the grade was. Overall, the professor seemed to be very happy with it. (Total: Nothing's been graded, but I think I'll get an A)
Transfer Center:
During lunch today, I talked to the CSUN representatives who came to my school to talk transfer. The host, the Transfer Center (what a suitable name!) also had a table advertising upcoming presentations. So I went to the Transfer Center after classes to get more general information, and I talked to one of their counselors. We've decided that my first choice transfer school shall be USC and second choice UCR. I should probably apply to three schools for good measure, third choice will probably be CSUN or CSULA. I have an appointment to talk to a UCR person, and I'm on the waiting list for the USC guy (he doesn't come very often). I'm going to a presentation by said USC guy next week.
I was a little concerned that my grades from 10 years ago in the Early Entrance Program at CSULA might bring down my GPA too much (I was a C student back then), but the counselor said that they do take the time into consideration. Now my new concern, having come home and read the paperwork I was given, is that they'll consider it "courses taken before high school graduation." Technically, they were that, but I wasn't concurrently in high school too, as their definition implies. I was a full time college student. Hopefully, they don't apply this "before high school graduation" rule, or I may have to re-take a few classes just because I'll have too many "before high school graduation" credits to transfer in.
Oh, and I need to take a lot more math to get into USC than I have to take for my A.A. degree, so I need to get cracking on that!
Then, personal stuff...
Family:
I picked up the pictures from our top secret last minute trip. We went to Yosemite for our anniversary. Not a ton of pictures, but some. Check them out at my new picture home, Flickr.
Friends:
My "brother" Albert's girlfriend Kat is in her school's colorguard. I went to their first field show competition of the year with Albert, Julio (another "brother"), and Momma Lebsch (Albert and Billy's mom). It was a lot of fun, and they got 3rd place out of 5 for their color guard. Band and percussion didn't get any awards though, but that's probably because the show isn't ready yet. I can relate. Downside of the night, aside from getting very cold, was that my prescription sunglasses got lost! They fell, and we tried to follow where gravity would have taken them under the bleachers, but no luck finding them! That means they either ran away, or they were "found." Who would want to "find" prescription sunglasses and not turn them in though? I emailed the band director, and he's going to let me know if they appear, but they hadn't as of the Monday following the competition. In the next few paychecks I shall consider getting new sunglasses. Until then, I have normal glasses and non-prescription sunglasses.
My "brother" Billy's birthday is tomorrow, so I went to see him on Sunday. I took him, Albert, and Kat to the mall (by I took them, I mean I'm the only one with a car). Our other friends had work. Boring, aren't they? We had lunch, did some shopping, then we dropped by Pavilions to see a friend who works there and get a birthday cake. I told them we needed milk to eat cake with, and they introduced me to lactose-free non-alcoholic eggnog! I like it!
Things I've done:
I dropped my laptop accidentally, breaking my external wifi dongle... It made me sad, even more sad than when my internal wifi stopped working. Add those two together, and it means no wifi for me! Charles is going to buy me a new dongle, he says he wants to pick it out so we're sure it's compatible. Until then, blogging from the media server. I haven't made another attempt at blogging from my phone yet, but I will eventually.
I downloaded Google Maps for my BlackBerry. I like it, and I appreciate the effort they put into making it say "Do not use while driving" when you start it up. =)
I went to the California RV Show. I basically wandered around and stepped into everything that I could! We're ready to buy what we like, but since there were so many RVs in one place from different manufacturers, I figured it would be a great chance to make sure we aren't missing something even better! Turns out we're really not. Of course, there are different things for different people. But for our purposes, the Outlook is still the best. Other things that impressed me, but not for us: Airstream trailers are nice, and I saw a fifth wheel with three bedrooms! Three! Oh, and one class C (that I might have otherwise liked better) tried to eat me! It somehow snagged my shirt when I was stepping in!
I went to the cemetery to visit with Lexie, Grandpa Salvador, and "Grandma" Soledad. (My grandmother died when my dad was very young. Grandpa's second wife Soledad raised him and his siblings.) I've put together a list on Twitter of things to take next time to tend to their grave markers. In case anyone's ever unclear about what I want, I want to be buried at Rose Hills, someplace where you can hear the water from the Sycamore Valley. When we have some disposable income, I may talk to Charles about putting a down payment on a suitable place. I strongly feel that this is something that should be done before death. (I have very strong opinions on death and dying, for reasons discussed in an earlier post.)
Things to do:
We're going to become all official as a business. Charles and I ordered business cards today, and I've been figuring out where I have to go (and what I have to pay) to get our fictitious business name filed. After that, run the name in the paper for four consecutive weeks, then open a bank account. Still to do: act on all of the above, and research business license requirements. Meanwhile, Charles makes the product. Teamwork!
I think that covers everything... be back tomorrow with exam results, I hope. =)
(P.S. I think that LiveJournal's spell checking dictionary should know the word "blogging." It doesn't, go figure...)
Monday, October 15, 2007
New way to follow what I'm doing...
By the way, I now use Twitter. It's like blogging for when I don't have time to sit at the computer and compose a blog entry. You can send it text messages from your cell phone, which I do often. (You can also IM it or use the website.) All entries are 140 characters or less, and I have 129 entries as of right now. It's for the more random thoughts I have!
Read my Twitter.
Oh, another thing, Yahoo photos closed down. I requested that my pictures be transferred to Flickr, but they're not yet there. Will let you know when I have a new home for my pictures. (I ordered a CD backup of each of my two Yahoo photos accounts, just in case this transfer doesn't work as expected.)
Read my Twitter.
Oh, another thing, Yahoo photos closed down. I requested that my pictures be transferred to Flickr, but they're not yet there. Will let you know when I have a new home for my pictures. (I ordered a CD backup of each of my two Yahoo photos accounts, just in case this transfer doesn't work as expected.)
YASU: Yet Another School Update
I attempted to send this from my new phone, but it didn't work. That's a topic for another day, however!
Okay, here's the latest!
Speech class: Lucked out and got the last date for my informative speech. Otherwise, I'd be very stressed with two big presentations due the same day! (So far: 27/30 total points.)
I need to find a speech to attend to analyze for a paper due in December. Where do you go about finding one of those?
Health class: Got an 88% on the first exam. It was harder than I expected. Not in a "I should have studied harder" kind of way, but in a "what does he mean by that question???" kind of way. I'll study more about reading the professor's mind! (So far: 88/100 total points.)
Piano class: The second quiz was four pieces. Got A, A-, A, A-. I'm going to get together with a classmate once or twice a week to help him out, which I've found helps me retain information. I process and re-phrase what I've learned from the lecture/book/practice, kind of like making an outline from a book you're reading.
I went to a concert conducted by my professor on Saturday. Charles had other plans, so I invited my "brothers" Billy and Albert (also invited Stephanie and Julio, but they decided against it) and Albert's girlfriend. It was pretty good. =) Now I just need to go to one more concert to fulfill the requirement for the class, but I plan to go to all the on-campus ones anyway. Most of them are free. =) (So far: 7 As, 2 A-s, and 2/3 concerts.)
Oh, I forgot my program from the concert in my mom's car! I'm sure he'll let me turn it in later though, or remember that he personally sold me the ticket, one of the two!
Chicano Studies class: My professor was out sick for two days, so we got behind a little bit. To make up for it, he skipped two quizzes and gave us all As on them in his book.
I'm finishing up a powerpoint presentation about the Chichimecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs to present tomorrow. I'm kind of stressed about it, to be honest. This class has only confirmed my "just lemme do it myself" attitude about group work... Out of 8 group members, only 4 of us have done our share, and being team captain I'm making up a lot of work that shouldn't have been my problem.
C'est la vie?
I honestly feel that had I been told "do this 60-to-80-slide presentation yourself instead of picking a group," it would have been done faster, better, and with less stress. Waiting on people that you have a gut feeling won't come through sucks. Your hunch about said people being confirmed is even worse. The deadline looming, and you find out at the 10th hour (not quite 11th hour!) that half of what was supposed to be contributed will not be... Guess it's supposed to prepare you for those real jobs at offices and stuff? Useless half of the team, you're fired! (So far: Nothing's been turned in until tomorrow, two fake As in the books.)
I'll blog about some more personal stuff when I don't have powerpoint slides spinning in my head...
Okay, here's the latest!
Speech class: Lucked out and got the last date for my informative speech. Otherwise, I'd be very stressed with two big presentations due the same day! (So far: 27/30 total points.)
I need to find a speech to attend to analyze for a paper due in December. Where do you go about finding one of those?
Health class: Got an 88% on the first exam. It was harder than I expected. Not in a "I should have studied harder" kind of way, but in a "what does he mean by that question???" kind of way. I'll study more about reading the professor's mind! (So far: 88/100 total points.)
Piano class: The second quiz was four pieces. Got A, A-, A, A-. I'm going to get together with a classmate once or twice a week to help him out, which I've found helps me retain information. I process and re-phrase what I've learned from the lecture/book/practice, kind of like making an outline from a book you're reading.
I went to a concert conducted by my professor on Saturday. Charles had other plans, so I invited my "brothers" Billy and Albert (also invited Stephanie and Julio, but they decided against it) and Albert's girlfriend. It was pretty good. =) Now I just need to go to one more concert to fulfill the requirement for the class, but I plan to go to all the on-campus ones anyway. Most of them are free. =) (So far: 7 As, 2 A-s, and 2/3 concerts.)
Oh, I forgot my program from the concert in my mom's car! I'm sure he'll let me turn it in later though, or remember that he personally sold me the ticket, one of the two!
Chicano Studies class: My professor was out sick for two days, so we got behind a little bit. To make up for it, he skipped two quizzes and gave us all As on them in his book.
I'm finishing up a powerpoint presentation about the Chichimecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs to present tomorrow. I'm kind of stressed about it, to be honest. This class has only confirmed my "just lemme do it myself" attitude about group work... Out of 8 group members, only 4 of us have done our share, and being team captain I'm making up a lot of work that shouldn't have been my problem.
C'est la vie?
I honestly feel that had I been told "do this 60-to-80-slide presentation yourself instead of picking a group," it would have been done faster, better, and with less stress. Waiting on people that you have a gut feeling won't come through sucks. Your hunch about said people being confirmed is even worse. The deadline looming, and you find out at the 10th hour (not quite 11th hour!) that half of what was supposed to be contributed will not be... Guess it's supposed to prepare you for those real jobs at offices and stuff? Useless half of the team, you're fired! (So far: Nothing's been turned in until tomorrow, two fake As in the books.)
I'll blog about some more personal stuff when I don't have powerpoint slides spinning in my head...
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Piano Quiz Results =)
I got an A in all five pieces of the quiz in my piano class. Go me! All I had to do was stay in the practice room till my fingers hurt and my wrists stung, and I got it! Like magic! =)
The book we use for class has a 3-CD set with all the music from the book in it. That helps a lot, to play along with the CD. Even moreso for first learning a piece, it makes the rhythm more logical when you’re hearing it rather than just reading it!
Want to know what’s funny? The guy in the class who sits in the back not paying attention to anything and playing Mozart and Harry Potter music over his headphones didn’t bother practicing the pieces in the quiz. Dork. Getting ahead of the class and not bothering to look at the book is fine if you know how to sight read, but he doesn’t. He amused me greatly when it was his turn to do the quiz pieces!
Of course, he claims that he didn’t know there was a quiz, which I believe because he doesn’t pay attention. However, he found out when I told him and someone else 20 minutes before class, and he used those 20 minutes to play things un-related to class. I even turned up my metronome so other people could use it to practice!
Ahh, vanity, thy name is drummer in a piano class...
Monday, October 1, 2007
School update: Speech presentation, Chicano Studies presentation, Piano quiz
I gave my first presentation in my Speech 101 class today. I got 27/30 points; the only thing I got docked for was going over the time limit. I knew that might be an issue, and I had already cut down on my content to try to get closer to the time. In the morning, I did it in under 5, but I guess I elaborated on a few more things in class than I did in my own living room. That, or my pauses for dramatic effect are longer when I have an audience.=P
I’m happy with the score though, I’d rather have time issues to improve upon than content or delivery issues!
Next stressor: Powerpoint (or in my case, Presentation) show about the Chichimec, Toltec, and Aztec Indians for my Chicano Studies class. Not everyone in my group is pulling their weight, which means someone else has to. I’m also doing all the talking in the presentation, and I have to learn really quickly how to pronounce the names of all the cities and gods of these indigenous groups! *collapses* But I’ll do it, cuz it’s gotta be done! This show has to be put together, and words learned, by two weeks from tomorrow.
I have a quiz tomorrow in my Piano class. I feel pretty good about it, but I felt pretty good about the last one too and I had some trouble with it.
My issue is that the only thing we’ve actually EVER played in front of the professor was that first mini-quiz (C and D major scales in each hand). We’ve never used the keyboards in class as anything more than desks, so when I practiced on my own for the quiz, I was making all the right sounds... However, on quiz day, he corrects us on our posture, hand position, wrist position, tempo, and so forth... So when I raised my wrists a little and turned my thumbs in more, it threw me off! Wish we played in class...
Quiz tomorrow is 5 pieces of 10 notes each (not moving our hands from the keys we start from, in other words), 4 measures each. It’s easy enough, unless the professor throws in some other thing I’m doing wrong to throw me off!
He was pointing out over and over the importance of using a metronome for practice, so I got him to okay using our metronomes for the quiz. Heading over to practice rooms now to practice for the quiz and playing to the metronome. (I downloaded a metronome program for my computer, called Gtick. But I got my physical metronome in the mail this weekend. I love new toys in the mail!)
Notice that I haven’t mentioned anything about my Health class (until right now). We have an exam there a week from today, but I’m not ready to stress on that yet, not until after tomorrow’s piano quiz!
I’m happy with the score though, I’d rather have time issues to improve upon than content or delivery issues!
Next stressor: Powerpoint (or in my case, Presentation) show about the Chichimec, Toltec, and Aztec Indians for my Chicano Studies class. Not everyone in my group is pulling their weight, which means someone else has to. I’m also doing all the talking in the presentation, and I have to learn really quickly how to pronounce the names of all the cities and gods of these indigenous groups! *collapses* But I’ll do it, cuz it’s gotta be done! This show has to be put together, and words learned, by two weeks from tomorrow.
I have a quiz tomorrow in my Piano class. I feel pretty good about it, but I felt pretty good about the last one too and I had some trouble with it.
My issue is that the only thing we’ve actually EVER played in front of the professor was that first mini-quiz (C and D major scales in each hand). We’ve never used the keyboards in class as anything more than desks, so when I practiced on my own for the quiz, I was making all the right sounds... However, on quiz day, he corrects us on our posture, hand position, wrist position, tempo, and so forth... So when I raised my wrists a little and turned my thumbs in more, it threw me off! Wish we played in class...
Quiz tomorrow is 5 pieces of 10 notes each (not moving our hands from the keys we start from, in other words), 4 measures each. It’s easy enough, unless the professor throws in some other thing I’m doing wrong to throw me off!
He was pointing out over and over the importance of using a metronome for practice, so I got him to okay using our metronomes for the quiz. Heading over to practice rooms now to practice for the quiz and playing to the metronome. (I downloaded a metronome program for my computer, called Gtick. But I got my physical metronome in the mail this weekend. I love new toys in the mail!)
Notice that I haven’t mentioned anything about my Health class (until right now). We have an exam there a week from today, but I’m not ready to stress on that yet, not until after tomorrow’s piano quiz!
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