DECEMBER CONCERTS and rambling

ART INSTITUTE IN FLORENCE ITALY - YOUTH CHOIR OF FIESOLE MUSIC SCHOOL AT BADIA AL SETTIMO- SCANDICCI ITALY

Yes, December can be a nightmare for musicians. I am not even visiting my daughter in Germany over Christmas because she too is working all through the holidays. But we have sung this year in beautiful places: Badia San Francesco in Scandicci (Bach's Christmas Oratorio), St James Episcopal Church and the Art Institute in Porta Romana, Florence.
We had a visiting choir from Valenza, Piedmont, they sang some song in French, they sing lightly and it was very nice, everyone was fascinated because my singers all have such strong voices, don't ask me why. But it was good for them to hear another choir with lighter voices since I am always telling my students to sing lighter.
A father, Gianfranco, makes dvds of all our concerts. Can't wait to see these recent exhibitions on a dvd. Everyone is waiting, including the press at our school, they want to add a few minutes to the school's site. Well, at least people at the school are convinced now that I know what I am doing, since they listen to all the bells ring (other people's opinions) and I have many an adversary on my tail. Invidious little snakes. The one guy, Bernardo, tried to establish another children's choir for only boys at school last year, without consulting me (I've had the children's choirs at the school for 30 years) and WITH the blessing of the administration and board of directors, none of whom breathed a word to me until there was a general department meeting, and they broke me the news as decision in progress - they had no intention of asking my opinion or my contribution - and saying so 5 minutes before the end of the meeting so they could all run out of the room and leave me to ponder on this unfortunate event. All because the head of the school, age 90, has been hoping to have an all boys choir since 1980! I told him through the years that such a thing is impossible, the percentage throughout the world is 1 boy to every 12 girls in choirs. There are some famous all boys choirs, one in Sofia - bulgaria - German boys - a choir in Denmark who just left me their cd and dvd. That was a lovely thought, I'll have to find the time to listen to the music and answer the man conducting. What's on his mind? A choral exchange? I wouldn't mind going to Denmark for some concerts!
Anyhow, getting back to December concerts, in the middle of rehearsing and telling everyone their schedules and getting the new singers up to Par ! I finished recording and mounted 2 new cds that thankfully are now finished and duplicated and ready to be sold. A lovely woman, Canary, a cyberspace friend, has helped me finance one cd with our Octet singing - Women in Harmony - and the parents have already given me 2/3rds of the money I spent producing the Christmas cd. The producers are totally nuts, and today I spoke with a secretary of the Music School of Scandicci who is fed up too with these producers . they coordinate activities - recording groups and computer music courses. The cd producers keep their own schedule, have their own key to the school and somehow they and the school each take a portion of the payments from clients like myself. The producers though also have other recording studios in 3 other towns! And they are not being honest at all with the school, frankly the school had no idea what they were getting into and with whom they were dealing. The producers give one price and certain information to the clients and tell another story to the school so they earn from both sources. After 6 months went by and I got no bill for our recording sessions, I write to the producer's younger colleague who wrote me back saying that I pay the cds to the producers and the recording times to the school, to get in touch with the school. So I did then 2 minutes afterwards the older producer phones me on my cell phone all infuriated. I shouldn't talk to the school! I mustn't get between him and the school. The man is paranoic - - I just wanted the bill, but of course he told me 40euro and hour and the school told me 30 euro an hour. So he was going to get the money from me and pay the school less. I goofed up his plan! Not only, it exposed him and his basic dishonesty. He lives on lies and tales. He got very upset also because I had phoned the cd duplication factory to see if they had received a package of tax stamps I had to send them. All cds are registered with tax stamps in Italy to stop cd pirates (the chinese! ! !). You cannot ship cds without the tax stamps. Anyhow, I just phoned to make sure they got my package, and I asked how much longer do they think till they send me the cds. I couldn't get an answer so I wrote the producers to give me a time estimate since the factory couldn't. And AGAIN he got all upset that I spoke to the factory on my own. My god, I AM paying for everything, then give me some information. Anyhow, NOW having received 900 of the 1,000 cds ordered and paid for, I understand why he didn't want me to mess around with the factory, he had 100 cds shipped to himself to sell. Well, when I found this out, I immediately phoned and insisted on having all my cds. So he said that we had agreed on the phone that he would take some cds for promoting our group! I said not at all, the fact is that he was supposed to have ordered MORE than 1,000 cds and keep them for himself to sell. In fact he kept 100 cds of MINE with the tax stamp for SELLING cds, the others say COMPLIMENTARY COPY. So really he was going to SELL 100 cds, cds I had paid to produce. What a bunch of crap . .

Anyhow, I phoned and insisted on having my cds brought back to me. Okay, he was going to leave 90 of them at the school today, that didn't happen. He phoned me 3 hours ago that he would bring them to my house this evening. That didn't happen. Then he phoned again to say he would be in Florence tomorrow morning and would bring them to my house early, he even asked me what time I'd be here. I told him to get here early, knowing that he would never make an appointment on time and I'd have to sit around home all morning. He then went on to say that if he didn't make it to my house he would leave them at the Fiesole school where I teach. So we'll see what happens, I wrote to another nice, seemingly honest producer, asking his opinion on this topic and he said if I ordered in writing 1000 cds, that's what I should have received. That seems logical right? It is in writing, so I think this smart ass producer tried to pull a fast one, but Joan is still awak! And maybe he realizes not having any agreement in writing wheras he should keep 100 cds, he figured I might consider him a THIEF, which I do.

Always an adventure with people who don't want to explain things correctly, they are up to NO GOOD - - like the story with the delivery of my daughter's car! We had to pay the delivery 3 times before it was delivered thanks to the Genovese Mafia. I thought my daughter would go out of her mind. I got very ill that year, definite heart problems due to terrible stress, waiting everyday for the situation to straighten out. And then my daughter's instruments were stolen from another shipment, here too, always phoning, losing work in Germany sitting around my house in Florence waiting for merchandise to arrive. It took a long time to arrive from Genova, 2 months because they were planning a way of stealing merchandise, and they did. We had proof of everything and got some money back from our lawyer's, I had to go to the Police and make out a report of stolen merchandise. We recuperated 1500 euros, but to buy the electronic keyboard that was stolen (together with loud speakers, pedals, instrument stand) would be about 3 times that price.
Same thing happened in USA! Moving from Ohio to Florida, the day we had the appointment to move, the movers never even showed up! Stories and excuses all day long. . The following day we found another mover, after 3 weeks in Miami they showed up with half the merchandise. They had two clients' stuff on the same truck, made both clients pay extra for the rise in gasoline prices! Then through lawyers 2 months later Elena finally got the rest of her stuff MINUS a few boxes of clothes.
My father was in the moving business, he was honest although he worked for the Hoffa Union, they weren't so honest now were they? So this moving business is strictly Mafia, worldwied.

Well here I am blabbing- - now who should read this stuff? ? ? My cyber friend Canary. I wish my other friends here in Italy could read English and speak in English with me because I can get the words out a lot faster in English and say a lot more, write a lot more without stopping to wonder if public has 1 or 2 "b"s. These doubles drive me nuts. PUBBLICA in Italian = PUBLIC. MOTTETTO in Italian = MOTET and in French: MOTETTE. Yipes, also a Waltz is femminine in French and masculine in Italian. LA VALSE - IL VALSER.
Even the word ACADEMY drives me nuts, in Italian it's ACCADEMIA - 2 "c"s.
I do have a great 6-language translating site bookmarked that's just great, it really saves me from a lot of embarassment.

okay, I'd better sign off for tonight. All I get here from USA is FOX NEWS; some programs are ok, but some are crazy, and I fall asleep listening to this guy that comes on at 11 pm, Glenn Beck ... he's all into a third USA political party, tea parties etc. But he gets so excited on his show, it's really funny. He has people do some wild research . .and he's very courageous to say such dangerous things and accuse people by name, I would never do that. Sooner or later he'll be assassinated by some extremist.

Today I received several presents from my little students, my 10 year olders. Some are so cute, a couple are miserable and when you meet their parents you know why! The nice ones came to my house today to bring me Christmas presents, I will wait for christmas eve to open them.
This saturday and sunday we will be playing Handbells at the American Church. These are my bells that I brought back from Colorado many years ago. They are special bronze bells and I think I am the only one in Italy with these handbells. They are popular in England and Germany.

Signing off now. . maybe tomorrow I'll write another blog. Actually I have a sweater to finish knitting, actually I have TWO to finish, startedthem about 2 years ago! o my god, and they are so pretty. I also need to do my CYCLING on my home bike. I am totally shameful.

HOW SMART IS MAXINE ? ? ?

This is Maxine Vespucci Pierini - really my daughter's best friend but Maxine loves me too, I take very good care of her and she lives with me through thick and thin in Florence Italy.

Maxine is an American Golden Retriever and IMHO she talks and understands and remembers everything. Sometimes she doesn't immediately react to a phrase or a command but that's her choice. It's not that she doesn't understand, she just makes believe or is thinking of something else! How many phrases or words or commands can a Golden Retriever learn in a lifetime? Maxine is now 9 years old so she knows a lot of human words. Here is a list:
COME - GO - GO OUT - WAIT - STOP - STAY - SIT - DOWN - NO - GET UP - EAT -
DRINK WATER
EAT YOUR DINNER
EAT YOUR FOOD
SPECIAL (extra good dinner with carrots and olive oil)
YOU CAN SAY HELLO (permission to visit another dog or person)
GO TO THE PARK
GET YOUR BALL - WHERE'S YOUR BALL?
HURRY UP (crossing the street)
CUT IT OUT (and she stops)
THE KIDS ARE COMING
MOMMY ELENA IS COMING
WHERE'S MOMMY'S CAR?
LET'S GO TO THE PARK
IT'S OKAY (and she goes near another person to greet)
LET'S GO OUT - DO YOU WANT TO GO OUT ?
LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL (as we both look into a colorful store window or botanical gardens)
ARE YOU READY?
WHERE'S YOUR LEASH?
THIS WAY (and Max changes directions walking)
WHO'S THAT? (ringing the doorbell)
HELLO (and she looks for someone arriving)
LET'S GET BRUSHED (and she goes on the terrace)
OPEN THE DOOR (and she opens the swaying hallway doors)
SHAKE HANDS (she actually hates giving you her paw . but if she wants something she will)
WANT SOME PIZZA?
STAY HOME NOW, MOMMY WILL BE BACK SOON (then she knows I go out without her)
WHO'S THERE? (when someone is near the door, she goes and listens)
BIRDIE ( I've seen her kill one on the spot)
CAT (she loves to chase cats . . and squirrels)
WHO'S THAT MAX ? WHAT'S THAT MAX ? (puts her on the alert)
DON'T GO NEAR (a small child, someone who's afraid of dogs)
NIGHTIE NIGHT (she gets her bed and pillow to go to sleep)
GOODBYE (time for nightie night, when AOL closes off)
WHERE'S YOUR DUCKIE ?
WHERE'S YOUR PILLOW ?
DO PIPI (and she does it immediately)
DO POO POO
TOO HOT MAX (then she comes inside off the sunny terrace)
PHOTO MAX (and she sits still to pose for a photo)

WORKING WITH ANOTHER YOUTH CHOIR

I studied together with another Youth Choir this week, it was great fun. Kids were very nice, they came to Reggello from Alessandria, their Director and his wife and son were also very sweet and respectful people. The kids have a lot to learn, mostly they need to Hear a singer, as I was singing with them they were imitating me, already sounding better. And I am NOT a singer, but I sing and I still have a nice voice. These kids study NO instrument, so that makes things very difficult indeed, they do very well. But they need to understand by Hearing and Listening what is beautiful music, what is a good sound, and how to obtain it. They were so enthusiastic. So now again I consider myself very lucky and blessed to have my talent and to have created my lovely sounding choirs thru the years.
We especially worked with my MAGIC MUSIC CARDS . . so much fun . . the kids (adolescents) really enjoyed them and enjoyed singing the same exercizes repeatedly. Their musical memories need to be increased. Yes they were enthusiastic because they have had very little exposure to music in general, they are thirsty for it, thirsty for the new experience and good sounds, but also interested in the form and technical content of pieces, something that my choir kids could care less about. My choir kids have become so used to things that now they study at the last moment. Not to talk about the Octet that doesn't study at all (with a few exceptions). The Gaiamusica choral group did a retreat at Casa Cares in Reggello, a beautiful Tuscan Villa with their own farm products, their own yoghurt production etc. The owners are a Swiss couple from the Waldesian church. Very nice people, hard workers.

RETIREMENT ?

don't retire if you want some peace . .

just thinking a bit - - here are some of my activities over the next 20 days:
8 rehearsals with choral ensemble tempus floridum
finish the recording of a cd and mount the tracks together this sunday, in a town outside of florence
4 mornings of summer school with little children
2 afternoons of regular choral rehearsals with children
2 days summer course out of town with another choir
Elena visiting for 3 days, leaving me Maxine our golden retriever
Walking Maxine everyday
Park Elena's car at Riccardo's garage for the summer (hour trip)
Accompany Elena to new dentist (most are closed for a long weekend when she comes)
2 concerts on june 24th (2.5 hours of conducting and playing piano)
3 days of several hours of rehearsal in the opera theater for an opera in which 23 of my students sing
Evening concert of this opera not-staged (Mefistofele)
Concert with vocal group in a little town out of Florence sunday 28th (Scarperia)
3 afternoon rehearsals for our Christmas cd to record in october
individual teaching schedule at my house
keep up my blog for end of school year info and new enrollment info
evening concert for the dedication of a canoe! given in the memory of a colleague who just passed on
clean the house, go shopping, iron everything ! ! !
And all in extreme heat
I thank the Lord I do not have exams and meetings at the state conservatory anymore . .
but if this is retirement . . I think I'll go back to work .

CONCERT yesterday with Young Madrigal singers

the Madrigalists had a concert yesterday. These are 12 adolescents. It was largely very successful although 4 singers were still suffering from laringitis, and I also had to barter for a free room at the Fiesole Music school. I had reserved the Limonaia (where lemons used to be grown) but Brigitte's orchestra was rehearsing. Kindly I convinced her to move her group to another large place, then I rearranged everything, brought in flowers in a vase for the piano, swept the floor with the broom and set up the chairs. I did vocal warm-ups with the kids, they sounded fine. Then the concert started, the pieces where everyone sings together went wonderfully - madrigals, canzonettes, motets - but largely speaking everyone was SO nervous they could hardly sing their solos. I must say that Cristina and both Eleonoras did very well, so did Costanza and Francesca P - her father was in the second row. Poor Chiara kept watching her mom who has to be operated on soon and broke down during the first song. She lost her father last year. I was accompanying so I just started over and she pulled thru. She also sang a second piece with the group on the refrain, and that went fine.Eleonora B was totally pissed off . . angry, wouldn't look at the public, wouldn't take a bow, wouldn't smile. I wrote these kids a letter telling them they need to be happy, the public that comes in great heat need to see pleasant people sing. They must bring some camomille and learn to present their songs in good humor, with good education - that is, they must be polite and smile and look at the people as they perform. We'll have to study this format our next lesson. Anyhow, I find some of their mentalities really difficult to cope with, spoiled kids used to compliments all the time. High expectations of themselves in every occasion yet they'll talk all during rehearsal and then go to pieces in a concert. Some parents are hard on the kids, others are just so busy all the time they only get to hear them twice a year and the kids want to make a fabulous impression, but they are too immature yet, scared of everyone and start to cry or breathe badly, then sing wrong notes and won't take a bow. Maybe they figure they didn't deserve any applause . .

Riccardo and I shared accompanying the kids for lack of time to rehearse together with each singer. I rewrote many accompaniments so that the accompanying music basically comes out the same but is written more simply. This made my job easier, especially since I don't see too well. People came to the concert that don't have much time to spare. So that was nice. Oh yes, my friend Annamaria M came, and an ex-pupil came, Giulia P, now an upcoming singer. She has a professional mentality, thank god someone does somewhere in my week. I meet very few professionally minded people in all walks of life. I guess they figure life is too short so why bother being meticulous, I think the opposite, just because life IS short, one should try to do things as best as possible, you may not have the time to get a second chance. Anyhow, my 12 adolescent singers in the Madrigal course ALL came to the concert yesterday, all wanted to sing even those without voice ! ! ! but their anxiety and fear of performing in public is outrageous, I wrote them a letter that they must cut it out. Let's hope it takes effect.

UPDATE THREE DAYS LATER
A lot of kids are coming over to my house for lessons and swear to present their pieces better on the next occasion. So it's not a bad idea to write a lousy letter of discontent to your students, if they really want to make you happy and really love their music, they'll come through and try to alter their behaviour. Maybe it's happening this way now since school is closed and they are more relaxed. However, one girl was telling me how nuts and critical this one mom is, no wonder her daughter age 15 sings angry and starts to cry afterwards. Too bad, lovely kid ruined by her mom.

KIDS in Italy - my experience

Let me add that there is a big difference between the kids of 10 years ago and those I know now.Even my adolescents say the same about the grammar school kids, so you can imagine.
I know a lot, been with kids for years here in Italy BUT I am sure I don't know it all, especially regarding life in other areas of Italy where I haven't lived. Kids in Italy will soon start their 3 month summer vacation. Kids are very spoiled in Italy, they owe nothing to anyone, they are the center of attention and complain all the time about everything, they say that in school they are mistreated because their teachers and profs ask for a bit of attention and preparation. -They probably ARE mistreated, I admit, 6 days a week of school is too much with afternoon activities all the time. No quiet time. So this schedule alone is punishment and mistreatment, and when they become adults they will DO unto others as was DONE unto them! I really am glad life is short . . presently I am doing a lot but I feel like I am getting nowhere fast.
The kids are really tired now, but they certainly love to PARTY ! Especially birthday parties, life stops for Birthday Parties and First Communions. Oh lord, this catholic thing, so much catechism . . it really has very little to with how one conducts one's life. Maybe the priests are hoping to get more young people under their wing, seems that priesthood has diminished over the last years. Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Episcopalians - - do we really all go to a separate creator when we die?
My students love what we do in music once they get INTO it, and understand what needs to be done, what the preparation entails and how to judge things - music and performance and public reaction. They do learn ALL about the organisation aspect, how to organise the voices, the kids, the scores, the library, the research, arrangements and adaptations, the parents, trips, internet ads etc etc. That's a course in itself.
I must say that when I have visitors from America, they are amazed at the concentration and obedience of the children in my classes. The American kids are a mess, they eat poorly and have no philosophy of life other than going to the Mall or getting presents. Now many American kids are being paid by their parents to do well in school. It's worth it to the parents, the kids could get a scholarship for college and that would save a lot of cash for the parents. So it's a good investment.
The kids in Italy are over protected because once they come of age, no one will protect them much anymore, so the parents overdo things while they can . . they stay out late till 4am every chance they get and no work will be available for many years so they'll stay at home till age 40 or until their grandparents finally die and leave their house to the parents and another place to live in will be available. That's what I'll be doing. Kids have to study at the University for many many other years, maybe finish more than one degree, there's not much else to do, there's no work available. This is why the Italian kids KNOW so much, I mean they really do . . history, latin, greek, philosophy ecc. Many have been expatriating since the middle of the 19th century for work. And YET . . I have a lot of work, but having worked for the government, it is forbidden for me to open my own business. That's capitalism and what we have here is a sort of fascism/socialism. I don't see where the difference is much, both forms of government want to control every darn thing you do and prohibit people from working multiple jobs . . that's another long story. What I'm getting at is this: if I for example were allowed to open another school or cultural association of my own, I would be giving work to many a young musician. But since the socialist philosophy is that no one should earn too much, then no one earns anything practically because new initiatives are discouraged; I now could start another school with great success, give work to others, but no, I receive a government pension and that should be enough for me for the rest of my life, with inflation and everything. Lousy system even though I must say I have done well in it, but that's because I had studied well as a kid, studied all the time, Facebook didn't exist in the old days, and I have been successful inventing my own teaching methods and materials. Now if I wish to start a business or a school I'd have to move back to USA.

THOUGHTS for today and tomorrow

thoughts for today and tomorrow in English.

I love having a blog, imaging I am speaking to someone. It's mentally stimulating and cleansing. I really have very few friends now to speak to, many have moved back to USA, others have died already and I don't have time to belong to new social groups. I like going to church when I can, but I often am very tired on a sunday morning and just sleep in, do laundry and finally get to washing the kitchen plates.

I meet new people when I have Max to look after, then we go to the park together. We can now go and play ball and have a picnic in Villa Favard. I'll pay for parking, no problem. I feel bad though when she leaves, I really miss her because as Golden Retrievers go, she really is one of the best, she listens, she understands and I really think she feels how you feel. She gets jealous when I stay too long at the computer or on the phone. Elena will be bringing me Max next week, I can't wait. She'll be with me for 6 weeks, then I'll be off on vacation to ALASKA in august so I'll be thinking of other things and will get over her absence shortly I hope.

When do I get to see my 80 yr old aunts again? I hope at least a couple of more times before death parts us. They have always been so nice to me - - Margaret, Carmen, Rose, Camille (she's really a cousin)
When do I see some of my cousins again . . I have found many on facebook, that's nice. This summer I'll see the Bellanti's and the Martinez family in LA. Also my Armenian friends, Ani - Janine - Sebouh. I wish we all lived nearer because once I don't have school to teach (which doesn't happen very often) it's really quite lonely with no friends or relatives.

Obama at the WH, everyone loves the guy but I have a feeling that changing everything in USA the way he wants to is not really a great idea. Many things just need a good fixing, people need to comply to rules and not be so greedy. And his Czars? Why such a bad term? Is this his term? He has put in over 100 of them? Call them monitors maybe. Maybe he considers himself a Czar.

Closing Gitmo .. great, it shouldn't exist, but neither should cancer exist! no one wants the guys though, small problem. Four are in Bermuda now . .those people didn't really want them. Can't send them back to Yemen, maybe they could be sent to Saudi Arabia, their homeland ? I'm sure they'll be treated better by their own people than they have been in Gitmo, they'll feel right at home once more. Is there a problem sending them back home? What ? - -no Bar Mitzvahs there?

Drug tunnels from Mexico to southern USA . . . what's stopping Alkaeda from coming through. Who cares, what a stupid thought, can't they just land on any beach anyhow - - weren't the guys on the planes in 2001 all foreign students in the country legally for many years with 6 drivers' licenses each. Hmmmm registered in six states - - good federal coordination here !

I think USA should be divided into 4 smaller countries, or even 6 countries, then maybe the place would be possible to govern. Or else we leave things as the are, divided into 50 states but the Washington people will never be able to effeciently govern over the whole lot. Coordinating data over such a large territory is mind boggling. People do terrible things then go live in another state and start all over, no one knows anything. There has been a great struggle to get a national list of sex offenders . . I think now there is a MAP on the internet of where they live all over USA. Some people though on this map are young kids who mistakenly sent a nude pic over the cell phone and got caught and labeled a sex offender. Too much here I feel . .

Tempus Floridum girls are lovely but today they got me pissed off, some never come to rehearsal on a regular basis, others don't study either voice or the scores, some talk constantly and are distracted and distract others, a couple are always telling me and others what to do. They do all tell me of their miserable schedules. I find most of the girls always tired and anxious and often ill, too bad, they all have great talent. We are finishing a cd this month, we need a lot of prayers.
UPDATE on this state of affairs _ _ yesterday's rehearsal (june 15th) was perfect, some extra kids came and everyone paid attention and sang well. So here too, I need to get pissed off more often.

Catholicism - don't start me on this topic! All my students under age 13 are stuck in Catechism every wednesday all afternoon for years and years, skipping all their other classes. They don't like to go; parents, wake up, they won't go to hell if they do fewer years of catechism. They're lovely kids. One mother said to me "can't do catechism on a sunday morning because the families go away to country homes on the weekends". This is a spoiled society or maybe they just can't stand living in Florence all the time !

O by the way. . . I live in Florence Italy, been here for 40 years and I am still considered a foreigner. And my blood is half Italian - - but southern Italian, maybe that doesn't count up here. In Italy kids have THREE months of summer vacation . . I teach thru july usually, and pick up end of september.

Florence Italy: a beautiful place to be sure . . inside the historical buildings and museums, things are really beautiful beyond belief - - BBB - - and performing music in certain places, often closed to the public otherwise, can be an experience you'll never forget; but the traffic and the air pollution, what have we to say about this? Bus tickets are too expensive and the buses are often on strike. The Bus website is so complicated - - terrible site. So is the train site, the Italian mind is too complicated, maybe everyone hopes that others will consider them some great genius intellectual or else maybe they just don't want to be understood by anyone !