Doctors Make the Worst Patients

I admit it.  I've been a bad patient.  My surgery was last Monday, as I'm sure my dear reader recalls, and by Friday I felt decidedly disgusting.  Per doctor's orders, I had not showered since surgery in order to avoid getting my splint wet.  Since I had previously planned on seeing The Hunger Games, I decided I was not going to go out unshowered.  I cleverly wrapped my splint in Saran wrap and took what was likely the most refreshing shower of my life.

Guess what I noticed upon stepping out of the shower.  The bottom of my splint was soaked, sodden, falling apart.  After a moment of freaking out and creative use of the "F" word, I engaged Keith's help and he cut my splint off.  I called the doctor on call twice, but no one called back.  I got dressed, put on the metal boot that was given to me by my orthopedist's office prior to surgery and went to see my movie.  I plan to call my doctor's office tomorrow.  My foot looks and feels fine --  a little bruised and slightly swollen, but certainly not out of the ordinary for having recently had surgery.  I've been careful to put minimal to no weight on it, using my crutches whenever possible.  I hope the nurse or doctor doesn't chastise me.

Another personal life development -- there is trouble on the housing front.  As my dear reader may also recall, Keith and I have a contract on a new condo.  The seller was to complete a list of repairs prior to closing, which contractually must be completed to our satisfaction.  Our home inspector, Keith, one of our realtor's and the seller's agent met this past Saturday for a walk-through.  Most repairs were done well, but a major repair that was requested, and the seller agreed to complete, was repointing the exterior brick.  It was done quite poorly.  The seller's agent argued that we didn't make clear on our written request exactly what needed to be done to the exterior, which is inaccurate.  If the seller doesn't agree to repoint the exterior properly, we will most assuredly walk from the deal.  If that happens, we've decided to rent for another year, which has it's advantages.

And now for music.  I have decided upon a title for this little blog.  Are you ready?  The Flute Project.  I know, it's not original or very catchy, but it certainly sums up my blog's purpose.  I wrote in a prior post that I wanted the title to capture the fact that I'm a physician and that the project is meant to last for one year.  Too long.  The Flute Project works well enough, and I don't want my blog to be untitled any longer.  So there you have it.

I'm a bit closer on finding an ensemble in which to play.  Ms. Trimber is principal flutist with the Capital Wind Symphony, and, according to her, there will be at least one opening in the group for the upcoming season.  Auditions are in May.  I will keep you posted.

Here's where I am in my practice routine:

Lackluster long tones (Moyse)
Hideous harmonics (Wye) - C, C#, D, D# up to the fifth harmonic on each note.
Scales (T and G) EJ 1 & 2, 3rd page, two octaves, mezzo forte, fifth articulation, 72 beats per minute;
     EJ 4, Eb Major through Bb Minor, mezzo forte, fifth articulation, 72 beats per minute
Etude #14 (Cavally)
Orchestral Excerpt (Baxtresser) Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis
Solo Work (JSB) Partita in A Minor, Allemande and Corrente

I plan to allow my practice routine to evolve slowly.  When I have a better handle on the harmonic studies in the Wye Practice Book #1 (Tone), I plan to stop using my bastardized version of de la Sonorite and work solely from Wye's Tone Book until I have completed it to my satisfaction.  When my scale exercises are good at 120 beats per minute, I plan to add an arpeggio exercise (EJ 10?).  While continuing work on dynamics and articulation with the previously learned exercises, I plan to methodically work up speed on the arpeggio exercise.  I hope to finish the Cavally book over the next month or two, and then I'd like to graduate to one of the easier Andersen etude books.  I plan to continue to study Baxtresser's Orchestral Excerpt book so that I basically have all of them under my fingers for whatever auditions might come up in the near or distant future.  I should have the JSB Partita down well enough to be able to move on to another piece in about 2 weeks.  I plan to work on Faure's Fantasie.  Of course, these plans may be modified when I begin studying with someone, which tentatively should begin within the next few weeks.

To recap: I may have an audition for Capital Wind Symphony in May, followed by a performance of the Bach Partita in June.  After that, I will need to collaborate with a pianist and record the Faure Fantasie for the Adult Amateur Competition by September.  It's fun to have goals.  It makes the practicing less burdensome.

I may have a record of my playing/practicing posted tomorrow.  No promises!  I hate to disappoint.