Day 038: Finally, a normal day
36yearsago.com
Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing &
friends.
Day 38
— Finally, a normal day
09-September-1971
(Thur.)
TRANSCRIPT
This is what I think will be a normal day. I’m trying
to get into a routine:
Morning
• practice (horn and guitar)
Afternoon
• practice (horn and guitar)
• reading (German, music)
• business (shopping, etc.)
Evening
• possible practice
• relaxation or concert
• reading
I would like to practice the horn quite a bit (3
hours) and the guitar also (1+ hour). Everyday I
should study German—will have to devote more time to
it. A little time in [the] afternoon for a
break—business [life stuff], shopping, or a walk.
Will have to find time (a lot) for reading of music
books, possible writing of music, and hopefully,
practicing the piano.
If I can get all this done, I will be satisfied. (I
don’t think I always will, though.)
I will certainly be busy. (and this is without
school).
My two roommates. As I know them better, they are
really good friends, and we sit and talk, and do
other things. I think my previous impressions were
not all right.
I also think of Anjali sometimes.
REFLECTIONS
Ok, the summer fun is over. Now it’s time to crack
the books, practice, learn German, and do
“everything.”
Planning
your schedule. It’s not a
bad idea to try and organize your day, plan
activities, leave time for work, homework, practicing
and some relaxation. This is good advice for
students, adults, and everyone in between. In the
real world, all of these schedules will fall apart,
take longer than expected, and come with a fair
amount of interruptions. That’s life in 1971. That’s
life in 2007—even worse in 2007. All we can do is our
best.
School has not yet started for the Academy of Music
and Dramatic Art. That provides a bit of extra time.
I imagine school will be beginning soon.
Practicing.
You will
see that I want to practice both horn and guitar a
fair amount. At Montclair State College (now
University), I was a commuting student, worked in the
late afternoons and evenings, and had to practice
both at school and at home. This will be the first
year I didn’t have to work—that is after age 12 or
so. Less work, more practice. Despite my frustrations
in trying to be a perfect horn player, I do enjoy
practicing and attempting to improve.
Remember the answer to the saying, “How do you get to
Carnegie Hall?” Practice, practice, practice.
Getting
to know you. Remember,
it was only yesterday that I was chiding Pavel’s
“American-isms” a bit. One day later, I’m realizing
that I was certainly over-reacting. It’s not a good
idea to rush to judgment. I was at fault, and so I
apologize to Pavel.
Anjali.
It’s only
been a day, and I can’t live without the girl. Come
on, John. Settle down. Buckle up. Grit your teeth. Be
a man. Get down! Useless sayings—I still miss her.
John
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