Brahms

Today in SWAM (Survey of Western Art Music) we talked about Brahms. Or rather, Dr. Belfy was jumping around the room shouting exciting things about Brahms while I tried to throw in my bit about his viola sonatas. Everybody else seemed generally uninterested in Brahms. I don't understand why though, I've always thought that he was pretty cool, and today's lesson reinforced that. I don't think they like the class. Again, I don't understand why... all we do is listen to music all day and talk about it, which is exciting! I'll admit that it got a little dull when we talked about Opera, but that's probably because I just don't care. Anyway, now that we're back to good music it's exciting again!

I would love to teach a class like this! Probably Appreciation of Music, actually. I'd be the new viola professor stuck with a bunch of kids who are just taking the class because their non-Music major requires it. Most of them probably won't know what a viola is. Anyway, I'd stroll in there on the first day, put on some Tchaikovsky Symphony and run around the room screaming to the poor students about what's happening in the Symphony, you know, to all the characters involved and stuff. And then I'd act really surprised when it looks like he's about to end it but... DECEPTIVE CADENCE! I'll scream at the top of my lungs. Ideally, most of my students will think I'm crazy, but if I can get them to realize that appreciating music has nothing to do with playing and instrument or getting a degree in music I'll be happy. Really, I have no idea how to play guitar, but I frequently air-guitar my way through my favorite solos!