Author Archives: Alex

Sumer is Icumen Out

Well, I’ve spent the entire summer working on various projects, zero of which I have posted about here. The main thing has been a frenzied “July of coding” as I updated my web application Ututti by adding some new features. I also developed a mobile app for iOS and Android devices that works with the web app. If you’re so inclined, you can find out more about the apps here.

I spent a lot of time writing marching band shows for various groups, as usual for this time of the year. When we visited Indiana for a couple weeks at the beginning of August, I stopped over at one of Carroll High School’s rehearsals (my alma mater, for whom I’ve written several shows). Doug Hassell, the new director, has been doing great things in his first year there. He let me talk to the students after the rehearsal which was great – they seemed to be excited about the coming season.

In the pipeline is an orchestra piece, a performance or two of my new wind ensemble piece “In Time”, and all the adventures of the coming semester as I enter my second year of graduate school. I’ll be doing some independent research on a soon-to-be-determined topic in contemporary classical music, as well as teaching an undergraduate music fundamentals lab.

BEGIN NON-MUNDANE TOPIC. I have just discovered the magical nonsense of Adventure Time. Lindsey happened to stumble across it while channel surfing, and I was drawn in by George Takei’s signature baritone. It turns out he was just a guest voice-actor in that particular episode, which is good because I don’t know how I would’ve reacted to a cartoon princess riding a Korean speaking rainbow unicorn into a giant sphincter if George Takei wasn’t somehow involved. The absurdity is unrelenting and I love it so, so much. I leave you with this:

 |  1 Comment

New studio

Since most people who read my blog (total: 0 people) woke up this morning and said, “I want to see pictures of Alex’s new studio”, I suppose I’ll have to post some pictures.  This is my first “real” studio – I’ve never had a room to work all by myself.  Its not much, in fact its less than 100 square feet of space, but its better than nothing and FAR BETTER than a pit of lions.  FAR BETTER.

Here is the side view of everything.  My desk, my keyboard, my music stand (currently holding a hymn book which I’m using to practice sightreading), the bookshelf, and Lindsey’s desk.  And look at that cheap, commercial grade rug!

Closer view of my setup, complete with corkboard and whiteboard.  I imagine these will become cluttered with notes, outlines, and other stuff in the very near future.

And finally, the view from my window.

And just so we’re clear…this is FAR BETTER than a pit of lions, as you can see:

 

 |  1 Comment