And, one last update

I know I've been really bad about both blogging and keeping in touch this semester... as usual, school has been crazy, and life in general has been as well.  I've been to both France and Wales this semester, and a quick trip to Germany is probably going to happen before next semester starts.

In the middle of all this, I've actually changed my major.  While I was working on an orchestra masters, as of next semester I'll be doing a pedagogy masters (but will still graduate on time, with a little effort).  This decision came after serious thinking, but my teachers and I have decided to use this masters to get what is arguably the most useful degree the school has to offer (orchestras never hire someone because they have the degree, but music schools will look much more carefully at someone with the teaching degree, and often even require it).  If I was doing what might be considered the "normal" thing in Zürich, this might not matter so much, many people do more than one masters at this school, so there would be time for both.  That said, the current plan (and of course plans change often and without giving much notice) is that I will leave Zürich in two years (so after this masters) and pursue an old music masters.  Since natural horn is what I currently do best and enjoy the most, it seems like the best option.   This was a big decision, but I think everyone involved currently feels like it's going to turn out to be the right one.  I know I do.  :)  Hopefully by the end of this degree, I'll have some practice teaching and the certification, and I'll have managed to make contacts in the old music world, and will be ready to take that step.

So, for anyone who's a bit unclear about what this "old music" this really is, it's basically exactly what it sounds like.  Its the idea that the music of Bach should be played on the instruments that existed when Bach was alive, and that we should do our best to learn the stylistic aspects that went with each period.  There are many books written by players of these time periods detailing how they felt pieces should be played, and old music students study these for information on things like ornamentation.  The fun thing about old music is that you get to play a lot of different styles and instruments.  The not so fun thing about this is having to potentially carry a few instruments to school every day.  When I go to Germany in a few weeks, I'll be taking some lessons with a very well known natural horn player (if anyone wants to give me a lesson for Christmas, that could be cool).

I leave you with a few pictures:

 This is what my locker looks like with both my modern and natural horn.  I can just barely make them both fit!

This is a picture I took of the natural horn this week.  I'll put it up again with pictures of a baroque horn, as soon as I take some.  :)

Bülach, and My New Room

I think everyone knows that I moved (again, I'm getting really tired of it).  My new room is in a two bedroom apartment in what is either a large village or a small town called Bülach.  It's a very sweet place, I really like it.  I'm living in the old city, which means adorable shops and houses, and everything within walking distance.  Within three minutes I have city hall, a new book store, an amazing used bookstore, a bakery, a whisky shop (haven't been there yet, haha), a yarn store, a library, and I'm sure much more.  Last weekend the Christmas market was here, which was good, but dangerous.  Lots of good food and cute things to buy!

 This is the tower of the church I can see from my bedroom.  Yes, the clock is correct.  If you look closely, you'll see a brass band on the tower.  This was the first weekend I was here.

 This is a bit of the Christmas market right before it opened, so the crowds hadn't appeared yet.  It was much cuter at night, but getting a good picture was hard.  Just imagine everything dark, and the trees and the stalls glowing. 

 And, this weekend it snowed!  This is the view from my window.  The used book store is the window on the right.

 Same view from my window.  

 My desk and bookshelf.  I'm sitting here now writing all this...

 My bed

 My couch and clothing storage (yes, I have a couch.  You have no idea how cool this is!!!)

Another view of my bed and the window and stuff...

It's so good to have my own place again, and to be unpacked and mostly organized.  There are still a few things that are mysteriously absent (would anyone happen to know where my Brahms Horn Trio is?), but this is more settled than I've been since June.  My flatmate is lovely, and she has two adorable cats (pictures next time they come inside, they're out in the snow right now, I think).  

Wales

As a few of you may have heard, I went to Wales at the end of October.  Here are a few pictures from the coast, were we spent a nice, sunny, cold Saturday wandering around and enjoying the views and the tiny village.