participation

i got a C+ for participation, but still managed to get an A in Critical Studies..

i sort of regret taking that class because it took up so much of my time and i don’t really feel that i gained much from it. if you’re wondering what the class is, it’s a little hard to explain because the topic is so broad. generally, it’s a study of critical theory as it relates to music.

every week we read four densely written scholarly articles on various topics, wrote a 2pg paper on them, and discussed them for 2 hours in class.  doesn’t sound so bad until you consider the content of the articles. it took me at least 12 hours just to get through them. i managed through the reading & writing, but i always struggled with the discussions. for most classes, i would be silent for the entire two hours (there were only 6 in the class). sometimes i’d be blank or lost, but most of the time i’d be completely engaged, trying to come up with something to say and nothing would come. intimidation was probably a significant factor. i was the youngest and least articulate of the group. also, i’m not very opinionated. but most of all, i think it was cuz the issues usually didn’t relate to my field. out of the 6, 2 were conductors, 2 were jazz musicians, and 2 were composers. Ben (the other conductor) and i agreed that it was unfair that the material was geared toward the other fields.

i’m glad i got through it and like i said in my last post, i hope now i can focus on the things that pertain to conducting and choral music.   |