Zachary at Berklee

Summertime, and the Livin’ is Easy

It was a horrendous trip back to Indiana. I got stuck in Baltimore after huge delays at the airport, and then since that wasn’t bad enough, I had to evacuate the hotel I was staying in due to someone smoking in one of the rooms and setting off the fire alarms.

However, I have made it back alive. I’ve spent the weekend doing pretty much nothing except resting, eating, and playing the Wii U, but on Monday morning, my busy summer will officially begin.

Although I will not be at Berklee this summer, that doesn’t mean that the music simply stops. I have plans to write and record like crazy. Everything will be uploaded in due time to my YouTube channel, so be on the lookout.

As for final words concerning this past semester…. Well, I really don’t have much to say. It wasn’t as exciting as past semesters, but I still learned a lot, made some new friends, and joined the greatest choir ever, the VGMC. I am definitely looking forward to whatever happens next.

As usual, I will most likely not update the blog on a regular basis throughout the summer break unless something absolutely spectacular or catastrophic occurs.

So yeah. See you next semester.

Auguries of Innocence

A great poem by William Blake.

-

To see a world in a grain of sand

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

-

A robin redbreast in a cage

Puts all heaven in a rage.

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Recording Session

I just got back from a 3-hour recording session with the Video Game Music Choir. There is nothing quite like that moment of silence at the end of the recording. I think that is one of those experiences that musicians just can’t get enough of. It is utterly captivating.

I will post the recordings as soon as I can get a hold of them. I am really excited to hear the final result.

Students From Indiana: 3

It’s official. There are now three students from Indiana who attend the Berklee College of Music. There’s me, some random guy I met last semester whose name I can’t remember, and my most recent discovery, a girl named Stephanie in the Video Game Music Choir. How I participated in this choir for half a semester without figuring this out is beyond me.

Indiana FTW!

An Eerie Peacefulness

Despite the tragic events of the past week, today is oddly peaceful. I went on a walk in the area around the Museum of Fine Arts and I was surprised at how quiet everything was. The few people who were about were just calmly strolling along.

How come every day can’t be like this?

Cabin Fever

I haven’t had any classes for five days now due to the continuing investigation concerning the Boston Marathon explosions and the more recent shootings. Furthermore, we have been advised to stay indoors so that we won’t get blown up or shot.

I now pose you a question: What do two college students who are locked in an apartment for five days do? Let me give you the rundown.

Sleep late, play video games, watch movies, watch a Dr. Seuss documentary, change lightbulbs, bake brownies, have an intense one-hour long game of chess, listen to Stevie Wonder, play more video games, cook awesome food, read aloud dramatically from David Foster Wallace’s epic novel, “Infinite Jest”, make fun of your third roommate behind his back and then proceed to feel bad about it, act like you’re a drummer using spoons, plates, and glasses, play more video games, watch more movies, drink tea, discuss the current state of the U.S. economy, and last but most certainly not least:

WISH THAT YOU COULD GO OUTSIDE!

Registered!

I just finished registering for my classes. For once, it actually went really well. I got into a Klezmer music ensemble, a Hammond organ lab, and an Instrumentation and Score Preparation class with Andrew List. After hearing List’s 21st century piano pieces earlier this semester, I have been eager to study under him.

I also am taking conducting with Isaiah Jackson. Everyone tells me that he is ridiculously tough. I am kind of scared now.

And then of course I have some core music classes and stuff. Plus the VGMC, which I definitely plan on participating in again.

Next Fall looks like it will be a pretty cool semester. I am looking forward to it.

The First Draft

So, I finally finished the outline for my book. I think. Did I ever mention that I am writing a book? Well now you know. I am writing book.

In fact, I have been thinking about this book for years, and I have worked on the outline for months, beginning at the start of this semester.

I honestly don’t know what to think of this outline. All I know is that I have an uncontainable desire to start writing the first draft and go from there.

You just have to start writing.