Ohhh you're a grad student, that's all the explanation I needed.

Generally yes. In the program I was in, some upper year courses are called "topic courses", and the professor sets a broad topic to be discussed throughout the term, so every year the course has a different focus. The topic for one course that I took was "Romantic Music", and the student's personal topic for their thesis has to fit under that umbrella. So a history of the era, or a biography of a specific composer, or a complete analysis of a composer's works would all be acceptable topics. There are only like 12 people in the course and it's basically an independent study course. You go into class once a week for 2 hours, and each week 2 people have to present something pertaining to their research, and then there is discussion on whatever material was presented. So everyone still learns something outside of their own research. Your professor mentors you throughout the term as well.

I did two of those courses, and if I had an extra credit assignment on top of all that, I probably wouldn't do it either. It's better just to focus on the main homework and do the extra stuff only if you can manage it.

Sounds like it'd be an interesting class as long as you dig the topic. Probably a lot of work and research though which isn't everybody's cup of tea haha. I'm a far bigger fan of the traditional classes that are basically: here's a textbook. Read it dilligently and you get an A, otherwise you don't and that's all there is to the class. I've always felt that it's much easier to control your own destiny in classes like that, whereas classes that are nothing but papers can pretty much be random depending on how the grader feels about what you did.

In the waiting room at the headshrinkers. Camp Rock is on the television. They're trying to ensure that I really am driven to madness, no doubt.

I was in music, and music isn't really textbook based. The history classes are, but that's it. So it's hard for me to say whether I would have enjoyed that more. Music is all about the practical application of your knowledge and your skills. Besides the history, in the first two years it's all about knowing your theory (done through weekly assignments), your ears and hearing skills (ear training, being able to detect differences in pitches, and the quality of chords), and analysis of classical works through listening and following the score. In the upper years, you focus more on composition, choral and orchestral conducting (so hard, ugh), arranging, improvisation on your instrument, and of course research. Instrument performance is a main focus the whole time.

I think people in other academic programs tend to think that music, or even other fine arts programs are a breeze because they don't know that most of our work is not actually sitting at a desk reading and writing. They think we just listen to music all day :laughing:

Went for a walk, gave my manager a going away present, and I'm about to see Thee Silver Mt. Zion We Change Our Name So Much It's Annoying Orchestra.

Got (almost) everything done today that I'd set out to do, after I played Animal Crossing: New Leaf with my sister (I love how technology allows long-distance gameplay - that's so cool).

Also listened to my new KISS LP. The vinyl is pristine and all the original contents are still in the sleeve. I'm very pleased.

I'll be heading out in about half an hour to drive Ki home, then I'll settle in, wash my hair, have a drink and some dinner and relax.

I love my days off.

I'm playing a part in one of my friends cinema class projects, so I spent a lot of the day doing that. Afterwards I went to this student concert deal at my school with a bunch of student performers. Everyone really sucked except for this one posse who did some Beastie Boys covers. At least I can say I've attended both the best and the worst concert that I've ever been to in the same week.

Got up and brushed my teeth. A friend told me to put small achievable things on my "to do" list to that I would feel accomplished and thus hopefully stop wading in my own depression and procrastination. So I put "brush my teeth" on my to-do list and I did it, hooray! I also ate breakfast, got dressed, started a fire, put a load of washing on, and cuddled my dog. Not too shabby for a mopey day during my time off work but I still feel pretty unproductive. Alas.

This morning

I drank a little

This afternoon

I drank a bit

This evening

I drank a ****ing lot





I think I got in a fight with a trans hooker in the Tenderloin between this evening and now.