One Day I Will Be Able To Look Back On This Week And Laugh, Season 2, Episode 10

This was just one of those weeks!  I felt a bit like Wile E. Coyote, who despite being well intentioned (if you call trying to kill the Road Runner so he can eat a well-intentioned task), runs into adverse effects with every action he takes.

My time is at an absolute premium at this point.  It seems like I barely have time to breathe, let along get all the things done I need to.  I feel like I am working deadline to deadline, cranking out assignments just as they are due.  So much of my time this week was dedicated to the research study I am working on for Dr. C.  It just takes so much time to set up and break down for each treatment that all the time I was using to do schoolwork has become research study time.  By the end of the week, though, I was becoming much more efficient at the process.  I imagine that next week will be better now that I seem to have gotten a handle on how it all works.

Remember that Statistics paper I didn't do last week while I was on spring break and should have done while I had the time to do it?  Yeah... I banged my head against that assignment all week... So, the issue with it was that, in class, the professor talks at us about statistics, shows us stats read outs, and tells us how to interpret them.  But we don't actually calculate or report any statistics in class.  Guess what we had to do for the assignment?  That's right: calculate, report, and interpret statistics.  He gave us a set of data and asked us to figure out what statistical tests to run on it, run the tests, interpret the results, and present the results as if we were writing a dissertation.

• Problem #1: The language he uses in class is different than the language SPSS (the statistics software) uses.  So, I couldn't figure out what to do in the software!
• Problem #2: SPSS spits out more information than we need or have discussed what to do with in class.  So, I was lost in a sea of meaningless numbers.
• Problem #3: The professor does not like the tables SPSS provides and creates his own tables to display data in class.  So, I had no idea what to do with the information provided in the SPSS tables.
• Problem #4: We haven't actually talked about proper reporting language and format for use in scholarly writing.  So, I had no clue how to actually write this up.

I don't think this was a bad assignment.  But, the gap between what we learned in class and what was asked for on this assignment was just too large.  So, on Friday, when I realized I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and that there was no chance of me completing this assignment, I went to my professor for help.  Thankfully, he explained everything to me, showed me how to calculate the statistics in SPSS, and showed me which information was the important stuff and which I could ignore.  He also gave me an extension on the assignment.  Woo!  I am still not sure I really understand it all, but at least I was able to complete the assignment.

While I was meeting with my statistics professor, I asked him about the research project I am designing.  (Lionel, this is the one I want to talk with you about.)  (Someone tell Lionel I mentioned him in my blog.)  Anyway, my professor told me various ways I could analyze my potential data and I now have all the information I need to submit my research proposal.  Watch out, World.  Here I come!

So, while I was attempting to do the Statistics assignment, I came to the realization that school is not a conducive environment to do work.  I don't know what has happened recently, but for the benefit of everyone in the universe, here are Mitch's Rules for General Productivity in the Academic Environment.

• MRfGPitAE #1: Practice rooms have doors on them for a reason.  Close them when you are playing your instrument inside.  Nobody else in the building wants to hear you doing lip slurs.
• MRfGPitAE #2: It is a library.  SHHHHH!!!!

Seriously, people.  Shut your damn pie holes in the library.  It boggles my mind that the library has to have a designated "quiet area."  I am pretty sure the quiet area of a library is supposed to start at the front door and encompass the entire building.

• MRfGPitAE #3: Use your inside voice when you are inside.  Use your outside voice when you are outside.  I know that is a tough one; you should work on it.
• MRfGPitAE #4: When there are no free computers in the library, you should not be occupying one to play World of Warcraft or whatever other computer game you are playing so you can virtually dress like an elf with big boobs and barely any clothes, and swing a sword at other people.  I am pretty sure library computers at a school are for schoolwork.
• MRfGPitAE #5: The sign on the computer station that says, "no eating or drinking at the computer station" is for real.  Yeah, I saw you spill your drink on the keyboard.  Yeah, you are going to have to pay for that.
• More MRfGPitAEs to come...

 The humidity issue has not been resolved in the basement.  Moreover, we had a container of chocolate chip mini muffins in the office (which I had been stress eating as I failed at my Statistics work) which I noticed on Friday were growing mold.  No, they weren't old.  Yes, they were just subjected to a mold-growing environment.  My whole office is going to start growing mold soon!  But, I couldn't play on the school's contrabassoon any longer.  So, I brought mine back to school and am storing it up in the reed room, which is a tiny closet to which a lot of people have keys.  I hope she will be ok up there!

On Wednesday, I played a concert with the Wind Symphony at school.  The link to the concert is:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/1927261/events/3770087

Granted, you should watch the whole show.  But, if you are into hearing some contrabassooning - and, really, I know you are that kind of person - I get on stage at 1:33:00 in the recording.  You will need to listen to the recording through real speakers.  The tiny speakers I know you have on your computer just wont produce pitches as low as I play.  I have a solo (yes, a contrabassoon solo) at 1:46:45.  Again, proper speakers are a must.  The tuba professor made it a point of telling me at the end of this week that I sounded good on the contra at the concert.  It is a good day for a contrabassoonist when people can actually hear you and when you sound good doing it!

I have come to the realization that I have some bad breathing habits.  I just don't fill up my lungs full enough when I play, so I cannot sustain phrases as long as I would like.  I am going to work on this.  Not sure how.  But, it will happen.  More to come on this topic.

On Tuesday, I was reminded what it is to be in a musical academic community.  I went to my friend Matt's trombone recital.  He was awesome.  It is such an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by such wonderful musicians.



It's official... I am on the NAfME website!
http://inserviceconference.nafme.org/sessions/ 
Let the freak out commence!

Ok, I have to be honest.  You know how I said I was going to go to the gym this week?  Yeah.... that didn't happen.  But, in keeping myself honest, this week's weight: 213lbs (+3lbs).  I am going to go to the gym this week!  I promise!

Well, this was a really long-winded entry.  Congratulations for making it all the way to the end!  Until next week,

Future Dr. Mitch, out!