Comments for Rebecca Hartka http://rebeccahartka.com/blog music blog Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:02:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Practicing Practice ticing ing Prctcng aii PRACTicing pracTICING by robyn bridges http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=129#comment-216 robyn bridges Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:02:00 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=129#comment-216 Rebecca, your ongoing consciousness is such a joy to behold! You manage to invite the reader in to your experience like a long appealing bow sound, a single note upon which to engage in the many facets of your awareness and increasing musical relationship. Thank you for being you! I miss you both. xx00 Rebecca, your ongoing consciousness is such a joy to behold! You manage to invite the reader in to your experience like a long appealing bow sound, a single note upon which to engage in the many facets of your awareness and increasing musical relationship. Thank you for being you! I miss you both. xx00

]]> Comment on Practicing Practice ticing ing Prctcng aii PRACTicing pracTICING by Rebecca http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=129#comment-199 Rebecca Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:47:37 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=129#comment-199 Thanks for your note. It is good to know that my words are being read and thoughts understood! Ultimately both music and words are about communicating with others and reaching across boundaries. It is a good to know when either have made an impact!!! Thanks for your note. It is good to know that my words are being read and thoughts understood! Ultimately both music and words are about communicating with others and reaching across boundaries. It is a good to know when either have made an impact!!!

]]> Comment on Practicing Practice ticing ing Prctcng aii PRACTicing pracTICING by Angelica http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=129#comment-198 Angelica Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:24:21 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=129#comment-198 Rebecca, Thank you for continuing to share your journey. This took my breath away, and almost brings me to two tears. For two reasons: first, I'm stunned by your ability to learn to slow down and be that present, to accomplish a way of being that was NOT natural to you. And second, it's deeply moving to hear you describe, so vividly, the sense of "knowing" that this is your your work, your journey. You destiny. Thank you! Rebecca,
Thank you for continuing to share your journey. This took my breath away, and almost brings me to two tears. For two reasons: first, I’m stunned by your ability to learn to slow down and be that present, to accomplish a way of being that was NOT natural to you. And second, it’s deeply moving to hear you describe, so vividly, the sense of “knowing” that this is your your work, your journey. You destiny.
Thank you!

]]> Comment on Shrieks, slides and gypsies by Jessica http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=101#comment-139 Jessica Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:18:51 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=101#comment-139 Just thought I would recommend a book to you to check out if you're researching Cante Jondo and Manuel de Falla. It's called Deep Song and Other Prose by Federico Garcia Lorca, translated by Christopher Maurer. It's a collection of essays and lectures by Federico Garcia Lorca. Play and Theory of the Duende (one of the chapters) would be particularly appropriate for you. Garcia Lorca was friends with de Falla and the two of them put together a Cante Jondo conference. Just thought I would recommend a book to you to check out if you’re researching Cante Jondo and Manuel de Falla. It’s called Deep Song and Other Prose by Federico Garcia Lorca, translated by Christopher Maurer. It’s a collection of essays and lectures by Federico Garcia Lorca. Play and Theory of the Duende (one of the chapters) would be particularly appropriate for you. Garcia Lorca was friends with de Falla and the two of them put together a Cante Jondo conference.

]]> Comment on Why artist AND starving? by Elana Gartner http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=79#comment-133 Elana Gartner Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:37:11 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=79#comment-133 It is always amazing to me that artists are expected to not expect a monetary compensation for the work they do. Why shouldn't we? It is still work, just as that of a teacher or banker or government official. But is true that within the artists' communities as well as in the general society, it is still expected that artists should suffer. And, furthermore, artists frequently look down on other artists who demand compensation. Last year, I was party to such a debate on a listserv that I am on and was shocked to hear other artists so strongly objecting to those that would ask for monetary compensation. I challenged them: do we only value our work for the integrity of artistic passion? Rebecca is right: that will not feed us, clothe us or put a roof over our heads. And it is not right that artists accept second class citizenship when it comes to economic compensation. It is always amazing to me that artists are expected to not expect a monetary compensation for the work they do. Why shouldn’t we? It is still work, just as that of a teacher or banker or government official. But is true that within the artists’ communities as well as in the general society, it is still expected that artists should suffer. And, furthermore, artists frequently look down on other artists who demand compensation.

Last year, I was party to such a debate on a listserv that I am on and was shocked to hear other artists so strongly objecting to those that would ask for monetary compensation. I challenged them: do we only value our work for the integrity of artistic passion? Rebecca is right: that will not feed us, clothe us or put a roof over our heads. And it is not right that artists accept second class citizenship when it comes to economic compensation.

]]> Comment on Why artist AND starving? by Michelle Tichy http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=79#comment-132 Michelle Tichy Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:06:01 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=79#comment-132 I enjoy reading your wonderful musings. I feel that through your narrative you bring voice to an epic journey that is your own life. Love Always, Your Friend! I enjoy reading your wonderful musings. I feel that through your narrative you bring voice to an epic journey that is your own life. Love Always, Your Friend!

]]> Comment on In the tribal society of musicians, lineage is everything by Rebecca http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=49#comment-129 Rebecca Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:40:09 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=49#comment-129 Hi Erica, So great to hear that I am not the only one struggling with these questions. I wish you the best in finding your tribe. I think that your experiences as a mother, and having the freedom to explore your musicianship separate from a career are an incredible asset. I hope that you find a way to continue contributing your music in a way that feels appropriate to you, and having the courage to recognize the value in what you do. And DO keep in touch and tell me how things are going, Best, Rebecca Hi Erica,

So great to hear that I am not the only one struggling with these questions. I wish you the best in finding your tribe. I think that your experiences as a mother, and having the freedom to explore your musicianship separate from a career are an incredible asset. I hope that you find a way to continue contributing your music in a way that feels appropriate to you, and having the courage to recognize the value in what you do. And DO keep in touch and tell me how things are going,

Best,

Rebecca

]]> Comment on In the tribal society of musicians, lineage is everything by Erica Sipes http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=49#comment-127 Erica Sipes Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:55:02 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=49#comment-127 Rebecca, It is so good to read your story. I think, perhaps, we were separated from the same tribe and dealing with many of the same issues. I went to Eastman and got those lovely slips of paper that mean oh-so-much and then chose the marriage route which was fine but somehow sent me down a path which led me a farther away from music than I had anticipated. My husband, also a musician, ended up with Doctorate in music and the teaching/performing job at a university and I ended up with a toddler and a freelance career. I am just now reacquainting myself with my "true" musical self that has been sitting on the backburners and am trying to figure out who, as a musician, I really want to be...which tribe I want to be a part of, as you might say. I love your blog post...it puts it all so well and I agree with what you have to say about how so much of the music world seems to have their priorities and values misplaced...I'm not so sure I want to be a part of that. Right now, we live in a small college town in southwest Virginia...previously we were in Moscow, Idaho...and I have come to realize that I actually get a lot of joy out of sharing music with folks in the community, sometimes more than I do than with playing with "professionals" who take themselves way too seriously. Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself...it is good to meet you...I wish you all the best on your CD and on your soul searching. Feel free to contact me if you feel like chatting or comparing notes. Erica Sipes Rebecca,
It is so good to read your story. I think, perhaps, we were separated from the same tribe and dealing with many of the same issues. I went to Eastman and got those lovely slips of paper that mean oh-so-much and then chose the marriage route which was fine but somehow sent me down a path which led me a farther away from music than I had anticipated. My husband, also a musician, ended up with Doctorate in music and the teaching/performing job at a university and I ended up with a toddler and a freelance career. I am just now reacquainting myself with my “true” musical self that has been sitting on the backburners and am trying to figure out who, as a musician, I really want to be…which tribe I want to be a part of, as you might say. I love your blog post…it puts it all so well and I agree with what you have to say about how so much of the music world seems to have their priorities and values misplaced…I’m not so sure I want to be a part of that. Right now, we live in a small college town in southwest Virginia…previously we were in Moscow, Idaho…and I have come to realize that I actually get a lot of joy out of sharing music with folks in the community, sometimes more than I do than with playing with “professionals” who take themselves way too seriously.

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself…it is good to meet you…I wish you all the best on your CD and on your soul searching. Feel free to contact me if you feel like chatting or comparing notes.

Erica Sipes

]]> Comment on In the tribal society of musicians, lineage is everything by Jon Silpayamanant http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=49#comment-126 Jon Silpayamanant Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:06:50 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=49#comment-126 Oh wow, Rebecca That's a big (and very brave) step and I wish you all the luck with the move and re-building your career back on your home turf! Nothing wrong with being identified as a classical musician (hell, that's still the default identity of me for most people) but I think musicians getting their start in today's world do have the benefit of having more exposure to a world of music. So in a way, we're not as isolated musically as past classical musicians might have been. And again, thank you for the kind words. I'm sure that once I really 'get my act together' I'll likely be out in your neck of the woods for a performance. Hope to get a chance to hear you as well--I really love the idea of the programming you have for your CD and would love to hear one of the live performances of it! Oh wow, Rebecca

That’s a big (and very brave) step and I wish you all the luck with the move and re-building your career back on your home turf!

Nothing wrong with being identified as a classical musician (hell, that’s still the default identity of me for most people) but I think musicians getting their start in today’s world do have the benefit of having more exposure to a world of music. So in a way, we’re not as isolated musically as past classical musicians might have been.

And again, thank you for the kind words. I’m sure that once I really ‘get my act together’ I’ll likely be out in your neck of the woods for a performance. Hope to get a chance to hear you as well–I really love the idea of the programming you have for your CD and would love to hear one of the live performances of it!

]]> Comment on “You may still gain the whole world and not lose your own soul” by Rebecca http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=60#comment-125 Rebecca Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:21:55 +0000 http://rebeccahartka.com/blog/?p=60#comment-125 I am glad that you found your way back to the Lark Ascending. I will check out Vikram Seth's work. The Six Studies in English Folk Song are intermediate to advanced level. Some movements are more challenging than others. Shifting and lower thumb position, with a few high harmonics. I am glad that you found your way back to the Lark Ascending. I will check out Vikram Seth’s work. The Six Studies in English Folk Song are intermediate to advanced level. Some movements are more challenging than others. Shifting and lower thumb position, with a few high harmonics.

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