Every semester I tell myself I'm going to have a more chill schedule, take the "normal" amount of credits and not get too over-involved. It literally never works. I started this semester signed up for the standard 16 credits, planning to have a relatively relaxed senior year, but in the past week I have added another class and executive board position in one of my clubs. I think it's actually impossible for me to turn down something that sounds like fun, and the fact that it's senior year has only increased my desire to experience every single thing college has to offer – this is my last chance! Luckily, I usually am happiest and most successful when I'm running around all the time staying super busy, so (fingers crossed!) I'm in for a good semester!
It's hard to choose, but the class I am most excited for this semester is the beginning piano class I'm taking at Eastman. I played piano in middle school and have always regretted quitting, so when I saw this class offered I jumped at the opportunity and convinced one of my friends to sign up with me. And sure, I could have started lessons at any point in the future, but because I'm a Rochester student I have the really unique opportunity to be in a class instructed by a graduate piano performance student at one of the best music schools in the country – and I get course credit!
Yesterday, after successfully taking the bus over (there's now a non-stop line between the river campus and Eastman, which makes my life a lot easier!) and eating dinner in the Eastman dining hall with all the actual musicians, we had our first class. It seems like it will be very relaxed yet informative, and my classmates are really friendly! We spent the entire hour learning proper posture and practicing the wrist motion to make the best possible sound when playing a note, things I had never even considered before. Hopefully we'll get to actually playing songs soon, especially because the instructor said we'll learn some pop music if we want – new goal: learn how to play Call Me Maybe on the piano 🙂