Academics

So, Barb Miller (the secretary at St. Matthews...) mentioned recently on facebook: "Are you sure you are studying enough? You look like you are having way too much fun!!"  So to answer Barb's question, I thought I'd write a post about the classes we are taking and let her know that, "yes, we are studying enough!"  :)

So here is my weekly class schedule -

Monday: Cultural Policy and Practice, lunch break, Intro to Arts Marketing
Tuesday: Guest lectures (from arts adminstrators in and around London), lunch break, Intro to Fundraising, Chamber Orchestra
Wednesday: More guest lectures, lunch break, Goldsmiths Sinfonia orchestra
Thursday: Contemporary Ethnomusicology
Friday:  No Class!

My classes are currently focusing on UK and European cultural policy (how the government influences and funds arts organizations), how to build and market to an audience within the cultural sector and how to fund-raise for arts organizations.  I have heard lectures from arts administrators who work in dance venues, performing arts venues, visual arts galleries, outreach and education programs focused on arts, etc.  I have also visited several arts organizations in London to see how they are run.  The music course that I chose for this term is 'contemporary ethnomuisology' where we look at current issues regarding the field, such as globalization, gender, race, identity, etc.  We compare how these issues affect musical consumption and participation (are you bored yet...???).

I have also started working on my end of term papers for my current class load.  I have two 5,000 word essays due mid-January, but they are both on interesting topics (at least I think so!).

For my cultural policy classes I am writing a paper about the public value of the arts and how that relates to the accessibility of different art forms.  For ethnomusicology, I am writing about how music is used to manipulate consumers while shopping in public areas.  So here is a stack of books that I will be diving into the next two months in order to complete these essays....

Arts accessibility books on the bottom, with music & manipulation books on the top

Brandon's class schedule is a bit lighter...
Monday: No Class
Tuesday: Ethnographic Film & Music Research, lunch break, Sound Agendas
Wednesday: Goldsmiths Chamber Choir
Thursday: Contemporary Ethnomusicology (yes we are taking that class together!)
Friday: Goldsmiths Big Band (but they seem to cancel rehearsal alot...)

He is studying about various types of music and cultures.  In his film class he is learning how to make an ethnographic film, basically a documentary on a musical subject.  In sound agendas he is looking at different aspects of sound and how it affects people psychologically.  And I mentioned a bit about ethnomusicology already...

He also has two papers due in January, one on the cognitive neuroscience of music and audio illusions and the other on how western music uses and adapts the music of the "Other".  He has also started researching for his final thesis paper due in August, and he will be studying Japanese immigrant music in the UK.  Here is his massive stack of books...at one point he actually hit the limit of the amount of books you are allowed to take out of the library (15 at one time), so he better get to reading!

Music and the mind, lots of ethno books, etc.

So hopefully I have enlightened you about our studies here in London.  No, it is not all fun and games, we are getting a master's degree.  But between the lectures and papers we are enjoying all the fine things London has to offer and making the most of our time here.  (I can't believe we are almost 1/3 of the way done already!)

Well, better get back to studying!  (or napping)
Emily (& Brandon :))

St. Catherine's Church

Many of you know that Brandon and I are proclaimed Christians.  We love Jesus and we try to live our life in a way that reflects Him.  So, it is important to us to find a church home while we are in London.  Not only does a weekly worship service help you feel closer to Christ, but it is a way of connecting with the community of Christians and gives us a support system to rely on when things get difficult.  We have joined the Christian Union on campus and attend their events when we can.  We have also befriended the campus vicar (clergy).  Both have offered several church suggestions for us to try, so we spent our first month visiting several area churches to get a taste of what is available and find a church home while living in London.

So the church we landed on is St. Catherine's!! This is a Church of England (Anglican) based church and it is located on the top of big hill, with wonderful views of the city.  The building itself is made up of Gothic architecture and is a wonderful atmosphere to worship inside.  The vicar of the church is a woman, who is interested in developing the music programs at the church and reaching out into the community of New Cross.  The service itself was much like St. Matthew's, with a very liturgical based worship and even included some familiar phrases ("The Lord be with you....and also with you!")  Everyone is very nice and we have already met many of the church members.  Downsides of this church - not very many other students (25-35 age range) attend, the congregation is made up of mostly young families and older adults.  But overall, it feels a lot like St. Matthew's and I love the fact that we can offer our musical gifts to help the vicar in her vision.

Here are some pictures of our new church home!

The sanctuary and alter

Stained Glass windows above the alter

Gothic arches

Outside sign

The front of the church

Happy Sunday everyone!!

The End of Reading Week, No Books Read.

This past week has been Reading Week.  Reading week is a week off from school lectures and most activities to allow students the chance to read course materials, catch up or begin assignments, and to meet with tutors about final projects. 

We did work some on our projects, with mixed results.  In our tiny flat it is tough to get work done without a desk and table, or any type of chair.  Your seat options are the love seat, the bed, or the floor. 

Before getting any work done, however, we decided we needed a break.  Friday evening began with salsa dancing at the salsa society. 

Brandon dancing in blue, Emily taking the photos.

Saturday we felt we needed to get some work done, so we spent a couple of hours working and soon we decided we needed a break.  Work was too tough and it was a week to have fun.  We went to the bonfire night fireworks (see previous post).

 

Sunday we went to church in the morning and Salsa club met one more time.  

 

Monday involved picking up a free mirror, taking it on the bus, and a very 'reflective' walk from the bus stop to our flat.  Brandon played games with the gaming society before we were off to eat sushi and go to a pub of a Finnish classmate.  On our way home from the pub we went to the £1 store and stocked up on cheap stuff.  We also stopped off at a library and got Emily signed up for a library card.  All and all, a busy day.

Tuesday was spent meeting with tutors and group members for future projects, playing board games and going to an Okinawan traditional music performance for the Vice-Governor of Okinawa.  We are getting good at navigating places without a smart phone.  Fast fact: The US still has quite a few military bases on Okinawa.

Wednesday Emily went to see the Book of Morman for £20 (front row tickets) while Brandon was stuck at home reading and going to choir to sing Russian sacred choral music.  We were invited by a local pastor to his house for dinner that evening and got to meet his lovely family.  

Thursday nothing special took place, some shopping, some group meetings, and some studying.

Friday we gathered some friends together to make use of a groupon at a burrito place downtown.  After living in a small town for 5 years, you forget that groupons are available and can be a good deal.  When we finished eating, we wondered the streets in search of a game store on our way to our final destination.  The guys we were with were all from the board game society so we needed to kill some time.  Having the guys from the game society came in handy at our final destination, a museum treasure hunt.  We split up into teams (Emily and Brandon were on different teams) and made our way through 5 small museums to uncover clues.  Once at the final destination we had to unscramble the clues and Brandon's team was the first to do so, thus earning a prize of a £10 gift card to a book store in town.

 The Treasure hunt ended in the Museum of Zoology, hence all the dead things around us!

 The winning team and their prizes.

And the not so winning team

Saturday we spent cooped up in job training all day.  The good news is that we can now work for the university and get paid £10.57 an hour.  That equates to $16.91.

We are now 1/6th of the way finished with grad school, time to get to work.

Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.

By God's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!

I'm sure many of you have seen the movie V for Vendetta. [WARNING: Spoiler alert if you have not seen the movie] In that movie the main character, "V," wears a Guy Fawkes mask and blows up the UK Parliament building. Natalie Portman also shaves her head...but I digress.  This movie is based on the true story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.  Basically it was an assassination attempt on King James I in 1605, in which a group of persecuted Catholics organized a plot to blow up the House of Lords, while in session, on the 5th of November.  Due to an anonymous tip off, Guy Fawkes was found on the night of November 4th guarding 36 barrels of explosives that was to be used the following day.  He was then arrested, tried and later killed, along with his co-conspirators.

In the UK there is a celebration this time every year to remember the failed assassination attempt, called Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night.  They celebrate similar to the way we celebrate the 4th of July in the US, with fairs and fireworks!  We have also noticed several people in our neighborhood shooting off fireworks.  It really feels like the 4th of July, only in the beginning of November.

Most of the London Boroughs have organized their own fireworks displays within the next few days.  Our borough of Lewisham, had fireworks and a fun fair last night.  After bundling up with hats and gloves we set out to see the fireworks and enjoy the fair with a few new friends. 

Rides at the Carnival

Blackheath fireworks celebrating Guy Fawkes day

It is interesting to learn how new countries and cultures celebrate holidays.  We went to the fireworks with a new friend of ours from the Netherlands. She had never been to a firework display like this and really enjoyed it.  It was refreshing to see her reactions and joy while watching them.  It was a nice way to celebrate a new holiday!

So, Happy Guy Fawkes Day!!