NEW CD!

My new CD arrived last month and I was able to present it at Pacific's Research Day

http://www.pacific.edu/About-Pacific/Media-Galleries-and-Virtual-Tour/University-Media-Gallery/Research-Day-2013.html

I made a new web site for the disk:  NicolasaKuster.com and worked on setting up a Facebook page, as well. It can be purchased at CDBaby!

Good work.

An unexpected trip to KS (and that sickness going around, too) took over my winter break. Since my winter batch of reeds didn't get made, I am having to get to it now. I had a good evening with my daughter, got her bathed and in bed, and sat down for some profiling and shaping. Watched a couple of The West Wing episodes and made quick work of it. It actually feels like I got to relax and watch TV-- guilt free. This process is real work. What other "real" work lets you sit and watch show after show?
Of course, now I feel like I have unwind from the work...

Dr. Dre

Love hearing about my former students and their fantastic jobs. Lauren Kasper, bassoonist who graduated from Pacific with a Music Management degree and who works at MOG, hung out with Dr. Dre and is headed to Paris for work next week.




Sent from my iPhone

End of Semester

The Fall semester is now over—I am very proud of my students and there is some bragging to do. 

Amanda Gieseke has a job beginning in January at Jefferson Middle School in Tracy. Congratulations to Amanda! Amanda is a wonderful teacher. She’s been a leader in the Studio and I will miss her very much!

 I also just found out that Senior Mary Calo received some scholarship support for her upcoming graduate school auditions. Congratulations to Mary! Can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

Now it is time for me to spend some uninterrupted practice and reed making time, to reflect, to reconnect.  This was the busiest of semesters for me, and I am grateful for a chance to rest a bit.

Bassoon Christmas!

We had a fantastic rehearsal today for Bassoon Christmas at the end of Studio Class. We will be at the DeRosa Center at 12:30 on Tuesday!

Bernadette rehearses with Mary for her Junior recital tomorrow

Celia's dress rehearsal

Birthday Studio Decoration 2012

I can't believe I left my studio last Friday forgetting that my students have decorated and made mischief on my birthday for every year that I have been a college bassoon teacher.  I saw them gathered together after Friday's Studio class, and it dawned on me that they were up to no good, but again it slipped my mind as I went into the rush of my life: kid pick up, dinner prep, home tasks, prep for my traditional Halloween party, more home tasks, grading, fitting in the marathon training, practice, etc-- all the things I am juggling right now.   I had an incredible weekend and it was topped off by getting to my studio on Monday to find a masterpiece.

The door and studio were absolutely fantastic this year.  A Mexican theme, including mustaches on Michelangelo's Sybil, Sir Georg Solti, the wire bassoonist from Argentina, and Señor Sakakeeny.  See collage below.

Thank you to a wonderful collection of students for another memorable birthday! Zoie Oberg, Gina Vitanza, Mary Calo, Nicholas Whitney, Bernadette Wallace, Bronson Klimala-York, Jacqueline Rocamora, Celia Boutiete, Britney Watkins, and Amanda Gieseke (not pictured here, but I know you are the one who so carefully covered the door with that fantastic shiny paper I want to leave up for a long time!)

You guys make me really proud and I am honored to be your teacher!  Now, go practice!  Make reeds!  Listen to music! Study!

Bassoon Studio goes to dinner together as they plot the studio decoration.

Collages by Jacqueline Rocamora

They strike again!  Zoie waits for her 8:30am lesson on Monday.

The Mustache Mischief