Segment 15- The Structure That Holds It All Together
The new semester has begun and with it, my entire well-oiled routine and schedule was shoved right out a fourth-story window. This has meant that this first week back has had some challenges trying to find times for things and fitting everything in. My favorite change is that instead of class at 9:30am everyday, every other week class starts either at 11:30am or 2:00pm, leaving me the mornings free to actually get emails answered, planning done, applications written and practice, text work and creative planning done in the morning when I have the most energy and motivation. It also allows me to eat lunch at a reasonable hour, which really helps each day feel more stable (imagine having to eat lunch at either 10:30am or 2pm- it's a regular American scandal!). The biggest difference is that the schedule is not the same everyday and that means getting creative about regular singing times. Next week will be the text, as I will start the week of 11:30am classes and not have the flexibility of practicing in the mornings (except at 9:30am) certain days. As you can probably tell, I have been thinking a lot about how to organize this.
But the truth is, I often think a lot about organizing my schedule. This is in large part because I have a Type A personality, but also, with all of my interests and pursuits, it is the only way I find it possible to have balance between work, study, practice, sleep, social time, alone time, eating, etc. To pursue a life as an artist requires a huge sacrifice of time and energy with very little affirmation. Most people are aware of this cliché, but you may not realize to what extent it is true. The starving artist exists because an artist needs time to contemplate, practice and create art. We need time to play, to imagine, to study. When artists are not placed into situations where they are paid for their art directly after they complete their formal studies (I say formal because from my perspective, the curiosity and study never ends- and how wonderful that it doesn’t! There is so much world to consider when creating art!), often we have to choose between paying the bills and pursuing our art. In order to keep a balance and try to do both, our schedules are stretched to extremes. As a Type A artist, I schedule and structure my way to getting done what I have to. It is hard and exhausting, but since I have not yet been given the opportunity, or opportunities, to make a living with my art, I have those two, stark options: hustle or give up (starving isn’t really an option for me…). Without the patrons of old supporting my or others’ artistic pursuits (this certainly is how opera companies still exist in the US, but it is also a system that is from an era when class prohibited most people from accessing fine arts, a system that I would like to see taken over by the people in my lifetime. In Europe this is often seen through governmental [tax] support of the arts) or the financial support of a wealthy family, we are left with few options.
On a lighter note, the weather has been unseasonably warm, prompting flowers to bloom (see crocus picture, but I have also seen buds on trees and fully blooming daffodils!) and allowing for recollections of the late spring of 2018 when I got to be in Paris for 3 weeks. This warmth is disconcerting in mid-February, but since it is what it is, I will enjoy it!
Marie in Paris
