Play that Funky Music...

Wow! There's always so much to talk about here, especially in the spring; when the weather goes nuts, people emerge from their winter-sleepwalking, every group on campus seems to have events going on, professors basking in all this forget to give as much work as usual, and on and on! But, it's Easter break, I'm relaxing at home, and I'll keep this one quick.

So, there always seems to be something going on through the music department, and I usually completely overlook many of the smaller, solo-performance artists they bring into the Irish Room (a beautiful performance hall used for performances in Gasson Hall).

Thankfully, my music professor told us not to miss Mana Tokuno's performances this week. A professional pianist, she came in to do a recital performing a piece one of my old professors composed just for her, Tokuno Toccata, but while she was here, she also played Beethoven, Schumann, and another entire recital dedicated to Chopin.

I'm not usually one to gush over small ensemble or solo pieces, but I have to say her Chopin recital was probably one of the most beautiful musical performances I've ever seen or heard. I'm definitely going to pay more attention to the Arts Calendar from now on, especially since all these concerts are completely free!

Also, did I mention that this performance was a rehearsal for her main recital coming up at Carnegie Hall? I feel very special now.

That's all I wanted to share for now, but happy Spring! The rain's finally stopped here in the Northeast, and it's gorgeous outside!

As always, feel free to comment or email: mahonjc@bc.edu

~Joe M

New Year, Done Right

Hey everyone,

My name is Joe Mahon, a sophomore in BC A&S. I am currently trying to major in Chemistry and pick up a minor in Music, but to be honest, if I have enough class spaces open, I'm hoping to get it as a second major! As for what I do here, I am part of BC's Marching Band and Symphonic Band, but know a lot about other music programs here at the school as well. I am also a part of Nights on the Heights, a student organization that organizes (sometimes quite nicely-funded, meaning prizes like an iPod Touch) activities every weekend for anyone on campus. I work for ResNet (our name is in the process of changing, though), which is an on-campus technology services organization that provides pretty much any kind of tech support you might want. And, of course, I am part of the Student Admission Program; so if you visit campus and meet me in the office in Devlin, please feel free to let me know you know of me through this blog!

Some of you may have gone back in time in this blog to see some posts from last year, and I definitely encourage everyone to do so, if you have time! I'll try not to repeat much over the course of this year, but I might, so forgive me if I do.

I know this is a pretty harsh time of year for seniors; some of my friends who are seniors now, and friends siblings, have been all panic-stricken about applications. Take a deep breath anytime you think about your application, but do not put it off! (And when it's possible, apply Early Action - it makes all the difference when you know your acceptance situation by January).

Some other random information:
- ESPN's College Gameday will be here in Chestnut Hill this Saturday: try to tune in Saturday morning to see pregame broadcasts and look out for the marching band! And then you can enjoy what should be an amazing game against Florida State!
- Something you should know about me: for whatever reason, I really love parenthesis (and use them often). Just a warning.

TTFN,
Joe

Ommmm...

Hello again,

Week's recap: Wednesday, got a chem test back - improved from last test by 27%! Thursday's chem lab went relatively well, though my partner and I were last out. Ear-training and sight-singing lab (required for music majors, open to all) went well, though I pity those around me who have to hear me sing.

Friday: in-class chem quiz I definitely needed to have studied for more (two quick questions, I got at least one right). Bio exam went well, and Perspectives quiz on Kant was all right. Friday night, silly friends and I built a bed-sheet fort in the study lounge of Keyes, hung out there all night.

Saturday: went to see BC bOp! jazz ensemble perform at biggest show of year - it was phenomenal (they compete and perform internationally). This was followed by two hours of ice skating in the hockey rink in Conte, put on by UGBC - lots of fun!

This is clearly the time of year that Student Admissions starts working overtime. The trees start to shake off the winter with little buds and beginnings of leaves, those all-important letters are being sent to and fro all across the country, and excited and - if at all like me - extremely confused high school seniors start trekking around the globe (or so it seems) to figure out what they want to do next year. For the past weeks and in ever-increasing numbers, BC students get to watch potential fellow Eagles wander around campus wondering what it is that makes our school so great.

Looking back now, I am amazed that it has already been a year since I was doing the same.

I just want to offer what advice I have, being fresh out of the dreaded Common App system: take it easy for a bit. It's always good to sift through data and tour schools and think about pros and cons or however you're trying to make a decision, but your mind and your life can't take too much of that. Take an hour a week or so to just sit back and relax: pray, meditate, write a poem, go for a jog; a general brain de-tox. It will help enormously in the overall process.

One other, more concrete tip: when it comes to choices, reactions can speak louder than anything: put the schools you're considering in a hat, pull them out one-by-one and see how you feel the instant you read it. Relieved? Check it as possible. Very disheartened? Reconsider it. Obviously not a perfect method, but it helped me out.

Good luck, and I can't wait to see any of you around campus, visiting, or perhaps, studying?

Joe

Earbuds and Strangers

So, here I was walking down Linden Lane about two weeks ago (above). I was headed towards the bus stop to go back to Newton campus, coming from the fourth floor of Lyons Hall, where I had been practicing piano skillz for my music theory class (and just for fun - consequently, there are 10 or 11 practice rooms in Lyons and some elsewhere around campus with pianos in them that are almost always available, if you want to play).


Anyway, I was walking back, listening to my iPod, when I happened to run into my Perspectives professor (Perspectives is a core curriculum course that combines two semesters of theology and two semesters of philosophy into one year-long course, gets rid of core requirements and is one of the most interesting - albeit most difficult - classes I am taking and that I have heard about). We talked for a little bit, which struck me as awesome, considering the size of the school and the number of things she probably had to get done (we have a pretty intimate class, 21 kids, though my largest lecture is Gen Chem and is only 51). When we were leaving, she said, "You know, you shouldn't have both of those ear buds in when you're walking around; it makes it seems like you're trying to avoid interaction" (which, as you may have guessed from my posts, I generally don't do - I am pretty outgoing). So, I tested this theory, and low and behold, in the past two weeks there has been a noticeably different connection with people around me when I wear one, none or both ear buds. Even between strangers, get a head nod or smile with at least one ear open, but when I have both in, I get the *glance/avoid gaze* type deal. So there are two lessons: most people here are friendly enough to make a connection while walking by a complete stranger, and when in public, try not to wear both earbuds and it will open you up a little.

Hooray extracurricular lessons! Thanks to my professor for the insight, and please come back to see another update within a week!

BBFN, YFN Joe! (see last post)

My Entire Life! (But Not Really)

Hey all,

My name is Joe, originally from Medway, MA, and I am a freshman (woo high school… I can still feel it in my bones…) here at B.C. in the College of Arts and Sciences. Well, that’s all I have time for, I need to get back to reading Plato’s Republic (and rereading, according to my professor). Goodbye for now!

Just kidding! B.C. definitely has kept me busy, but not so much that I don’t have a couple extra minutes to talk about myself on a blog occasionally. And perhaps run down to the local ice cream parlor, soaking wet, every time it rains… but that’s a story for a different day.

So the really abbrev.ed “me”: I am double majored in music and biochemistry, taking classes of General Chemistry, Music Theory, Calculus, and Perspectives (philosophy and theology all combined into one really sweet class). I am in the Screaming Eagles Marching Band (fantastic gig, I am sure I will have a post about it later on), and hope to photograph for an on-campus magazine.

I live in Keyes, on the Newton campus, with 40% of the freshmen here at BC, and absolutely love it. If you later hear anything bad about Newton campus, disregard it immediately!

Anyway, that is my life as of yet, which I am sure will get a lot more interesting very quickly, so stay tuned! Thanks for reading this far, and please feel free to leave questions or comments or concerns or any other just heaping piles of words strung together in any legible way! I would love to be able to reply to people curious/interested in BC (or just people that have no idea what else to do).

BBFN,
~Your friendly neighborhood Joe