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Zak​ ​Kline

PILOT​ ​NARRATIVE
QUARTER​ ​3
EXHIBITION​ ​DATE:​ ​03.30.17
Creating​ ​original​ ​work​ ​with​ ​personal​ ​intention
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Table​ ​of​ ​Contents

Themes​ ​from​ ​Quarter​ ​3​ ​(Narrative​ ​Essay)​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​2

Projects​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​2

Subject​ ​Areas​ ​-​ ​Pages​ ​4-9


English​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​4
Art​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​6
PE​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​8

Transferable​ ​Skills​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​9

Independent​ ​Learning​ ​Skills​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​10

Bibliography​ ​-​ ​Page​ ​12


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Narrative​ ​Essay:

This​ ​was​ ​my​ ​first​ ​quarter​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Pilot​ ​program​ ​and​ ​I’m​ ​really​ ​glad​ ​I​ ​got​ ​the
opportunity​ ​to​ ​join.​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​perfect​ ​model​ ​for​ ​me​ ​to​ ​be​ ​working​ ​in.​ ​It​ ​gives​ ​me​ ​the
freedom​ ​to​ ​be​ ​learning​ ​things​ ​that​ ​really​ ​matter​ ​to​ ​me,​ ​while​ ​also​ ​maintaining​ ​the​ ​work
ethic​ ​in​ ​relation​ ​to​ ​academics​ ​that​ ​a​ ​traditional​ ​path​ ​would.​ ​It​ ​holds​ ​a​ ​careful​ ​balance
between​ ​what​ ​the​ ​student​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​do​ ​and​ ​what​ ​they​ ​need​ ​to​ ​do,​ ​in​ ​fact​ ​the​ ​strongest​ ​part
of​ ​the​ ​program​ ​is​ ​that​ ​it​ ​doesn’t​ ​just​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​balance​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two,​ ​it​ ​integrates​ ​them​ ​into
one​ ​larger​ ​project,​ ​making​ ​it​ ​all​ ​the​ ​same​ ​work.
As​ ​far​ ​as​ ​my​ ​overall​ ​project,​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​really​ ​good​ ​about​ ​it.​ ​I’m​ ​on​ ​track​ ​with​ ​my
schedule​ ​and​ ​so​ ​far,​ ​still​ ​ahead​ ​of​ ​song​ ​deadlines.​ ​I​ ​like​ ​the​ ​final​ ​products​ ​so​ ​far​ ​and​ ​feel
like​ ​they’re​ ​justified​ ​as​ ​being​ ​finished​ ​projects,​ ​not​ ​just​ ​something​ ​that​ ​I​ ​said​ ​was​ ​over
because​ ​the​ ​deadline​ ​was​ ​up.
Two​ ​new​ ​things​ ​coming​ ​to​ ​my​ ​learning​ ​plan:​ ​One,​ ​the​ ​establishment​ ​of​ ​a​ ​weekly
Whiteboard​ ​Music​ ​Theory​ ​lesson​ ​in​ ​which​ ​I​ ​will​ ​go​ ​back​ ​through​ ​my​ ​reservoir​ ​of​ ​Music
Theory​ ​knowledge​ ​from​ ​Semester​ ​1,​ ​and​ ​review/re-learn​ ​what​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​remember​ ​or​ ​know
(more​ ​in​ ​Projects:​ ​Personal​ ​Whiteboard​ ​Lessons​ ​on​ ​page​ ​3).​ ​Two,​ ​writing​ ​blog​ ​reflections
whenever​ ​I​ ​find​ ​something​ ​interesting​ ​and​ ​fascinating​ ​in​ C ​ reativity​ ​by​ ​Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi,​ ​(more​ ​in​ ​English:​ ​Reading​ ​on​ ​page​ ​5).
I​ ​feel​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​pressure​ ​from​ ​classes​ ​right​ ​now​ ​and​ ​I​ ​struggle​ ​sometimes​ ​to​ ​meet
everything​ ​at​ ​the​ ​level​ ​I​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to.​ ​Not​ ​everything​ ​is​ ​done​ ​100%​ ​these​ ​days,​ ​which​ ​is
upsetting,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​am​ ​hoping​ ​that​ ​in​ ​Quarter​ ​4,​ ​I’ll​ ​have​ ​more​ ​time​ ​to​ ​get​ ​work​ ​done​ ​if​ ​I
prioritize​ ​carefully.
I’m​ ​looking​ ​forward​ ​now,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​quarter​ ​ends,​ ​and​ ​I’m​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​throw​ ​myself​ ​into
the​ ​work.

Pilot​ ​Learning​ ​Plan

PROJECTS

Portfolio:
Weebly​ ​Portfolio​ ​Link
PE​ ​Timesheet

Tempered​ ​Glass
Tempered​ ​Glass​ ​is​ ​a​ ​four​ ​song​ ​EP​ ​which​ ​is​ ​the​ ​main​ ​focus​ ​of​ ​my​ ​semester​ ​work​ ​in
the​ ​Pilot​ ​program.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​temporary​ ​name​ ​but​ ​it​ ​also​ ​might​ ​stick,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​totally​ ​know​ ​yet.
The​ ​basis​ ​of​ ​this​ ​project​ ​is​ ​a​ ​theory​ ​from​ ​Ancient​ ​Greek​ ​culture,​ ​The​ ​Temperaments,​ ​that
places​ ​people​ ​into​ ​four​ ​different​ ​emotional​ ​categories:​ ​Sanguine,​ ​an​ ​outgoing​ ​and​ ​bright
energy,​ ​Melancholic,​ ​an​ ​emotional​ ​and​ ​deep​ ​mentality,​ ​Phlegmatic,​ ​the​ ​soft,​ ​gentle​ ​and
wise,​ ​and​ ​Choleric,​ ​the​ ​strong​ ​leader.​ ​Each​ ​of​ ​the​ ​four​ ​songs​ ​is​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​one​ ​of​ ​these
temperaments​ ​and​ ​then​ ​grows​ ​from​ ​there.​ ​They​ ​all​ ​come​ ​from​ ​a​ ​place​ ​that​ ​I​ ​connect​ ​to​ ​that
Temperament.​ ​With​ ​Alone​,​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​Phlegmatic,​ ​I​ ​connected​ ​with​ ​the​ ​feeling​ ​of​ ​being​ ​solo
on​ ​my​ ​path,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​long​ ​trek​ ​to​ ​my​ ​inevitable​ ​destination,​ ​home.​ ​For​ ​Broken​ ​Melody,
grounded​ ​in​ ​Melancholic,​ ​I​ ​came​ ​close​ ​to​ ​my​ ​connection​ ​with​ ​coming​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​closet,​ ​and
finding​ ​the​ ​truth​ ​in​ ​myself,​ ​in​ ​who​ ​I​ ​really​ ​am.​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​really​ ​important​ ​song​ ​for
me​ ​specifically​ ​because​ ​it​ ​means​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​to​ ​who​ ​I​ ​am.​ ​But​ ​I​ ​also​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​anybody​ ​can​ ​find
something​ ​in​ ​this​ ​song,​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​they​ ​are​ ​gay,​ ​because​ ​everyone​ ​is​ ​on​ ​an​ ​ever​ ​lasting
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journey​ ​to​ ​discover​ ​their​ ​own​ ​truth.​ ​And​ ​although​ ​I’m​ ​far​ ​from​ ​done​ ​that​ ​journey,​ ​I​ ​still​ ​feel
like​ ​I​ ​have​ ​something​ ​to​ ​share​ ​about​ ​it.
I​ ​have​ ​worked​ ​with​ ​Roger​ ​Grow​ ​more​ ​than​ ​anyone​ ​else​ ​on​ ​this​ ​project​ ​because​ ​he​ ​is
my​ ​mentor.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​also​ ​worked​ ​with​ ​Orlando​ ​Grant,​ ​Noah​ ​Witke​ ​Mele,​ ​Adam​ ​Blachly,​ ​Olivia
Peltier,​ ​and​ ​Kieran​ ​Verret.
Next​ ​for​ ​this​ ​project,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​writing​ ​a​ ​song​ ​grounded​ ​in​ ​Sanguine,​ ​personally​ ​my​ ​most
prevalent​ ​temperament,​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​taking​ ​the​ ​shape​ ​of​ ​a​ ​pop​ ​dance​ ​track.​ ​I’m​ ​hoping​ ​to​ ​start
working​ ​on​ ​this​ ​the​ ​first​ ​week​ ​of​ ​Quarter​ ​4,​ ​or​ ​even​ ​earlier​ ​if​ ​possible.

Personal​ ​Whiteboard​ ​Lessons


Every​ ​once​ ​in​ ​awhile​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​doing​ ​Music​ ​Theory​ ​work​ ​on​ ​the​ ​whiteboard​ ​in​ ​the
pilot​ ​room.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​pictures​ ​on​ ​my​ ​blog​ ​of​ ​transposition,​ ​inversions,​ ​tempo​ ​and​ ​rhythm,​ ​all
work​ ​that​ ​I​ ​did​ ​in​ ​Music​ ​Theory​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​semester,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​necessarily​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​I
remember​ ​or​ ​understand.​ ​So,​ ​I​ ​write​ ​what​ ​I​ ​remember,​ ​then​ ​look​ ​up​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​and​ ​complete
the​ ​information​ ​on​ ​the​ ​board.​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​this​ ​is​ ​good​ ​practice​ ​that​ ​not​ ​only​ ​enhances​ ​my
understanding​ ​of​ ​Music​ ​Theory,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​trains​ ​me​ ​in​ ​self​ ​teaching​ ​methods.​ ​I​ ​would​ ​also
love​ ​to​ ​make​ ​this​ ​a​ ​weekly​ ​goal​ ​to​ ​entertain​ ​for​ ​next​ ​quarter,​ ​try​ ​scheduling​ ​time​ ​to​ ​do​ ​this
every​ ​week.

How​ ​Are​ ​We​ ​Creative​ ​(​HAWC​)?


This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​project​ ​that​ ​is​ ​just​ ​starting​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​this​ ​quarter,​ ​so​ ​doesn’t​ ​have​ ​much
to​ ​show​ ​yet.​ ​The​ ​idea​ ​is​ ​that​ ​I​ ​will​ ​interview​ ​local​ ​artists​ ​and​ ​have​ ​conversation​ ​with​ ​them
about​ ​Creativity​ ​and​ ​how​ ​they​ ​are​ ​creative,​ ​specifically​ ​artists​ ​who​ ​are​ ​writing​ ​music.​ ​How
are​ ​we​ ​creative?​ ​Why​ ​are​ ​we​ ​creative?​ ​As​ ​I​ ​interview​ ​more​ ​people,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​goal​ ​of
this​ ​project​ ​will​ ​shift,​ ​but​ ​after​ ​one​ ​interview,​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​it’s​ ​already​ ​moving​ ​in​ ​a​ ​good
direction.​ ​This​ ​project​ ​will​ ​inevitably​ ​have​ ​a​ ​final​ ​research-ish​ ​paper,​ ​or​ ​something​ ​of​ ​the
sort,​ ​that​ ​finds​ ​a​ ​conclusion​ ​to​ ​my​ ​study.
4

SUBJECT​ ​AREAS:
Student​ ​Learning​ ​Outcomes

English
I​ ​am​ ​earning​ ​ONE​ ​english​ ​credit​ ​this​ ​semester,​ ​mostly​ ​from​ ​writing​ ​and​ ​producing
my​ ​EP,​ ​so​ ​far​ ​comprised​ ​of​ ​Alone​ a ​ nd​ ​Broken​ ​Melody​,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​reading​ ​from​ ​Creativity​ ​by
Mihaly​ ​Csikszentmihalyi,​ ​and​ ​an​ ​art​ ​response​ ​to​ ​Laurie​ ​Anderson’s​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog​.​ ​The​ ​final
piece​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​quarter​ ​4​ ​will​ ​be​ ​interviewing​ ​local​ ​artists​ ​(one​ ​of​ ​which​ ​I​ ​have​ ​already
interviewed)​ ​and​ ​writing​ ​a​ ​research​ ​paper​ ​on​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​music,​ ​probably
connecting​ ​my​ ​reading​ ​of​ ​Creativity​ ​into​ ​that​ ​study.

● Writing​ ​Alone​ ​(Tempered​ ​Glass)


● Writing​ ​Broken​ ​Melody​ ​(Tempered​ ​Glass)
● Laurie​ ​Anderson​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog​ ​Art​ ​Response
● Reading​ ​Creativity​ ​by​ ​Mihaly​ ​Csikszentmihalyi
● Interviewing​ ​local​ ​artists​ ​for​ ​HAWC

Writing
Alone​ ​&​ ​Broken​ ​Melody-
The​ ​two​ ​songs​ ​from​ ​my​ ​four​ ​song​ ​EP,​ ​Tempered​ ​Glass,​ ​are​ ​where​ ​I​ ​have​ ​spent​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​time
writing​ ​lyrics,​ ​and​ ​poetry​ ​in​ ​verse.​ ​In​ ​Alone​ ​I​ ​wrote​ ​descriptive​ ​lyrics​ ​for​ ​the​ ​verses​ ​that​ ​set
the​ ​scene​ ​for​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​I’m​ ​reacting​ ​to,​ ​and​ ​create​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​within​ ​that​ ​universe.​ ​I
tried​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​summer​ ​scene​ ​that​ ​is​ ​lonely,​ ​looking​ ​backwards,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​informs​ ​the​ ​ideas
I​ ​struggle​ ​with​ ​right​ ​now​ ​in​ ​the​ ​chorus.​ ​Broken​ ​Melody​ ​has​ ​more​ ​structure​ ​and​ ​intention
then​ ​Alone​,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​used​ ​that​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​more​ ​personal​ ​narrative.​ ​Five​ ​verses​ ​that​ ​are​ ​split
into​ ​3​ ​different​ ​important​ ​stages​ ​of​ ​my​ ​narrative.​ ​The​ ​first​ ​section,​ ​verses​ ​1​ ​and​ ​2,​ ​are
where​ ​the​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​is​ ​first​ ​grappling​ ​with​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​something​ ​other​ ​than
what​ ​they​ ​have​ ​been​ ​told.​ ​The​ ​second​ ​part,​ ​verses​ ​3​ ​and​ ​4,​ ​are​ ​where​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​starts​ ​to
actually​ ​entertain​ ​the​ ​realizations,​ ​and​ ​actually​ ​considers​ ​acting​ ​on​ ​them.​ ​This​ ​form​ ​is
interrupted​ ​by​ ​a​ ​large​ ​section​ ​of​ ​non-lyric​ ​music,​ ​a​ ​storm​ ​created​ ​by​ ​abstract​ ​and​ ​intrusive
sounds​ ​which​ ​represent​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​jumping​ ​to​ ​action,​ ​letting​ ​the​ ​storm​ ​pull​ ​them.​ ​My
favorite​ ​moment​ ​is​ ​a​ ​one​ ​second​ ​sound​ ​bite​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​where​ ​the​ ​storm​ ​stops​ ​and​ ​you
hear​ ​a​ ​light​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​realizing​ ​they​ ​have​ ​made​ ​the​ ​right​ ​decision.​ ​Then​ ​the
storm​ ​crashes​ ​back​ ​down,​ ​breaking​ ​through​ ​the​ ​eye​ ​of​ ​the​ ​storm​ ​before​ ​vaulting​ ​into​ ​the
final​ ​verse​ ​which​ ​is​ ​the​ ​calm​ ​after​ ​the​ ​storm,​ ​the​ ​stronger​ ​version​ ​if​ ​our​ ​subject.​ ​Through
this​ ​narrative,​ ​I​ ​associated​ ​different​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​my​ ​experience​ ​with​ ​the​ ​words​ ​in​ ​the​ ​song,​ ​and
created​ ​a​ ​tale​ ​that​ ​doesn’t​ ​only​ ​apply​ ​to​ ​me​ ​and​ ​my​ ​experience​ ​of​ ​coming​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​closet,
but​ ​really​ ​represents​ ​something​ ​anyone​ ​can​ ​understand​ ​from​ ​their​ ​own​ ​personal
experiences.

Encountering​ ​and​ ​tackling​ ​writer’s​ ​block-


It’s​ ​funny,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​best​ ​advice​ ​is​ ​often​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​places​ ​you​ ​least​ ​expect​ ​to​ ​find​ ​it.
On​ ​March​ ​18​ ​I​ ​was​ ​scrolling​ ​through​ ​my​ ​twitter​ ​feed​ ​and​ ​found​ ​a​ ​tweet​ ​John​ ​Mayer​ ​had
replied​ ​to.​ ​Someone​ ​had​ ​asked​ ​him​ ​how​ ​to​ ​fight​ ​writer's​ ​block.​ ​His​ ​advice?​ ​“Don’t​ ​write!”
Here’s​ ​what​ ​I​ ​take​ ​this​ ​advice​ ​to​ ​mean:​ ​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​having​ ​writer’s​ ​block,​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​reason,
and​ ​no​ ​best​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​art​ ​is​ ​made​ ​from​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​force​ ​through​ ​that.​ ​If​ ​any​ ​idea​ ​is​ ​worth
writing​ ​down,​ ​it​ ​will​ ​come​ ​naturally,​ ​so​ ​when​ ​we​ ​try​ ​to​ ​force​ ​and​ ​push​ ​through​ ​writer’s
block,​ ​we​ ​end​ ​up​ ​digging​ ​a​ ​grave​ ​for​ ​our​ ​art.​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​end​ ​all​ ​truth,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​do
think​ ​that​ ​it​ ​certainly​ ​has​ ​merit.
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Listening
Interviewing​ ​Local​ ​Artists​ ​for​ ​HAWC​-
[March​ ​26​ ​blog​ ​entry]​ ​“Today​ ​I​ ​interviewed​ ​Ben​ ​Roy,​ ​a​ ​musician​ ​and​ ​songwriter​ ​I​ ​had
gotten​ ​in​ ​contact​ ​with​ ​from​ ​Amy​ ​Koenigbauer,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​had​ ​a​ ​great​ ​conversation​ ​about
songwriting​ ​and​ ​what​ ​it​ ​means​ ​to​ ​be​ ​creative.​ ​Something​ ​really​ ​profound​ ​that​ ​he​ ​had​ ​to​ ​say
was​ ​that​ ​everything​ ​is​ ​about​ ​love.​ ​It​ ​doesn’t​ ​matter​ ​what​ ​the​ ​name​ ​of​ ​the​ ​song​ ​is,​ ​or​ ​the
purpose,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​inevitably​ ​about​ ​love​ ​or​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​thereof.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​interesting​ ​because​ ​this​ ​is
certainly​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​felt​ ​pretty​ ​acquainted​ ​with​ ​before​ ​and​ ​it​ ​reminded​ ​me​ ​of​ ​when,
in​ ​Acting​ ​class​ ​last​ ​year,​ ​we​ ​read​ ​Audition​ ​by​ ​Michael​ ​Shurtleff,​ ​and​ ​how,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​his
guideposts​ ​was​ ​that​ ​every​ ​scene​ ​is​ ​a​ ​love​ ​scene.​ ​This​ ​really​ ​struck​ ​home​ ​for​ ​me​ ​the​ ​idea
that​ ​love​ ​is​ ​what​ ​grounds​ ​everything​ ​in​ ​this​ ​world,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ultimate​ ​driver​ ​of
everything.​ ​That​ ​its​ ​role​ ​is​ ​always​ ​massive,​ ​influential​ ​and​ ​immeasurable.”

Reading
The​ ​Story​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​Song​ ​By​ ​Richard​ ​Barnet-
I​ ​read​ ​one​ ​song​ ​analysis​ ​from​ ​this​ ​book,​ ​Video​ ​Killed​ ​the​ ​Radio​ ​Star,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​learned​ ​that​ ​this
book​ ​will​ ​not​ ​help​ ​me​ ​in​ ​my​ ​study​ ​at​ ​all.
Creativity​ ​by​ ​Mihaly​ ​Csikszentmihalyi-
This​ ​book​ ​is​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​crazy.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​picked​ ​it​ ​up​ ​twice,​ ​and​ ​both​ ​times​ ​have​ ​read​ ​incredible
profound​ ​and​ ​interesting​ ​things.​ ​When​ ​I​ ​first​ ​started​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​this​ ​book​ ​with​ ​Chris
Blackburn,​ ​he​ ​mentioned​ ​that​ ​I​ ​wasn’t​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​just​ ​pick​ ​up​ ​the​ ​book​ ​and​ ​read
something​ ​incredibly​ ​interesting,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​what​ ​has​ ​happened.​ ​Here​ ​are​ ​the​ ​two
things​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​are​ ​very​ ​important​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​read.
Setting​ ​the​ ​Stage:​ ​One.​ ​Attention​ ​and​ ​Creativity-
Csikszentmihalyi​ ​writes​ ​that​ ​because​ ​we​ ​have​ ​limited​ ​time​ ​on​ ​earth,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​only​ ​spend​ ​so
much​ ​time​ ​learning​ ​things,​ ​yet​ ​there​ ​are​ ​so​ ​many​ ​things​ ​to​ ​learn,​ ​so​ ​we​ ​could​ ​never​ ​learn
them​ ​all.​ ​He​ ​says​ ​that​ ​because​ ​of​ ​that,​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more,​ ​specialized​ ​knowledge​ ​on​ ​one​ ​topic
is​ ​more​ ​respected​ ​than​ ​general​ ​knowledge​ ​on​ ​many​ ​topics,​ ​because​ ​if​ ​you​ ​spread​ ​your​ ​time
among​ ​many​ ​things,​ ​you​ ​won’t​ ​ever​ ​know​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​best.​ ​He​ ​also​ ​writes​ ​that
because​ ​of​ ​our​ ​limited​ ​time,​ ​people​ ​that​ ​are​ ​specialized​ ​in​ ​one​ ​specific​ ​area,​ ​and​ ​are​ ​very
passionate​ ​about​ ​it,​ ​often​ ​come​ ​off​ ​as​ ​rude​ ​or​ ​pretentious.​ ​Because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​limited​ ​amount​ ​of
time​ ​that​ ​we​ ​have,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​truly​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​good​ ​at​ ​something,​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​most​ ​of
your​ ​time​ ​into​ ​it,​ ​so​ ​because​ ​you​ ​are​ ​investing​ ​less​ ​time​ ​in​ ​the​ ​people​ ​around​ ​you,​ ​and​ ​more
time​ ​in​ ​your​ ​study,​ ​you​ ​come​ ​off​ ​as​ ​rude​ ​and​ ​self​ ​involved.​ ​And​ ​by​ ​nature,​ ​this​ ​will​ ​continue
as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​people​ ​are​ ​specialized.
The​ ​Flow​ ​of​ ​Creativity:​ ​Five:​ ​Programmed​ ​for​ ​Creativity-
In​ ​this​ ​section,​ ​Csikszentmihalyi​ ​asserts​ ​that​ ​certain​ ​people​ ​enjoy​ ​discovery​ ​more​ ​than
others,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​these​ ​people​ ​that​ ​are​ ​the​ ​most​ ​creative.​ ​He​ ​says,​ ​“The​ ​tendencies
toward​ ​conserving​ ​energy​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​using​ ​it​ ​constructively​ ​are​ ​simultaneously​ ​part​ ​of​ ​our
inheritance”​ ​and​ ​that​ ​everyone​ ​can​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​relax​ ​or​ ​discover,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​certain​ ​people​ ​are
more​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​enjoy​ ​discovery​ ​because​ ​of​ ​“genetic​ ​makeup​ ​but​ ​also​ ​presumably​ ​on​ ​our​ ​early
experiences.”​ ​He​ ​offers​ ​that​ ​we​ ​are​ ​raised​ ​to​ ​think​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​way,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​without​ ​these
people,​ ​culture,​ ​science​ ​and​ ​the​ ​human​ ​race​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​cannot​ ​advance​ ​through​ ​evolution,
but​ ​that​ ​because​ ​of​ ​that​ ​opportunity,​ ​historically,​ ​we​ ​have.
Those​ ​are​ ​two​ ​incredible​ ​things​ ​I​ ​have​ ​learned​ ​just​ ​from​ ​picking​ ​this​ ​book​ ​up​ ​and
arbitrarily​ ​reading​ ​what​ ​appeals​ ​to​ ​me​ ​from​ ​the​ ​index​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​cover​ ​page,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​am
clearly​ ​excited​ ​about​ ​reading​ ​more.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​found​ ​that​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​density​ ​of​ ​knowledge,
I​ ​can​ ​only​ ​read​ ​so​ ​much​ ​at​ ​a​ ​time​ ​as​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​process​ ​it,​ ​but​ ​as​ ​I​ ​do​ ​continue​ ​reading​ ​into
the​ ​final​ ​quarter,​ ​when​ ​I​ ​find​ ​such​ ​interesting​ ​things,​ ​I​ ​will​ ​put​ ​them​ ​in​ ​a​ ​blog​ ​post​ ​like​ ​I’m
about​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​these.
6

Speaking
Singing-
I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​singing​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​doing​ ​in​ ​this​ ​project​ ​falls​ ​under​ ​the​ ​category​ ​of
Speaking​ ​because​ ​what​ ​I​ ​think​ ​this​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​really​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​encompass​ ​is​ ​the​ ​activity​ ​of
sharing.​ ​Vocally​ ​expressing​ ​important​ ​things​ ​that​ ​deserve​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​and​ ​creating
an​ ​atmosphere​ ​with​ ​specific​ ​words,​ ​phrases​ ​and​ ​emphasis.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​done​ ​that​ ​through​ ​my
lyrics​ ​which​ ​I​ ​have​ ​sung,​ ​and​ ​communicated​ ​to​ ​another​ ​singer​ ​how​ ​to​ ​sing.
Exhibition-
The​ ​Quarter​ ​3​ ​Exhibition​ ​is​ ​certainly​ ​a​ ​test​ ​of​ ​my​ ​speaking​ ​skills.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​defend​ ​all​ ​the
work​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​doing​ ​this​ ​quarter​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​through​ ​this​ ​test​ ​that​ ​I​ ​make​ ​all​ ​of​ ​my​ ​work
worth​ ​anything.​ ​Every​ ​time​ ​that​ ​I​ ​meet​ ​with​ ​Chris​ ​Blackburn,​ ​every​ ​time​ ​I​ ​meet​ ​with​ ​Roger
Grow,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​using​ ​my​ ​speaking​ ​skills​ ​to​ ​defend​ ​what​ ​I’m​ ​doing,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​exhibition​ ​is​ ​the
ultimate​ ​version​ ​of​ ​that,​ ​making​ ​all​ ​this​ ​work​ ​matter​ ​on​ ​an​ ​academic​ ​transcript.

Art
I​ ​am​ ​earning​ ​ONE​ a
​ rt​ ​credit​ ​this​ ​semester​ ​through​ ​the​ ​writing​ ​and​ p​ roduction​ ​of​ ​my
EP,​ ​Tempered​ ​Glass,​ ​and​ a ​ lso​ ​an​ ​art​ ​response​ ​to​ ​Laurie​ ​Anderson’s​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog.

● Writing/Producing​ ​Alone​ ​(Tempered​ ​Glass)


● Writing/Producing​ ​Broken​ ​Melody​ ​(Tempered​ ​Glass)
● Laurie​ ​Anderson​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog​ ​Art​ ​Response

Developing​ ​Craft
Song​ ​Writing​ ​skill-
This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​central​ ​focus​ ​of​ ​my​ ​project​ ​this​ ​year,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like,​ ​more​ ​than​ ​any​ ​other​ ​time​ ​in
my​ ​life,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​really​ ​developed​ ​this​ ​skill.​ ​What​ ​I​ ​really​ ​like​ ​about​ ​this​ ​project​ ​is​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am
creating​ ​very​ ​specific​ ​worlds​ ​within​ ​boundaries​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​setting​ ​for​ ​myself.​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​this
allows​ ​me​ ​to​ ​find​ ​specificity​ ​in​ ​my​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​continue​ ​honing​ ​my​ ​craft,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​next​ ​year,
when​ ​I​ ​expand​ ​to​ ​a​ ​bigger​ ​album,​ ​and​ ​bigger​ ​ideas,​ ​I’ll​ ​be​ ​better​ ​equipped​ ​to​ ​tackle​ ​that
goal.
Software​ ​Limitations/Advancements-
Writing​ ​songs​ ​is​ ​a​ ​skill​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​focusing​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​attention​ ​on​ ​in​ ​my​ ​study,​ ​but​ ​just​ ​as
much​ ​focus​ ​has​ ​been​ ​on​ ​learning​ ​what​ ​I​ ​can​ ​actually​ ​do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​software,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​that
affects​ ​my​ ​music.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​both​ ​advantages​ ​and​ ​limitations​ ​in​ ​this​ ​learning​ ​curve,​ ​the
negative​ ​being​ ​that​ ​sometimes​ ​the​ ​software​ ​just​ ​isn’t​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​doing​ ​what​ ​I​ ​want​ ​it​ ​to.
The​ ​positive​ ​though​ ​is​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​created​ ​a​ ​really​ ​good​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​what​ ​the​ ​software
can​ ​and​ ​can’t​ ​do​ ​through​ ​this​ ​study,​ ​and​ ​usually​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​very​ ​powerful​ ​tool​ ​in​ ​achieving​ ​the
specific​ ​sound​ ​that​ ​I​ ​want.

Performing,​ ​Presenting,​ ​Producing


Performing​ ​and​ ​Presenting​ ​Tempered​ ​Glass-
Alone​ ​was​ ​essentially​ ​conceived​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​an​ ​audience,​ ​and​ ​lends​ ​itself​ ​well​ ​to​ ​being​ ​public.
When​ ​I​ ​first​ ​started​ ​writing​ ​it,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​alone,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​key​ ​hook​ ​of​ ​the​ ​chorus​ ​was​ ​written​ ​while
I​ ​was​ ​showing​ ​someone​ ​the​ ​verse.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​playing​ ​the​ ​verse,​ ​got​ ​to​ ​the​ ​end​ ​and​ ​realized​ ​that
the​ ​chorus​ ​was​ ​sitting​ ​right​ ​there​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​me,​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​me.​ ​I​ ​played​ ​it​ ​and​ ​sang​ ​it​ ​to
them​ ​right​ ​there,​ ​and​ ​that’s​ ​how​ ​the​ ​chorus​ ​got​ ​its​ ​start.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​performed​ ​Alone​ ​for​ ​lots​ ​of
people​ ​by​ ​now,​ ​and​ ​I’m​ ​planning​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​one​ ​of​ ​my​ ​songs​ ​on​ ​this​ ​EP​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Variety​ ​Show
at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​year.
7

Producing​ ​Tempered​ ​Glass-


As​ ​far​ ​as​ ​production​ ​goes,​ ​actually​ ​creating​ ​the​ ​material​ ​for​ ​Broken​ ​Melody​ ​especially,​ ​has
taken​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​work.​ ​On​ ​this​ ​particular​ ​song,​ ​I​ ​spent​ ​more​ ​time​ ​recording,​ ​arranging​ ​and
producing​ ​the​ ​song​ ​then​ ​actually​ ​writing​ ​it.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​had​ ​all​ ​the​ ​material​ ​for​ ​a​ ​while,​ ​but
actually​ ​assembling​ ​it​ ​has​ ​taken​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​work,​ ​time​ ​and​ ​effort.

Connecting
The​ ​Temperaments​ ​to​ ​Music-
How​ ​this​ ​entire​ ​project​ ​got​ ​started​ ​was​ ​that​ ​I​ ​was​ ​thinking​ ​about​ ​the​ ​Temperaments​ ​one
day​ ​and​ ​considering​ ​the​ ​implications​ ​that​ ​they​ ​lie​ ​down.​ ​What​ ​it​ ​means,​ ​how​ ​it​ ​affects​ ​you,
does​ ​it​ ​even​ ​mean​ ​anything?​ ​And​ ​I​ ​started​ ​really​ ​thinking​ ​about​ ​the​ ​atmosphere​ ​that​ ​they
each​ ​create,​ ​if​ ​every​ ​Temperament​ ​has​ ​a​ ​little​ ​planet​ ​to​ ​itself,​ ​how​ ​would​ ​that​ ​look?​ ​How
would​ ​I​ ​fit​ ​into​ ​that​ ​world?​ ​How​ ​does​ ​that​ ​world​ ​fit​ ​into​ ​me?​ ​I​ ​made​ ​a​ ​connection​ ​between
my​ ​music,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​theory​ ​that​ ​I​ ​was​ ​already​ ​conscious​ ​of,​ ​and​ ​brought​ ​it​ ​all​ ​together​ ​under
the​ ​lense​ ​of​ ​self​ ​exploration.

Responding
NYC​ ​Trip-
After​ ​I​ ​got​ ​back​ ​from​ ​my​ ​trip​ ​in​ ​NYC​ ​(February​ ​17-20)​ ​I​ ​reflected​ ​on​ ​and​ ​responded​ ​to​ ​the
trip​ ​in​ ​a​ ​blog​ ​post.​ ​I​ ​reflected​ ​on​ ​all​ ​the​ ​workshops​ ​I​ ​participated​ ​in​ ​and​ ​responded​ ​to​ ​the
three​ ​shows​ ​I​ ​saw,​ ​Skin​ ​of​ ​Our​ ​Teeth,​ ​YEN,​ ​and​ ​Hamilton:​ ​An​ ​American​ ​Musical.​ ​These​ ​can
be​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​blog​ ​post,​ ​NEW​ ​YORK​ ​CITY​ ​is​ ​the​ ​CENTER​ ​OF​ ​THE​ ​WORLD​ ​published​ ​on
3.17.17
Art​ ​Response​ ​to​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog​ ​by​ ​Laurie​ ​Anderson-
I​ ​wrote​ ​an​ ​art​ ​response​ ​to​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog​ ​by​ ​Laurie​ ​Anderson​ ​on​ ​my​ ​blog.

PE

I​ ​am​ ​earning​ ​ONE​ ​PE​ ​credit​ ​this​ ​semester​ ​through​ ​these​ ​goals​ ​and​ ​objectives.​ ​Most
of​ ​the​ ​credit​ ​is​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​Cry​ ​Baby​ ​and​ ​Dance​ ​32,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​on​ ​other​ ​general​ ​welfare​ ​needs
and​ ​practices.

● Cleaning​ ​working/living​ ​spaces


● Dance​ ​32​ ​performance
● Stage​ ​32​ ​musical​ ​Cry​ ​Baby
● Walking/Running
● Meditation

Creative​ ​Thinking​ ​and​ ​Problem​ ​Solving


○ Living/Working​ ​Spaces​ ​Cleanliness:
■ I​ ​found​ ​that​ ​overall​ ​I​ ​am​ ​happier​ ​if​ ​my​ ​living​ ​and​ ​working​ ​spaces​ ​are
clean,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​directly​ ​affects​ ​my​ ​work.

Effective​ ​and​ ​Expressive​ ​Communication


○ Documentation:
■ As​ ​far​ ​as​ ​documentation​ ​for​ ​my​ ​PE​ ​credit,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​two​ ​main​ ​ways​ ​to
document​ ​my​ ​progress.​ ​A​ ​time​ ​table​ ​of​ ​dancing,​ ​meditating​ ​and
8

walking​ ​hrs.​ ​Then,​ ​for​ ​my​ ​clean​ ​living/work​ ​space​ ​I​ ​have​ ​before​ ​and
after​ ​pictures​ ​which​ ​document​ ​me​ ​cleaning.

Informed,​ ​Integrated,​ ​and​ ​Critical​ ​Thinking


○ Changing​ ​Goals:
■ At​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​quarter​ ​I​ ​set​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​goal​ ​for​ ​myself​ ​in​ ​regards
to​ ​meditation.​ ​I​ ​slotted​ ​out​ ​two​ ​half-hour​ ​sessions​ ​per​ ​week,​ ​which
was​ ​way​ ​out​ ​of​ ​proportion​ ​to​ ​what​ ​I​ ​could​ ​actually​ ​do,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​my​ ​blogs
you​ ​can​ ​see​ ​me​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​that​ ​and​ ​mentioning​ ​that​ ​I​ ​was​ ​drooping
that​ ​way​ ​down,​ ​first​ ​to​ ​1.5​ ​hrs/​ ​week​ ​and​ ​then​ ​down​ ​to​ ​30​ ​minutes.
This​ ​shows​ ​evaluation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​goal,​ ​realizing​ ​it​ ​isn’t​ ​working,​ ​and​ ​changing
it​ ​so​ ​that​ ​it​ ​works​ ​for​ ​me.
○ Target​ ​Heart​ ​Rate:
■ At​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​quarter​ ​I​ ​calculated​ ​my​ ​target​ ​heart​ ​rate​ ​which
helps​ ​me​ ​set​ ​smart​ ​goals​ ​and​ ​know​ ​myself​ ​better.​ ​I​ ​can​ ​better
understand​ ​what​ ​a​ ​good​ ​workout​ ​feels​ ​like,​ ​and​ ​when​ ​I’m​ ​overworking
myself.

Self-Awareness​ ​and​ ​Self​ ​Direction


○ Personal​ ​Check​ ​In:
■ I​ ​set​ ​this​ ​goal​ ​so​ ​that​ ​every​ ​week​ ​I​ ​would​ ​have​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​check​ ​in
with​ ​myself​ ​and​ ​my​ ​work,​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​just​ ​see​ ​how​ ​everything​ ​is
going.​ ​This​ ​would​ ​take​ ​shape​ ​as​ ​many​ ​things.​ ​Sitting​ ​with​ ​myself
writing​ ​a​ ​blog​ ​entry,​ ​meeting​ ​weekly​ ​with​ ​Chris​ ​and​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​how
everything​ ​was​ ​going,​ ​or​ ​meeting​ ​with​ ​Roger,​ ​Kristine,​ ​or​ ​Sharon,​ ​just
to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​subject​ ​areas​ ​and​ ​projects.​ ​This​ ​improved​ ​my
understanding​ ​of​ ​how​ ​my​ ​projects​ ​were​ ​going​ ​and​ ​helped​ ​me​ ​center​ ​in
on​ ​what​ ​I​ ​was​ ​doing.
○ Four​ ​Smart​ ​Goals
■ These​ ​were​ ​the​ ​goals​ ​I​ ​set​ ​at​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​quarter.​ ​I​ ​have
walking​ ​minutes​ ​logged​ ​and​ ​those​ ​will​ ​be​ ​added​ ​onto​ ​my​ ​total​ ​that
should​ ​be​ ​above​ ​45​ ​hours.​ ​I​ ​only​ ​count​ ​walking​ ​minutes​ ​if​ ​I​ ​walk​ ​for
15​ ​minutes​ ​or​ ​more​ ​at​ ​one​ ​given​ ​time.​ ​Cry​ ​Baby​ ​and​ ​Dance​ ​32​ ​have
both​ ​contributed,​ ​and​ ​still​ ​are,​ ​many​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​work​ ​and​ ​make​ ​up​ ​the
majority​ ​of​ ​my​ ​PE​ ​time.
● Two​ ​goals​ ​in​ ​physical
○ Meditate​ ​.5​ ​Hrs/week​ ​(focus​ ​on​ ​breath)
○ Stretch​ ​well​ ​before​ ​all​ ​difficult​ ​physical​ ​movement​ ​(i.e.
running,​ ​dancing​ ​(stage​ ​32,​ ​dance​ ​32)
● Two​ ​self​ ​directed
○ Keep​ ​bedroom​ ​and​ ​personal​ ​living/working​ ​places​ ​clean.
This​ ​can​ ​reduce​ ​stress​ ​and​ ​create​ ​spaces​ ​which​ ​are
more​ ​conducive​ ​to​ ​work​ ​and​ ​happiness.
○ Walk​ ​regularly.​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​how​ ​many​ ​Hrs.​ ​this​ ​will
turn​ ​out​ ​to​ ​be,​ ​but​ ​since​ ​I​ ​already​ ​have​ ​enough​ ​hrs,​ ​I
will​ ​set​ ​a​ ​goal​ ​for​ ​this​ ​later​ ​and​ ​record​ ​it​ ​as​ ​an
experiment​ ​to​ ​know​ ​how​ ​much​ ​I​ ​walk​ ​and​ ​how​ ​much​ ​I
9

can​ ​increase​ ​that.​ ​I​ ​only​ ​count​ ​walking​ ​if​ ​I​ ​have​ ​walked
for​ ​15​ ​minutes​ ​or​ ​more​ ​at​ ​a​ ​time.
TRANSFERABLE​ ​SKILLS

Creative​ ​Thinking​ ​and​ ​Problem​ ​Solving

● Starting​ ​the​ ​practice​ ​of​ ​cleaning​ ​Work/Living​ ​spaces


● Encountering​ ​and​ ​tackling​ ​writer’s​ ​block
● Software​ ​Limitations

Effective​ ​and​ ​Expressive​ ​Communication

● Getting​ ​help​ ​from​ ​Mentors/Support


● Clarifying​ ​goals​ ​for​ ​a​ ​song​ ​to​ ​Mentor
● Participating​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Pilot​ ​Writing​ ​Group

Engaged​ ​Citizenship

● Interviewing​ ​Local​ ​Musicians


● Performing​ ​Music​ ​for​ ​audiences​ ​beyond​ ​myself​ ​and​ ​mentors.
● Participating​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Pilot​ ​Writing​ ​Group

Working​ ​Independently​ ​and​ ​Collaboratively

● Sampling​ ​music​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​conversational​ ​feedback/work​ ​sessions.


● Creating​ ​an​ ​EP​ ​of​ ​original​ ​work​ ​from​ ​my​ ​own​ ​creative​ ​resources​ ​with​ ​collaborative
support​ ​from​ ​other​ ​artists​ ​and​ ​mentors.
● Participating​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Pilot​ ​Writing​ ​Group
● Cry​ ​Baby​ ​and​ ​Dance​ ​32

Informed,​ ​Integrated,​ ​and​ ​Critical​ ​Thinking

● Evolving​ ​PE​ ​meditation​ ​goals


● Putting​ ​Whiteboard​ ​Music​ ​Theory​ ​lessons​ ​into​ ​my​ ​goals​ ​as​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​I​ ​need​ t​ hem​ ​and
they​ ​will​ ​help​ ​my​ ​study.
● Establishing​ ​the​ ​habit​ ​of​ ​a​ ​reflection​ ​on​ ​my​ ​blog​ ​when​ ​I​ ​find​ ​something​ ​interesting​ ​in
Creativity​ ​by​ ​Mihaly​ ​Csikszentmihalyi.

Self​ ​Awareness​ ​and​ ​Self​ ​Direction

● Creating​ ​Original​ ​Work​ ​with​ ​personal​ ​intention.


● Writing​ ​a​ ​Narrative​ ​and​ ​reflecting​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Quarter.
○ Adding​ ​new​ ​goals​ ​to​ ​learning​ ​plan​ ​after​ ​reviewing​ ​what​ ​went​ ​well,​ ​what​ ​can
change.
10

INDEPENDENT​ ​LEARNING​ ​SKILLS

Perseverance
I​ ​struggled​ ​with​ ​both​ ​meditation​ ​and​ ​regular​ ​blog​ ​posts​ ​this​ ​quarter.​ ​Meditation​ ​is
really​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​work​ ​into​ ​my​ ​day​ ​as​ ​it’s​ ​been​ ​the​ ​last​ ​thing​ ​I​ ​think​ ​of,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​keep​ ​doing​ ​it
when​ ​I​ ​get​ ​the​ ​chance.​ ​I​ ​did​ ​a​ ​better​ ​job​ ​of​ ​keeping​ ​up​ ​with​ ​my​ ​blog​ ​posts,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​still
certainly​ ​fell​ ​behind​ ​sometimes.​ ​The​ ​trick​ ​I​ ​have​ ​found​ ​is​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​the​ ​blog​ ​tab​ ​open,​ ​and
make​ ​it​ ​second​ ​nature​ ​to​ ​write​ ​a​ ​blog​ ​if​ ​something​ ​new​ ​happens​ ​with​ ​my​ ​Pilot​ ​work.

Inquiry
I​ ​started​ ​to​ ​work​ ​on​ ​my​ ​project​ ​HAWC​ ​by​ ​doing​ ​an​ ​interview​ ​with​ ​a​ ​local​ ​artist​ ​at​ ​the
very​ ​end​ ​of​ ​this​ ​quarter,​ ​but​ ​this​ ​project​ ​will​ ​be​ ​mostly​ ​completed​ ​in​ ​quarter​ ​4.
I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​skill​ ​that​ ​I​ ​will​ ​use​ ​more​ ​in​ ​quarter​ ​4,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​did​ ​Inquire​ ​while
reading​ ​Creativity​ ​by​ ​Mihaly​ ​Csikszentmihalyi.​ ​I​ ​explored​ ​Creativity​ ​and​ ​Work​ ​flow,​ ​how​ ​we
create​ ​art,​ ​and​ ​why.

Time​ ​Management
My​ ​biggest​ ​failure​ ​on​ ​this​ ​front​ ​is​ ​my​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​Meditation​ ​time.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​always​ ​wanted
to​ ​be​ ​doing​ ​more​ ​meditation,​ ​but​ ​this​ ​is​ ​always​ ​hard​ ​for​ ​me​ ​and​ ​at​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​of​ ​my​ ​list​ ​of
things​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​in​ ​my​ ​brain.
My​ ​biggest​ ​successes​ ​though,​ ​far​ ​outweigh​ ​this​ ​drawback.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​spent​ ​an​ ​immense
amount​ ​of​ ​time​ ​preparing​ ​for​ ​Cry​ ​Baby,​ ​and​ ​rehearsing​ ​for​ ​Dance​ ​32.​ ​Dance​ ​32​ ​already​ ​paid
off​ ​in​ ​February​ ​when​ ​we​ ​had​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​performance​ ​in​ ​which​ ​I​ ​choreographed​ ​one​ ​piece,
was​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ensemble​ ​for​ ​three​ ​others,​ ​and​ ​had​ ​a​ ​principle​ ​dancing​ ​role​ ​in​ ​a​ ​fourth​ ​piece.​ ​Cry
Baby​ ​is​ ​really​ ​starting​ ​to​ ​heat​ ​up​ ​and,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​rehearsals​ ​get​ ​longer​ ​and​ ​longer,​ ​I​ ​get​ ​more
and​ ​more​ ​excited.​ ​As​ ​of​ ​Sunday,​ ​3.26.17​ ​I​ ​have​ ​rehearsed​ ​27​ ​logged​ ​hours.
The​ ​second​ ​time​ ​management​ ​thing​ ​I​ ​am​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​is​ ​that​ ​my​ ​main​ ​project,
Tempered​ ​Glass,​ ​is​ ​still​ ​on​ ​schedule.

Accountability
I’ve​ ​been​ ​really​ ​good​ ​about​ ​scheduling​ ​appointments,​ ​and​ ​making​ ​sure​ ​I’m​ ​there​ ​on
time.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​also​ ​scheduled​ ​interviews​ ​with​ ​local​ ​artists,​ ​and​ ​am​ ​learning​ ​more​ ​about​ ​the
music​ ​community​ ​in​ ​central​ ​VT.

Demonstration
I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​my​ ​project​ ​lends​ ​itself​ ​towards​ ​success​ ​in​ ​this​ ​goal,​ ​as
everything​ ​I​ ​am​ ​doing​ ​has​ ​a​ ​tangible​ ​end​ ​product​ ​that​ ​proves​ ​I​ ​have​ ​worked​ ​hard.​ ​For
music​ ​and​ ​English,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​Tempered​ ​Glass​ ​which​ ​has​ ​an​ ​audible​ ​end​ ​product​ ​and​ ​for​ ​my​ ​PE
credit,​ ​come​ ​see​ ​Stage​ ​32's​ ​Spring​ ​Musical,​ ​Cry​ ​Baby,​ ​April​ ​7-9!
Something​ ​that​ ​doesn’t​ ​work​ ​as​ ​well​ ​is​ ​that​ ​in​ ​Garageband,​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​save​ ​different
versions​ ​of​ ​a​ ​song​ ​so​ ​I​ ​only​ ​have​ ​the​ ​finished​ ​product​ ​once​ ​I​ ​go​ ​in​ ​to​ ​record.​ ​Something​ ​that
I​ ​have​ ​done​ ​to​ ​counter​ ​this​ ​problem​ ​is​ ​save​ ​the​ ​original​ ​recordings​ ​of​ ​me​ ​playing​ ​it​ ​while
writing​ ​it,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​have​ ​the​ ​original​ ​sounds​ ​contrast​ ​with​ ​the​ ​final​ ​recording.
11

Self​ ​Advocacy
I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​academically​ ​I​ ​can​ ​have​ ​trouble​ ​in​ ​general,​ ​and​ ​being​ ​clear​ ​about​ ​what​ ​I
need​ ​with​ ​myself​ ​and​ ​my​ ​advisors/mentors,​ ​can​ ​be​ ​really​ ​hard.​ ​So​ ​advocating​ ​for​ ​my
academic​ ​needs​ ​is​ ​difficult...​ ​Help​ ​Chris!
On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​every​ ​week​ ​when​ ​I​ ​meet​ ​with​ ​Chris​ ​I​ ​make​ ​good​ ​use​ ​of​ ​that
time,​ ​and​ ​I've​ ​started​ ​spending​ ​all​ ​my​ ​meeting​ ​time​ ​with​ ​Roger,​ ​actually​ ​working​ ​on​ ​music
with​ ​him​ ​and​ ​getting​ ​insight​ ​on​ ​what​ ​I'm​ ​doing​ ​and​ ​how​ ​I​ ​can​ ​improve​ ​my​ ​work​ ​and​ ​craft,
and​ ​getting​ ​help​ ​where​ ​I​ ​actually​ ​need​ ​it.
12

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barnet,​ ​Richard​ ​D.,​ ​et​ ​al.​ ​The​ ​Story​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​Song:​ ​150​ ​Songs​ ​That​ ​Chronicle
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​the​ ​20th​ ​Century​.​ ​Westport,​ ​Greenwood​ ​Press,​ ​2004.

Csikszentmihalyi,​ ​Mihaly.​ ​Creativity:​ ​Flow​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Psychology​ ​of​ ​Discovery​ ​and
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Invention​.​ ​New​ ​York,​ ​HarperPerennial,​ ​1997.

Fredrick,​ ​Robin.​ ​Webster​.​ ​Learn​ ​How​ ​To​ ​Write​ ​a​ ​Song​,​ ​WordPress,​ ​2016,
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​robinfrederick.com/learn-how-to-write-a-song/#title.​ ​Accessed​ ​26​ ​Jan.​ ​2017.

Hunter,​ ​J.​ ​Paul.​ ​The​ ​Norton​ ​Introduction​ ​to​ ​Poetry​.​ ​7th​ ​ed.,​ ​New​ ​York​ ​[etc.],
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​W.W.​ ​Norton​ ​and​ ​Company,​ ​1999.

Roy,​ ​Ben.​ ​Interview.​ ​March​ ​26,​ ​2017.​ ​Capitol​ ​Grounds,​ ​Montpelier,​ ​VT

Anderson,​ ​Laurie.​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dog,​ ​Nonesuch​ ​Records,​ ​Inc,​ ​2015.​ ​Album.

Roger​ ​Grow
Chris​ ​Blackburn
Amy​ ​Koenigbauer
Orlando​ ​Grant
Noah​ ​Witke​ ​Mele
Adam​ ​Blachly
Olivia​ ​Peltier
Kieran​ ​Verret

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