Back To Music Education!

Well, today the Spring Semester 2007 started at SFASU and I am now a Music Education Major once again. I am excited about this semester and really am going to enjoy taking music classes once again. I am taking Music History I, Astronomy (because I can take it instead of Biology), French Diction, private Voice lessons, Interpersonal Communications, and choir. The toughest class by far will be the Music History class, but I am already hard at work.

I also will be required to sing three classical songs, two in foreign languages and one in English for all the voice teachers at the end of the Semester. This is to get approval to move up in the difficulty level of voice lessons. No pressure right? I don't have any doubt in my abilities in singing though and really like my voice teacher. It makes all the difference in the world when a vocal teacher tells you how to do a certain technique and you can really understand him/her and do exactly what they ask you to do.

Rocky Balboa

I went to see the newest and last movie in the Rocky series this last Saturday and I have to tell you that I was really surprised and thankful that I went to see it. I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought that Sly was really too old to do another Rocky movie. Yet, he pulled it off and actually achieved more than I ever expected he would in this last one.

I grew up loving these movies. I really enjoyed the first three especially. Even the fourth movie had some great stuff in it. But then, the 5th movie came out and I have to tell you, I hated it. It was by far one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Even Sylvester Stallone was sorry that he made that one. I wish that Stallone would permanently removed from the series. So, the fact that the fifth movie was so terrible and that Stallone waited so long to make this sixth and final Rocky movie, really had me afraid to go see it. But boy, was I ever glad that I did.

Rocky is an iconic character. He is the ultimate underdog. He defies the odds that are against him. All of the first four movies had inspiring messages and deep important life-lessons one could take home. The fifth one lacked any real purpose. Yet, in this sixth one, he really got it right. This movie really says that as long as you believe in yourself, you can achieve your dreams.

I want to share my most favorite part of the movie with you. In this scene, Rocky is talking to his son. His son has been trying to get out from under Rocky's shadow and is upset with his dad because his dad is once again getting lots of attention. He accepted an invitation from the Heavyweight Champion to box in an exhibition match. His son thinks that Rocky is going to make a fool of himself and make life harder for him as well. His son is really concerned about what other people are going to think. So here is what Rocky says to his son:

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean, and nasty place an' no matter how tough you think you are, it'll always beat you if you let it. It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! If you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits and not pointin' fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that, and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!"

I was truly inspired by this movie and I highly recommend it to all.