Cool Toy Store with a Gem of an Owner Worthy of Your Support

Have you heard about Brilliant Toys in Westlake?

They are, well, Brilliant!
I stumbled upon their store recently and was impressed with the activities they have. It's such a child-centric place that doesn't just sell toys and books. Its about community, growth and enrichment. I couldn't resist photographing them. The owner is truly a gem!  This is a store well worth supporting.
Check out the virtual tour!


View Larger Map

Here is the store's web site:
http://brilliantskytoys.com/index.php/stores/location/austin/

Here is their Google+ page:
https://plus.google.com/107450895035401898159/about?gl=us&hl=en

They have a little corner for story time and small performances:

 It is a charming store nestled in the trees in the corner of the Westlake shopping center. They have a huge collection of toys, books and dress up clothes that'll make any little boy or girl happy. When I stopped by, there was a little boy eager to get in to the store, which wasn't open yet. The mother was teaching him patience until the store opened. It was a tough lesson. But it was also true to the excitement the store offers kids. 

Stop by and support them! They were fun to photograph!

David

The Opening Season "Not-to-Miss" Concert this weekend!

Dear Musical Readers,

Saturday and Sunday will be the opening season concerts with the Starlight Symphony Orchestra. I am proud to be conducting this very musical and dedicated orchestra in Dvorak's New World Symphony (No. 9), Mozart's Overture to Magic Flute, Mendelssohn's War March of the Priests and Sibelius' Andante Festivo. These are blockbuster composers that sure pack a musical punch. The performance begins at 7:00pm on Saturday, October 5th at the Hays Performing Arts Center. We are their orchestra in residence.

Hays Performing Arts Center

The second performance is at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 6th at the Chapel in the Hills in Wimberley.

Chapel in the Hills

If you haven't heard Dvorak's "New World", then you're in for a real treat. The drama that Dvorak brings to this masterwork is awesome. There are moments of tenderness between strings and woodwinds and times of fierce presence showing off the full force of the entire orchestra with the brass leading the way.  The Classic overture by Mozart shows off his mastery and humor with destiny looming with his set of three chords at the beginning and middle. The Andante Festivo is work for strings that is lush and velvety similar to a fine pinot noir. It starts off unassuming but then sweeps you off your feet. Mendelssohn's War March is a tutti adventure!

This is surely a "not-to-miss" concert event!
By the way, all concerts are FREE.

http://www.starlightsymphony.org/

Look forward to seeing you there!

David

Silent Film Event!!

Hi Everyone,

My intent with this blog was never to promote one of my performances, rather, I hoped it would serve as a voice of my thoughts and opinions of the moment. Here I sit though, with excitement about an upcoming performance or two. I have organized, with significant help from my wonderful wife Megan, a truly fun event. The Austin Philharmonic Orchestra is partnering with the Alamo Drafthouse (on 6th Str.) to produce an exciting movie event. Two silent films starring Buster Keaton, COPS and COLLEGE, will be showing at the movie house. What better accompaniment than an orchestra? A significant subset of the Austin Philharmonic will be on the very small stage to play along with both films. If you have never seen a silent film with music -- only music, then this is a must see event for you. Buster Keaton is in his prime and truly funny. Personally I like COPS (1922) slightly more than COLLEGE (1927), just because in COPS he is so innocent and young looking with his flat hat and dead pan looks and of course idiotic, comedic actions. COLLEGE is fun too, where he is very into physical comedy. You can tell he's a more polished actor in this film. Both come off wonderfully. But they are really enhanced with music - live music with an orchestra. I'm proud to be conducting the orchestra in this event.

So, if you're interested in going, it is Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 4:00pm. tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or in person at the venue. Here's a link for tickets:
 https://tix.drafthouse.com/visInternetTicketing/visSelectTickets.aspx?cinemacode=0002&txtSessionId=10426

Here's a link for the Alamo Drafthouse promo:
http://drafthouse.com/movies/college-with-austin-philharmonic-orchestra/austin

Here's a link to the wikipedia for COLLEGE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_(1927_film)

Here's link to the wiki for COPS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cops_(film)

Want more information? Send me a note!

The great news about this event is that it is a fund raiser for the Austin Philharmonic! 50% of all ticket sales go directly to the orchestra. The musicians on stage are volunteering their time!

I'll blog later about the Starlight Symphony's upcoming performance of Dvorak's Symphony from the "New World". 

Until then, 

D.O.

Google Business Photos - Rolly Pollies!!!

Hi Everyone!

I just finished photographing and published a GBP tour of the coolest gym for kids!! This place is called Rolly Pollies and is located in Shops Parkway in the Bee Cave Galleria area. Check this place out!

Rolly Pollies

View Larger Map

They have a long trampoline, a bounce house, several shaped cushions to crawl through and around and a large foam pit! This is a very playful yet unassumingly structured gym for kids. I had fun while shooting this location and even jumped into the square foam pit with my camera - check it out!!!

This venue is another perfect example of how a business can benefit from Google Business Photos. One would never know what this place looks like without actually coming all the way into it!

Very nice and enthusiastic owners and easily affordable too!
Here's their Google+ page:
Google+ page for Rolly Pollies

Here's their web site:
http://www.rollypollies.com/

See you with my camera!

-David

Starlight Symphony Orchestra's New Conductor

I am very pleased to announced that I have accepted a position as Music Director and Conductor of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra based out of Wimberley, TX.  This will make three ensembles that I am working with in addition to the Austin Philharmonic and the Austin Flute Choir.

This will be a wonderful season full of varied music in varied locations. Perhaps we will have the flute choir join forces with one of the other ensembles?! There is a delightful piece by Sam Jones that calls for orchestra and flute choir. We'll have to look into that one.

Now off to plan the schedule and the season...and the next photo shoot.

-David

www.DavidOertel.com

Google Business Photos: Village Vet Hospital

Hello Everyone!
I just finished another Google Business Photo shoot. This time it is of a fantastic veterinary hospital in Bee Cave, TX!  Walking in you can immediately tell this is a caring vet with a great supportive staff.
Here is a link to the panoramic view: Village Veterinary Hospital. And, here's a snap of the store front.

It was a very straight forward shoot covering the lobby and two exam rooms. The staff I worked with, Dr. Winston and Judy the vet tech, were so easy going. This will be perfect for them because they are building a bank right in front of the vet and now the vet cannot be seen from the road! Ugh! It's this type of small business that can really benefit from the enhanced online presence.



I did the shoot when they were closed so you won't find any people or pets in the shots, but this is not a requirement. I *was* able to capture a few snaps of some of the residents visiting the vet. Judy was kind enough to let me take a few pictures of a cat and dog. Check them out! Here's their Google+ page:
https://plus.google.com/112148565014596011177

Here's a snap of one of their guests:

See you for now, until next shoot or news worthy of sharing.



-David

Great news...finally revamped both my Conducting and Photography sites!

Hello Everyone!
After what seems like years...I have finally been able to totally revamp my professional conducting website. It has morphed over the years beginning as a humble personal presence in the early 90s, moving to a one-stop-shop tool treasury for computer techs, then to the current site as a presence for my conducting career. Web design is truly a labor of love. There are so many elements to incorporate these days and so much to learn - ahhh the marvels of modern web technology!

While I was researching and prepping for my conducting web, I was concurrently preparing to build my photography web presence as well. Call it photography business 2.0 since I was a pro photographer during the film ages.  I spent many, MANY countless hours in the darkroom. And, as much as I enjoyed those time in the early 80s and into the 90s, I don't miss the smell of the chemicals. I miss the creativity and the anticipation of the image appearing in front of you though. These days, if you shoot in RAW format on your DSLR, you can get the same, similar or even better effects using an image processing software like photoshop, GIMP, lightroom, or even iPhoto! Yes, the deeper you get into professional photography the more post processing you find yourself doing. Shooting in a RAW format, for those of you who may not know, provides a significant amount of digital information that can be utilized in post. While you still set up your photographic environment for a quality shoot (that's where it counts the most in my opinion), you actually process, albeit "develop" your image via the image processing software. During the darkroom days I would burn in or dodge certain areas to highlight or deflect, these post darkroom days, you can accomplish the same thing -- without the darkroom smell or the sequestered little safelighted room! If you shoot straight to jpg, you don't have to worry about this software 


Included are a couple of images from past shoots.

See you at the concert hall or the next shoot!!

Safe surfing,

David

The Perfect Job - take 2

It's been a bit of time since my last blog entry. I love being a stay-at-home Dad. It is truly rewarding. The only reservation is that I'm hard-wired to go to work and not stay at home. It sounds odd I know; what is better than hanging out at home with your boy?! Nothing! I quickly add.

So, the perfect job, as I reflect upon again a year and a half later, is a moving target. This explains such a migratory work environment for both employees and employers. The days of having one job at one company  for life is so far gone that this concept is humorous now.

I still maintain my previous drivers of "The Perfect Job" in that I always enjoy helping people. I have worked in information technology, education, education software, SaaS, web database and development, music and photography. As with everyone, I'm sure this list is not complete. The commonality is helping make someone or something better. When you can walk away knowing that the project is done and done well - that's a fine feeling. Don't you agree? Is this such a foreign ideal?

     --Insert Intermission Music for Diaper Change--

After just changing the most stinkiest, largest and stickiest diaper in the world, I still love my job as Dad. Pee-yew! no pictures added to this post  :-S

My photography is kicking up now while my evening music gigs are in full swing. It's nice to be busy. If I decide to get a "day" job that is away from my boy -- I'll sure miss him, but it'll answer my hard-wired call to go forth and manage a different kind of "stinky diaper".

Until next time,

-David

Anticedent and Consequent

My thought of the moment. Antecedent and consequent. I really enjoy the musical journey or adventure that can be found in almost all classical musical works and in many modern day pop songs as well. Just what is it that makes music interesting? In my opinion it is the symmetry of phrases, the balanced nature of a harmonious collection of pitches. In regards to musical phrases it is the idea of a good anticedent and consequent melodic motive. This is the ying and yang of music, what goes up feels like it must come back down, right? Right!

 This is essentially the question and answer in musical phraseology. Its like telling a joke, you set up the situation, then give the punch line. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Anticedent and consequent. The first part of the phrase contains a leading melodic line that poses a question that yearns for resolution or a consequent phrase that offers the answer. A musical example would be A-B-C song: antecedent = abcdefg, consequent = hijklmnop. Typically the melody rises with the question part and decends with the answer. Making a good melody is like telling a good story. You want to hear of adventure and excitement as well as the tender moments in the middle. You have to bring out the story in the music. Where does the music lead to? What adventure does it bring? Like any good adventure, you walk away with wisdom and more knowledge of life's emotional range. If you aren't in a different place than when you started than the music did not serve its purpose well.

One of the driving elements behind the telling of musical adventures is the proper structure of a musical phrase along with a strong antecedent and consequent phrase.

My random musical thought of the moment.
Prost.

D Oertel

The Perfect Job

I have been doing a great deal of thinking about the perfect job. How would you describe your perfect job? This is not as easy an answer as one would think. Before you can begin to describe it, it’s probably best to dig deep and see what makes you happy; what makes you happy enough to want to do it every day, day in and day out? So, when I was doing my soul searching I discovered something interesting about myself that I suppose I knew all along. I really enjoy helping people. Through out my life I have helped people in music, technology, health and safety, and of course education. I would like to think of myself as an enabler; to enable someone to help themselves. I have been doing this for many years in varying capacities ranging from public school teacher to university professor to Red Cross volunteer instructor to an education software advocator. Even with my music, I find myself enlightening my audience with a different way of looking at an old warhorse or an introduction to a new work.

It’s the thrill I get from enabling someone to do something they could not do before I helped. Whether it’s something as commercial as selling someone a technology solution that assists their learning/teaching environment, solving a technology issue or teaching someone a skill directly, it is watching the excitement of their epiphany as they get the solution that makes it so exciting.

I would like to stay in this type of field because it is so enriching and fulfilling. The education industry, although rooted in centuries of accepted and dated practices, is on the verge of a technological breakthrough. What’s really fascinating is that almost any of the newer technology companies enhance people’s lives so much and so easily that this “enabling” ideology can fit with almost any technology company. Students (or clients) these days are yearning for updated methods of learning (or doing their job better) and educators are hoping for new up-to-date ways of reaching students. What excites me in the morning is the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life – locally, regionally or globally. Creating new ways of reaching people is fun for me.

So what job is that? For me the good news is it can be almost any job – any job that uses technology, has education undertones, and is in it for the greater good.

What excites you in the morning? What’s your perfect job?

What is a Good Education?

I feel that a good education is one that incorporates a well-balanced knowledge base that helps you not only survive the challenges of modern society, i.e. as in having job security (ha!), social aptitude, personal advancement, but also the be equipped with the language skills that enables one to articulate thoughts well and to many professions in all walks of life. Speaking of language skills, that was one heck of a run-on sentence! 

Education – is it lost in the details?

As I reflect on my education, general as well as musical, I think back on all the things that I have forgotten. As students, we sit in class as the professor lectures on topics that at the time seem pedantic. I remember thinking, “let’s get to the good stuff”. Little did I realize, that WAS the good stuff.

With so much to learn, little did I understand that EVERYTHING in class was the “good stuff”.  Understand, I’m not saying that educational pontifications are not appropriate. I have given many lectures that have likely sent many mindful undergrads spinning in his/her seat…unintentionally of course. My thought here and now is that there is so much to teach/learn that it’s difficult for the student to absorb it all – so points of significance can easily be lost among the details during the lecture. When someone tells you one or two important points, you tend to remember them. When someone tells you 30 important points, you tend to forget them…all.

I know that I lost moments of great educational enlightenment just because I was over inundated with details. Do we change the way we teach/learn? Educators have been asking this for generations with some success.

It is well known that different people learn in different ways. We are not all the same and we all respond to different approaches. Some understand material better by reading about it, some by hearing about it, some by experiencing it, and others by watching someone else experience it.

I believe that the most effective teachers apply these different learning methods so they may educationally reach as many students as possible. Likewise, it would help students to recognize what their optimal learning process is and seek it out when possible. Try not to lose the education in the details – strive to catch the details as part of the greater picture. Proper education is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the student. 

Really!?!

I haven't been blogging for very long...maybe a year or so. This blog was originally intended to serve as an external voice for me to say whatever I want in regards to music, teaching, and conducting. Admittedly I occasionally have roamed away from these topics, but what the heck, right? I mean it's my voice. Really. But what I don't understand is what verbiage have I used to appeal to Japanese women who like to submit their personal URLs that feature "TMI" topics? Surely I haven't mentioned any words that bring in this sort. And, stop calling me "Surely". Really though, I'm all for free voice, but keep your personal web sites away from here. I can't even describe the TMI web sites to which I'm referring in fear that it'll attract more. So, to you my Asian friends, enjoy reading blogs and by all means leave a comment, but keep it clean and rated G. You know?! I mean...really?

Which brings me to one of my favorite skits on SNL, "Really!?!" with Seth and Amy.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/13828/saturday-night-live-really-with-seth-and-amy

See you next time.

Really.

Non Musical Ramblings...

Ugh! Just when you get cooking, you stop blogging!

Life is busy as usual: A wedding to plan, a job to find, and adventures at hand. There's never a shortage of things to do...ever! When I grow up I want to be retired. I'd like to have some money in the bank, a cool motorcycle, and of course my wife at my side. But all of this takes planning - are you up for the challenge? I ask myself that daily and the good news is I keep saying, "zzzzz -- hit the snooze button again!" (kidding)

Seriously, at the risk of sounding like a cliche, now is the time to plan for tomorrow. When things go well, I always kid around and say, "all part of the master plan". To a degree (or two) this is very true. I have a master plan. I don't have a hidden agenda, just a plan. But we all have to keep some flexibility in our plan because life is dynamic to say the least. Look at the last couple of years --- great job, met a great girl, economy greatly slowed, got laid off from great job, sold great house, moved to great state of Texas, got engaged to great girl, and I still haven't won the great lottery.

So where to from here? Well, business as usual...head down and keep running. Just remember (talking to myself here), keep enjoying the not-so-proverbial flowers!

Texas Bluebonnets in full bloom

Next entry will be musical...!

Prost,

Me.

Conducting the Phrase and not the Pattern

Many young conductors spend time learning to conduct patterns. And, rightly so. With a single glance toward the conductor, a musician can see the current musical location within the measure just by recognizing where the baton is in the beat pattern. This is nice, clean, and simple.

However, once musicians get past the basic skills of ensemble playing, simple beat patterns from the conductor are no longer required at all times. Some challenging mixed-meter sections certainly dictate a due diligence in showing patterns, but skilled musicians no longer need to see patterns at all times. So, what does the conductor show when working with a higher level ensemble? This blog is perhaps not long enough to allow for a complete answer. However, the most important element to remember is to show the music. Huh? I thought that's what the beat pattern did? A pattern just shows one simple construct of the music. Conductors must lead the ensemble in a musical journey in a clear visual display indicating not only dynamics, articulations, and instrumental cues, but phrases that tell the musical story. Understanding and showing the phraseology of works is essential in conveying the meaning and interpretation to the orchestra and ultimately, to the audience. This means conducting the phrases in the music while showing the technical aspects of dynamics, articulations, and instrumental textures.

Get past the beat pattern and look at the bigger picture. What do you really want to convey to the ensemble? Is it where beat 3 falls? Or, is it where the apex of the woodwind choir leads to a dovetailed connection with the violas? You can see this by looking at the phrases. Where is the drama and excitement of beat 2 versus the drama of letting a melody unfold magically from a soft dynamic to a more prominent foreground position? The conductor can foster this by helping the instrumentalist lead the melody by showing it visually!

Drop the pattern and adopt the phrase.

Musically Yours,

D. Oertel

PS - On a personal note, I just got engaged to be married!! Wooohoooo!

Who's skin is this anyway?

Who's skin is this anyway?

It's interesting as conductors we put on different "skins" so we can be everything we can be for the orchestra so we can aptly present a good show for the audience. Different skins are what people "wear" when speaking to the board or to the audience or even to the orchestra. Who are we, ourselves? I think it is important as people and as musicians to be true to ourselves and wear our own skin and not pretend to be anything else at anytime. Wearing your own skin means learning to be comfortable with your own personality with your own interpretation of musical works. Whether the interpretation is supported by research, by balance of the concert program, or whether you just decided to do something on a whim. Either way, you must be comfortable with yourself and how you present yourself. Forget about what people are thinking about you. Be yourself and be true to yourself and your own personality.

Wear your own skin.

Modern Musical Lessons?

Sometime in my university music education, someone impressed the significance of keeping up with musicalogical trends. Some years later, I fully understood this significance. However, I now feel it equally important that classical music educations should include the current popular cultures and trends. My undergraduate 20th-century music history class ended before Elvis was born!!


There is an apparent arrogance with musicologist in researching the history of music. Very rarely do you see research of 20th c. topics. I feel it is short sighted of us to ignore the recent and current popular cultural and musical ideologies. With music changing so rapidly, we have much to learn to fully understand where we are going. I have to say, it is almost a betrayel of educational responsibilities if universities do not offer a class or classes in current music and performance practices.


I suppose to understand musical trends one must understand social trends. And, to predict a future trend, one must fully understand the historical paths and project a future based on where we have been and what we have accepted and denied as social and musical "norms". Perhaps I just described a successful Marketing campaign, but I hope I have also ignited some interest in current musical trends. Now we can take this to the next level and discuss music technologies, because much "new" music is electronic and perhaps a bit aleatoric. But, I'm currently interested in what can be recreated in a live performance.


Hmmm, perhaps I'll ponder this more with a holiday cookie.





Cheers and cookie up!

Life Lessons - Careful what you ask for...

Recently, a young friend asked me what life lesson I could impart to her. She said, and I paraphrase (because sometimes I feel my partially photographic memory is fading like an old black and white photograph although I'm far too young to be complaining about such things albeit, here I am, but I digress), "is there anything you could tell me that you wish you knew when you were my age?". This gave me pause. It was an open door. Do I dare walk in? How much do you say? As a teacher, I was now set loose to offer my wisdom. Well, in retrospect the answer I gave her was probably a cop out. I told that there are many things I could tell her - MANY things and the more "lessons" I shared, I told her, the less important they would appear. Sometimes less is more. So, I said simply, "take advantage of your time in school and learn everything you can. School is fleeting and through out life you will say, 'rats, I wish I would have paid better attention in that class'. Or, 'Geez, I took two semesters of astonomy and I still don't know where Leo is!'".

What I really wanted to do is give her a long list of things to watch out for, when to be aggressive and when the passive approach is more effective, the importance of a knowing a second language, being versed in multiple disciplines, and essentially the value of a liberal arts education. That would have inundated her. So, I told her that one bit of wisdom.

Admittedly, I told her that I will share things with her every now and then as the situation presented itself. But, really who doesn't do that anyway?

What one thing would you share with a college-aged curious individual? What would you tell someone that you wish you would have known when you were back in college?
(Don't drink the blue stuff!!" is too easy an answer!)

I love that my friend is going through this wonderfully healthy stage of craving information. However, careful what you ask for...

Blog on.

Differences Between a Cold and H1N1 "Swine" Flu

OK, readers. It's time to talk H1N1 again. Apparently this darn flu is spreading more rapidly than the health professionals know how to handle.

Remember the obvious preventative actions:
1) wash your hands
2) repeat #1

I can't tell you how many times I see guys in public restrooms that DO NOT wash their hands after they do their business. Jeez, so you take an extra minute and a half longer in the stinky room. Get over it and wash your hands!

Okay, so let's say you find yourself (with clean hands) coughing and you start thinking, "oh no, I have the dreaded Swine Flu! Oh no, oh no! Head for the hills!" Now stop and think, do I really have it?

Here are the primary differences between a cold and the H1N1 "Swine" Flu (click chart to enlarge):


If you really think you have it, then seek medical attention.
For now, wash your hands frequently. If not for you, then for everyone else you come in contact with. Thank you in advance.

Be safe. Be happy.




The above chart was sent to me by a friend, but it can be found at this website: http://www.turnto23.com/news/19337804/detail.html

Top 5 Qualities to Strive for in Life

Top 5 Qualities to Strive for in Life

While looking out my window and seeing the absolute beauty in nature, I find that my mind wanders to searching for the big picture or the answer to the answered question. Although I will not be discussing Charles Ives “Unanswered Question” at this point, it is an interesting piece worthy of conversation…perhaps later. At any rate, here are my thoughts as I examine ways to improve myself.

I narrowed it, albeit naively, to the top 5 qualities one should strive for in life. These qualities will help you socially, professionally, and probably land you a job if you are true to yourself. In every day life we run across people that at takers and not givers. People that do not value a good day, but rather take advantage of others while the day is good are the ones I’m addressing. I’m speaking of that bum that cuts us off on the highway, or jerkoid who tries to rip you off at the cell phone store, or most recently, the moving company guy who delivers your furniture late, damaged, and dissolves himself of responsibility (long story, but again, another blog for another time).

Here are the 5 qualities to hit that sweet spot in life.

1. Intelligence
No doubt about it, intelligence is important to survive in life. I’m not just talking about book smarts, but street smarts as well. As important as it is to be informed in many areas of life as literature, fine arts, math, language skills, it is also important to have the know how to survive in the urban wilderness. This “street smarts” is essentially modern Darwinism – the survival of the urban fittest. Only the resilient and the wise tend to rise to the top.

2. Integrity
Integrity is one of the illusive words that too many people just do not understand. Truth, honor, and faith are qualities of integrity. Truth and honor are both self explanatory (I hope). With faith, I am referring to that faith you can have in others for doing the right thing and for others to have in you. Faith is that others believe you will complete your task as promised. Faith is that others believe you will pay your debts on time. And, faith is that you are truthful and honorable to your fellow person. This is non-negotiable.

3. Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm = excitement and drive for life. Isn’t always more enjoyable to be around people who are enthusiastic about what they are doing, excited by their project or activity? This is extremely contagious and equally important.

4. Curiosity
If you are always looking for answers to problems or find yourself solving issues, resolving contentions, or even just wondering what’s around the corner, then you have got this one covered. They say that curiosity is the spice of life and I’d have to agree.

5. Diversity
A diverse individual is one that is multifaceted in interests, open-minded, tolerant, patience, and able to see beyond what’s directly in front of them. This is probably the most difficult attribute one can strive for because it calls for a diverse outlook in life. People will judge you by who surrounds you. Only you can choose your friends. Choose wisely. Keep a diverse outlook and remain open to feedback, information, ideals, and even religion.

Cheers,

David