God just handed me the keys to a Ferrari and I can't drive stick
  • FidemInFidebusFidemInFidebus
    Posts: 611
    First meeting with my choir was tonight. My thread title references something a professor told me in a conducting class. We had only been conducting each other with silly little arrangements in class, but our final exam required conducting a piece with one of the large university ensembles. I chose an arrangement of Vaughan Williams' English folk suite for the symphonic wind ensemble. Before I went to the podium the director of bands-someone I've known since childhood-said to me "Don't overdo anything. Conducting this group is like driving a powerful sports car when you're used to driving an old beater." He was right, and afterwards I said "Now I know why you are so excited to get up and come to work every day."

    This choir is that sports car. They can do anything I want them to. Tonight was mostly a meet and greet and get to know everyone kind of affair, but I also wanted to hear them and finally know what I was dealing with. They are excellent sight readers. They sing hymns in four parts perfectly. Their intonation is amazing. And it's true, I never learned how to drive manual, but at least I can recognize their value and potential and put those to greater use. When I announced we would hold sectionals for the larger and more difficult works some people cheered. The previous director never did sectionals even though they wanted them. They want to do BETTER music-"real" music, and I've got no shortage of plans for them. I went from accompanist for a tiny choir in a church that didn't appreciate what we did to director of a big choir in a church that is so fully supportive of its music ministry, over half the congregation is also involved in the music in some way or another.

    On a final note, the committee hired my preferred candidate for the accompanist position. God please help me do right by these people. Help all of us in music ministry to use all of our gifts and talents, not to glorify ourselves but to glorify You. God's plans for us are always greater than the plans we make for ourselves.

    I worked a 12 hour day today on five hours of sleep, time for some rest...
    Thanked by 11CHGiffen janetgorbitz PaxMelodious Jahaza Gustavo Zayas Vilyanor canadash Jeffrey Quick nun_34 Elmar WGS
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    Good to hear, Fidem! I appreciate hearing about your experience
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    I think that you will discover that getting used to a stick shift is relatively painless and a joyful (almost ecstatic) growth. I've always been of the opinion that anyone who can't drive a manual transmission can't drive at all. He or she knows nothing at all about what 'drive' really means! Nor that 'driving' is actually an art. Congratulations on your new-found joy - and relish the world of difference which opens up in each gear, not to mention how that each is but an aspect of one singularity.

    Godspeed!
  • francis
    Posts: 10,827
    my five speed of the last decade.

    as MJO is intimating... driving is an art...
    and I always said to my kids, "drive art".
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    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    You are beaming with your new Beamer!! Enjoy the drive and the ride!
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    I've always been of the opinion that anyone who can't drive a manual transmission can't drive at all.


    Some of you guys seem to have a love of ancient technology. Next you will be discussing the merits of reins.
    Thanked by 2Vilyanor Ali
  • FidemInFidebusFidemInFidebus
    Posts: 611
    It's really silly that I never learned. My father restored classic cars and is back at it again now that he's retired. He had a 1965 GTO convertible and a 1971 Impala. I enjoyed looking at them and riding in them, but never wanted to learn how to drive them lol. My stepdad used to drag race and was also a truck driver. So I have lots of people who could teach me. My sister on the other hand is a total gearhead and won't drive anything but manual. I guess she got more of the car genes from Dad.

    I currently drive a 2016 Kia Sedona. It's a minivan. Quite comfy for grocery shopping and long trips. We've been a one vehicle family for over a decade now, so it's all I've got haha
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    I find myself once again agreeing with Jackson -- but not completely disagreeing with Charles. Let me start with my agreement with Charles. Ancient technology built the pyramids, Chartres Cathedral and cars we banged dents out of. Modern technology gives us computer crashes, glass skyscrapers and driverless cars. On balance, I'll take the ancient over the modern --- on this score.


    Now, my agreement with Jackson. Indeed, to be really involved, to be fully, consciously and actively participating in the act of driving, one needs a standard shift transmission.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    Whoa! Let's not get run over by a metaphor. It's great to hear that FidemInFidebus had such a wonderful first meeting with her new choir.
    Thanked by 1mmeladirectress
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    Some of the older cars were beautiful - former Trans Am collector here. But in reality, they had more mechanical problems, needed more service, had worse brakes, were not as reliable, and definitely not fuel efficient. My first car as a teenager was formerly my dad's Chrysler New Yorker, 392 hemi. I used to drag with Mustangs and beat them every time. Never told dad about that one. LOL. It had a push button gear selector. I never owned a stick and I understand they can be hard to find in the newer cars. The automatics have become so efficient there isn't much advantage to a stick, unless you just like to fool with them.

    Side note: One of my friends had a serious foot injury. He couldn't drive his stick shift for a couple of months until he was once again able to use the clutch.

    Glad the new choir went well. I will GLADLY take some of them off your hands if you get tired of them.
    Thanked by 1Vilyanor
  • FidemInFidebusFidemInFidebus
    Posts: 611
    @CharlesW but that was the fun part of those cars, at least to people like my Dad. You took pride in knowing how to fix them, and you could fix them by yourself because it didn't require computers or impossible to access parts.

    I also start teaching elementary music grades 1-3 next week at a small, private, Christian inner city school. I only teach there two days a week, and I only have each grade one of those two days. The school is known for its behavior challenges with the students, most of the training this week has dealt with that issue. No fancy cars in this situation...but I'm fine and can get by without one at all.
    Thanked by 1Vilyanor
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    When I taught middle school, one of the inevitable questions was "did you kill anyone while you were in the army?" I always replied that the only people I ever shot were middle schoolers because they jump better when you shoot them. I didn't have too many problems after that. LOL.

    Good luck on the teaching.
    Thanked by 1FidemInFidebus
  • VilyanorVilyanor
    Posts: 388
    I'm glad you've found your way into an altogether better position, Fidem.

    Since Chris mentioned driverless cars, I can't wait until I can get one. I can only imagine how much more time I'll have to work or simply leisurely look out the window instead of driving. It'll be wonderful. I hate driving except in certain circumstances. Even then, I'd be just as happy giving the reins to someone else, or to a computer, so I can focus on the scenery.
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Fidem,

    Congratulations on the new position. May all work out well for you.

    Thanked by 1FidemInFidebus
  • FidemInFidebusFidemInFidebus
    Posts: 611
    @Vilyanor: that reminds me of something I saw on Facebook that said "With the rise in popularity of driverless cars, eventually there WILL be a country song about how your truck left you too" LOL!
    Thanked by 5StimsonInRehab Vilyanor PaxMelodious francis CHGiffen
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    Enjoy your new cars, folks. I'll stick with my Lefebrvolet. Built to last.
    Thanked by 4FidemInFidebus mmeladirectress francis CHGiffen
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Stimson,

    Thank you for keeping a sense of humor.
    Thanked by 2mmeladirectress StimsonInRehab
  • francis
    Posts: 10,827
    The only car that will ever drive me is a hearse and I will be stretched out in the back
    Thanked by 1StimsonInRehab
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