Jonathan Sayre Allen

L3-L5 and L4-L5

Jonathan Allen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:46:41 +0000

Herniated/ruptured/bulged disks. Whatever you want to call them, they are messed up. This is the third time this year that I have had the disks bulge. Each time it puts me out of commission for around a week, if not more. This time was pretty inopportune. Doctoral Comprehensive exams are less than a month away and I need all the time I can get get to study. I can barely walk and I can not drive, so getting to the library and even sitting at the computer is extremely difficult. I am only writing this blog because of the WordPress app on my iPhone; I am writing this laying down on my back in bed.

The doctors do the typical thing: give some muscle relaxers and a pain killer and then tell you that they won’t do much and that the back will either get better or it won’t. Thanks for that…

Have any of you had spine issues? What have you found to help the most for pain management?

Thanks,

Denson Paul Pollard Masterclass and Recital

Jonathan Allen — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:42:39 +0000

On February 25, 2010 Denson Paul Pollard, Bass Trombone of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra visited the University of Iowa for masterclasses and a recital. The recital program is reprinted here:

Song for Latka – Jan Sandstrom

New Addition to my Office

Jonathan Allen — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:58:46 +0000

This beauty was given to me from Kate at Christmas. It’s amazing!! Thanks to Josh Thompson to helping me hang it up!

Change of Plans

Jonathan Allen — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:54:13 +0000

The post just below this one states that this, Spring 2010, will be our last semester here. We have decided to slow things down a bit and spread out the recitals in order to get really great recordings (hopefully). Kate and I will be living in Iowa City for at least one more year. We love it here and we are excited for the possibilities of another year! Kate is back in school and is doing very well. She is scoring top in most of her classes. I couldn’t be more proud!

Due to a situation in the school of music, my teaching load will be a little more than it has been. In addition, I am currently teaching the Instrumental Techniques class for music education majors. It is being quite the ride! I am loving every minute of it!

Last Semester

Jonathan Allen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:31:21 +0000

I just started my last semester at the University of Iowa. I am done with coursework at this point and I am primarily preparing two separate recitals. In addition, I am teaching ten students right now, so those things are going to keep me pretty busy!

Vacation

Jonathan Allen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:25:13 +0000

This week marks the fourth week of our long ~~Christmas~~ Winter Break at the University of Iowa. This year, for a change, we decided to stay in Iowa. We have enjoyed our time here relaxing, catching up on movies and tv that we have been too busy to watch, practicing the trombone, hanging out with friends, reading things we have been to busy to read, and so on. I can honestly say that I am ready to go back to school, but this has been a fruitful and enjoyable break!

I am the Barry Bonds of Iowa Juries:

Jonathan Allen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:39:48 +0000

Asterisk!

Semester Update

Jonathan Allen — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:17:17 +0000

I was doing so well with updating somewhat regularly until I started a little website for fun: www.overheardoncambus.com. That little site has had over 50,000 visitors, had a spread in the student newspaper at the University of Iowa, and I have had numerous submissions from students. It has been a funny experience.

Since my last post, Celebration Bridal has closed. Kate has applied to Kirkwood College and has had her transcripts moved over there; she will start in January. She is excited to move forward.

I have had the opportunity to gig quite a bit lately, including playing back-up with The Temptations, playing a Schwantner piece with the Quad City Symphony, and a couple of other local things. We are grateful for every opportunity to perform and it means even more when they are close enough that Kate can come see me play!

In addition to these things, I have been preparing my first DMA recital. It will be December 17th at 5:00 in the UCC Recital Hall. On the program will be the Albrechstberger Concerto, John La Montaine’s Conversations, and Bert Appermont’s Colors for Trombone. It’s quite a varied program and I am very excited for it.

We are currently in the middle of a blizzard and we are very excited for it to look like Christmas!

Week 6, Un-FIN

Jonathan Allen — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:56:34 +0000

Mid-week post. Today the UISO will play Stravinsky’s Firebird and Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto with UofIowa faculty member Ksenia Nosikova. She sounds amazing!

This week we had some unfortunate news. Celebration Bridal, the store Kate has been working at for several years, will be closing on October 31st. We are exploring all of our options at this point and we are hopeful that something will come to fruition in a timely manner.

Week 5 FIN

Jonathan Allen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:37:05 +0000

I can’t believe that are already five weeks deep in the semester. I have been keeping up with all my work, classes, and practice, and it seems like I haven’t accomplished anything yet. That is very frustrating.

At any rate, this weekend promises some fun! Way back in March Kate and I purchased tickets to Dave Matthews Band in Des Moines for tonight as her Birthday present. This will be my first “big” rock concert; I am quite looking forward to it. Tomorrow – homework, paper, and practice, and go Iowa! Beat Penn State!