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Hi! So I'm going to be a high school junior this fall, and I've been looking at potential colleges. I play Bb sop. clarinet, but since I started playing bass clarinet two years ago I've really grown to love it. I want to make bass my primary instrument, but I'm having a hard time finding somewhere that actually allows that. Any suggestions?

Not sure how long ago this was inboxed, buuuuuuuut:Find the clarinet professor you want to study with first. Make sure that you have plenty of options to pay for school available to you (because nothing hurts worse than pulling loans senior year). And if they don’t offer bass clarinet performance: MAKE THEM. My university didn’t offer bass clarinet as a main instrument of study. But I kept coming to lessons and juries with a TON of bass clarinet repertoire that was challenging, showed the full range and ability of the instrument, and showed them that I can play in any style. I ended up doing my entire senior recital on the bass clarinet. ALSO: get used to being able to sight-transpose bassoon and cello parts. Your value as a player will skyrocket. I was able to perform in the festival orchestra with InterHarmony in Italy because I can sight-transpose with ease (which is a skill set I developed on my own from always wanting to play flute/violin parts on clarinet), so they didn’t have to hire another bassoonist, and I got to be a part of a really incredible orchestra. Transposing 2nds is easy: up a step and add 2 sharps to the key signature you’re playing in. 

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Update:  I found him and made him mine over a year ago. 

I read this now and remember how upset I was then (and I had every goddamn right to be). But as I read this list, Derek is messaging me about his new plant (this boy seriously went out and bought a strange looking plant 2 days before the total eclipse of the sun - but I digress). He is excited for me to go back to rehearsals after a long hiatus, because he is excited to come to my concerts again and knows how much I missed performing. He is offering to help offset some of my bills so that I can focus on teaching and building my studio back up (I lost it after my ex left due to financial issues) because he believes in me and knows I’m going to succeed. He has attended and helped out at all of my performances, my student’s performances, and even came to our festivals. We have never eaten at the same place twice, and enjoy cooking different things at home together. We always find new places to adventure to, but also enjoy reading and watching Netflix at home together. He is pushing me to stay on track to apply to my PhD program because he “can’t wait to brag about [my] ritzy music teaching doctor girlfriend.” When I have a concern, he is all ears, and responds honestly. He has met every mark on this list (and even some minor extras - he is a dual citizen in US and Germany, and is bilingual in German and English). Hell, he even spoils my cat!  I think I’m going to keep this one.

Drastic life changes call for drastic hair changes.

All I have to say is: 3 years of devotion and giving you everything I had, breaking down all of my walls and telling you all of my darkest secrets, 3 years of honesty and love and doing everything I could to make you happy, of putting you before me and sacrificing large parts of who I was to grow into who I thought we could be - and you didn’t even give me the courtesy of a conversation or a warning before walking out on me during a weekend that I was away at a band festival? You didn’t know how else to tell me you were unhappy outside of pretending that you were and then moving out while I remained blissfully unaware. You continue to pretend like nothing happened when you talk to me. You continue to screw me over (thanks for the 10 minute warning that you shut off the utilities and I had to call right then to set them up or go without heat and electricity).

You continue to pretend like nothing is wrong.

You don’t deserve me. This is your loss. I wasted three years with a handsome boy, when I could have been out with a real man.

I will not apologize for knowing who I am, knowing what I want, and for achieving my life goals. I will never apologize for being educated, and I refuse to hold my life back because you don’t have any clue what you want out of life.

It’s time to find a man who appreciates that I’m educated. A man who will laugh at my terrible puns. A man who isn’t afraid to dance. A man who will push me and allow me to push back. A man who enjoys a good drink and good food, and isn’t afraid of trying something new. A man who knows who he is, what he wants, and knows how he is going to get there. A man who appreciates the fine arts and is a supporter of the arts. Someone who can challenge me, but is willing to listen to my viewpoint without shutting me down and call me stupid. Someone who will not pressure me to do things I don’t want to do.

Ugh. My list can go on.

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So I bought a new TV today. It's my first flat screen, and it's 32" (much bigger than my 18" tube TV). So I decided to test run the new TV with an episode of Supernatural. And curse you, Tumblr and the Spn fandom! My first thoughts were: I can ship Wincest harder on this bigger screen. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!?!??

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A coffee pot can be a coffee mug if you just don’t fucking care

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Advice for the signs in 2015

Aries: Wake up early and eat a frivolous breakfast at least one day a week. It won't kill you to wake up at 6 for once, and maybe you'll finally get to see a sunrise as pretty as you.

Taurus: Stop punishing yourself for smiling. (Even if you hate your teeth). You're going to be grinning a lot this year. So get used to your dimples.

Gemini: Be careful who you tell things to. They might not be who you think they are.

Cancer: Crying doesn't make you weak. Remember that.

Leo: Drink less coffee in the morning. You shouldn't be shaking when you leave the house for school. 1 cup will do.

Virgo: You're going to fall in love this year. Whether it's with a hobby, a significant other or yourself.

Libra: You're not cracking, breaking or snapping. It's not always going to hurt. You'll get through it. You always do.

Scorpio: Be bold. Dye your hair blue or change up your wardrobe a bit. Change will be your saving grace.

Sagittarius: Focus on healing

Capricorn: Don't look back. What's in front of you is sweeter than anything that's fallen behind.

Aquarius: Call them and tell them how you feel. Stop waiting for them to dial your number first.

Pisces: It's only going to hurt you as much as you let it.

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Paint primary colors on fan wings

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So my boyfriend loves Scott Pilgrim, and we haven't been dating too long. Tomorrow being V-Day, there is a lot of pressure to say a certain L-word. And I'm seeing all these cute ideas, but I'm sure he wouldn't want to be turned into a Disney character. Or have something too extravagant. And the present I got him has not arrived :( BUT! After 2 hours of stamping (yes, all but the drawing is done by individual stamps) and 1 hour of sketching (my first drafts were terrible), I have finished. Behold! My card!

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Mz 007 Will Give You Life With Self-Love Anthem “Important”

The moment I wake up, before I put on my make-up, I’m blasting Mz 007′s “Important.” The St. Louis rapper and certified bad bitch dropped the anthemic track last month, an ode to just how fly she is. It’s just the song you need to greet the day and get ready to start snatching wigs like it’s your true calling.

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When someone asks when I'm going to get married

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Tumblr Code.

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Instrument makers are crazy. Like, I would kill Oprah to earn the $14,000 to buy a new Selmer bass clarinet with a C extension. Except musicians are poor. I have a functioning kidney and ovaries for sale. $20,000 obo.

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What's the difference between a bull and an orchestra?

The bull has the horns in front and the asshole in the back.