Seattle.

Theatre Major.

I did it. I switched to a theatre major. I will be theatre performance once I get it approved. I'm not doing away with music, I'll will still keep a music minor. People ask, "Why the sudden switch?" A simple answer could be that it just feels right. I find my joy in theatre. It is amazing the joy that it brings.

Tonight I have the first of two performances of 'Beauty and the Lonely Beast', the second performance is tomorrow. It is a children's musical directed by a senior for her final project. I am playing Beast. It is a great role to stretch my abilities and be someone I am not like at all. He is an interesting character because it seems like his has four different moods. The angry beast, the lonely beast, the happy beast and the charm of a prince. It's fun working with a lot of facial expressions. I might post some pictures soon.

The two one acts I am in are more of the adult version plays this year. "Opposites Attract" by Bruce Kane is an abstract performance in which just about everyone has to play three different characters. The theme of this one act is that people want each other and the way they tend to fill the need is through sex. Interesting dialogue and scenarios. That will be performed Dec. 2nd.

The second one is called 'Life Under Water' by Richard Greenberg. An interesting story where my relationship with my mother is not the greatest. I end up running away staying with two girls down the shore and getting to know each of them, but feel terrible after sleeping with one of them, then eventually the other. I end up finding comfort at home with my mother after all. Will be performed Dec. 4th.

It is quite an interesting shift from the Sterling theatre. More risque plays can be done here. Sex, Alcohol, Cursing is all accepted at Whitworth. In 'Life Under Water', it calls for me to walk nude across the stage, but that's the one thing Whitworth won't allow. I was totally for it, it will stretch me as an actor, but I guess we will improvise. If I didn't make the switch to Whitworth, I don't know where I would be and what I would be doing.

I found joy.

Footsteps Echo.

Through the darkness we travel over a thousand miles
Our legs are getting weak with every step into this cave
One more step makes the pain feel like a phantom leg
It is just there making each step with no thought of why
You try to stop, but you carry on through
No Going back
We can't go back
We will walk on



-Found this yesterday while searching through some piano repertoire. I think I must have written this back in January. I don't remember writing it though. I also wrote some chord progressions for it back then. We will see what it sounds like. Interesting.

Starting.

This is what I do when I can't sleep.



A duet from the musical. It's finally coming together slowly. Now that I have started, it is going to be hard to sleep.

iMovie.

IXAb


Messing around with iMovie and the guitar.

Random Theatre

Just had the read-through for a new musical/show I am in, Beauty and the Lonely Beast. It's a six person cast and is geared mostly for children, though the happy theme of the show is for everyone. I will be playing Beast who is pretty similar to the movie, but tends to be more depressed in this show.

We had our opening night for 'The Cradle Will Rock' last night and it went really really well. In my scene, I run off the stage to try to save some people from an explosion, but I end up dying in the disaster along with the couple that is madly in love with each other. We had a dress rehearsal with quite a few senior citizens and when I died, they laughed. Kinda funny I thought, but last night, the eerie sound of the explosion seemed to linger in the auditorium. One show down, five more to go.

I sent my information to a conservatory for acting in NYC. They have a two-year program and also a four week summer program that can also be earned for college credits. They called me a few weeks ago expressing a lot of excitement in my interest in the school. They also said that the music knowledge that I have is a great quality to have. There will be auditions for scholarships geared for both the two-year and four week programs. The school is www.sft.edu if you wanted to check it out. I'll let you know what happens.

Also, I have posted more information/songs/lyrics/details/ideas in the musical blogspot. Check it out if you haven't or let me know if you want access.

Yearn for Silence.

Sometimes when I sit in class I hear everything. I will do what I can to explain it the best. This reality of sounds happening around me puts me in a superficial state of mind. I hear everything. The teacher is speaking in rhythm, pencils scratch paper, shuffle of feet, squeaks of chairs, sniffling of the nose, typing on computers, erasing a thought, folding paper, chewing of gum, sip of coffee, knuckles cracking, backpacks zipping and even scratching of the head. This is just in class.

But when I go outside it has much more bigger and unexpected sounds. An ambulance goes rushing by and I feel like I can hear the worry of someone else's heart. I hear the wind in the trees as I feel the depth of their roots in the soil. I hear people yell across the campus and picture their story in my mind.

Sometimes on a rare occasion when I walk home really late at night, I don't hear anything. It feels that without sound my life might be lost, but the silence brings peace and dreams to a reality as I look up at the stars. It is in this moment where I can fly away and be the person I am meant to be.

Introduction.

I finally had time to write out a simple introduction to the musical in my head. It can be found under my private blog at http://workinprogressmusical.blogspot.com. Let me know if you want access to view this blog by sending me your email to traviswicklund@gmail.com, by facebook or even by leaving a comment under this blog. Thanks!

Where Is The Sky?

New song up on the space. Another instrumental track. Just layered it with three bass tracks. That's right. Just the electric bass and nothing else. It was quite fun hearing what sounds were coming forward this evening. Let me know what you think if you feel compelled to.

Patterns That Form

Through the grass
Through the trees
Through the valley
Through the stream
I ran away

Through the grass
Through the trees
Through the valley
Through the stream
I cried

And the grass
was supposed to be green that day
The day you said you would come by
But I stand here waiting, wishing, hoping
For you

And this tree lay here as it did last year
It swayed in the air to the beat of the wind
And I felt like you were here

This valley lay deep and still
And I remember we ran through
Just the two of us
Just the two of us
In love for the first time

the stream we always crossed by your house
We held hands while running away
The two of us were so in love
The two of us were so in love
Yes, the two of us were so in love
The two of us were so in love
We Sang
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la

Through the grass
Through the trees
Through the valley
Through the stream
I ran away

Through the grass
Through the trees
Through the valley
Through the stream
I cried

This life was our start
Till death we did part
And I
I'll always love you


(It has the feeling of the music from Juno along with a touch from Iron & Wine. If I have time, I might record it soon)

The Cradle Will Rock.

The fall musical this year has a huge cast and is already underway. We had our first rehearsal yesterday and will be set to perform two weekends in October. I believe we will be doing a total of six shows. There was a movie released about 10 years ago about how the play came to be and why it was so controversial.

It seems that everyone involved with theatre or has a slight interest should check out this show or the movie. It was a giant stepping stone for theatre in the 1930s and we probably wouldn't have the quality of theatre we would have now if it wasn't for Marc Blitzstein. I was casted the roll of 'Steve' and also casted as a member of the chorus. He is a young adult that helps out with his father's drugstore, but tends to be more realistic with the events that are happening around him while his father is the idealist. It is a small role, but seems to be a great one that will help improve my awareness in this new world of theatre. It shall be exciting. I might even be looking into several auditions that are in downtown Spokane. 'Urinetown' is coming through along with Sondheims 'A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum'. Thank you Spokane for being a city.

Musical Blogspot.

This is the first post on the new musical blogspot.

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This will be the home for shared ideas of a musical that I am writing. With the title of this blog, it truly will be a work in progress not knowing when or how long this will take. I'm not sure how much time I will able to write this fall semester, but I'm getting ideas together for a story that I want to tell. I realize I can't do this alone. This is when you come in. I need suggestions/ideas/thoughts from you in order for my scattered thoughts to fall in to place and to make sense of the story in my head. You can come with me on this journey if you would like to. You can give suggestions or you can just stick around to see how these ideas will progress. More information will come. I'm still seeing if this will work out on a blog. The next post will hopefully be a rough outline of a story or of ideas that I have. And as for the title of this musical, we will find out together what should be most appropriate.

If you would like permission to access this blog or even become an author of this blog. Just let me know at anytime during this journey.

------------------

The link is as follows: http://workinprogressmusical.blogspot.com/

Just send me your email through here, facebook or my email: traviswicklund@gmail.com

Starting To Write.

Wow. I've never thought I would do this. I have ideas for a musical in mind and started writing some melodies, characters, setting, theme, etc. I don't know when a final rough draft will be finished, but I have started at the very least. If you would like to know details of what I have so far, just let me know. I am thinking of starting a new blogspot with progress and shared ideas from others. We shall see where this goes and how much time I will be able to have to work on it while at school in Spokane.

Houses.

I chuckled and shook my head.

Silly McCain.

Fun.

Good news. Nate Reuss, the singer of 'The Format', has started a new band with the guitarist of 'Steel Train', Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost of 'Anathallo'. They will be recording their debut album in September and it will be expected to be released in February of 09'. They currently have one demo track up on their MySpace. Check it out! http://www.myspace.com/fun

To Write/Compose.

These thoughts that have been going on in my head don't want to leave and I don't think that they will leave anytime soon. When I tend to sit down at the piano, I don't always work on my repertoire, I tend to write and create music of my own. Hours can go by just playing the same basic melody while finding the perfect accompaniment with the new sound. These thoughts of creating music is all I do now. It seems that this music I feel like creating isn't that of a folk song or an alternative rock ballade. It is different than that. I want to create a story through song, through a play. I've been thinking of ideas and books that could go perfectly in the musical setting, but have yet to find the perfect match that goes with the music I am writing. Musicals have been so diverse now that I feel like I can dive into it with no problem at all. In high school, I had the thoughts of writing an orchestration to a song just because it felt like I needed and wanted to write in order for my mind to grow. It was performed at the last concert of the year. I am having the same yearning thoughts to create a musical and I don't feel like these thoughts will leave until I get more ideas underway. But then again, I might never want these thoughts to leave. As for now, I will practice more piano in hopes that the melody will find me and find words to go with it.

50.

According to money.cnn.com, Longmont is ranked 50 in the top 100 places to live. It appears that we get 300 days of sunshine. But I must say that this rain we have been getting is a nice change. It shows all these stats from amount of leisure activities to amount spent on vacation to the low temperature in January. It was very interesting to see all this and compare other top cities. Also, Ft. Collins is ranked in the number 2 spot. Go Colorado?!


Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams

C-Minor.

New piano piece up on the space in C-minor. It is an improvisation and I felt like recording something with new effects. I was in a creative mood this evening and wanted to mess around with the piano, so, enjoy? I even printed out some staff paper and started to write another piece with some possible melody ideas. We shall see where it heads.

Un Nuovo Mese.

One more month exactly till classes start up at Whitworth. I'm actually excited to get focused and start school. Due to the high enrollment rate at school, there was no room for me to live on campus, so they asked me to find a place off campus. Thankfully Katie Petitt was able to put a good word in for me to the house she is in for the summer. I'll be living in a seven person house one block away from school. It will be really convenient because I won't have a car and that my skateboard will only go so far. I also think that the music building is really close by, which will be extremely beneficial because it will basically be my second home while at school. It will be interesting adjusting to Whitworth's standards and seeing in full what is expected of me. I have to prepare 30 minutes of memorized music this spring for my Junior recital. So I'm sure that four hours of practicing a day will be expected, but I'm excited and ready to dive into more repertoire. I'm also going to take a look at the theatre department and see what they are all about. I would like to get more experience on stage and it will help with the performance aspect of the piano. It seems that being away from home and the busyness of work, I'll have more of a focus to write more music and lyrics this fall. My mind has been in so many places the summer with the whole transferring process and with work. It has been extremely difficult to focus on music that I want to create but lack the motivation to compose. All I have left to say is that I am ready for this new place. I honestly can't wait.



Goods (All In Your Head) by Mates Of State

Musicals.

It seems as if 'West Side Story' and 'Rent' gave birth to a child, it would be called 'In The Heights'. Of course it is no Leonard Bernstein, but the music is pretty awesome. The composer and writer also plays a lead role in the show. I'm not sure why I have grown to like the music, but the technicalities of the salsa genre have me always guessing of what tempo and key changes are about to occur. This show won numerous awards at the Tony's including best musical.



Next up is 'Spring Awakening' based off of a play by Frank Wedekind. I listened to the full soundtrack for the first time today while at work and enjoyed every track. Different style of music too. The setting is in 1891 Germany at a boarding school and the music that is portrayed would be like nothing ever heard in that time period. I'm still researching this show, but it won best musical at the Tony's last year. The cast is mostly young too, so it is nice to have fresh faces out there. The last song in the medley is edited to be suitable for CBS.



I have been into musicals a lot lately. It would be amazing to write such a masterpiece that tells a story in a very creative way. Of course you could do that on a basic album with a band or as a solo artist, but it seems that I have been drawn to this way through musicals of presenting a story. We'll see where it heads.

Voices.

Today is Saturday. I decided for record a choirish a' capellaish type on song. It sounds... interesting. Take a listen if you really want to. It is found on myspace under the second track entitled 'Sleep'. Different for sure, but it always fun to experiment.

UPDATE: Took the song off to make room for other stuff. Let me know if you want to hear it.

Dear Sterling College,

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for letting me grow in the short time I have been there. Thank you for all the wonderful people I have met. Thank you for letting me get away with stealing Sputnik. Thank you for the life long friends that I have been blessed with. Thank you for the opportunities to discover myself and the world around me. Thank you for letting me let go to what I have called home for the past two years. I know it will be difficult not heading east on the 70 this fall, but the only reason that I would stay is because of the people. You must know that if I returned to you, I would be the only returning music major. You must know that the music department is in transition and it will eventually rebuild itself, but I don't want to be in a place where it is not letting me grow. I need something stable. I need something challenging. I need support of other music majors and the support of professors. After all, I am in college and I would like to learn. This place that will meet my needs is much further away from you, actually, 1,525 miles away. The town of Sterling, Kansas was a great experience, but I feel like the city of Spokane, Washington will help me discover myself. No hard feelings Sterling, but it will be easier for me to grow musically in a place with just about half a million people instead of a few thousand. I hope you understand. There might never be a chance for me to walk on your campus again, but don't worry, you will not be forgotten. Just give understanding to all the people that I have met there and hopefully they will be able to support me in this decision. It will be difficult, but you can't just go to a school because of the people. There needs to be more. I believe I have found more. It just involves a different equation. Thank you Sterling College, but now it is time for me to attend Whitworth University.

Best wishes,

Travis Wicklund

Sleep.

A melody of silence is all I can offer
A song that speaks of peace
Once night time comes, it is ready to see
The silence with our own ears

We yearn
To sing

The darkness floats among a reverie
Dreaming is time to feel the sound
While we gently sleep in silence
Keep us still

We yearn
To sing

Slip away into this orchestration we have created
Every tone is the exact way it should be
This masterpiece is all in our heads
Let us continue to sleep in silence

We need
To sing

(to be free)

Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust.

Sigur Rós' new album was released last Tuesday. Everything they do seems to put a smile on my face. Amazing what they can do musically. If I ever had the opportunity to create music the way they do, I don't know what else I would rather be doing. It is difficult to get ideas out there when I am busy with work and the whole school situation. If music is my work, that would be the best thing ever. That means I would have time to concentrate, compose, practice, create and enjoy. Maybe someday. Will that come soon? I'll let you know when that day comes. If it ever comes.

Finances.

Financial aid package came today. It will basically be the same cost if I either go to Sterling or Whitworth. Whitworth is the more expensive school, but they are giving me a good amount of scholarship with music and some Whitworth Heritage Scholarship. I have to decide by July 1st. Whitworth's music department is excellent, while Sterling's is lacking. If I go back to Sterling, I would be the only returning music major. There are five or so Freshmen music majors that are going to be attending Sterling this fall which is good and all, but there were seven of us my first year at Sterling and I'm the only one left that is a major. The one thing that has been on my mind is thinking that I am not good enough for a performance style of music at Whitworth, but I feel like I could bring an expression of creativity with music to the department of Whitworth and that would discover myself even more. We shall see. We shall see.


Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight by Amos Lee

Quiet, Until it is Time.

Silence is best. This silence is needed in order to grow. This silence is needed for understanding of what needs to be accomplished. Silence is needed to be accomplished through thought, through lyrics, through melodies and through discoveries. Please, just give me some silence. With this silence, I will show you much more. Silence is best.

Answers and Questions.

I found out today that I have been accepted to Whitworth. The only question now is how much all the finances will line up. I should find out soon. It is mind boggling that Sterling might be part of the past now. Interesting indeed.

More Added.

I added a little bit more to the new track that I have been working on this past week. The beginning is the same, but added another 3 minutes or so to the song. I am not to sure what I think about the middle section. I haven't fully comprehend what that section should interpret. Let me know what you think of the conclusion of the piece. It seems like it will work, but I'll add more voicing harmonies when the time comes. I just uploaded it onto myspace and it should be on there in a couple of hours. Check it out! Grazie i miei amici.

Free Concert.

THE RESTORATION PROJECT, IN CONCERT (IN A HOUSE)
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
At: The Wicklund's Home
743 Sumner St.
Longmont, CO 80501
7:00 PM

ABOUT: The Restoration Project is not exactly a band, although people often come together and create music, it is more a vision of creative partnership. Tracy How, creator of the group, and the girl actually present the house concert, has been a full time independent artist for nearly 8 years, playing on over 100 university campuses, touring throughout North, Central and South America, singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese. She plays acoustic and electric guitar and was classically trained as a pianist, and many may different words and genres have described her in different seasons, from singer-songwriter to emo-femme to cultural fusion, Currently she is sharing work from the recently released project, "Songs For a Revolution of Hope", which was produced by Brian McLaren. But as always, Tracy hopes listeners leave different that when they arrived, as she shares an intimate and inspriging evening, discovering through stories and music influenced by the people and cultures she has intersected over the years.

To support Tracy's Music, donations gladly accepted. CD's available for purchase. To get a feel for her music, go to http://www.myspace.com/therestorationproject

Hope to see you Saturday!

P.S. Bring your friends and acquaintances. Seriously.

Demo up.

I just uploaded a demo track that I started yesterday up on the space and it should appear on there rather soon. It still has a lot more to go and has more lyrics to it also. I just wanted to get some opinions and suggestions of the new style/ideas that I have. If you could, please check it out and let me know your thoughts. The link is found on the right side of this very blog. Thanks.



UPDATE: Now it is finally up. Enjoy?

I Can See, But Would Rather Not.

It's this mirrored image that comes faster
Further away is not enough to tell
The difference between thoughts of old
To the thoughts of new
Even through your eyes

When these eyes meet
It as if it was a flight towards distant shores
But now, the only thing holding us back
Is the time it takes to tell what is right and what is wrong

Come back next August
So I remember what it felt like
Cold memories will slip away
It is better this time
Let it be the last time
That these eyes say
"Goodbye"

It's this mirrored image that traces the steps of another
Spiral downwards towards a stream that longs to be dry
Downwards through a desert that is scarred with heat
The glassy ocean will meet us where we lay at the bottom
Reaching up

Don't hold your breath
There is no more life
No more hope
No more truth
To anything
Anymore

It's the eyes that are the only lies I see

Freaks and Geeks

Just finished the season tonight. Amazing. TV on DVD is the way to do it.

Nothing Is Bright (Anymore)

Just wait
It is just another minute away
But it can't just go on
Anymore

This red light is the only thing to see
Turn now, away from time
Still in the silence
Wrestles the peace
Just wait
It's your turn to go

Forward through the haze
Can't see anything
Or anyone
Anymore

Faster is the heart that beats
Slower is nowhere near
Come once and for all
Come
But don't turn back

Hammer through the left
Just one more breath
Then it fades away
Slowly

Just tell me one thing
Why did you do it?

New Track.

Hello to everyone that views this blog whomever you may be. I just recorded a song today and posted it up on the one and only MySpace. I used LogicPro and my MacBook and hit record a couple of times. The quality isn't the greatest, but it is too much fun to pass up. The link is found to the right of my blog. Enjoy?

Dear Spokane,

Thank you for being a city. A city that lets me grow. Hopefully I will see you soon.

No Thank You

This evening I received a message on the good old myspace asking if I was available to play a show at Cervantes Ballroom the 29th of May. They said that my sound would be a good fit for the evening. My first question was, "What sound?" I don't think I have a sound quite yet and the songs that are up on myspace are very random as it is. The next question was, "Who else will be playing at this venue?" After a little bit of research, I discovered that other people that are playing is a lot of Hip-Hop Eminem style of music with lyrics that are rather terrible. I chuckled on the inside then wrote a short email making sure that my research is correct, which I thought was a nice way to say no to the show. Maybe I should say yes and bust a rhyme? I think I'll save my breath. I'll leave you with this: Music is like candy. Throw out the rappers.


24 Turned 25 by Denison Witmer

Unlocked Corridors

Interesting what events lead up to doors opening for the future. I am headed to Whitworth University in Spokane, WA to hang out with my good friend David Whitehead and also to look into the music department there. So there is one door that opened. I just finished and sent in an application for the band Showbread. They are in need of a synth player, so I thought I'd let them know that I am interested. Door number two. Summer is here which will involve work and lots of music playing/creating/recording. Door number three. Time will tell what happens next.


Ágaetis Byrjun by Sigur Rós

Two minutes. Please?

Isn't it funny how hard you work for something for hours upon end and when it is time to perform it, they don't even have two minutes to spare? I had my final for voice and piano today, also known as juries. I sang selections from The Marriage of Figaro, South Pacific and also Les Misérables. It went fairly smooth and was really excited to sing 'Bring Him Home' from Les Mis. It was going great. Next up was the piano. I started off playing a Bouree by Handel and a Sonatina by Diabelli, which turned out to be alright, even memorized. Next in line was 'Clair de Lune' by Debussy and I was even a little more excited for his piece than 'Bring Him Home'. I was ready to go, but then they said that I would only have to play the first two pages. It didn't feel too terrible until I was away from the Steinway and outside walking back to my dorm. My favorite section is the third and fourth page when it is D-flat Major with a lot of rolling arpeggios and switches to C-sharp minor with a continuous reverie of melody and harmony. It was the most difficult section in the entire piece. I started this piece back in the first week of January and worked incredibly hard to play the third and fourth page. Incredibly hard meaning well over 80 hours on just those pages alone. As I was walking back to my dorm, I was rather irritated and rather pissed off that I wasn't able to perform what I have worked so hard on. Now I have to study for some other finals and write a paper involving something I don't care about, but it will be rather difficult with Clair de Lune on my mind. Wow, I can't wait for summer. Only a few more days.

Tabula Rasa

"I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep
when I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
when I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
my house..."

'Is there a Ghost' by Band of Horses

Simple? Yes.
Catchy? Very.

I find it rather amusing how something so simple can be turned into art that is extraordinary. While sitting with my guitar this evening, I became a little frustrated trying to find lyrics with the music I have created. Music is easy to create when it is just me with the guitar/piano/various instruments. Poetry is easy when it just me with a pen and paper. To combine the two seems like a simple task, but most of the time it is extremely difficult. Maybe I think too hard about it? Maybe I am not thinking hard enough? Maybe I just need to wait until summer starts in order to have time for ideas to come together? Hopefully these ideas come hand in hand. For now, I will play. For now, I will write. Let them both come as one. Someday.


'You're a Wolf' by Sea Wolf

Pass Until Dark

Light the places that are far gone
Ships sail, but are quick to sink
It's the ocean that breaks time
Time away from land
Light away from dry

Pictures are painted on sheets of wood
Rigid and rough thoughts might be
It is the sun that gives another day
Another painting to store
In the ocean

Colors through a wreck
Storms are quiet
but they cease to exist
they cease to become
one

Hands are no longer on deck
Overboard is the only safety
For now
Ocean is home
Home is quick to sink

Where is light now

To All Who Listen

Look forward to where you are going, not have gone
It is the strong that should be afraid
The weak has won
Shadows disperse
Light will come
We have won

It is these questions of future, not of a past
The rich are growing weary
It is the poor that will rise
Turn away the old
Joy will come
We have won

New thoughts are longed for, burn away the old
Aren't we all the same?
Whisper in ears of your brother and sister
"Together, we have won."

Now Rest

Bring the torches
Ring the bell
Silhouettes of a shadow creeps over shoulders on that distant wall
Heavy it may fall, but falls to the side as if it were true
Run and hide
Run and hide
Faster
Faster
Trip if you will, together we fall
Just don't fall to that distant wall

Light the torch
To unknown
Let's hurry
Let's hurry
Time will stop
Only for you

No going back
Please, don't go back
Forward now
Together now
Forever now

Dinner With the MacGuffins

by Chris Sheppard and Jeff Grove.

GENRE Comedy
LENGTH Short, 20-25 minutes
CAST 2 females, 3 males, 3 either (7-8 actors possible: 2-5 females, 3-6 males)
SET Living room set -- either minimal or elaborate

At first glance, this is a typical family comedy: teenage James and girlfriend Karen try to make out one afternoon, only to face repeated interruptions by other members of James' family. But the ultimate interruption comes when a cell phone goes off in the audience, breaking the "fourth wall" so that James can see the spectators. As James tries to convince his increasingly worried family that a wall is missing from their house, and that people are watching them, the play takes more left turns than Bugs Bunny should have taken at Albuquerque -- until it reaches a happy (if twisted) ending.

(Taken from playscripts.com)

I will be playing James. It is once act paying tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. I think all the characters are related in some way to his movies. My character James meaning James Stewart and the MacGuffin being a plot device that Hitchcock created. More than I thought goes into a one act. It shall be interesting, partly because I have never been involved in a play before and that I was also casted as the lead role. Interesting, but rehearsals have been a blast. The show is this Friday along with five other one act's.



'I'm Going to Make a Cake' by Philip Glass

Is this me.?,!

Acting is an adrenaline rush. Quite amazing actually.

Maybe I should act like a different person from here on out? We'll see.



At the end of each blog, I think I will post a song that currently is a favorite at the moment. Yes, I will do that.


'Eyes' by Rogue Wave

.

"God is love and love is real, but the dead are dancing with the dead,
And whatever's charming disappears while all things lovely only hurt my head
As I gather stones from fields like pearls of water on my fingers' ends
(And I carefully wrap them up in boxes... safe from windows...)
From things that break!!"

-mewithoutYou

Coffee Shop.

I played two instrumental songs at a coffee shop tonight. It was the same coffee shop where I played my last set with lyrics. I covered Trace Bundy's "Dueling Ninjas" and then I played one of my own that involves a lot of slapping of the guitar with some sweet rhythms. This is only the second time where I have been able to express myself with just the guitar with quite a few listeners through speakers and microphones. It feels peaceful to the unsteadiness of my week being able to play. If there was a way to play all the time, I couldn't think of anything better to do. It gives me joy.

Untitled.

Why? Why does it always seems so hard to get my thoughts straight? I feel like music is my passion, but I won't let it consume me. Should it? It feels as if I am staring at a blank wall with the surface so plain that is shadows over this barren desert of my soul with no hope of looking elsewhere. Why do I even feel that I should write my thoughts on paper? Do I have to? I am not required. It seems that through writing I will be able to make sense of that blank wall. Is that how I am supposed to feel? I want to write music and lyrics. But is it more of a want than a need? Where is motivation? Creativity? I think of all the events and people in the world wanting to write about it, but I feel like I lack a quality that I am unaware of. Why? How do I find my own voice? My own story? Maybe it is through writing thoughts and composing music in order to find what I am looking for. Whatever that may be.

Fall through leaves

Letters upon Letters bring a brisk stillness
Ink is all that is true
Let the paper ring forth
Let the ideas go free
All is calm
For now
Return to sender
Then sign a name
In ink
Don't wait too long
Don't fade away
Come back
Next August
I wait

I am not afraid.

"I want to skip like a stone from a stronger arm.
Each one I throw is moving somewhere.

Oh, let me go.
I will go out, out, out, out
Past these yellow ropes.
I am not afraid."

-Anathallo

Random thoughts drain fingertips.

-I broke a guitar string today, the G-String. It was begging to be changed with a new set anyways.

-Chopin is fun (when my fingers are warm).

-Clair de Lune by Debussy has quite a few ties, but they come undone once in a while.

-Diabelli uses too many scales randomly in a Sonatina.

-Handel turned out to be alright after all.

-I am a lead in a play.

-I have never acted before.

-Les Miserables by Victor Hugo is amazing (so far).

-Reds are my personal favorite bearings.

-Running can be fun.

-Folding clothes take too much time.

-Concepts of Physical Fitness is the most worthless class.

-Seriously.

-Joy is found in an unheard song.

-Simon and Garfunkel.period.

-Listen to: Saint John and the Revelations.

-Busking around Europe seems like a realistic dream.

-$350 roundtrip ticket to Paris is tempting.

-Next summer.

-Hesitancy between chicken and steak at Chipotle slows my thought process.

-Quotes.

-Playing at coffee shops = amazing.

-freerice.com is worthwhile.

-Change is possible.

-Lyrics are possible.

-Music is possible.

-Art speaks constantly.

-Simple is constant.

-Thank you?

p.s. I want to write more blogs/lyrics/poetry/music/etc.

Walk is to Run, While Jump is to Fall.

I close my eyes tonight
But my dreams seems so far away

I want to fly away
But I am not ready to leave
the ground
I have known
for so long

And I will sleep till sunlight falls on my face
But waking up is the hardest part of dreaming

Don't.
Don't wake me up.

Doors Don't have to Close

"Words in themselves do not convey meaning... the sound of them does."
-Robert Frost

Oscars

I have never really been that excited about the Oscars before. I haven't really cared too much about the whole entertainment world because of the idea of putting people on a pedestal and making a person's life the center of attention/news/gossip/etc. But this time there was a category on the list that I really was interested in seeing. I was interested in watching Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova with their performance of "Falling Slowly" from the movie 'Once" that was nominated for Best Original Song. I have seen the movie multiple times, but there is something about the music that makes me continuously want to watch it or hear it. Being a movie, everyone has their own critiques and opinions about it, so needless to say, not everyone liked it. Anyways, I was able to catch their performance and also the category for Best Original Song in which "Falling Slowly" ended up winning. I just find it rather amazing that independent artists can make a name for themselves, but most importantly, their art. Being an artist, it just rewarding to know that art can affect people and create meaning, but I believe the affect must always happen within the artist first. To me, it makes life even more enjoyable.

IXAb

New instrumental piece up.

Key of A-flat.

Recorded it in one try.

Enjoy?

Dear Sterling College,

The least you could do would be to provide heat in the practice rooms so I don't spend two of the three practice hours thawing out my hands.

Seriously,

Travis Wicklund

Kite

High, in the sky
I, I flew a kite
I smiled, once

High, in the sky
Was my dream on a string
Then it slipped away
I smiled, once
Then I ran away

High, in the sky
Was a dream I have waited for
to fly in the sky
I smiled, once
But I was shy

Let me smile once
Let me smile once

High, in the sky
My dream flew away
Never to be seen again
I smiled...once

High, in the sky
Was a choice that I made
To find who I am
I smiled, once
So I let go again

High, in the sky
I won't forget my dream
It was not meant to be
I smiled, once
Let me not forget

Let me smile once
Let me smile just this once
For this string gets away
And I want to feel happy
For the new that will come
So let me smile once
For the dream that was lost
And for the new one that has begun

High, in the sky
I, I flew a kite

New song up on myspace. I am still messing around with different styles. This one has an Iron & Wine feel to it, maybe.

Enjoy.

It is the thoughts inside that I feel most

The scent of the night
Make things seems alright
So I will wait till the moon sets
Or the sun rise

On the front yard in your town
I will wait for you
The moonlight reflects your eyes
I remembered it clearly
The last time

When will you come home
So I can see your eyes
I remember the look
That made me feel
Life

My friend why did you leave me here
Standing in your front yard
For you are loved
For you are gone
I watched your soul
take flight

So I will wait till the moon sets
or the sun rise

For you.

The Scent of Dust Rises Inside.

Leaves Fall to the ground
As they Fade from the earth
The Leaves fall with a mind of their own
Two, Three, Four, Five, One by One they Fall
They reach the ground where hope is lost
For them, a new life has begun.

Falling, Floating, Flying downwards between heavens
After thoughtless Feelings become worthless.
Thousands upon thousands upon thousands upon thousands
Fading away before sunrise occurs.
Breaking apart Forever.

Repeating Forever
November Forever
Tomorrow diminished Forever.

Canciones.

I have been messing around with this off and on this past semester at school. I thought I'd finally put it up here for anyone to listen. It isn't anything special really. I just opened Logic, hit record and hit a few more buttons. It is all being recorded from the mic on my MacBook, again, nothing fancy, but it is something. I need to re-record some things on it. Now I have an pre-amp interface, just have to get a few things for it to run. So quality will eventually be better. Yeah.

Now introducing the rough demo: Months seem shorter, while days appear Longer.

Let me know what you think.

Go here: http://www.myspace.com/traviswicklund