HE PASSED!!

The past couple of months around here have been very stressful. David has been trying for about a year and a half to prepare himself and pass his comprehensive exams. He took the test a year ago, but there were some portions he had to take again this year. The test was comprised of two parts - written and oral. In these tests, he had to know the history of music from the beginning of time to the present, music theory, be able to compose a piece with instrumentation that was given to him in the moment, and be able to answer detailed questions about three 20th Century composers and their major works. I'm sure there was more to it, but I can't keep it all straight.

Last year, the written part was three days long. This year he only had to take one day for the written portion, which consisted of the following (per an e-mail from his professor):

• Part I: Tonal Analysis (2 hours)
• Part II: Post-Tonal Analysis (1.5 to 2 hours)
• Part III: Music History (2.5 to 3 hours)
• Part IV: Score Identification and Repertiore (1/2 hour)

Below is one of innumerable pages of notes he used to review. On the final night before his written exam, he had me quiz him on the composers and their works. My efforts to pronounce the various names was rather humorous and in one case, inadvertently obscene.

In final preparation, he spent the past two months studying from about nine in the morning until at least ten at night. He would get breakfast for the kids and drive Baylie to school (I was teaching seminary at the time) and then he would leave. The kids wouldn't see him again until the next morning. It was hard on all of us. He was confident that he was prepared, but we were all still extremely nervous. The written test was taken Monday, April 7, and the oral portion was taken this past Monday, April 14.

Not only did he pass, but his professors told him he passed with flying colors! (And as one professor said, "...not only that, but you look great too!") We are all so proud of him. It has been a difficult process, but David has learned so much and says he is a completely different composer because of this experience. He knows his music will have more depth after having studied some of these composers in such detail. He was excited to finish studying so he could start composing again and in the past week has already composed a 7-movement work for viola that he was commissioned to write.

In celebration of his success, we took the kids to Frankie's Fun Park. (I'm not sure if they were more excited that their dad passed or that they got to go to Frankie's.)

This last ride is the favorite for me and David to watch the kids. It simulates a roller coaster and Baylie screams out loud. It's pretty funny.

After Frankie's, we splurged and went to a new Brazilian steakhouse. We ate until we all felt a little sick. It was delicious (especially the pineapple).

It is such a relief to be over this humongous hurdle in David's educational journey. He is now officially an ABD (all but dissertation) and can apply for teaching positions that weren't available for him before. All he has left is his dissertation - he is writing an opera - and a paper to accompany it. After that, he will officially be "Dr. Batchelor"!