Austin Traveler

AUSTIN

TRAVELER

Vacation confusion ENDS HERE

What’s the best recreational activity?

What string instrument should you play?

Where SHOULD you take your kids?

What’s up with that spray paint park?

Image courtesy of Falconinterbet.co

The

AUST

Traveler

TIN

Image courtesy of Segway Nation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the editor

1

Meet Us! 4-5.

2-3.

Advertising

Austin’s Recreational Activities Feature Story

6-9

10-11. Which Recreational Activity Should You Participate In? 12-15. Hope For One Of Austin’s Top Spots 12-15.

16-17.

Top Ten Worst Places to do Art 18- 23.

A Weekend In Austin 24-25.

Austin Kids Mind Map A Weekend In Austin

30-31.

26-29.

Which Orchestra Player are You?

Advertising

32-33.

OUR MISSION

We are four cool teens on a mission to bring you the highest quality information on vactioning to Austin, not to mention graphic design madness. We have poured our hearts into these pages, please ignore all the blood.

We hope you enjoy this magazine.

Austin Traveler 1

MEET THE C BEN

My name is Benjamin Mathers, and I am a Freshman at LASA. I like playing the violin and video games. I have lived in Austin all my life and my favorite part about Austin is The Domain. I like all the shows that happen there.

ANDREW

My name is Andrew Peele, I am a freshman at LASA. My favorite things to do on the weekends are play video games, play soccer, and sleep. I have one brother, one sister, and a cute little dog named Callie.

I have lived in Austin for my entire life, and I love going downtown and to Barton Springs. I love visiting all of the restaurants, and I think the food trucks are really cool to go to.

Austin Traveler 2

CREATORS My name is Emma Van Eenoo and I am a freshmen at LASA highschool. I play the violin.

Cooking and crocheting are my hobbies. I have a pet cat named scout and a dog named Kit. My favorite attraction in Austin is the downtown library.

EMMA

TWYLA Hi, My name is Twyla, and you just got Punk’d. Don’t worry about it. I like reading, drawing, comics and reading and drawing comics. I especially like season’s change in Austin. Thanks for reading.

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Some of our picks for top hero this month.

Lisette Ribaldi Picks up litter every Saturday.

Gregory Blatt Did what his wife told him to for once.

Austin Traveler 4

Starwipe Jones Can move things with her mind!

Daniel Larson Robbed his brother of everything in his house.

Stewie Wright Thought he was just helping his friend move. Would like to avoid criminal charges.

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Austin’s Recreational Austin’s Recreational Activities Activities

By Andrew Peele

What recreational activity is the best for you?

By Andrew Peele

Photo of Texas Capitol Courtesey of hand luggage only

Austin Traveler 6

This is Barton Springs, at one of it’s busiest times of the day: mid-day when the sun is beating down on people, making them want to jump in a chilly natural springs!

Courtsey of Austin Parks and Rec.

Austin is said to be the Live Music Capital of the World, but Austin has much more to give than just music. It has many restaurants, such as Franklin’s Barbeque or La Mancha that bring in lots of tourists and locals every night and every day. Some of the main attractions that bring people to Austin are the many recreational activities.

Barton Springs Natural Springs Pool has been a tourist attraction in Austin ever since the founding of the city. One main factor of why it is so popular to tourists is because it is a huge part of Austin’s history. It used to be a natural springs with no further development on it.

Native Americans that lived in the area when Austin wasn’t a city or even a town used it as a source of clean water and food. Once Austin began to form into a town, the spring was discovered and the City of Austin started to build facilities near the springs.

The spring soon became a public area where, to this day, you can pay a few dollars to get into the pool for all-day access. Jennifer Flemming, a Austinite who has lived here for over 40 years, said that she used to go to Barton Springs as a child, and that it played a big role in her childhood.

“I remember going to Barton Springs a ton.”

Flemming said. “But back then Austin was a really small town. There wasn’t as much to do back then as

there is now. So definitely tons of Barton Springs.”

Barton Springs has played a large role in lots of people’s childhood, and has been around for almost everyone who grew up in Austin.

Recreational activities in Austin brings in many tourists, but some people just like to stay at home or in their neighborhoods.

Jan Hoover has lived in Austin for 38 years, and likes to stay at her home or

take walks in her neighborhood.

“I’m so happy right here at home and I love not having to get in my car more than I need to,” Hoover said.

The live music in Austin doesn’t really appeal to her, and that she doesn’t go downtown as much as she used to when she had first moved to Austin with her husband, and her son.

“Yeah I hardly ever go downtown,” Hoover noted.

“I mean I used to do that.”

This is an image of a neighborhood in Mueller, which is a small area of housing in Austin. Courtesey of bizjournals.

Austin Traveler 7

This is the front of the Austin Recreation Center, which is located in northwest Austin, and is open to all of the public. Courtesey of Jose I. Guerra, Inc. This is a great example of how Austin can suit many people’s needs, and that you don’t have to be young, outgoing, or active in the community.

Stereotypes show that Austin is for young, active people that will use the recreational areas in Austin, but a lot of people like to just stay at home where they are.

Recreational activities, like Barton Springs, have been in Austin for long amounts of time, and play a big role in the city’s history, but some have recently been added to Austin.

The Austin Recreation Center is a big facility, that is free and open to the public in Austin, and offers a wide variety of activities. They have basketball courts, a gym, a dance studio, and much more.

Kent Mason, a long time employee and manager

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said that they offer summer camps for small fees that range in length from one week to a whole summer. The Austin Recreation Center is perfect for people of all ages.

“We have camps and activities for people of the age of three to almost seventy five years old, but my estimate for the average age of people that use the facilities would be

around 25,” Mason said.

One problem with recreational activities in Austin is the littering that it creates. For example,Barton Springs, is usually kept clean, however litter can occasionally pile up from the people that go there and swim in the pool.

One policy that has been created to keep the facility clean is to not let people bring in glass bottles or

any glass items. This prevents litter of broken glass in the area, which is a safety concern to the people that visit Barton Springs, and the wildlife in the pool itself. Mason said that they have some rules to keep the facilities clean, but they also have staff there, and the City of Austin has a team of people that keep the outdoor areas clean and

This is one of the fields located at the Austin Recreation Center, and also functions as a playground area for children. Photo courtesey of City of Livingston

free of litter.

“Yes, we do have staff to keep the facilities clean and running, but we also have a team of people that are employees of the City of Austin that come into our areas outside, and clean up litter and trash that is on our fields and park and such,” Mason said.

Recreational activities are good for Austin’s development and growth, but can add to the amount of litter that the city has scattered over it.

That is why rules and policies are created to keep natural areas clean and free of litter. This

The staff at the Austin Recreation Center tries to prevent this from happening to their facilities, and so does the staff at Barton Springs. Courtesey of Dream Big. Live Bodly. keeps Austin’s recreational areas clean, and still welcoming to the people that live in Austin, and those that are touring Austin.

The Austin Skyline taken from Lake Austin. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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What Austin recreational activity should What is your favorite cereal? a) Life b) Cheerios c) Honey Nut Cheerios d) Fruit Loops

What is your favorite show? a) The Office b) My Little Pony c) Parks and Recreation d) Friends

What is your favorite holiday? a) Thanksgiving b) Christmas c) Halloween d) Easter Austin Traveler 10

What is your favorite sport? a) Soccer b)Ultimate Frisbee c) Tennis d) Football

What is your favorite season? a) Winter b) Fall c) Spring d) Summer

Who is your favorite character in the movie Frozen? a) Olaf b) Elsa c) Anna d) Sphen

d you participate in on the weekend?

If you got mostly A’s: You should head on over to Barton Springs! Barton Springs is a great place for all families, and it’s only 2 or 3 dollars for a resident of Austin, and 4 or 8 dollars if you are not a resident.

People cool off during the heat of summer in Austin’s Barton Springs. Photo courtesy of City of Austin.

If you got mostly B’s: You should go to the Austin Recreational Center.

The ARC is great for anyone and any age. They have basketball courts, a gym, outdoor fields, and much more.

Entrance to the Austin Recreational center in the evening. Photo courtesy of City of Autin.

If you got mostly C’s: You should check out the YMCA. The YMCA is a public recreational area that is open to anyone. It is also completely free to go to. Right: Front view of the YMCA of Austin. Photo courtesy of the YMCA of Austin.

If you got mostly D’s: You might want to check out the Austin Rowing Club.

They offer paddleboarding, rowing, kayaking, and much more! They hold their activities on Lady Bird Lake.

Many boats flock the lake, as members of the Austin Rowing Club practice for upcoming competitions.

Photo courtesy of Austin Rowing Club.

Austin Traveler 11

By Twyla “Awesome” Rhode

HOPE!

For One of Austin’s Top Spots (Anticipating a move, patrons of the HOPE outdoor gallery are forced to consider the spot in all of its creative glory.)

Since its opening in 2011, the HOPE Outdoor Gallery has attracted tourists and locals alike.

Looking out over the large slope that the park sits on, one can see paint cans rolling through pathways, weeds swaying in the breeze, and of course, the stars of the show.

Walls upon walls of colors stand tall, ripe for tagging by anyone who cares enough to bring their own paint. Mottled with giant pieces of artwork, the park has become a symbol of the classic “weird” spirit of Austin.

Directly behind a fitness complex and facing a busy road, the gallery is located right in the heart of Austin. The original structure, a failed apartment complex, was noticed by the HOPE non-profit group, cleaned and opened to the public. Although it is free for anyone to enter, the park is officially owned by HOPE, who is in charge of maintenance.

growing profession and passion for many people: street art.

hour and gone the next, covered once more in layers and layers of paint.

Art or not, few places legally allow graffiti.

However HOPE outdoor gallery is one of those places. A vast majority of the HOPE Outdoor Gallery is covered in simple tagging, but it is the large pieces of artwork that really make the gallery exceptional.

Though today the park is often used for photography, it has also been host to art classes, group events, and the encouragement of a

The ever changing spirit of the walls is something that gets varied opinions.

Since there are so many visitors each day, a piece of art can be there one

Whether you find this fact poetic or irritating, you cannot deny that the HOPE Outdoor Gallery is a unique destination to practice a craft that often faces scorn. Whoever you are, whatever kind of art you’re looking to make- be it the perfect selfie or your first masterpiece- the HOPE Outdoor Gallery is definitely a sweet and special option.

The gallery is dotted with trees and grass.

Austiin Traveler 12

Danica, a tourist who had heard about the park from a friend expressed her feelings

Every available surface is usually painted on.

Photo courtesy of Austin Chronicle.

about the environment it creates, “You see so many people of different backgrounds come together and create these really awesome pieces of art,” Danica said.

Unfortunately, in spring of 2019, the park will be demolished, but it’s spirit will remain. The “castle hill” it rests on has been sold, and the gallery will

Photo courtesy of Emrys Gravell.

occasion. I have read many a Tripadvisor review that would prefer a safer, more regimented area for families, people with (already!) broken legs, or people who do not like getting mud on their feet.

Others would argue that the steep paths and precarious ledges give the park a certain charm.

A visitor from Colora-

do Springs, when asked about the location said, “I think [it has] a lot of character… when it’s here in the middle of the city and it’s naturally... been organically created.”

Nobody can deny the authenticity of the park, but local businesses and homeowners in the area have complained about the lack of parking, which causes issues for them and have also reported

not be saved. Instead, it will find a new home in southeast Austin.

“I think people will really miss it,” said Danielle, a young visitor from Oregon.

The new location boasts parking space, and a more comfortable environment.

However, the moving of a place that has become so important to so many people is an emotional

Two youngsters express their creativity!

“You see so many additional spray painting people of on the exterior of their houses as a result of the different environment. The HOPE backgrounds come Outdoor Gallery is together and becoming too much for create these really its surroundings. awesome pieces of The park attracts about art.”

500 visitors a day who roam it’s grounds, and has played host to over 300 documented artists.

The new location hopes to reconcile many issues with it’s growing scale.

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immortalised, not just More gallery space through social will also be included Those involved in the media, but also for a place that seems project seem through attempts to to promise all-around optimistic about the save and move a wall improvement. Some from the old gallery to move. In all it’s visitors though seem circumstance, the park the new one. concerned about the is poised to become location being so far something better, or at from the city. 3507 There is so much least different.

Sherman Road, the that can be said about new location, is a this place, negative The HOPE Outdoor long drive from the Gallery will always or positive, but it is old one, likely makundeniable that it has be known and ing it less accessible. remembered as a been cultivated over While it is not the years by each unique and exactly a niche spot at iconic place in person who sets foot this point, feelings of Austin. in it, paints something remorse towards such Documentation of the or posts a picture of an eclectic spot have the walls. initial location is certainly been going to be taken and expressed.

The gallery was never meant to last forever, it costs money to keep it open and the HOPE organization serves more than just this purpose. It’s newest project of pop-up murals promote a new idea for the park, “These Walls Bring Us Together.” I think we can all hope that the walls will continue to do so in the new location.

Many different forms of art have been added throughout the years.

Photo courtesy of Julie Journeys.

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“I think people will really miss it.”

The park is working hard to fight litter!

Photo courtesy of So Then They Say.

WE LOVE ART!

.

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TWYLA RHODE’S TOP 10 WO A PUBLIC BATHROOM That’s gross...

PHOTO COURTESY OF CALLAHEAD.

LASER TAG

Cold and dark.. unless you’re into that kind of thing.

.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FUNPLEX.

A RAGING PARTY! People will think you’re a weirdo!

Only weirdos do art!

PHOO COURSTESY OF THE ELKS PLACE.

A CULT

Don’t let them catch you!

PHOTO COURTESY OF MBTSKOUDSALD.

WESMINSTER ANNUAL Austin Traveler 16

PHOTO COURTESY OF NELSON HALL THEATER.

ORST PLACES TO MAKE ART SIX FLAGS

Too big... Don’t get lost!

ON A JET SKI Just Try!

A RAGING FIRE! Don’t do it Sarah~

THE ROOM IN THE BACK OF ALL DAIRY QUEENS THAT THEY USE FOR.... YOU KNOW.

MY HOUSE

Get outta there, you~ PHOTO COURTESY OF ADT.

Austin Traveler 17

A Weekend in Austin

By Emma Van Eenoo

Austin Travler 18

Austin Skyline with a pink sunset.

Photo Courtesy of capital canvas prints.

Walking down South Congress Avenue you can see the weirdest things: Cars dodging people racing around on electric scooters, artistic spray paintings spattered onto previously blank walls, everyone you meet fully embracing Austin’s mantra, “Keep Austin Weird.”

Austin is a bustling city and can be overwhelming, but with some background knowledge, whether you live “Just West of Weird,” or are an advocate for “Keep[ing] Portland Weird,” you will find something that satisfies you and your kids’ interests in Austin. When you are in Austin, don’t do as the Austinites do: do what you do.

Courtney Swartzendruber has lived in Austin for 19 years and is the mother of two children. She has valuable advice to offer Austin tourists. According to Swartzendruber, you should try to “pick a few things and really enjoy them instead of trying to pack in all the things at

once.”

She said that she likes to take her two girls hiking either at Twin falls or in the Greenbelt. The girls enjoy the Wildflower center, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, and Crux, which is one of the many rock climbing facilities in Austin. However, the weather might not always be appropriate for outdoor activities.

The family garden at the Wildflower Cenrer has several lifelike statues including this coyote. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo.

“The Alamo Drafthouse is a nice place to go catch a movie when its raining out,” Swartzendruber said.

Due to Austin traffic, some of these activities may take longer than expected, but there are many things to do on the drive.

“We [play] 20 Questions or I’m Thinking of an Animal or The Alphabet Game… sometimes we take trivia cards.” Swartzendurber said.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a great place to visit on a family trip to Austin. It has many attractions, including an arboretum that has

“pick a few things and really enjoy them instead of trying to pack in all the things at once.”

A wooden castle in the wildflower Centers new Fortlandia ezhibit. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo.

A man and a young girl enjoy a tent-like fort designed from pine in the Wildflower Centers Fortlandia exhibit. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo.

Austin Travler 19

great place to visit on a family trip to Austin.

It has many attractions, including an arboretum that has just recently opened. Mark Johnson, the Director of Guest Experiences at the Wildflower Center said the new arboretum is “a fantastic exhibition of what... design firms and architects really take as their reaction to forts as a kid.”

Johnson said that “[you] can still get...everything you really want to get from a trip out west just by coming down Mopac.”

A beautiful family garden complete with dinosaur tracks, fort-building supplies and a mini waterfall can be found within a five to ten minute walk from the entrance kiosk. For those

willing to take a bit more of a hike, located on the opposite side of the Wildflower center and up a gravel path, a set of hand-crafted, wooden swings that hang from ancient oaks will reward visitors with unexpected fun surrounded by native wildflowers.

There are bench swings, single swings, wheel swings, and standing swings. Another favorite attraction, located in the Family Garden, is the no-impact exercise equipment. Though they are tools, they can be surprisingly fun while providing a strenuous workout.

Despite the gardens central location and the rapidly developing city around it, Johnson predicts that the Wildflower Center will remain “a

green dot on the Austin map.”

Lady Bird Johnson founded the Wildflower Center during her time as First Lady. “She wanted Texas to look like Texas.” Mark Johnson (no relation) said.

With all native plants, and a growing number of guests, the Wildflower Center has accomplished this and more.

Admissions fee is 12 dollars for adults and six dollars for youth.

For more information on hours and location as well as attractions, visit wildflower.org.

This garden however, is not the only beautiful display of flora and fauna in Austin.

Jan Benzel, a journalist for the New York Times,

wrote in her article “Welcoming Spring in Texas Tones” that the Zilker Botanical Garden is “a verdant respite with mini-gardens, almost like rooms, spilling from one to another.” She also writes, “[I]t’s well suited to keep children content and interested while their parents stroll or sit.”

Each “mini-garden” is themed after a different culture and within the grounds you can find a pond filled with friendly koi which can be crossed by stepping stones, tall thick stalks of bamboo, and the exotic flowers of foreign plants.

Although Austin certainly has a green thumb, its pop culture is nothing to be scoffed at either.

Austin City Limits (ACL) is a local music

“[you] can still get... everything you really want to get from a trip out west just by coming down Mopac.”

Austin Travler 22

The family garden at the Wildflower Center includes a shallow pond of water for the kids to splash in. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo

A shaded pathway in the Austin Botanical Garden. Photo credit of Austin Texas

event which significantly contributes to Austin’s title of “live music capital of the world.”

This event is hosted annually in Austin during the early fall.

Many of the performers give kid-friendly concerts, making ACL a viable choice for visiting families.

This year included many popular artists such as Paul McCartney and the Arctic Monkeys. Next year’s festival will be held October 4-6 and October 11-13. For information including tickets and the lineup for performances visit aclfestival.com.

museums. It is appropriate for toddlers to elementary-age kids but older kids and even adults have a hard time leaving.

The Thinkery is an educational establishment that has an astounding number of

engaging activities including the light lab and a playground with an innovative design.

When I recently visited the Thinkery with my two-year-old friend, Jackson, he was enthralled with throwing

colorful scarves above a fan, scribbling on a chalk wall, splashing in the water lab, and racing long chains of magnetic trains around a wooden track.

The price is affordable in comparison to the number of fascinating

The creatively built playground at the Thinkery. Photo credit of the Thinkery

The Thinkery is the Austin equivalent of other cities children’s Austin Travler 23

A galopagus tortise gazes calmly up at the camera from his habitat in the Austin Rescue Zoo. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo with a child on different levels to keep [them] interest[ed] and continues to challenge their creativity and curiosity,” Mathes said.

When I recently visited the Thinkery with my two-year-old friend, Jackson, he was enthralled with throwing colorful scarves above a fan, scribbling on a chalk wall, splashing in the water lab, and racing long chains of magnetic trains around a wooden track.

“It’s do much fun to watch your child explore all the different sensory areas.

The Thinkery stimulates [their] minds and gives everyone an awesome experience while burning up some energy,” Mathes Austin Travler 22

said.

The price is affordable in comparison to the number of fascinating attractions.

It is 12 dollars a person and free for infants under two. For more information including parking and transportation, contact information, hours, and location visit thinkeryaustin.org.

“We’re so glad to have such an extraordinary place to take our children,” said A goat nibbles eagerly on the animal food in a young Mathes. girls hand. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo.

Speaking of educational opportunities in Austin, be sure to visit the Austin Rescue Zoo. The Austin Zoo is a nonprofit organization that rescues animals, rehabilitates them, and

educates people about wildlife.

The zoo is beautifully designed with confident peacocks strutting the grounds. If you are lucky, you may get to see the

elegant fan of a peacock’s tail. The zoo offers a train ride with a tour guide who shares information about the animals at the zoo, which include Galapagos tortoises, bears, ring-tailed lemurs, goats, and more.

LEFT: A contented chicken wonders the grounds of the zoo. Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo

Another fun experience is the humorous animal talks, given in the building just outside the entrance.

Anya Van Eenoo, my younger sister, attended one of these animal talks and was sprayed with “possum urine,” which turned out to be water from a cleverly concealed water gun hidden in the palm of the speakers hand.

Participants are rewarded with a free pass to the zoo.

After a day exploring Austin, you are likely to be hungry. Fortunately Austin is well known for its delicious Tacos.

Austin is chalk-full of authentic taco joints including Torchy’s Tacos, which is a local restaurant that has been serving Austinites since 2006.

The menu includes many

original tacos paired with equally original names, such as the “Dirty Sanchez,” “The Wrangler,” and “Fried Avocado.”

It has both dine-in and take-out options, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. This authentic restaurant rings with the vibe of “Keep Austin Weird” and should definitely be considered when choosing dinner, lunch or even breakfast options.

One tip, water down the lemonade!

Cool Beans food truck is another tempting option.

This isn’t your ordinary food truck because at Cool Beans they prepare and cook using organic, animal-free ingredients, and all of their menu items, including their guacamole, are made from scratch on

the spot.

There are a few things you should make sure to visit with your family to experience true Austin culture. Amanda Akers, director of a locally run summer camp, Austin resident, and mother of two kids, said, “I would want to make sure I went to Barton Springs… [and went] for a drive...west of town, [i]t's so

beautiful out there. Akers also said that you should “eat a lot of tacos” and “listen to some live music.” “[There’s] so much positive energy in Austin which is really great. It’s a really fun city,” said Akers. Not only this, but Austin has activities for all ages.

People are attracted to Austin not only for the entertainment, but because Austin celebrates what is A peacock sitting on a picnic table.

Photo credit of Emma Van Eenoo

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The downtown Austin Public Library is a relatively new addition to Austin’s skyline and is a favorite of tuorists and locals alike of all ages.Photo credit of Austin Texas

The Zilker Botanical garden is full of exotic plants and hosts a fairy garden competition once every year. Photo credit of Wikipedia.

Austin

By Emma Van Eenoo

Here are some of Austins top kid friendly activities!

Entrance to the Nature and Science Center in Austin Texas. Photo credit of Do512Family

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The Austin children’s meuseam (AKA the Tinkery) is a great place for kids of any age. Even adults have a hard time leaving.

Photo credit of Muller Austin.

The local Austin zoo is an animal sactuary with a wide variety of animals from striped tigers to huge tourtises . It also has a petting zoo and certain species that you can feed. Photo credit of the Austin zoo

Kids An artistic painting of the Austin skyline. Picture credit of Svetlana Novikova.

Entrance sign of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photo credit of UT texas.

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Orchestras won’t play without pay Loss of funds leave many muscian penniless By: Benjamin Mathers

Scott Seaton conducts during a rehearsal with North Sstate Symphony musicians.

Photo courtsey of NSS.

Austin Traveler

While professional orchestras have had an increase in the number of people wanting to join, funding is on the decline.

This is

as an art form of the present and of the future,” Austin Symphony member Sophie Verhaeghe said.

“I think there are certain orchestras that do

who are going to concerts today. I think, however, the list of orchestras [that] should do that sort of thing is not as long as it needs to be.”There

part is just making sure you know your music before you go in. ” professional musician and middle school orchestra director

Arnaud Sussmann plays a solo on the violin. Photo Courtsey of Chestertown Spy

causing some orchestra members that have previously been in an orchestra to be laid off.

In schools there is a more readily available access to orchestra because of most schools having an orchestra program.These programs usually

this very well. They have programs that have highly discounted tickets for college students or they’ll do a social hour before concerts to let young professionals mingle.”

Some people who wouldn’t go to an orchestra for any other reason go for

is a lot of stress in being a professional orchestra player.

They have four to five rehearsals before a concert. They get the music a couple months before the concert. During the rehearsal they run the piece of music all the way through.

“The most stressful

Jeni Berecek said.

“We just had our concert last week but I spent a month before preparing the music so I walked into the first rehearsal knowing just about everything that I could know and knowing what I needed to work on because we only had Austin Traveler 27

Honk Kong Philharmonic Orchestra rehersing. Photo courtsey of HK orchestra

on something the director would tell you.

I want to take more time here. Let’s do this take articulation here, and then work it out with all the pieces and then we go back and work on it.” After all the practicing, the rehearsals and the concert they only get paid around $600$700. Most professional musicians have to rely on other jobs to support themselves.

Some become private teachers and tutors for young musicians, while others become school

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orchestra directors or even non-orchestra related jobs. If they lose their job as a professional musician many would not know what to do. “I don’t really know what I would do if I wasn’t a musician,” Berecek said. “I don’t think there’s anything I’d rather do. I might want be an art teacher but that wouldn’t be fun. I like being an orchestra teacher more than anything else in the world.”

However, even

with the low pay and reliance on other incomes, people are still interested in becoming musicians.

That’s because they enjoy it and it is fun for them. It might be stressful and hard, but it is certainly entertaining.

Orchestra players have a sense of camaraderie between each other. It takes a lot of teamwork to make an orchestra work. “I like the sense of teamwork and camaraderie that the entire

organization, or the entire orchestra, has for each other, and I love the music that we play to get people excited,” Sophie Verhaeghe said. “So I love doing things like playing for the ballet, playing movie soundtracks … and just seeing how excited people got. I really like the people in the orchestra and I like sharing the music with people who come to the concert and seeing their excitement about what we’re doing.”

Orchestra’s are losing funding, decreasing the already low-income of professional orchestra players. This is causing some players to lose their jobs leaving them unsure of where to go next. We need to support orchestras, because they are still relevant and important today. They are prevalent now just as

they were centuries ago.

Orchestra’s are losing funding, decreasing the already low-income of professional orchestra players. This is causing some players to lose their jobs leaving them unsure of where to go next.

We need to support orchestras, because they are still relevant and

important today. They are prevalent now just as they were centuries ago.

Yo-Yo Ma performs at St Nicholas Church Photo Courtesey of AFR

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Which String Instrum 1. What’s your favorite color? a. black b. yellow

c. green d. red

3. What is your favorite pitch? a. 415 hz b. 440 hz

c. 430 hz d.444 hz

2. How much free time do you have? a. none b. 1 hour

c. 2 hours d. 4+ hours

4. What’s your favorite Pokemon? a. Exploud c. Kricketune b. Chatot d. Meloetta

5. What’s your favorite movie?

6. What is the meaning of life?

a. Amadeus b. The sound of music c. Frozen d. Bohemian Raphsody

a. Peace withing nature b. Life is meaningless c. 42 d. To be the best

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ment should you play?

If you answered mostly A: you should play the Bass.

If you answered mostly B: you should play the Viola If you answered mostly C: you should play the Cello If you answered mostly D: you should play the Violin

Austin Traveler 31

Family Bar and Grill, -1234 Kid Street -JJ’s Shopping Center -Don’t Call Ahead, Sarah is tired of your questions.

-NO. We don’t do parties. Don’t have a party here

There are lots of cool pl

“There’s no other option.”

Austin Traveler 32

THIS ISN’T O

laces to eat in Austin.

ONE OF THEM

Are you an

IDIOT? LOSER? “ We don’t have time to drive somewhere else.”

Austin Traveler 33

Bye Y’all, Yeehaw

w!

Photo Courtesy of Rebrn

THANKS FOR

READING