Well, I had my last rehersal this morning. ...it was really sad. It's almost over....
I woke up and showered before going out to breakfast with Jen and her parents. We had bagels. Yumm.... Then I had my rehersal, which went well. Hopefull the concert today will be good. I hope...
Last night's concert went really well. It was the concerto concert and everyone played just amazingly. I played with the first orchestra and Lo-An Lin (from Taipei, Taiwan) played a Chopin piano concerto, then Chris played the Bloch viola concerto, and Whitney played the Prokofiev piano concerto. It was tres amazing. Then intermission, and the second orchestra played. Edward Tang went first and played the first movement of the Sibelius violin concerto- the same one Joshua Bell played a month ago when he was here. Finally, Irina Arbatskya played a Liszt piano concerto, which was just beautiful. Really amazing, all of them. All the girl's dresses were, of course, lovely. Whitney actually made hers, which I thought was quite impressive. It was gorgeous. She had her hair curled and everything. Irina's was hot pink. She looked quite Russian. Which is good since she is from Ukraine.
Jen and I ran a little late for the concert last night, though. She curled my hair. Like, real spiral curls. It was amazing. And it stayed! She is a miracle worker. hahaha. I felt like a character out of a Jane Austen novel and I should be preparing myself to dance with Mr. Darcy. hahaha. She is actually doing it again right now for the last concert. It will be beautiful!!!!! yay! haha. I love having my hair curly. And I got a gazillion compliments on it last night. After the concert we went and got ice cream, which was lovely.
Well, I should go. It is rather difficult to type when someone is curling your hair with a hot iron. hahaha. I'll write tonight while I'm not sleeping and avoiding packing... My last night....
25.7.06
le monde musical merveilleux
Let's see if I can find something interesting to write about before I run to my lesson...
I am leaving in...five days. Which is both good and also very, very bad. Going home means being in my own bed, my own room, eating real food, being with my family (who I miss dearly), seeing my dog...familiarity. ...which is now officially a word. But it also means boredom. Without the 24/7 music I've come to love. Because I do love it here. I love it a lot. And I've really come to the realization that this is what I want. This is the life I want to choose. This is the type of thing I want to go to school for. I was sure last summer, but this past spring I has a lot of doubts about whether I could do it. I was around people who were way better than I was, and I was kind of realizing how hard I had to work, and I wasn't sure if I could do that. Around the time I was playing the Albinoni and auditioning and playing the Bach double and getting waitlisted and rejected....it was just kinda like, "What am I doing? I'm obviously not good enough for this." And my pessimisstic attitude, despite what I said aloud, was not to try harder. I fell behind. I wasn't working like I could have. I should have practiced more. Focused more. ...enjoyed it more. Really loved it more. But then, miraculously, I was accepted here. It may have been a fluke. I may be the worst violist here. They probably had to settle for me because everyone else didn't come. But...I'm glad they did settle for me when they could have had someone better. Because being here showed me what I could have. And I have reopened my eyes to the world and have had a re-realization at what I want. Last summer it was when i made drastic improvements after working with Mr. Partridge. Slowly, things made sense. And then I fell back, grabbed on again for all-state and auditions, then fell off. Now I'm on again, hopefully for good. Because now I have a very clear sense of what I want from music. When I get back and have my first lesson with Karen, I can tell her exactly what I want to work for. I can tell her what pieces I want to play, what I want to audition for, and how hard I want to be pushed to get there. Because I want to come back next year and I want to say to these people, "I told you I could do it. I worked, and now I'm back. As much as I didn't belong here last year, this time around, I do. And now I'm ready to work twice as hard."
Thank you for listening, world. You have been too kind to me.
I am leaving in...five days. Which is both good and also very, very bad. Going home means being in my own bed, my own room, eating real food, being with my family (who I miss dearly), seeing my dog...familiarity. ...which is now officially a word. But it also means boredom. Without the 24/7 music I've come to love. Because I do love it here. I love it a lot. And I've really come to the realization that this is what I want. This is the life I want to choose. This is the type of thing I want to go to school for. I was sure last summer, but this past spring I has a lot of doubts about whether I could do it. I was around people who were way better than I was, and I was kind of realizing how hard I had to work, and I wasn't sure if I could do that. Around the time I was playing the Albinoni and auditioning and playing the Bach double and getting waitlisted and rejected....it was just kinda like, "What am I doing? I'm obviously not good enough for this." And my pessimisstic attitude, despite what I said aloud, was not to try harder. I fell behind. I wasn't working like I could have. I should have practiced more. Focused more. ...enjoyed it more. Really loved it more. But then, miraculously, I was accepted here. It may have been a fluke. I may be the worst violist here. They probably had to settle for me because everyone else didn't come. But...I'm glad they did settle for me when they could have had someone better. Because being here showed me what I could have. And I have reopened my eyes to the world and have had a re-realization at what I want. Last summer it was when i made drastic improvements after working with Mr. Partridge. Slowly, things made sense. And then I fell back, grabbed on again for all-state and auditions, then fell off. Now I'm on again, hopefully for good. Because now I have a very clear sense of what I want from music. When I get back and have my first lesson with Karen, I can tell her exactly what I want to work for. I can tell her what pieces I want to play, what I want to audition for, and how hard I want to be pushed to get there. Because I want to come back next year and I want to say to these people, "I told you I could do it. I worked, and now I'm back. As much as I didn't belong here last year, this time around, I do. And now I'm ready to work twice as hard."
Thank you for listening, world. You have been too kind to me.
24.7.06
The Hair Straightening Extravaganza
Okay. I'll start from Friday's concert and work my way forward.
The concert went much better than expected. Better than all the rehersals. Just...better. Beforehand, we ate dinner at the Revival Grill. mmmm. it was so good.
Saturday I slept in. Ran late to a meeting. Had a very boring rehersal. Ate out at the Chinese place. Then Jen and I went to the concert. Fredrica von Stade was singing- it was soooo amazing. Like, chills down your spine, tears on your cheeks good. She sang Mahler's Five Songs to Poems of Friedrich Rucken. However, I didn't get to hear the last half of the concert, which involved the Pines of Rome, because I was too exhasted to sit through another half of a concert... which is sad. but very true.
Sunday I woke up and got ready to go to Emerald Pointe- which boasts being the largest water park in the Carolinas. It's sad because this park is so small.... But we had fun anyway. Way more fun then I thought I'd have. When we got back, however, more fun was waiting for us.
Our bus pulls up and our friend Allison is sitting on the patio, by herself, reading a book. We run up to her and ask why she didn't come to the water park. She told us that she didn;t really feel like going but that while we were gone, she straightened Yaniv's hair. Now, if you don't already know, Yaniv has this full head of dark, spiral curls. It's gorgeous. Every girl in the world is jealous of his hair. And Allison straightened it. ...it has been said that he looks like the bearded woman.
So then, after everyone touches Yaniv's hair, Elliot (Allison's brother) comes downstairs. We have decided that we are also going to straighten his hair. We soon realized that Allison and Elliot have extremely similiar haircuts. Hahaha. Then comes Carlos, who has this short, curly hair. He's latin, but has blue eyes. It was said that he looked very homosexual. Which really isn't a big deal, since I'm 90% sure he's gay. Then Kyle decided that, since everyone else was getting their's done, he wanted to have his straightened, too. This just made him look like he was electrocuted. hahaha. So we gave him a fauxhawk instead. Then Evan show's up at Allison's door (hair straightening central). This guy has long, curly hair down to about his ribcage. His hair is nowdown to his waist. There were four straighteners (because every girl on our hall has one) going at the same time. It was awesome.
Soo....that's my story. And now you know what girl's do when they have too much time on their hands. hahaha. Especially when we have willing guy friends. They were all such great sports. I love you all!!!!!
So today I went to CVS and dropped off some film Jen needed developed and also got some of my digital pictures from yesterday printed. There are some really awesome ones of Yaniv and Allison. ...they look so cute together!! Even if they're not dating. they still look very cute in many of these pictures. I wanted to give her a copy of some.
Well, hope my update is satisfying! I'll try to write more in this last week. ....that sounds so weird to say. I'm really not sure if I want to go home yet. I mean, I do, but I don't. I would be just fine staying here for several more weeks. I love all the constant music. I just...love it.
Allison and Yaniv.
The concert went much better than expected. Better than all the rehersals. Just...better. Beforehand, we ate dinner at the Revival Grill. mmmm. it was so good.
Saturday I slept in. Ran late to a meeting. Had a very boring rehersal. Ate out at the Chinese place. Then Jen and I went to the concert. Fredrica von Stade was singing- it was soooo amazing. Like, chills down your spine, tears on your cheeks good. She sang Mahler's Five Songs to Poems of Friedrich Rucken. However, I didn't get to hear the last half of the concert, which involved the Pines of Rome, because I was too exhasted to sit through another half of a concert... which is sad. but very true.
Sunday I woke up and got ready to go to Emerald Pointe- which boasts being the largest water park in the Carolinas. It's sad because this park is so small.... But we had fun anyway. Way more fun then I thought I'd have. When we got back, however, more fun was waiting for us.
Our bus pulls up and our friend Allison is sitting on the patio, by herself, reading a book. We run up to her and ask why she didn't come to the water park. She told us that she didn;t really feel like going but that while we were gone, she straightened Yaniv's hair. Now, if you don't already know, Yaniv has this full head of dark, spiral curls. It's gorgeous. Every girl in the world is jealous of his hair. And Allison straightened it. ...it has been said that he looks like the bearded woman.
So then, after everyone touches Yaniv's hair, Elliot (Allison's brother) comes downstairs. We have decided that we are also going to straighten his hair. We soon realized that Allison and Elliot have extremely similiar haircuts. Hahaha. Then comes Carlos, who has this short, curly hair. He's latin, but has blue eyes. It was said that he looked very homosexual. Which really isn't a big deal, since I'm 90% sure he's gay. Then Kyle decided that, since everyone else was getting their's done, he wanted to have his straightened, too. This just made him look like he was electrocuted. hahaha. So we gave him a fauxhawk instead. Then Evan show's up at Allison's door (hair straightening central). This guy has long, curly hair down to about his ribcage. His hair is nowdown to his waist. There were four straighteners (because every girl on our hall has one) going at the same time. It was awesome.
Soo....that's my story. And now you know what girl's do when they have too much time on their hands. hahaha. Especially when we have willing guy friends. They were all such great sports. I love you all!!!!!
So today I went to CVS and dropped off some film Jen needed developed and also got some of my digital pictures from yesterday printed. There are some really awesome ones of Yaniv and Allison. ...they look so cute together!! Even if they're not dating. they still look very cute in many of these pictures. I wanted to give her a copy of some.
Well, hope my update is satisfying! I'll try to write more in this last week. ....that sounds so weird to say. I'm really not sure if I want to go home yet. I mean, I do, but I don't. I would be just fine staying here for several more weeks. I love all the constant music. I just...love it.
Allison and Yaniv.
21.7.06
four free grape sodas
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!
I apologize for not writing this week, but my wrist has been bugging me and I didn't want to agrivate it. But it has been feeling muchos better! Which is good...
Nine days left. We're down to single digits. ...it's kind of scary. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I go home. I will be sooo bored without rehersals to go to and things to be at at this specific time, etc. The boredom could be good, though. Excerpts for my PA auditons will be posted August 1st so I will need to really work on those. I plan to do really well on this audition. I have a lot of goals for this year...pieces I want to play, things I want to do to improve my playing as much as possible. I want to be able to apply to EMF this winter and get in without being waitlisted. I want to be able to come back next year (or at a different festival) and be able to really compete with the other violists. Not be behind them in level, but to be on par. That is my goal. My big goal....
Well, I planned on sitting down and typing for a while, but I have to go to my chamber rehersal. I'll write more soon- Concert tonight includes Mozart's Jupiter, Respighi's Church Windows, and Sparkle. ...the latter will be interesting...
I apologize for not writing this week, but my wrist has been bugging me and I didn't want to agrivate it. But it has been feeling muchos better! Which is good...
Nine days left. We're down to single digits. ...it's kind of scary. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I go home. I will be sooo bored without rehersals to go to and things to be at at this specific time, etc. The boredom could be good, though. Excerpts for my PA auditons will be posted August 1st so I will need to really work on those. I plan to do really well on this audition. I have a lot of goals for this year...pieces I want to play, things I want to do to improve my playing as much as possible. I want to be able to apply to EMF this winter and get in without being waitlisted. I want to be able to come back next year (or at a different festival) and be able to really compete with the other violists. Not be behind them in level, but to be on par. That is my goal. My big goal....
Well, I planned on sitting down and typing for a while, but I have to go to my chamber rehersal. I'll write more soon- Concert tonight includes Mozart's Jupiter, Respighi's Church Windows, and Sparkle. ...the latter will be interesting...
17.7.06
"Play these pizzicato's like you are opening a magical box!"
Hello, world! Long time no...talk, I suppose. Weekends have a terrible tendency to swallow me whole and refuse to give me time to write, something I have needed to do for ages. I really do love to write. I mean, the pull towards it isn't gravitational like it used to be, where it was continual and insistent, but occasionally, the pull will return and I will have to force myself to sit down and write whatever comes to mind. You can also generally tell what book I have just finished by the style of my writing. When reading period books set in Britain, my text almost requires to be read in a british accent to make any sort of sense. Or perhaps I've been right all along and really am meant to live in England. Preferably in the 18th century. Minus the whole no woman's rights thing. That would really suck.
Anyway, I am taking a short break from music. Which is bad considering I spent the entire afternoon finishing Pride and Prejudice, which I loved with a passion. It was just...so funny. And well written. And romantic....*sigh*. Anyway, tonight I am working on intonation. yay! I am painstakingly attempting to perfect this etude which I am coming to loathe. The "tune" is so...silly sounding. Like a little kid's song. light. airy. ...meaningless. But I suppose music has no meaning unless the performer gives it some. Therefore, I have no one to blame but myself for this piece's lack of excitement. ...it's a bit like Mozart. It is so dangerous to perform any Mozart work because you are simply preparing yourself to put your audience to sleep! Unless, of course, there is energy on stage. Unless the hundreds of tired patrons can feel the excitment and wonder emanating from the performers and their magical instruments. That is the only way music can ever be exciting. If you feel it. No matter if it's Mozart's most boring symphony or Schostikovich's cello concerto, the music will be boring unless there is enough energy among the musicians for the listeners to feel it. ...How did Joshua Bell put it? He was playing a concerto with this symphony and he asked if they could run it one more time, but with more energy. Someone from the back of seconds said, "Come on, we could play this in our sleep!" The lovely Mr. Bell simply replied, "That's the problem." And what did Roberto Diaz say...that every piece should be played as though no one has ever heard it before....
Well, enough of my passionate-ness. ...you know, any idiot who read this, without knowing me, could immediatly guess how in love I am with music. How much I love this place and how, in thirteen days, I'm going to have difficulty saying goodbye. And to think I always thought myself so mysterious...hahaha.
Well, yesterday my mother came up to see me and brought with her my wonderful friend Kelsey! How nice it was to spend the day with them. We went to the movies and ate too much junk food to be healthy for anyone. Let's just say that an entire package of gummy bears (less five) was consumed by one person. For their sake, I will not say who precisely it was... Well, the movie (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest) was positivelt delightful! I enjoyed every moment of it. It was funny, dramatic, enticing, and wonderful. I was entertained, frustrated and awed. There were some amazing camera shots. Johnny Depp did another amazing portrayal of Captain Jack, being more flambouyant and ridiculous than ever. Orlando was more swashbuckling than before and grew into himself slightly. Still the weakest character of the three, however. Although that could be because both Johnny and Keira stole the screen. The wonderful Miss Knightly (only 21!) delivered a wonderful performance of a confused young woman trying to save the man she loves while also discovering unkown wants and desires that baffle her and lead her to make possibly stupid decisions. What will the third movie hold? What will the results be? What more will twist the already knotted plot? Only time will tell. I am excitedly awaiting next summer, which will sure to be busy. The "lasts" of several things will be out in a short period of a few months. I don't know if I'll be able to contain my exctement.
Well, I am now closing this long entry. I am off to work the Fiocco intonationaly before heading off to bed and, perhaps, Emma. If I feel up to it.... Much love to all.
Anyway, I am taking a short break from music. Which is bad considering I spent the entire afternoon finishing Pride and Prejudice, which I loved with a passion. It was just...so funny. And well written. And romantic....*sigh*. Anyway, tonight I am working on intonation. yay! I am painstakingly attempting to perfect this etude which I am coming to loathe. The "tune" is so...silly sounding. Like a little kid's song. light. airy. ...meaningless. But I suppose music has no meaning unless the performer gives it some. Therefore, I have no one to blame but myself for this piece's lack of excitement. ...it's a bit like Mozart. It is so dangerous to perform any Mozart work because you are simply preparing yourself to put your audience to sleep! Unless, of course, there is energy on stage. Unless the hundreds of tired patrons can feel the excitment and wonder emanating from the performers and their magical instruments. That is the only way music can ever be exciting. If you feel it. No matter if it's Mozart's most boring symphony or Schostikovich's cello concerto, the music will be boring unless there is enough energy among the musicians for the listeners to feel it. ...How did Joshua Bell put it? He was playing a concerto with this symphony and he asked if they could run it one more time, but with more energy. Someone from the back of seconds said, "Come on, we could play this in our sleep!" The lovely Mr. Bell simply replied, "That's the problem." And what did Roberto Diaz say...that every piece should be played as though no one has ever heard it before....
Well, enough of my passionate-ness. ...you know, any idiot who read this, without knowing me, could immediatly guess how in love I am with music. How much I love this place and how, in thirteen days, I'm going to have difficulty saying goodbye. And to think I always thought myself so mysterious...hahaha.
Well, yesterday my mother came up to see me and brought with her my wonderful friend Kelsey! How nice it was to spend the day with them. We went to the movies and ate too much junk food to be healthy for anyone. Let's just say that an entire package of gummy bears (less five) was consumed by one person. For their sake, I will not say who precisely it was... Well, the movie (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest) was positivelt delightful! I enjoyed every moment of it. It was funny, dramatic, enticing, and wonderful. I was entertained, frustrated and awed. There were some amazing camera shots. Johnny Depp did another amazing portrayal of Captain Jack, being more flambouyant and ridiculous than ever. Orlando was more swashbuckling than before and grew into himself slightly. Still the weakest character of the three, however. Although that could be because both Johnny and Keira stole the screen. The wonderful Miss Knightly (only 21!) delivered a wonderful performance of a confused young woman trying to save the man she loves while also discovering unkown wants and desires that baffle her and lead her to make possibly stupid decisions. What will the third movie hold? What will the results be? What more will twist the already knotted plot? Only time will tell. I am excitedly awaiting next summer, which will sure to be busy. The "lasts" of several things will be out in a short period of a few months. I don't know if I'll be able to contain my exctement.
Well, I am now closing this long entry. I am off to work the Fiocco intonationaly before heading off to bed and, perhaps, Emma. If I feel up to it.... Much love to all.
13.7.06
The key to wining Risk is Australia.
Let's see....what of interest has happened? I got my seating for next week- I am playing Mozart's Jupiter next Friday with Jose-Luis as my conductor, and I'm sitting second stand with Claire. 3rd chair. I'm terrified. Jen, on the other hand, is playing Sibelius #2 with Scott and is sitting with *drumroll*...Kip. argh. not FAIR. hahaha. Why does she get to sit with Kip, only the hottest guy here!!! grrr. Yeah. I might be jealous. hahaha. oh, well. At least she's sitting with him so we c an gossip. Plus, there's one more concert. One more chance for me to sit with him. Or Nate. Or Yaniv. hahaha. Either way I'd be quite happy. haha. Okay. I'm done now...
Ummm...let's see. I had my first Pops rehersal last night. The conductor was...okay. He conducts the Western Piedmont Symphony or something like that. I forget his name...something Ross? I don't remember.
Anyway, I had a lesson yesterday, which went well. Nate can't play the concert tonight because his wrist is still killing him. He can barely move his left fingers. ...I feel so bad for him. He's gong insane because here he is, at a music festival, and he can't play at all and hasn't been able to since Monday. It must be so terrible. I feel for him. Lots.
The new Muse cd (Black Holes and Revelations) came in the mail today!!! It is tres amazing. I love it. It is just....they did it again. It's amazing. Perfectly prefect. If there is someone who doesn't like them, I may have to...torture them with it until they do. hahaha.
Tonight my Mom and brother are coming in to see my concert. We are eating chinese out. yay! That's after my master class- but I've heard a rumor that the violas are crashing the violin masterclass. ....we want to see Bill Preucil!!! He was so funny at yesterday's. Very cool guy- concertmaster in the Cleveland Orchestra, teaches at CIM. Yeah. Kind of amazing.
Well, I need to run- I have to pick up music form operations. See you later!!
ps. Aunt Susie- thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me to recieve so much support from everyone. It is so amazing to have people encouraging me. Some kids aren't so lucky... Thank you. I love you.
Ummm...let's see. I had my first Pops rehersal last night. The conductor was...okay. He conducts the Western Piedmont Symphony or something like that. I forget his name...something Ross? I don't remember.
Anyway, I had a lesson yesterday, which went well. Nate can't play the concert tonight because his wrist is still killing him. He can barely move his left fingers. ...I feel so bad for him. He's gong insane because here he is, at a music festival, and he can't play at all and hasn't been able to since Monday. It must be so terrible. I feel for him. Lots.
The new Muse cd (Black Holes and Revelations) came in the mail today!!! It is tres amazing. I love it. It is just....they did it again. It's amazing. Perfectly prefect. If there is someone who doesn't like them, I may have to...torture them with it until they do. hahaha.
Tonight my Mom and brother are coming in to see my concert. We are eating chinese out. yay! That's after my master class- but I've heard a rumor that the violas are crashing the violin masterclass. ....we want to see Bill Preucil!!! He was so funny at yesterday's. Very cool guy- concertmaster in the Cleveland Orchestra, teaches at CIM. Yeah. Kind of amazing.
Well, I need to run- I have to pick up music form operations. See you later!!
ps. Aunt Susie- thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me to recieve so much support from everyone. It is so amazing to have people encouraging me. Some kids aren't so lucky... Thank you. I love you.
11.7.06
Hindemith must die.
Well, here I am. I have an hour until I need to leave for chamber rehersal. and I need to practice. because Hindemith will kill us all.
After lunch today, Jen and I went down to the student store and I got the copy of InStyle with Keira Knightly on the cover and the new Entertainment featuring POTC2! I heart them.
Hummm....nothing else has really happened of interest. Last night Jen and I went for a walk. I think I ran my iPods battery dead....haha. It won't turn on, but it is now charging. I just plugged it in...I hope it just need to charge. It still won't turn on, but I'm just going to let it sit for a while.
HEY- it just turned on. I think. YES!!!!!!!!!! MY IPOD IS NOW WORKING!!!
...sorry. I was a little nervous... but isallgood.
Well, I am very sorry for the boring entry. But nothing has really happened. I'll write later. I have music theory today, which is sure to be...interesting....
After lunch today, Jen and I went down to the student store and I got the copy of InStyle with Keira Knightly on the cover and the new Entertainment featuring POTC2! I heart them.
Hummm....nothing else has really happened of interest. Last night Jen and I went for a walk. I think I ran my iPods battery dead....haha. It won't turn on, but it is now charging. I just plugged it in...I hope it just need to charge. It still won't turn on, but I'm just going to let it sit for a while.
HEY- it just turned on. I think. YES!!!!!!!!!! MY IPOD IS NOW WORKING!!!
...sorry. I was a little nervous... but isallgood.
Well, I am very sorry for the boring entry. But nothing has really happened. I'll write later. I have music theory today, which is sure to be...interesting....
10.7.06
summer music
Saturday evening a bunch of us went out for Chinese before the Andre Watts (!!) concert. We had lots of fun- Elliott ate allll the leftovers. Like, these are big servings and he ate the rest of everyones food. hahaha. The concert was great- EPO played Brahms 3rd first and then Andre Watts performed Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto. It was really good.
Yesterday was Sunday. Jen and I ate lunch with Angelica, Rebekah, Nate, and Justin. Afterwords we grabbed an empty practice room downstairs and I brought my laptop down. We watched friends until Rebekah, Nate, Angelica and I had to go to rehersal. After dinner, though, we watched another two episodes and then Elizabethtown. tons of fun. Everyone is so glad I have my laptop. hahaha. Nate was like, "You brought Friends?? ...can we watch it?" he is quite good looking. But, alas, he has a girlfriend. Plus he's only been playing a year and a half. He didn't even play the violin first- he started on the saxaphone. Yeah. I told him that was worse that beeing a Slasher. (slasher- n. Someone who plays both violin and viola, somtimes because they can't handle the competition of violinists and other times because they just prefer the viola. They always end up being better than pure-bred violists. We don't like them)
This morning I had my rehersal. For those of you who don't know, I am in EFO this week so I am performing Thursday. We are playing the hardest program of the summer. It starts with Harbison's "Remembering Gatsby" which has a part for both piano and flexitone (I'm not sure how to describe a flexitone in words....google it). You know those comedy routines that played before movies in the thirties? Where they literally threw pies at eachother and had hats and canes? Well, thats what this piece is like. Except hard. Because it gets all sinister-ish and that's when the strings start playing. Yeah. Next on the program is the Hindemeth. ...that's right, we are plaing Mathis der Maler. The whole thing. It is soooo hard. Like, beyond difficult. I have to hit a high...D? And hold a trill on that note. Which isn't too bad. It's hitting the D on the fourth page of the third movement after an insane 16th note passage with accidentals. In treble clef. And even that is fakable. It's everyingthing else...ack. It's just insane. Verrrry hard. Thank goodness Scott is doing it- he is the more patient of the two conductors. Very, very nice. I worked with him last week, too. Funfunfun. Next is the waltz from Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky. This piece is so easy compared to everything else. It's fun to listen to. A nice break after the Hindemeth... Last is Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. Which is, of course, beautiful. In an insane kind of difficult way. The runs I'm not sure if I'll ever get. Everyhting else isn't too too bad. Just...insane. It will be a good program though. We have a lot of members getting tendinitis- Nate couldn't play today because his wrist hurt so badly. I'm hoping that nothing happens to me. I'm careful, though. I know how to play correctly and I really try to keep on top of it. I stretch now before rehersal, too. See, it is always my back that hurts. It starts just under my right shoulder blade and then spreads across my upper back. The only way I can describe it is that it's like a spider web. It's weird. Like, it spreads up and I can kinda feel it spread. And sometimes it's real sharp, kind of like a cramp. And it just makes me feel sort of sick, but not really. ...sorry to be so vague. It is hard to describe. It only happens sometimes, like it didn't bother me today. Yeah. That's the end of my rant.
Thank, Barbara and Granddad, for the lovely card. I got it today. I have a collection of all my cards people send me sitting on my desk. NOTE TO EVERYONE: if you send me a card, it could get placed in my very special collection!! Wouldn't that be fun? hahaha.
I went for pizza today for lunch. Jen and I also went to the CD store too. I, of course, forgot the CDs to trade in, but I didn't get some CDs I wanted today so that I could wait until I went back. I did, however, buy the Elizabethtown soundtrack (because it is so good) and the new Regina Spektor CD. I wanted her older CD, Soviet Kitsch, but they didn't have it. So I got this instead. hehehe. I heart her.
Well, I have to go practice. Sectional tonight. There is also a masterclass with the Air Force String Quartet at 4 that I want to go to. So I'll write later. I'll try to write more often- most of the time it's just a matter of making time.....
"If it wasn't this, it would be something else."
-Cameron Crowe, Elizabethtown
Yesterday was Sunday. Jen and I ate lunch with Angelica, Rebekah, Nate, and Justin. Afterwords we grabbed an empty practice room downstairs and I brought my laptop down. We watched friends until Rebekah, Nate, Angelica and I had to go to rehersal. After dinner, though, we watched another two episodes and then Elizabethtown. tons of fun. Everyone is so glad I have my laptop. hahaha. Nate was like, "You brought Friends?? ...can we watch it?" he is quite good looking. But, alas, he has a girlfriend. Plus he's only been playing a year and a half. He didn't even play the violin first- he started on the saxaphone. Yeah. I told him that was worse that beeing a Slasher. (slasher- n. Someone who plays both violin and viola, somtimes because they can't handle the competition of violinists and other times because they just prefer the viola. They always end up being better than pure-bred violists. We don't like them)
This morning I had my rehersal. For those of you who don't know, I am in EFO this week so I am performing Thursday. We are playing the hardest program of the summer. It starts with Harbison's "Remembering Gatsby" which has a part for both piano and flexitone (I'm not sure how to describe a flexitone in words....google it). You know those comedy routines that played before movies in the thirties? Where they literally threw pies at eachother and had hats and canes? Well, thats what this piece is like. Except hard. Because it gets all sinister-ish and that's when the strings start playing. Yeah. Next on the program is the Hindemeth. ...that's right, we are plaing Mathis der Maler. The whole thing. It is soooo hard. Like, beyond difficult. I have to hit a high...D? And hold a trill on that note. Which isn't too bad. It's hitting the D on the fourth page of the third movement after an insane 16th note passage with accidentals. In treble clef. And even that is fakable. It's everyingthing else...ack. It's just insane. Verrrry hard. Thank goodness Scott is doing it- he is the more patient of the two conductors. Very, very nice. I worked with him last week, too. Funfunfun. Next is the waltz from Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky. This piece is so easy compared to everything else. It's fun to listen to. A nice break after the Hindemeth... Last is Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. Which is, of course, beautiful. In an insane kind of difficult way. The runs I'm not sure if I'll ever get. Everyhting else isn't too too bad. Just...insane. It will be a good program though. We have a lot of members getting tendinitis- Nate couldn't play today because his wrist hurt so badly. I'm hoping that nothing happens to me. I'm careful, though. I know how to play correctly and I really try to keep on top of it. I stretch now before rehersal, too. See, it is always my back that hurts. It starts just under my right shoulder blade and then spreads across my upper back. The only way I can describe it is that it's like a spider web. It's weird. Like, it spreads up and I can kinda feel it spread. And sometimes it's real sharp, kind of like a cramp. And it just makes me feel sort of sick, but not really. ...sorry to be so vague. It is hard to describe. It only happens sometimes, like it didn't bother me today. Yeah. That's the end of my rant.
Thank, Barbara and Granddad, for the lovely card. I got it today. I have a collection of all my cards people send me sitting on my desk. NOTE TO EVERYONE: if you send me a card, it could get placed in my very special collection!! Wouldn't that be fun? hahaha.
I went for pizza today for lunch. Jen and I also went to the CD store too. I, of course, forgot the CDs to trade in, but I didn't get some CDs I wanted today so that I could wait until I went back. I did, however, buy the Elizabethtown soundtrack (because it is so good) and the new Regina Spektor CD. I wanted her older CD, Soviet Kitsch, but they didn't have it. So I got this instead. hehehe. I heart her.
Well, I have to go practice. Sectional tonight. There is also a masterclass with the Air Force String Quartet at 4 that I want to go to. So I'll write later. I'll try to write more often- most of the time it's just a matter of making time.....
"If it wasn't this, it would be something else."
-Cameron Crowe, Elizabethtown
8.7.06
Symphonie Fantastique
Good Morning, all! Last night was my first concert- It went very, very well. Everything ran smoothly, I didn't screw up too badly, and everyone enjoyed it. But let's start with dinner...
We ate at the Revival Grill, which was so good. The presentation, the atmosphere, the food. It was all amazing. I got to spend the evening with my aunt Susie, Uncle Gregg, my two cousins Eddie and Ellen, my parents, and my brother. It was so nice to have them all here- it meant a lot to me!
Now, I have to put in my mother's "review" of the concert:
"Gushing from Mom"
It wasn'y until they started playing that it hit me. That was our daughter, my Emmy, on the EMF stage, playing in front of a concert hall full of strangers- not P.A. parents, but a hall packed with appreciative people. My eyes brimmed with tears, Bill grabbed my hand, and we were off in the musical wonderland laid before us.
Thank you all for coming. It was great to be able to see you for the evening. I hope next week is as good as this one was! I need to go get my laundry, but I'll write later. Love you.
We ate at the Revival Grill, which was so good. The presentation, the atmosphere, the food. It was all amazing. I got to spend the evening with my aunt Susie, Uncle Gregg, my two cousins Eddie and Ellen, my parents, and my brother. It was so nice to have them all here- it meant a lot to me!
Now, I have to put in my mother's "review" of the concert:
"Gushing from Mom"
It wasn'y until they started playing that it hit me. That was our daughter, my Emmy, on the EMF stage, playing in front of a concert hall full of strangers- not P.A. parents, but a hall packed with appreciative people. My eyes brimmed with tears, Bill grabbed my hand, and we were off in the musical wonderland laid before us.
Thank you all for coming. It was great to be able to see you for the evening. I hope next week is as good as this one was! I need to go get my laundry, but I'll write later. Love you.
7.7.06
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMY!
Today is Emily Layman's 14th birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMY! I hope it is splendiferously perfect. You deserve it. I wish I could be there!!
Less excitingly, today is the release of POTC2. I have no idea when I'm going to see it. *tear* Ah, well.... I hope my friends who are going to Shelby's Pirate Party tomorrow have fun- don't you DARE spoil it for me in any way! Don't even mention it to me!!
Okay. So. Rehersal today went well. I got to work with Roberto Diaz (!). He gave us some suggestions, etc. Very, very, very nice.
Well, I want to have a chance to practice before my chamber rehersal. I have the "Life as a Musician" seminar and then I'm meeting my parents, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousins to go to dinner. And then my concert! yay! hehehe. I'll write more tonight/tomorrow after the concert. muah!!!
Less excitingly, today is the release of POTC2. I have no idea when I'm going to see it. *tear* Ah, well.... I hope my friends who are going to Shelby's Pirate Party tomorrow have fun- don't you DARE spoil it for me in any way! Don't even mention it to me!!
Okay. So. Rehersal today went well. I got to work with Roberto Diaz (!). He gave us some suggestions, etc. Very, very, very nice.
Well, I want to have a chance to practice before my chamber rehersal. I have the "Life as a Musician" seminar and then I'm meeting my parents, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousins to go to dinner. And then my concert! yay! hehehe. I'll write more tonight/tomorrow after the concert. muah!!!
6.7.06
Just...play normal.
By popular demand, another post. Sorry I haven't updated in the past few days. It's been a combination of boringness and busyness. ...yes, they are both words. hahahaha.
Well, let's see. Jen and I have found a new hobby. Watching Friends. hahaha. Mom sent us the first season on monday and we finished it today. She's bringing the second one with her tomorrow!! Jen is quite annoyed that we don't have the next season- she doesn't know what happens! mwahahaha.
Anyway, Jen's mom is coming in today. They are going out for chinese and I am going to sit in the cafeteria listening to my iPod and looking threatening and antisocial. haha. Tomorrow, however, I get to go out to dinner with my family- mom, dad, brother, aunt, uncle, and two cousins. It should be tons of fun- I love that they are all coming up for my concert!! It should be really good. The Debussey sounds good- I'm sure it is more enjoyable to listen to than it is to play. The Mozart will be perfect. Just being able to play with Roberto Diaz is amazing! I love it. And, the seating on that one should be fun...but I'm not saying anything else. And then there's the Berlioz. It will be...well, I think it will be absolutely amazing. It's amazing to play.
Do any of you know the story behind it? Well, you're going to. Basically, the main character is this guy who takes opium and in his visions sees this girl who continues to haunt him. Each movement is a different "trip" (in the Leonard Berstein young peoples concert, the name of the episode was "Berlioz takes a trip" haha). In the first one, he sees her for the first time and falls in love. There is this recurring melody is called the "Idee Fixe" and represents this girl who the guy is in love with. She kind of teases him but he can't get to her. The second movement is a ball. It starts happy, but this guy can't have any fun because he continues to think of this girl. He catches glimpses of her, represented by the Idee Fixe, but she always disappears. It ends in this whirlwind of confusion as he looks for her. The third movement is a pastoral scene. It opens with two shepards calling to eachother. The woman reappears, of course, and (i think) ends up being unfaithful to this guy with one of the shepards. At the end, the thunder rolls, and it turns dark. You only hear one shepard at the end... The fourth movement is my faborite. he is being marched to be executed, I believe for killing the shepard. At the end you hear the Idee Fixe just before the guillotine falls and his head rolls down the stairs. Look for the pizz. going around the orchestra, 1st vlns, 2nd vlns, vlas, and cellos. Them the fanfare at the very end. The fifth is the Witches Sabbath. The girl is leading the sabbath. This time the melody is slightly transformed.
yeah. so, that is Symphonie Fantastique. ...I love Berlioz tons.
Well, I need to run. Chamber and the a masterclass. Write tomorrow before the concert? k. love you.
Well, let's see. Jen and I have found a new hobby. Watching Friends. hahaha. Mom sent us the first season on monday and we finished it today. She's bringing the second one with her tomorrow!! Jen is quite annoyed that we don't have the next season- she doesn't know what happens! mwahahaha.
Anyway, Jen's mom is coming in today. They are going out for chinese and I am going to sit in the cafeteria listening to my iPod and looking threatening and antisocial. haha. Tomorrow, however, I get to go out to dinner with my family- mom, dad, brother, aunt, uncle, and two cousins. It should be tons of fun- I love that they are all coming up for my concert!! It should be really good. The Debussey sounds good- I'm sure it is more enjoyable to listen to than it is to play. The Mozart will be perfect. Just being able to play with Roberto Diaz is amazing! I love it. And, the seating on that one should be fun...but I'm not saying anything else. And then there's the Berlioz. It will be...well, I think it will be absolutely amazing. It's amazing to play.
Do any of you know the story behind it? Well, you're going to. Basically, the main character is this guy who takes opium and in his visions sees this girl who continues to haunt him. Each movement is a different "trip" (in the Leonard Berstein young peoples concert, the name of the episode was "Berlioz takes a trip" haha). In the first one, he sees her for the first time and falls in love. There is this recurring melody is called the "Idee Fixe" and represents this girl who the guy is in love with. She kind of teases him but he can't get to her. The second movement is a ball. It starts happy, but this guy can't have any fun because he continues to think of this girl. He catches glimpses of her, represented by the Idee Fixe, but she always disappears. It ends in this whirlwind of confusion as he looks for her. The third movement is a pastoral scene. It opens with two shepards calling to eachother. The woman reappears, of course, and (i think) ends up being unfaithful to this guy with one of the shepards. At the end, the thunder rolls, and it turns dark. You only hear one shepard at the end... The fourth movement is my faborite. he is being marched to be executed, I believe for killing the shepard. At the end you hear the Idee Fixe just before the guillotine falls and his head rolls down the stairs. Look for the pizz. going around the orchestra, 1st vlns, 2nd vlns, vlas, and cellos. Them the fanfare at the very end. The fifth is the Witches Sabbath. The girl is leading the sabbath. This time the melody is slightly transformed.
yeah. so, that is Symphonie Fantastique. ...I love Berlioz tons.
Well, I need to run. Chamber and the a masterclass. Write tomorrow before the concert? k. love you.
3.7.06
Don't play that crescendo like tofu!
Good afternoon! And what a lazy afternoon it was. Jen and I took full advantage of having the afternoon off and relaxed by watching the first disk of the first season of "Friends" that came in my care package today. hahaha. We kept on saying, "Oh, just one more!" Now she is at her sectional so I am going to really practice while I have the room to myself. This involves working on everything Jerome has given me as well as just a few more parts in the Berlioz and the Mozart. The Debussey is quite easy. Which is nice.
Anyway, yesterday was a slow day (but productive), too. I did laundry in the morning and practiced for a long time in the afternoon. I talked to mom and Gaetano. Which was nice. Jen and I watched "Moulin Rouge" in the evening. ...we are very greatful that my laptop can play DVDs. hahahaha. But we still work- it must sound like all we do is watch movies. But I am really working hard. And am learning sooo much. Just having a conversation with someone is so incredibly enlightening. I learn something in everything I do. It is...absolutely amazing.
Neither Jen nor I were very hungry when we had the opportunity to go eat in the cafeteria, so instead I am meeting her after her sectional and we are going to get chinese. A nice way to end this day. The next few are going to be insane. Tomorrow I have rehersal 9-12, chamber rehersal 2:45- 3:45, music theory 4- 5:30, sectional 6:15- 7:45. I won't be back in the room between 2:30 when I leave for rehersal and 8 when I get back from sectionals. so I think today will be deserved. hahaha. Wednesday is the Roberto Diaz masterclass in Sternberger, Thursday is the Roberto Diaz masterclass in Duke 101 as well as EFOs first concert, and Friday is the Life as a Musician seminar as well as my first concert. Which means my parents are taking me out for dinner. By the way, you guys might want to look into reservations since there will be eight of us and I'll need to be back at Dana by 7:30. Which means, depending on where we go, I'll have about an hour for dinner (leaving a half hour on either end). Just so you know....
Well, I need to go work for a while. I'll have an hour and a half until I'll need to stop to go meet Jen. I'll talk to all of you soon- love you!!!
Anyway, yesterday was a slow day (but productive), too. I did laundry in the morning and practiced for a long time in the afternoon. I talked to mom and Gaetano. Which was nice. Jen and I watched "Moulin Rouge" in the evening. ...we are very greatful that my laptop can play DVDs. hahahaha. But we still work- it must sound like all we do is watch movies. But I am really working hard. And am learning sooo much. Just having a conversation with someone is so incredibly enlightening. I learn something in everything I do. It is...absolutely amazing.
Neither Jen nor I were very hungry when we had the opportunity to go eat in the cafeteria, so instead I am meeting her after her sectional and we are going to get chinese. A nice way to end this day. The next few are going to be insane. Tomorrow I have rehersal 9-12, chamber rehersal 2:45- 3:45, music theory 4- 5:30, sectional 6:15- 7:45. I won't be back in the room between 2:30 when I leave for rehersal and 8 when I get back from sectionals. so I think today will be deserved. hahaha. Wednesday is the Roberto Diaz masterclass in Sternberger, Thursday is the Roberto Diaz masterclass in Duke 101 as well as EFOs first concert, and Friday is the Life as a Musician seminar as well as my first concert. Which means my parents are taking me out for dinner. By the way, you guys might want to look into reservations since there will be eight of us and I'll need to be back at Dana by 7:30. Which means, depending on where we go, I'll have about an hour for dinner (leaving a half hour on either end). Just so you know....
Well, I need to go work for a while. I'll have an hour and a half until I'll need to stop to go meet Jen. I'll talk to all of you soon- love you!!!
1.7.06
Oh. My. Gosh. Joshua. Bell.
You will never believe what I just did.
I gave a t-shirt to Joshua Bell. It's one of the EMF ones with all our names on the back. And a red collar. oh, gosh. ...ahhhh!!!! I also had him sign my ticket. And I have a picture. I am on such a high at the moment....I just met Joshua Bell. hehehehe.
Okay. So. Pictures:
A terrible picture of me with the shirt.
Joshua Bell on stage. Without his violin. This is the fifth curain call.
Jen and Josh.
*drumroll*
Me and Joshua Bell.
oh, my gosh.
I am on cloud nine. I'll let you know when I come back down...
I gave a t-shirt to Joshua Bell. It's one of the EMF ones with all our names on the back. And a red collar. oh, gosh. ...ahhhh!!!! I also had him sign my ticket. And I have a picture. I am on such a high at the moment....I just met Joshua Bell. hehehehe.
Okay. So. Pictures:
A terrible picture of me with the shirt.
Joshua Bell on stage. Without his violin. This is the fifth curain call.
Jen and Josh.
*drumroll*
Me and Joshua Bell.
oh, my gosh.
I am on cloud nine. I'll let you know when I come back down...
The wonderfully lovely Joshua Bell
You will never believe who I had the most desirable pleasure of meeting this beautiful morning. In the classical music world, he is a rockstar of the highest status. Plus, he is as down to earth as one of his status and fame could be. Now, I could only be speaking of one person. Well, actually two. Unfortunatly, Yuri Bashmet is not scheduled to appear at this festival.
So, this morning there was a "Meet the Artisit" thing in the Moon Room. Basically, Joshua Bell sat down and talked to us for 45 minutes while we asked questions. It was pretty amazing. He wasn't intimidating (until we watched him play later...) and he talked to us about playing, falling into his career, and his violin. Apparently it used to belong to Huberman and during a concert when it was left unattened briefly in Carnegie Hall was stolen. It wasn't seen for for 50 years and on his deathbed, the theif confessed that his violin was the 1713 Strad. The said theif was a cafe violinist and had been playing the instrument without telling anyone what it was. It was cleaned and restored and another violinist bought it from the insurance company that had paid for it back in the 30s. It was in this European violin shop and, when Mr. Bell was in there getting his bow rehaired before a concert, he tried it and fell in love immediately. In fact, he played it four hours later at the concert! He told the owner that he just had to have this violin.
After talking with him for a while, he went to go practice before the dress rehersal with the EPO. He confessed that the piece he's playing tonight (the Sibelius violin concerto) he hasn't played for, like, three years. Which kinda annoyed me. So Jen and I went to Starbucks to get coffee and pasteries before his rehersal with the orchestra. When we got back, they were just taking a break before the second half of rehersal. Then we watched him play. ...I don't know how to describe it. It was...amazing. Inspiring while still being depressing that he can play so well. But just pure...ecstacy? hahahaha. That might be the right word...I don't know.
Well, I have to go. Meeting in 15 minutes...love you all!
So, this morning there was a "Meet the Artisit" thing in the Moon Room. Basically, Joshua Bell sat down and talked to us for 45 minutes while we asked questions. It was pretty amazing. He wasn't intimidating (until we watched him play later...) and he talked to us about playing, falling into his career, and his violin. Apparently it used to belong to Huberman and during a concert when it was left unattened briefly in Carnegie Hall was stolen. It wasn't seen for for 50 years and on his deathbed, the theif confessed that his violin was the 1713 Strad. The said theif was a cafe violinist and had been playing the instrument without telling anyone what it was. It was cleaned and restored and another violinist bought it from the insurance company that had paid for it back in the 30s. It was in this European violin shop and, when Mr. Bell was in there getting his bow rehaired before a concert, he tried it and fell in love immediately. In fact, he played it four hours later at the concert! He told the owner that he just had to have this violin.
After talking with him for a while, he went to go practice before the dress rehersal with the EPO. He confessed that the piece he's playing tonight (the Sibelius violin concerto) he hasn't played for, like, three years. Which kinda annoyed me. So Jen and I went to Starbucks to get coffee and pasteries before his rehersal with the orchestra. When we got back, they were just taking a break before the second half of rehersal. Then we watched him play. ...I don't know how to describe it. It was...amazing. Inspiring while still being depressing that he can play so well. But just pure...ecstacy? hahahaha. That might be the right word...I don't know.
Well, I have to go. Meeting in 15 minutes...love you all!
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