December 2006

The tension problem is getting better. In only 4 days I am leaving for Vienna with the Luther College Symphony Orchestra for our 3 week residency there. While we are there we are going to tour the city, rehearse, and go to numerous performances (none however by the Vienna Philharmonic, tickets were already gone). We also have 3 performances there ourself, our last one being in the Konzerthaus. We get to see the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra while we are there as well. This is going to be an amazing experience, one I will never forget.

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December 22, 2006 20:26

Well, I'm armed with a new piece of equipment for my violin: a new bow! It's a Paesold and it's amazing, it's a perfect match for my instrument. Juries didn't go as well as I thought...again. But that's ok. I'm working full time during break so it's hard to practice very much...if at all, but I'm trying. I have a major tension issue in both of my shoulders when I play violin. I raise my shoulers and remain in that position. It then causes tension down my arms and it's transferring to my hands. I have a really good vibrato but this tension is affecting it. It's affecting my playing. It's really annoying. I never used to have this problem and I don't know when it started and no matter what I or my teacher does I can't seem to fix it. Anyone have any suggestions?

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December 12, 2006 00:36

Well, did my jury on Saturday and I think it went spectacular. My Vocalise was absolutely spectacular, I've never performed it so well. My Bach wasn't as good as it has been but that's because I've had the least experience performing it. I'm so glad to be done with juries. I'm also done with Music Theory III and Classical Music History. It's finals week, it's late and it's bedtime.

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December 9, 2006 10:31

Well, I've got my Jury today at 2:50pm! I'm excited, this is going to be a good jury I think as long as I keep my head in the game. I'm doing Rachmanioff's Vocalise and Bach Solo Sonata No. 3 the Largo. Here's to doing a good jury!

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December 6, 2006 13:23

Juries in only 3 days. For once in my life, I'm stressing about an upcoming performance. I feel determined to do well and make a good impression. This feeling of determination is definately overpowering my usual nervousness. Then next week is finals, which I'm not even stressing about either. By tomorrow I need to have my piano performance piece memorized. It's close, it's in a-minor, called "The Storm" and it's by Cornelious Gurlitt. It's not too hard, just hard to memorize. I think I'll have it down though...I hope. I'm just trying not to get too stressed about things, I'm trying to remain calm. Now, time for class.

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December 1, 2006 16:12

So many concerts, so little time!! It's Christmas at Luther this weekend and we've already had a performance and we have 2 tonight. So here it goes!!

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More entries: January 2007 • November 2006

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