Jen Thompsn

Jen Thompsn is from Pasadena, California.

Biography

Archive:
October 2006
June 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

life is so... daily!

How I've missed this place. Why did I stop writing? Perhaps because through college circumstances, I no longer had students, and it's being a TEACHER that makes this place so great for me. How are you (everyone)??

Recently my shoulder's been giving me problems. I'm changing every aspect of my technique imaginable (my teacher worries perhaps I'm down about this, but really I'm quite happy to be undergoing this change, after all my tendonitis problems). Hopefully it's just my muscles reaction to something vastly different. I had a massage today; very nice. Bit stiff again though, so I think I'll take the next few days off. *sigh*

Currently working on Paganini 13, Tchaik Meditation (1st of the 3 book songs--Melodie is the 3rd one, the famous one), Ravel's pavane pour une infante defunte (has a disappointing (to be nice) piano arrangement that has nothing to do with the orchestral original--I have commisioned a friend to write a better one) scales, and overall note by note playing just to work on my bow arm. Also, a Brahms string quartet that I am sight reading tomorrow, haven't a clue what it is (but, of course, have had the music for a week), and a Vaughan Williams quartet with another group (we tried this with a flute and string trio--it didn't work out). Did I also mention the Mozart flute quartet I'm doing? All movements? AND... lol sorry. Really there is more. Orchestra. Ravel Introduction and Allegro for quartet and orchestra... (BEAUTIFUL), Britten Simple Pieces (which are not simple), Mendol String Orch No 10 (?)... etcetera :) OK long list. No wonder my shoulder hurts!

I've begun jazz piano at the beginning of this year as well.. =) (jazz violin isn't as acceptable abroad...)

So.. anyway... my head hurts now. :-P Again I hope you all are doing wonderfully and will speak to you soon (leave comments if you've actually read to the end of this!!! lol)

x

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Jun. 24, 2005 at 10:24 PM

I'm done with high school!!! Graduated, with honors. It was wonderful closure, and I'm happy. Looking towards moving now. I'm leaving everything here. So far, from the people I love. It's hard to fathom. I want to come back, though.

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Jun. 3, 2005 at 2:39 AM

1) Bach Unaccompanied a minor Grave movement
2) Vaughan-Williams The Lark Ascending - 1st mov
3) Shostakovich Piano Trio - 3rd mov
Shostakovich Piano Trio - 4th mov
4) Moszkowski Duet for Two Violins
5) Schindler's List - 1st mov
Schindler's List - 2nd mov

Intermission

6) Barber Concerto for Violin - 2nd mov
7) Krystalynn & Jenni Thompson Selah
8) Vitali Chaconne

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Apr. 6, 2005 at 7:43 PM

ACCEPTED!! (again?)

Into the RCM! wahoo!!

hmm... I better go practice.

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Mar. 24, 2005 at 1:30 AM

ACCEPTED!!

Into the RAM! I found out this morning.

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Mar. 19, 2005 at 9:11 AM

I thought it was about time I updated this blog - my concert last month with my orchestra was spectacular. I'm still smiling. Teaching is also going well. And my auditions which I had the first week of this month were in New York, at Julliard, for RCM and RAM of course, were everything I hoped they would be. Everything I worked for I put into those audition pieces and I can't even wish to have done a better job. I did my best. And should that be rejected... I'll find my way regardless. I've discovered playing without slips of memory. Playing without noticible tears in the music. Stylistically it's not perfect of course, but notewise, well, I used to get nervous and forget notes and runs that I had practiced many, many times. But now...

I'm not nervous anymore.

It feels wonderful.

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Feb. 22, 2005 at 2:43 AM

The concert is Sunday.

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Feb. 16, 2005 at 6:16 AM

My grandfather died yesterday. In less than 2 years, I've gone from 5 grandparents to 2. Two sudden deaths, including this time, and another not so sudden. Thursday is the memorial, for which I'm playing the Lord's Prayer. I had the BEST arrangement two years ago, but I've since moved, and lost it... but I'm picking up another (though a different arrangement) tomorrow. hopefully.

It's been tough. I don't usually like to write on anything other than music related stuff on this blog, but I feel like this needs to be documented somewhere. I'm tired. Truly. It hasn't all... hit me yet though. I've tried to just be here for my mom. I'll be driving to an orchestra tour this weekend about 5 hours away and... I suppose I'll have time while I'm there to enjoy myself violin-wise, but also to cry and simply get used to the fact that I won't be driving to see my grandfather anymore.

And life lives on.

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Jan. 21, 2005 at 11:03 PM

So we got carpet in my teaching studio this week - it looks GREAT! It's so nice to have my own space. And I think I'll have a recital in March for my students...

Did I ever mention I got in all my college applications? Goldsmiths, RCM, and RAM. I'm nervous, but, I think I'm going to go there regardless. Try to intern somewhere, then re-apply for colleges the year after. Then, I'll be able to catch the Goldsmiths and Trinity deadlines, as well as RCM and RAM. That's what I keep telling myself I'll do, anyway. :-P

Oh I had one of the worst dreams last night. Performance dreams. I don't recall the song, it seems like it was a mix between Bruch 3rd movement and... something. It was so real. I seemed to know the piece the first five minutes but after that it all fell apart, I didn't know it at ALL. And I don't think I was blanking it out, I really hadn't practiced it, or even learned it! So I was up there for who knows how long, winging runs up and down and trying to remember old cadenzas I'd learned. There was also this teenage guy up on the stage, sitting, and mouthing to me "you're going down!!" or something to that extent. When it's finally over, I walk/run down the aisle to the bathroom, and say to the two people in there "that was inequivocally my worst performance ever." and there was the guy again, in the women's bathroom (?!) saying it would be better next time, and offering comfort. I woke up then, felt relieved it was a dream, and thought it quite odd. I don't have performance nightmares very often. This one sure was interesting.

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Jan. 14, 2005 at 8:52 AM

My teaching studio flooded this week. Living in California, you just don't expect these things to happen. The carpet was ripped out, now there's the linolium, and it needs a bit of cleaning up before I teach there again. The good news is, it'll be up and running before my first day teaching of next week.

It's quite the perfect studio, actually. My first, too. It's like getting a nice first car. Not many are so fortunate. And I'm excited - I'm starting a new student. I'm having visions of a student recital in the summer...

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