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August 25, 2005 at 1:33 AM

Well, I should update again. I had my last lesson with Maria yesterday. It was a sad day for me. I will miss her dearly but she told me that we could have a lesson at the times when I am home on break, more that likely 5 times in total. Everything went fairly well yesterday at my lesson, even the piece I hadn't started practicing again till a week ago. I don't think I had played that piece for about 1.5 months and then suddenly Maria asked me to pull it out last week. In one week I pretty much managed to make it nearly perfect.

I leave for college in 3 days (this Saturday), and well I am starting to get scared to leave. I am an only child so I am not used to sharing a room with someone, I am very rarly away from home for more that a couple of days, and I only know 2 other people going there and I have no idea if we will really do much or not. Ah...

Well, I was going to audition for the LaCrosse Symphony until I recieved the music excerpts today. Beethoven 7, Symphonie Fatastique, the Firebird Suite, a Verdi piece (not the requiem, unfortunately, otherwise I would have a chance with that cause I played it). Needless to say the auditions are a week from this Saturday and I will not be ready in time, so nix that idea till next year.

For Luther, I have my orchestra placement (2 orchestras) and seating placement audition sometime next week. I thing it will go fairly well. Hopefully I will be around the from 3 stands of 2nds or the back of the 1st. Although I seriously doubt I will be a first violin my freshmen year, if you were to hear them, you would know why I say this. I may have been the Associate Concertmaster in H.S. but they are a least 3 times better than my H.S. Orchestra. The mozart excerpt is a bit iffy at the moment. It just sounds to clunky to me, compared to the recording. Although, everyone I ask says it sounds really good, but I am very self-critical when it comes to violin and basically everything else. The Dvorak is going the best I think, I have made a lot or progress on it over the past couple of weeks and I think it will go over well, except for the 3rd movement excerpt, which goes fine till about the middle when the 16th notes are.

I have officially begun to change my bow grip. I am trying to make sure that I am playing will all the hairs instead of having it so pronated that I only play with half the hair. I have moved the bow a little "deeper" into my hand. I really don't know how best to describe it.

I got my bow back today as well and he did a great job. This is his second time rehairing my bow and I think he did an even better this time.

Thanks for reading, have a great day.

I wish you the best of luck in the next step of your journey. I am living evidence that one really can survive college and even be enriched by it.
Thanks for your comment, Andrew. Yes, it does sound like we're trying to adjust too the same bow grip! About college, don't worry--I know just how you feel right now, but you'll make it through the change and, as Pauline said, your life will be enriched by all your new experiences, good and bad. There is generally some adjustment period so be prepared to feel a little awkward and homesick, but it won't last long. Best of luck and keep me updated on how you're doing!
Thanks, I will definately keep you updated as to how it goes!