February 22, 2005 at 3:21 PM

Well uni is back and I'm so glad. the past couple of weeks I've been rather bored. Unfortunately, due to the normal hassels, I won't get a confirmed timetable for a couple of weeks, which can be annoying to try and schedule practice and fitting it in etc.

We have a viola! This is the first time for a while I think that the institution has had a viola. I'm so happy. I've already met her and told her that I'm going to snatch her and form a string quartet or trio or something. There are two music institutions in Perth - The Conservatorium of WA based at WAAPA@ECU, and The School of Music at the University of WA. The School of Music has more funding, therefore the majority of string students and just over 50% of brass and woodwind students go there. The con however has an extremly good practical course, and courses in vocal and percussion. Therefore, string students at the con, while they receive (in my opinion) a better education, we don't get as many of them.

That being said, we do have a fair few violins this year. Though I think they need a bit of an attitude check. We had a meeting with our teacher on Monday, and basically told them what he wanted them to prepare for their lesson etc etc. He told them about the scales he'd ask for in the mid year technical exam and the studies (Kreutzer 2 and 5). They all seemed to go "aw not them, Kreutzer 12." Saying that they're better than them. In my opinion, Kreutzer 2 and 5 are essential studies for every player, and should be played at least once every day. Personally, I do it at least twice - once in the middle of hte bow, and once near the frog.

Also, a couple of them seemed to not want to give the teacher a chance, saying "oh, I'm trying to see if I can have my lessons with this teacher." I mean no disrespect to that teacher, but there's a reason why my teacher is at the con, and that's because he's a bloody good teacher. They're not even giving him a chance, not even one lesson and they're wanting to change teachers.

There is one student, a final year who transferred from UWA to ECU who is looking to study with a different teacher, and that I can understand because she has been with him for some time, and he is an incredibly good player. But the first years, I can see no reason for them to even attempt to get a different teacher.

Oh well, I must be off, organise my practice for tomorrow, where I can. Luckily only two classes tomorrow :)

From Scott 68
Posted on February 22, 2005 at 6:35 PM

I think its ok to take some time off if your practice starts to get dull

I started to get interested in the viola when I saw this little video clip of schubert's trout quintet with perlman on violin barrenboim on piano dupre on cello mehta on bass and zukerman on viola

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February 22, 2005 at 3:21 PM

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