April 5, 2005 at 5:28 AM

Who ever said life is easy was wrong. And I'd immeadiately punch someone if they said music was easy.

Life seems hard at the moment. My car is falling to bits. I went to have a wheel alignment, but they couldn't do it because the ball joints were worn, so I have to get that fixed. The fuel line is rusting (if it breaks, big bang, no more car, and no more me if i'm in it), the brake pads are at the minimum safe thickness, there's rust all over the body, and heaps of other things wrong with it.
I need a new car, but I can't afford it. I can't even really afford to get this one fixed. Why would I spend $1000 on a car that I bought for $700?
I could save up about $1000 by the end of the year and I might get a couple of hundred if i can sell the car for parts. But I was planning on starting saving for a violin this year...

Performed in Chamber music today. It wasn't very good. My string quartet has only had one rehearsal, and the second violinist wasn't able to turn up. So we were basically having a first rehearsal today. Our tutor suggested that we need to spend more time together (duh) citing some professional string quartets who would spend 3-4 hours a day together, 5 or 6 days a week. But he didn't exactly suggest how much we, as amateurs, should be doing. I'd like to possibly spend 2 hours a week, maybe 3 if we can find it. But our schedules are so difficult that we've only found one hour that we can commit to each week. The cellist wants to spend 4 hours a week together, the violist thinks she can spare one. It's just impossible. The tutor sounded like he was suggesting that we should be spending 3-4 hours a day together, or at the very least, 1-2 hours each day. Let's take a look at the numbers:
17 hours of classes a week
4 hours of practice a day
3 hours of ochestra rehearsal a week
6 hours of work a week
preferably 8 hours of sleep a night.
2-4 hours of church a week
2 hours of youth group a week (plus preperation)
That takes up 116 hours in the week. Add onto that a couple of hours study each day, plus because i like to do composition each day, you're not getting much time left over.

I'm considering taking a year off after I've completed my adpa. Take a year off, keep getting lessons, but find a job and work, work, work, work, work. Build up some savings, perhaps get a good violin. And prepare to audition for a good school - Sydney Conservatory or WAAPA again, possibly somewhere over in england if I can afford it. Will talk with my parents about it sometime.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 5, 2005 at 5:50 AM

Ben, I'm sorry about all your recent adversity. You seem to be dealing with it well. You've got a plan of action and a constructive attitude. I wish you lots of success soon.

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April 5, 2005 at 5:28 AM

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