April 2003
Only did 2 hours of practice today. argh...my 10 year old sis had her violin concert today. She and her best friend played bach double. it was cute. certainly not flawless, but they had a nice time, and produced the characteristic tone of the violinists in my family. If only we had the concentration along with that tone!
ha. Well, I feel like I will be ok at my lesson. I am feeling a little shaky on the tartini...to think I was scoffing at it before..need to get some sleep.
have a pleasant evening.
chloe
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Hi all.
Argh. Tired, frustrated. Oh yeah, some good news...my tone deaf student quit today.,...his parents couldnt get him to practice...I know you guys are probably like,"you are prob. just a bad teacher.." but no..he was a bad student.
Practicing is rolling along smoothly. Making steady progress. Not exactly rapid and amazing progress, but steady, GOOD progress. Paganini is finally almost there. Bach sounds...like Bach....tartini is so much fun. Its like my candy at the end of my practice session. I have to work at it some, but jeez, I mean, devil's trill is a blast. Going to start the dvorak this week.
last rehearsal was tonight for youth orcehstra (yea, Jules!!) So relieved. except we read russian easter overature and I am the concertmaster, so I got to read all of the fun solos. argh
Got my SAT scores. My mom is mad, even though I didnt do that badly. I am disappointed too. But honestly, I am not even applying to any school that has a minimum SAT score, so I am not going to sweat it too much. My teacher told me today that I would be "fine" which is a big deal for him.
I am really worried about one of my friends.
I am tired, going to bed. Want it to be summer, but what else is new. it still sucks I dont have a date on saturday. I am going to a kentucky derby party instead and am going to drink mint julips while I try not to think about the fact that I am not at prom.
chloe
chloe
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So, how about it really stinks to break up with your boyfriend 2 weeks before prom? yeha, I am going to be practicing on the night of prom.
Tina, a bassist was right in my view, but what I could see looked great...Not sure who I was with afterward.
Wow, Iam tired of protestant catholic-bashers. can the first church of our Lord be that wrong?
chloe
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So, the sweet joy of leading my little violin ducklings is over for this year. I saw you, Tina, when we were playing, and I tried to track you down aferwards, but couldnt find ya!!
had a decent lesson. she knew I didnt have alot of time. doing the 3rd page of devils trill, now. starting Dvorak concerto!!!! Doing the same paganini. I hate that shift to 4th position. not to mention, I am SOO ready to be out of school so I can practice all the time. I am also tired of certain people who try to act dumb so they can get compliments. its really trivial. I am also tired of one of my friends who is such a pathalogical liar. Ugh. I am sick of greenville. My true home is up north. I am worn out from practicing, and mentally tired from thinking so much about music. My parents are being really great. no pressure like last year, which actually has made me work harder. I am so glad I have found out who I am as a violinist and as a person.
chloe
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Hi. I am happy, I did four hours today. I have a lesson tomorrow, and I am sick over it...I just dont feel ready. Being catholic, I had 4 Holy days over the weekend, and 2 concerts this week, and I just haven't had the time I need. I am usuallly really prepared, so I hope my teacher won't be too disappointed. I read through the Dvorak concerto, even though I havent formally started it with my teacher. it isnt bad. i can do it. I am looking forward to next year...college auditions! Jeez, I need to stop wishing time away..now is the time to really work on my playing, not wish time away.
oy.
chloe
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The last two days have been mad busy! O have had a youth orchestra concert each night. I feel like I am the mother hen, trying to gather my little baby chicks into one line. Jeez, I am a concertmaster, not a babysitter. Oh well. Dvorak was fun!
I am so tired. getting up in the morning to practice is tiring me out.
I am tired of stupid people at school who dont appreciate anything except material things and pop culture. I am tired of having to live with this braindead teenagers who are so inconsiderate about what really matters in life. My life consists of this, God, family, and violin. I dont really care about much else., is it wrong to not want a broader social circle? dont know.
5 freaking weeks left of school. argh!
only practiced 3 hours today bc of concert. very annoyed.
chloe
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Just got home from Easter Vigil at my church. I played violin, as usual. I just have one question. WHY do the altar boys have to be soo attractive? I mean, don't I have enough to think about in mass without having to combat thoughts about these boys with such beautiful skin and gorgeous hair! agh!!! I didn't practice enough today. I offended one of my oldest friends, and feel like crap. I need to go write easter cards. hope you all have a pleasant holiday.
chloe
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So, I tore up my cat, and made it into a hat. haha Chris.
But for real, today has been ok. I have only practiced two hours and it is 6:00. I went and took my sister to this kiddie movie, and the whole time I was like.."For the Love...I should be practicing right now."
I have a Holy Saturday Mass tonight. It is very long, but hey, Church is Church.
chloe
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Yea!!! I am so excited!!!! My teacher talked to Lucie Robert today ( who I am studying with the summer...teaches at Manhattan) and she said she would like me to play Dvorak concerto instead of Tchaik....I am soo sooo sooo excited. I love Dvorak (when played really quickly :)
Yea!!!!!
Chloe
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So, it's late, and I should be sleeping, because I am getting up early to start my practicing early due to the fact I talked to this prodigy girl tonight and got really motivated. God, I am so competitive. I had a good lesson. I have so much to do though:
4 sections of A major in flesh book
Dont Etude (up bow staccato)
Bach partita (sarabanda and giga)
Paganini # 13
2 pages of the Tartini devil's trill
All by next week! AGHHHHH!!!! I have school starting on monday, so there will be no more luxurious 6 hour deals. I am stressed, but excited, and ready to meet the challenge..
My stupid octaves were not in tune in the Paganini tonight which was dumb because they have been in tune all week...My teacher is a stickler for pitch, so she knew I was disappointed. Ah,it will get better with work. I am so determined to work hard and to succeed
chloe
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Who knew it was such a pain in the a** to reinstall a rearview mirror into your car? argh. I have a lesson in an hour. I feel ready, but who knows. Had a dream I was still dating my ex. Argh. I am in denial. I am tired of my parents treating like I am still 12, thinking they still need to tell me to practice. I practice all the time...like, I never put the violin away, but they still need to feel like they have to maintain ownership over me or something. I asked my mom what she was going to do when I graduate next year and hopefully go to school in a big city (which I will leave unnamed for fear of sounding precocious) and she wont be able to hold my hand to cross the street...know what she said? "I'll just move there."
chr
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Today was so long. I practiced in the morning...Paganini is finally decent, and my Bach, I must say, is good. I am starting tartini as well as Dont Caprices this week. yea. Soon enough it will be tsciakovsky time! ha. Then, I volunteered at the hospital...music therapy stuff. I love old people, so this was very good. Practiced more, and then taught my tone deaf student. Oy. Enough said. Then I had a rehearsal for "The Seven Last Words of Christ." Wow. it is not the best piece of music ever written, I must say. I am loving spring break..i have so much time to practice. I have gotten 5 or more hours in each day, and it feels so good. I am actually enjoying the work, for the most part. yea!
chloe
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You know those days where you practice for 6 hours and feel worse off than you started?
chloe
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Argh. I just checked the mail...got my CDs from the Vieuxtemps concert (played Vieux 4 with a local orchestra). I am appalled. My pitch SUCKED. was everyone lying when they said it was good just to appease me, or is everyone tone deaf? I am so mad. I want to burn those CDs. I hate fooling myself into thinking I actually have decent talent. Ok. Its ridiculous to keep yelling at myself....but Wow. I am just really angry that I wasn't more accurate. I am going to practice.
chloe
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I just got back from running. I got a bug stuck in my eye when I was going down a hill. I hope this never happens to you, because I had to sit on the curb and try to pick it out while it was trying to hide behind my eye. Wow. It was disgusting, not to mention, painful as heck. Anyhow, I did so much practicing today. I feel like I have reached a true turning point in my practice habits. Goodnight.
chr
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Heard a "happy birthday rachmaninoff" concert last night. Very good, young pianist played the variations on theme by paganini. She was so young...16...but she is graduated HS, and going to Mannes next year. I love the rach vocalise. They also played symphonic dances. I love the second movement. Its so...mysterious...the program notes read "Like a waltz in a haunted ballroom" Ok, I know thats cheesy, but come on, thats what it sounds like! I need to go practice but I am procrastinating. It is too gorgeous to dredge through the octaves in the paganini today, but I must! Have a nice day, hope it is just as beautiful outside where you live as it is here.
C
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Had my lesson yesterday!! I was so nervous, but yet I was really prepared when I got there, and she was pleased with my intontation. We stopped using my Dounis Technique book. (not the DD, the book) She said that it was not the most productive thing I could be using my time with (I think Brian said something along those lines) and I am going to be working on the Dont Caprices (not exercises..ahem..) My Bach was good. She is very interested in letting me make my own phrasing ideas (within reason) which is good. I am trying to work really slowly this week because I feel like I lack consistancy. Paganini was surprisingly positive. She was happy with that progress, and I am excited to have more of it to work on this week. She said she is not sure if Glazunov is showy enough for college, so now she is saying Tsaick, but wow, not to sound stupid, but that worries me. I am scared I am not good enough for that, even though I honestly love it. we shall me. I am starting tartini...devils trill..for fun. ha! sounds like a good time. Have to play a pre-symphony show tomorrow night with the quarttet. Had a chamber orchestra concert...debussy. My solos went well. I swear, that slow intonation work is infallible.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Chloe
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Not to talk incessantly, but I am in the midst of reading the unabridged journals of sylvia plath. I am almost afraid to describe it for fear of taking away from how exquisite of a writer she was. her mannerisms, imagery, thought process, eloquence with words is so delicate at times, yet bold and striking at other points. It honestly has changed my perception of the world and my own thoughts and expression.
CHloe
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I am so nervous about my lesson. Well, anxious. I am working so hard, which is annoying because my music is so devilishly tricky that I am not progressing as fast as I am used to. Slow and steady progress, but oh, it takes such patience that I am just developing.
We had orchestra last night. Dvorak 9 is so fun really fast!!! I am excited about the concert. Also, Prokoffief string quartet is going better. I hated the 2nd movement for a few weeks, but I think I always dislike things I am bad at....aka my aversion to all sports. hah. Well, I need to go practice. I havent done any Dounis today. To think, I am spoiling myself with Paganini and I cant get through the Dounis...I wish I could hurry up and start Glazunov, but no. Technique first! Oy. have a good day. Yuck. there is an ant on my foot.
Chloe.
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Ah, I love the feeling you get after a really extensive practice session. I can finally play the Dounis, thanks for the help. I feel like I am progressing alot with my new teacher, but it scares me honestly. I think I am just really anxious about my future. Like, going away to a school, most likely in a large city, at least a 2 day drive from my home. I mean, the idea of attending a really high level school excites me to death, but I feel like my childhood has gone by so fast. I want to move forward but I feel sad leaving the place I have grown up in. Oh, i guess I should cross that bridge when I get to it.
Chloe
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Hi,
First, note to Tina:
You have a really great sense of humor. It sounds like my own sarcasm, ha. Keep up your practicing. Also, who says blogs are only for the pros? We aspiring musicians have lots to talk about, too!
Keep in touch.
Anyways, I just got home from the SAT. A waste of time, if I am allowed to say so. I had a good lesson on thursday. I am playing glasunov concerto for my college program!!! I got it this week! Any opinions, I would appreciate feedback. Working hard on getting really "on-target" pitch. I think I need to be more precise in my playing. This woman is an excellent teacher, though. wow. my quartet played as an "opener" at this benefit concert for our school at a bar last night, but it was like, pop music so we felt so silly because we were all dressed in concert black and played like, quartet music, and afterwards there are these bands playing . it was rather amusing. I HAVE TO PRACTICE NOW.
Chloe
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Hi. Tired from rehearsal last night.If the lazy kids would just learn their music it would be bearable. Taught 2 students today. One of them i just started in wolfhart and LOVE, and the other one refuses to practice and is tone deaf. I would love to ask him not to come back, but I dont have the heart. He seems to like it, but doesnt want to practice. Ill give him a few more weeks. I have my second lesson with the new teacher tomorrow. I am excited to see if I progressed enough this week for her standards. Also I find out my audition concerto. Sometimes I wonder who I would be with out violin dominating my identity. Like, would I stil be a ballerina, or would I be some cheerleader and have a completely different identity at my high school?Who knows. I love what I do, and these years are fleeting. my friend didnt get into juilliard. it was sad, but that;s the way it goes in this I guess. I am so ready for summer so I can go practice all the time. speaking of practice...
chloe
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