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July 31, 2003 at 5:07 PM

Progress:

Tuesday my hand hurt after playing only an hour so I had to stop playing, Ill try to make up for that this weekend so it all balances out. I have always been serious about being disciplined and wanting to get better.

I made it all the way through the first ending of the Bach D min Sarabande last night, playing completely by memory. I have taken some time to understand and feel the meaning of each note and phrase but I feel much more is needed because Im interested in making it sound the way I want as opposed to the original markings. I have the mechanics memorized so all I have to do it play it repeatedly and focus on intonation and quality of bowing. Soon Ill know all of it by heart and will be ready to move on to learning (more of) a different piece.

The first few bars of the Paganini caprice 5 is starting to feel comfortable a little bit but still a long way to go.

I have been using parts of Kreisler's Liebsleid, Estrillita by Ponce, and the first page of Tartini's Devils Trill as exercises for playing in 3rd position + and trying to nail my intonation on the high notes, progress is very slow there.

Back to the prunes I guess!

PS-Does anyone know what a "muggle" is?