Update

April 3, 2006 at 9:06 PM

Last year, I printed out sheet music to my all time favorite vocal song, My Immortal (Evanescence). That's the only song of theirs that I really like, and man do I like it! Anyways, it's for piano (which I dabble with in my spare time) but I couldn't read Bass cleff well enough last year to play.
So a year, five songs, and two music theory chapters later (I've had this book for three years and, yes, I've only made it through two chapters...I did some online theory classes last summer though...to supplement), I can finally read my way s l o w l y through it. VERY slowly, but I can read it. Ahhh, progress! Dontcha love it!

My teacher's having me rest a tad from the Kabalevsky. He's worried I'll get "burned out" before I have to perform it. So, I'm not supposed to obsess over it, and just play it through once a day, work on rough spots, etc. I also get to do the Third Mov. a bit, which is cool.

Schoolwise, it's the same old same old day in day out. Wake up, do school, practice, study, study, study, sleep. Repeat. Da capo. Del segno. Whatev. You get the pic.

Ms. Otranto was *very* very happy with my concertmistress solos yesterday. In fact, she said I sounded very professional, and went on and on about it. I turned very red, but I was happy. I also played the Kabalevsky for her, just to get tempo markings for when I play in May. She said I sound great, and I'm the least of her worries. Yeah!

We got my new solo dress back from the cleaners and bought a set of shoes to go with it. I'm about six feet with the sandals, but I need the height for the train of the dress. AMAZON WOMAN LIVES! Haha. I also got two new white blouses. Blouses are a pain in the butt to buy! And musicians need them a lot! Someone should start a dress shop that sells solo attire (i.e. formal dresses, tuxes, etc.) and the white and black things we're all required to have. It would make life easier.

So, that's about it. I need to finish some work now, so have a nice day everyone!

~natasha

From Colleen Russo
Posted on April 3, 2006 at 9:45 PM

Haha sounds like me and piano "VERY SLOW" ;)
But I love that song too. Except for that song was playing on the radio when i found out my dog died. It's like the most perfect song to listen to at a time like that, but i start crying whenever i hear it now! But i still love it!! haha

From Karin Lin
Posted on April 3, 2006 at 10:00 PM

Hee hee...I've played piano almost as long as violin, so I always giggle at my violinist friends who can't read bass clef. Eh, it's probably just sour grapes because they're all better than I am. ;)

What were your concertmistress solos?

From Karin Lin
Posted on April 3, 2006 at 10:01 PM

Oh yeah, and I meant to ask: what theory book are you using?

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on April 3, 2006 at 11:05 PM

I'm using "An Approach to Harmony". Really old, out of print jobbie. I love it, actually. But I don't do it regularly, so I end up spending LOTS of time reviewing simple things I should've learned. Like the tonic triad. Yeah. But not bad, consider I've only been reading music for four years.

My solos were those great ones in Capriccio Espagnol.

AND GUESS WHAT PEOPLE!!!
I was accepted to Eastern Music Festival with scholarship money as well!!! And they only accept 56 violinists from around the country and and and and...WOHOO!

From Colleen Russo
Posted on April 4, 2006 at 12:40 AM

OMG natasha congrats!!! that's amazing... !! YAY

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on April 4, 2006 at 5:09 AM

That's is all good but the really impressive thing here is you're 6 ft tall.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 4, 2006 at 5:52 AM

Congrats on getting into music camp and getting a scholarship. I'm looking forward to hearing about it this summer.

You said, "Ahhh, progress! Dontcha love it!" Some students get discouraged because progress is slow. I tell them that the violin is very difficult to learn technically and that they need to feel very good about small increments of improvement. I also think that this attitude can help a person in many areas of life. It works for me. ;-)

I'm 5'10" tall, and I always ask other tall women where they buy jeans. Maybe you and I can run a specialy store on ebay for tall women musicians. Having long, slender fingers can be an asset for playing the violin, too.

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on April 4, 2006 at 12:31 PM

YAY TALL PEOPLE!
Yeah, I'm 5'8.5" and still growing. And unfortunately, I have these dainty little hands that have stunted pinkies. It's so unfair. :-P

From Jasmine Lewis
Posted on April 4, 2006 at 8:45 PM

Congratulations!

Your are lucky about being tall! I'm only about 5ft 3in. Oh well...

From Jenna Potts
Posted on April 6, 2006 at 10:47 AM

I'm 5' 3" as well. Where do you buy your jeans, Jasmine?

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.