January 29, 2006 at 11:50 PM

One thing I love about going up to New York for lessons is it means that we can get Starbucks at the Joyce Kilmer rest stop of the New Jersey Turnpike on the way! Yummy! Okay but more importantly is the lesson, which was really good. I played the third movement of the Bruch, and we talked a lot about articulation in the beginning. My teacher suggested that I use less bow, and be more into the string, and it sounded a lot better. She was asking what recordings of the Bruch I had (Stern, Kyung-Wha Chung, Midori, and Heifitz) and she recommended we get Milstein, and I could use it to practice along with also. There is a very conveniently placed Tower Records Store across from Alice Tully Hall, so we went there right after the lesson, and listened to it in the car on the way back.

I think I like Milstein's recording the best. He has really fat sound, and in the opening cadenza he doesn't vibrate the whole time, which I like a lot, personally. Out of all the CDs, his grabbed my attention the most. Unfortunately, a lot of the things he does are different than what my teacher (my home teacher, not the NY one) is recommending. So I probably can't do it. Oh well, I can still admire it!

But anyway, I really like Ms. Cho. She is a great teacher and she's really smart and communicates ideas in a way I can understand well. I get to have another lesson with her before the orchestra concert!

--alice

From Ben Clapton
Posted on January 30, 2006 at 1:19 AM

It is your performance of the bruch, not your teachers. You should play it how you feel it should be played.

From Colleen Russo
Posted on January 30, 2006 at 1:47 AM

How often do you have your NY lessons? Starbucks=delish!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on January 30, 2006 at 3:11 AM

Ben's comment is a good one. You need to be yourself. You can admire and respect other violinists, but you shouldn't ape them. It's better to be #1 at being you than #2 at being someone else. It sounds like your teacher is a very good one for you. You might want to discuss some of these issues with her, diplomatically, of course.

Enjoy Starbucks and Tower Records.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on January 30, 2006 at 5:10 AM

I haven't heard the phrase "fat sound" in years.

From C. Veronica Smith
Posted on January 30, 2006 at 2:05 PM

Colleen -- There isn't a set time, just whenever we can arrange it, which is averaging out to about once a month.

Ben and Pauline -- My teacher will let me choose which interpretations I want to do, as long as I can make a convincing case for it. I'll probably end up with a blend of everything, and take the best of both worlds. :-P

From Daisy J.
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 2:52 AM

Caeli :)
hi
I just wanted to tell you i miss you dearly and that you are amazing, and inspiring
^______^*
daisy joelle
aka daze (remember that?)

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

January 29, 2006 at 11:50 PM

Subscribe

Laurie's Books