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May 19, 2005 at 6:01 AM

I was a little frustrated with practicing today. Beethoven is getting better and just needs more drilling, but overall I feel far more able to be freer and more creative with it than before. Brahms, however, is giving me a hard time. I spent maybe an hour on the first page, and still came out not very satisfied. I should probably break it down even more than I'm doing, because I have worked fairly well on the development before when I practiced in that way. I want very much to be able to play through a large section without worrying, without a scratch, and with total expressive freedom, but that will clearly take some more work. Everything from the bow distribution to the vibrato has to be so sensitive.

In other news, I am now the proud NUSO stand partner of a new Cleveland Orchestra member, Alicia Koelz! I think the orchestra feels like it just collectively had a baby or something; we're so excited. Congrats, Alicia! (And as Andrew said, "[The Cleveland Orchestra] is no NUSO, but it'll do." Haha!)