January 24, 2005 at 2:16 PM

Haven't blogged in ages! Had a nice christmas, and drunken (stocious!!) new year and got stuck into my practicing again around Jan 3rd. Back in Glasgow now I am unbelievably busy. The RSAMD has a small string department compared to other colleges - and boy do I know it! I'm involved in Falstaff (Verdi) this term and the rehearsal and concert schedule is grueling. I've also had written exams, aural exams, and have two essay due this week and next. In addition we're performing the Mahler Resurrection symphony (2) with Joseph Swensen which is fantastic but oh so exhausting when you follow it with an opera dress rehearsal then a few hours studying. I got soooo stressed out last week I ended up a little tipsy with some friends singing along to the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack last week for some light relief; very amusing. Anyway I did my first proper (ie prepared for and volunteered for) performance class last week. I was dreading it but had decided that as I am here to study violin I have to overcome this fear of performing. I always seemed to lose my inability to play in tune, or with any musicality, or any joy, in public. Not anymore!! (my first year ambitions were: learn to use all my bow, learn to use a straight bow, learn to not fear octaves and learn to not fear an audience - I think I've almost acheived all these goals to some extent - yayness)