A Leap Forward

May 12, 2008 at 7:36 PM

I want to put this on record for future reference to read when/if I get discouraged again: a frustrating lesson can be a sign that better times are ahead.

At my last lesson I had a lot going on. I missed a lesson due to a work conflict. And when I'd been playing, I'd been playing mostly violin, and mostly orchestra music. I'd been frustrated with the lack of continuity and uniformity in the first violin section bowings and that unsettled feeling had been causing me some stress at rehearsal. The back pain that I thought I'd finally seen the last of started to return, seemingly due to stress (it's gone again, hooray!). I went on a long vacation without my instrument. And my lack of focus (not just in life, but in sound) was trying even the patience of my wonderful teacher.

I had another viola lesson today, and things have turned around. I got back in sight of my goal to audition on the viola for the Longwood Symphony in September. I practiced viola regularly since the last lesson, committed the Clarke Passacaglia to memory, and did scale, vibrato, and right hand work. I am managing to put my fingers down with clarity rather than fuzziness. I was concerned that what sounded like a big improvement to me might not sound like a big difference to anyone else, but my teacher confirmed that today was indeed a big improvement over how I played two weeks ago. I don't know if I will ever actually be able to look forward to an audition, but at least I'm not feeling dread about it four months in advance. Who knows, it might even be fun.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on May 13, 2008 at 3:11 AM

>a frustrating lesson can be a sign that better times are ahead.

I find this to be almost 100% accurate. Some days it's my only comfort! (And, as the reverse can be true, I warn myself not to get too cocky/buoyant after a really good lesson.)

Glad to hear you had a good one!

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A Leap Forward

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