Grin :)

E. told me after rehearsal last night that I was getting better. I have a small 3 measure solo in one piece and my stand partner and I carry the melody in another piece we are playing at JUMC Sunday morning. It was a good night for intonation! Smile and grin!

Sunday Supper with musicians

Sunday Supper with the NAPC orchestra was fun. It was nice to have conversations with fellow musicians and to learn about their other lives. Only 1 is a piano teacher - the rest have a variety of intellectual pursuits that pay their salaries - a lawyer turned psychologist, a physics teacher, a nuclear engineering student, a Chinese exchange student from Japan, an architect and I don't know about the rest. Quite an interesting group. I don't always enjoy these types of social activites, but this one was fun. I didn't get to talk to everyone - we ate in 2 different rooms - but it was a good time. The Tech student is going to learn to play the viola!

Week One of the new Season

I made it through the week and am balancing all the rehearsals/practices ok so far. No SCSO this next week - that will give me a nice break and 2 weeks to work on the tough music. I practiced the NAPC music tonight. The Bach is tougher than I initially thought. We are having an orchestra supper Sunday night and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better. I met a woman last Sunday that recognized my name from v. com. That was really cool.

It's pumpkin latte time at Starbucks! Hoorah!!

full steam ahead

My fall schedule has begun. Orchestra rehearsals on Tues., Wed., and Sundays. It may be too much. Right now I'm looking at 3 folders full of music. The NAPC stuff is not very hard, but I am totally exposed when playing with that group so I need to be well prepared. Lots of practicing ahead for me. :)

Labor Day 2008

Yea for 3 day weekends. I've had Chuck and Robin for the weekend and we had a nice visit. They went to the Alabama-Clemson game and had a grand time. The Crimson Tide crushed the Tigers (not the AU Tigers!) and a good time was had by all. We went to Loca Luna, a Brazilean place and had fun Friday night but did not stay late enough to see the hoochie coochie girls. I got in a good hour of practice after they left today and have been a total couch potato since. I will probably tackle the JUMC music again later tonight. No school tomorrow - hurrah! I needed the break. SCSO starts Tuesday night and I am so looking forward to it.

back to orchestra rehearsal - yay!

I went to JUMC for orchestra rehearsal last night. They are such a fun group and I always enjoy myself. I just can't see giving them up even though it will keep me on the southside 2 nights in a row. I got the performance schedule and am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing conflicts with NAPC.

जुस्त अनोठेर मानिक मोंडे

इ दो नोट क्नोव वहत इस गोइंग ओं विथ माय ब्लॉग!!!

summer's end

Tragically, the end is near. I can't believe I will be back at work officially next week. Although I've worked off and on all summer, it has been so nice in my new bacherlorette pad and new 'hood. My neighbors can hear me practice - Sara said "It's delightful." - how cool is that? I have been working on scales, etudes and a few solos, trying to have quality practice time. It is so easy to just pick up my viola and play for 10 minutes or so with it so close at hand. I just can't let myself play late at night, which is something I've always enjoyed.

I still haven't decided about JUMC - I just hate to give it up. I may play with them for the month of Aug. and see how it goes. I know there will be conflicts with performances, but NAPC doesn't start back until September. SCSO starts back Sept. 2, so that is a given. I can't wait. I have gained confidence since last year's inaugural season on the viola.

NAPC orchestra

Rehearsal this morning was good - the orchestra is more like a chamber group with one instrumentalist per part and I am going to like that I think. The director is a bird - really mad scientist scatter brain personality, but so sweet. I did OK except for the one piece she threw at me to sight read- it was in a difficult key and the whole thing is dissonant and weird. I'm anxious to hear it tomorrow morning with the choir plus I'm going to rework the music tonight- I think there are some mistakes. I am looking forward to the service tomorrow and we are all staying for lunch at the church afterwards. It will be nice to get to know some of the musicians a little better.

Much to report

Well...... lots has happened. I've moved to the city - the ATL! I have an awesome apartment in midtown that I love. It has been an easy move -the hard part has been telling my friends and family why I did it. This is what I wrote on my other blog -it's too hard to rewrite:
"Why? Because the alternatives were: 1) suck it up, bury the bad feelings, and let them leak out little by little over the coming months and years, 2) take the sadness and anger out on the loved ones who don’t deserve it and risk ruining those relationships, or 3) implode. Running away was better than therapy I decided; after all, this is not a dress rehearsal for life. I am not a wallower by nature and have always been independent to a fault, so I just did it." And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Along with a new place to live come new viola opportunities. I've visited several midtown churches looking for one with an orchestra that I can join. I am not a religion snob - anything remotely Christian will suit me. I've had one practice with North Avenue Presbyterian Church and will practice again Sat. morning and then play with them this Sunday. They appear to be a really nice group and are not too advanced for me. They are not as good as my pals from JUMC in Jonesboro and I've not quite decided to leave that group yet. We'll see how this weekend goes.

Music in the Mountains

The North Georgia Chamber Music Retreat was terrific. Nearly 60 musicians played tons of music with varying instrumentation nonstop for the weekend. Everyone brought music to share and I would guess there were 20 bins of chamber music to browse through. The event ran itself - you just picked something you wanted to play and then recruited the required instrmentalists to a cabin front porch, living area, conference center room or sitting room to read through as much or as little of the piece as the group chose. It was a chance to play new music for nearly everyone. I particularly enjoyed the one session of large group music. We played the Tchaikovsky Seranade and several other string orchestra pieces.

I surprised myself with my ability to keep up. Many folks were conservatory or graduate students with outstanding musical skills. Each person had a list of all musicians in attendance and you marked a person off when you played in a group with them. This encouraged mingling and not sticking with friends you already knew plus there was a nice prize for the person who played with the most musicians. I definitely recommend the experience.

Nervous excitement

I'm taking Friday off to head to the mountains for the Chamber Music retreat. I have worked hard on 5 or 6 chamber pieces to sharpen my sight reading skills. Maybe we will even play one of them. I have no idea what to expect and hope that I am able to keep up. We're actually heading through north Georgia to NC tomorrow for John's uncle's funeral. Uncle Bob was always a favorite. That makes 2 trips north in 2 days. I am tired of riding in the car already just thinking about it.

final SCSO concert of the season

We will play Orchestral Blockbusters tonight. I will play 75% of the notes! That is an improvement since the last time I whined about how hard this music is. We are also taking a new photo to put on the SCSO website. It's about time! I just did get my name listed this year after 2 years (and it's still in the violin section) and the photo on the website is at least 10 years old. Orchestra Sunday tomorrow at church and that will also be my last performace with that group until Fall. No more week night rehearsals for a few months = more practice time. I've got to find a teacher.

catch up time

I know it's been a while. Life happens, you know. Christen and Walie got off to South Africa and that consumed most of a week. Little practice time during those days. Three rehearsals and two concerts this week...and the chamber music is calling me every time I sit down to play. The pieces for SCSO are not under my fingers by any means. I can play 3 of the 6 fairly well and only parts of the other 3. For the last piece we will be joined by the Southern Crescent Youth Symphony Orchestra and they are playing a simplified version of the Meistersinger Prelude. It is the hardest piece I've ever attempted. I should be playing the youth part. I don't like feeling unprepared for a concert. The good news is that I felt one of those moments at church orchestra rehearsal tonight - those, "wow, I'm really playing better" thoughts. They usually come after I've been pushed with difficult music. The easier stuff seems soooooo easy all of a sudden. Hmmmm.....food for thought.

sore tips

I've played enough this past week to have very sore finger tips. Ouch - they are even tender when I type. I bought a year's membership to Virtualmusic.com, downloaded a bou-coup of chamber music and printed some of it out at work today. I need to practice church music and SCSO music, but all I want to do is dive into the quartet music. I can't wait to find out if I will be comfortable at the Chamber music retreat.

SPRING break

Yes, the SPRING is finally here in the break. We are flooded with dogwood and azalea blossoms in my neighborhood. I take Zyrtec and sit on the back porch as much as I can. These are perfect back porch days.

I'm going to the North Georgia Chamber Music retreat in the middle of May. I am sooooo excited and a little nervous. I have minuscule experience in chamber music playing on either the violin or the viola and I hope I am not too much of a beginner for these folks. There are 50 plus folks attending and everyone is supposed to bring music. It sounds like you just divide up in to groups and play nonstop for the weekend. Violists are much in demand for chamber music in general, so I want to shine. I spent the morning yesterday downloading ensemble music from a virtual music website (for a yearly fee you download and print your own music rather than ordering it from a company). I can't wait to go back to work so that I can print it all. I deliberately waited to start this project so that I would not be tempted to abandon my SCSO music. Hah!

Stuff...

I had a good practice session with the SCSO music last night - finally! I had a small break through with the very tough section of the Wagner and left my practice session feeling slightly better than previous sessions. There is HOPE after all ? I've given myself permission to say "I'll never get that passage in time for the concert" and will work on the 80% I will be able to play. I let go of the stress it was causing me and had a very productive session. I am also learning the Bach Suite 1 in G Major- 3 movements. It is not too hard and a delight to play. I need something that gives me pleasure to work on in addtition to the required stuff.

I've been shopping/lunching with friends most of the day. Came home and did some yard work, had dinner and am watching a movie. I'll get upstairs to practice in a bit. Afterall, it is Spring Break!

Spring Break

I had a great first day of SPRING BREAK! Got in an hour of practice before heading out to get a pedicure. This thumb thing is painful. I still don't know if it is a bruise or an interior tendon that's so sore. I saw a YouTube video of 20 or so cellists playing Back on a subway train. It is way cool and inspired me to work on the first Bach Suite for unaccompanied cello - translated for viola of course! I don't like the SCSO music and am struggling to give it good practice time.

Night's Rest

I've had thumb pain recently - how dumb is that? I took Advil because my thumb hurt. It's my left thumb, the one you must bend to hold a bow correctly. I don't know if I've strained a muscle trying to perfect my bow hold or if I've just hit it against something and it is bruised. It sucks to get old and have aches and pains.

No church orchestra rehearsal tonight, so I'm taking a break from practice. I've got 12 days with no rehearsals ahead of me. I must get more notes under my fingers on the SCSO music. We did not play any of the music I had really worked on at rehearsal last night, so I felt inadequate all night. I was sight reading the 3 pieces we worked on and it showed. Grrrrrrr.

baby steps

I read an interview with Michelle Williams in Elle magazine this morning. She's the ex fiance and mom to Matilda (Heath Ledger), of Dawson's Creek fame. Yes, I watched Dawson's religiously for 6 years with Cuyler. Anyway, Michelle is a free spirited, deep thinker and I am stealing one of her thoughts. "Yesterday I had a break through - one where I got to the edge of my abilities with my viola and took a step across the line - a baby step, mind you." Of course she was talking about acting, not playing the viola.

I had a good hour of practice Saturday morning. I love weekends - I get to practice in the morning and drink coffee. I am a morning person and it would behoove me to get up early enough to practice, exercise, meditate, etc. before work, but I also love to sleep. I know those are on the opposite ends of the spectrum, but I make the best of it. Anyway, I felt like a real musician yesterday morning. Fingerings, intonation, shifts all came so easily. I "heard" my intonation mistakes and made adjustments quickly - this is a big deal for me. I have always tended to plant my fingers and bulldoze through the notes whether I was in tune or not. My musician's ear is definintely improving!

more progress

I am amazed. I can play 2 of our 6 pieces fairly well already. AND... I'm making progress on the Wagner. It only has a few tough spots that have me still stumped. I plan to work through each piece entirely and get to a comfortable level before I move on to the next one. Lorra's fingering suggestions have helped.

progress

After being totally overwhelmed with the new SCSO music for several days - I'm talking wringing of hands and wailing out loud - I feel better after last night's rehearsal. The principal violist was my stand partner and she asked if I wanted to use my music instead of hers. That worked out great for me as I had marked many fingerings and bowings already. She made more suggestions and helped mark up my music the rest of the reheasrsal, so I feel my practice time will be more effective this week. There is this one spot in the Wagner that is just killing me! I can't even play it very slowly. We have two weeks off from church orchestra, so I can really devout my time to this set.

happy easter

It's been a good day. The Easter service at church was nice, the orchestra sounded great as usual, I only boo-booed once, the girls and boyfriends came for lunch, the easter bunny brought gifts and candy. We had a nice relaxing afternoon. I'm wiped out and don't know if I'll get my 3 minutes in tonight or not. I could close my eyes and sleep for a week.

Good Friday

The church quartet played for the Tenebrae service tonight. It is my favorite Methodist event of the year. I really like the way they tell the story of the crucifixion and extinguish the candles one at a time until it is dark in the sanctuary- a big boom on the gong symbolizes the final breath of Christ's life. Everyone leaves in silence - they don't even talk in the parking lot! The piece we played was fairly simple and I give myself an A- for this performance.

too many notes!

Just got back from orchestra (SCSO) rehearsal and we got the new music for our next concert. I don't remember all the titles, but is is all well recognized stuff that has been used in movies and such over the years. The pieces are sooooo long.... and there are sooooo many notes the pages are solid black! None of it is easy. I can not imagine how I will be able to get it all under my fingers in just 5 weeks! Yikes! Thank goodness I have Spring break in 3 more weeks - that will give me some extra practice time.

The Rest of the Story

A wonderful true life account from Paul Harvey:
Christmas Eve in Princeton, New Jersey, usually fulfills the picture postcard promise of Christmas. And it was so, on that particular Christmas Eve, long ago. Church bells pealed in the distance. A light snowfall kissed the quaint Princeton houses, and door to door carol singers made their way . . . to one particular door. The violinist's home. The gentle violinist. "O Little Town of Bethlehem," the boys sang,"how still we see thee lie . . ." In moments the door opened . . . and the gentle violinist stood in the doorway to greet the carolers." Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by . . ." The musician turned away . . . turned back into the house. Shortly he reappeared . . . with his violin! There he completed a picture too intimate for a postcard . . . a sound too inspiring for any but this story. The great man . . . the gentle old musician . . . accompanied the midnight carolers on his beloved instrument through each verse of the age-old hymn. Then, without a word to break the spell, the young people turned away silently and the old man slowly closed the door. At once there was only the distant pealing of the bells, and the snowfall.

And as this story is true . . . this real life scene from a year long past . . . if it is made more wonderful, it is not because a seasoned violin was brought out of retirement for one last spontaneous recital, but because the violinist himself had the best reason of all not to celebrate that snowy Christmas scene. The great genius was a Jew, and so revered was he that the very presidency of Israel once could have been his. But here is THE REST OF THE STORY.

Musicians will tell you, every great genius has their idol. This violinist's was Mozart. In his own words, the musician described the turning point in his early musical career; "I really began to learn only when I was about thrirteen years old . . . mainly, after I had fallen in love with Mozart's sonatas. The attempt to reproduce their singular grace compelled me to improve my technique. I believe, on the whole, that love is a better teacher than sense of duty . . . with me, at least, it certainly was. "Once, a freind asked the violinist to comment on modern times. When the musician was a boy, wars were fought with rifles and cannons. Now the entire world might be devestated. What did that mean to the old man? The violinist hesitated, sat back thoughtfully in his chair. "It would mean," he said at last, "that people would no longer hear Mozart."

For him, this most deeply conveyed the end of civilization. On many an occasion, he would break an hourslong chamber music session with the same observation. Mozart's music was so pure that it seemed to have been ever-present in the universe, waiting to be discovered by the master. So the great genius had an idol . . . and that idol was Mozart. For him, Mozart was what the world was all about.And when this violinist was offered the highest Jewish honor . . . the presidency of Israel . . . he declined, saying that he felt unqualified for a role that involved human relations. Yet who could have felt human warmth more deeply than the musician who worshipped Mozart than the old Jewish gentelman who serenaded Christmas carolers from his last home? For him, Mozart was not a compser, but a discoverer, a discoverer of celestial music that lay waiting in the universe. So when the violinist began to explore the universe, those closest to him believed that he was merely searching . . . for what Mozart had found. More logically this musician's idol might well have been Sir Isaac Newton, but he counted himself first as a violinist. For the musician who worshipped Mozart . . . the revered genius who could have been president of Israel . . . was the man who literally altered the meaning of infinity, hoping to discover . . . music. He was Dr. Albert Einstein

Post Concert Bliss

Today's SCSO concert was wonderful. We played to nearly a full house and the mighty organ at Spivey Hall was magnificent. I feel especially accomplished this evening. I played the viola soli part at the beginning of the Copland piece the best I could have hoped for and we received many compliments from the conductor and other orchestra members. Overall my playing was a B+. I got lost in one section of the Poulenc, which is really the easiest of the 3 pieces we played. I played with confidence in places and definitely have a goal to work towards for the next concert.

My whole family came and we went to dinner afterwards. They are genuinely proud of me and that makes me feel good. I can't wait to get the next set of music. We only have 6 rehearsals before the final concert of the season. The music is going to be light, but that doesn't always translate to easy for me.

Time Crunch - No Practice

Didn't get to practice last night and things aren't looking too swell for tonight either. Last night I had dinner out with my best girlfriends, the Nauti Gs. Eight of us had drinks, dinner, coffee and dessert amidst much laughter and catching up. We used to all work together in the same school but are now spread around northern GA. We vacation together once or twice a year and meet for an outing every other month. I love these women. They are the best friends in the world.

My step Mom, Willa came today and will be with us through the weekend. I took the day off to clean, grocery shop and get ready. I am happy that she's come to hear our concert and visit with the girls. I cooked a nice dinner and am baking a cake for the boyfriend that will graduate at the end of this month. I'm tired, but I'll get my 3 minutes in before my head falls on the pillow.

Bow Heaven

It's official. This is "the bow". SCSO rehearsal tonight was good. I had to sit second chair because 2 folks were out with festival stuff. At least the principal did not correct me tonight. She is a nice woman and wonderful viola player, but when she corrects B., he does not like it! I am anxious to perform well at the concert Sunday. My whole family is coming - both girls with their men, John and Willa. Spivey is such a special venue I am thrilled to play there. I have new concert black clothes. A cute dress from Chico's with leggings. I will be styling. I am anxious to get started on the music for the April concert too.

Oh Wow

The new viola bow is fabulous. It feels better in my hand every time I play with it. I've already practiced 3 times since I got home from school today - about 2 hours total. It is so easy to use - I never would have thought a bow could make that much difference. I am thrilled with my choice. Southern Crescent Symphony is tomorrow night and I'm anxious to see how my new bow stacks up.

I'm heading to bed with a smile on my face - daylight savings time is doing its number on me. I've yawned all afternoon. The older I get, the harder this transition is. I managed to read the paper, walk the dog, do 3 loads of laundry, practice and eat a quick supper. Now I'm diving into my book - I'm hooked on the Robert B. Parker, Jesse Stone series and I'm reading them in order. I'm on book 4 and still enjoying each read.

Field Trip

My trip to the Huthmaker Violin Shop in Duluth was everything I could have imagined and more. I had a fantastic day. After an hour private lesson on tuning with Dixie Huthmaker, I spent a couple of hours trying out viola bows. Dixie brought me 7 different bows in my price range to try. I used a nicely decorated private room to play long bow, slow scales followed by different bow techniques, and then passages from some of my orchestra music. The objective was to determine which bow felt the best in my hand, reacted the best to the different bowings and sounded the best overall. So I compared two at a time and narrowed it down by elimination until I had 2 for sure and a possible third to consider. The 2 were made by the same bow maker and were exactly the same price. Dixie's husband, Roland, came in and played my viola with each bow so that I could hear how they sounded from a distance. He really made my viola sing and I was amazed by the sound he pulled from my instrument. There was a significant difference in sound quality between the top two bows and it really helped me make up my mind hearing him play. The three of us agreed on "the" bow and I am thrilled to be the proud owner of a pernambuco stick made by Brazilian bow maker C. Herculano.

The Huthmakers and staff were so extremely nice and non-intimidating. I remember going into a snooty Buckhead violin shop as a beginner and felt totally snubbed by the staff. It was a totally different experience today. I finished my shopping spree with a new case, a green Bam case from France. Sophia feels very special, I can tell.

Excitement and Fridays

TGIF! That was a cool thing to say back in the day and it expresses my feelings exactly even though it is no longer cool. It's been a busy week and I need an evening to stay home, drink wine (or maybe I'll try that new beer Kathy told me about - the Michelob Ultra with lime) and read. I read 2 newspapers, several blogs, whatever book I'm devouring and Internet junk daily. Plus I try to make time for at least 3 minutes of viola practice daily. I read on another site that if you commit to 3 minutes daily you will make steady improvement. For whatever reason, this really works for me and I've even gotten out of bed to do my 3 minutes -which always turns into at least 30. I do like to practice - wish I could transition the commitment to exercise.

Now for the excitement part! I am going viola bow shopping tomorrow! I found a cool violin shop in Duluth with the best website. They have so much information posted and bows are their speciality. They have a free tuning class on Saturday mornings, so I called to register and I am the only one coming. The teacher said to come on and we would have a great lesson on how to tune a stringed instrument. I've never been able to tune either my violin or my viola without an electronic tuner, so this is a good thing for me to do. When we tune at orchestra, I just fake it and pretend like I am doing something with my pegs so that I won't look like a fool just sitting there. In reality, I've tuned with my tuner right before rehearsal. That works sometimes, but you never know. Temperature, humidity, and other stuff really affect intonation, so sometimes I am way off. When that happens, I just hand my instrument to Carl and he does it for me. I'll post tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

First viola concert

I am lucky to be playing my new viola in the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra. Our upcoming concert will be at Spivey Hall and will feature 3 different organ concertos. The organ at Spivey is fabulous and the acoustics in the hall are the best in the country according to many artists. I left rehearsal feeling the best about my viola playing yet-compared to last week's rehearsal where I could do nothing right. I can now play most of the music and my intonation is improving every week. Playing at Spivey is a unique experience. I can hear myself as though I were the only person playing, but at the same time it is so much easier to match intonation to my stand partner who is wonderful. There is something magical about the hall for instrumentalists.
http://www.spiveyhall.org/about/

Test Post

Today is March 2nd and it is gorgeous weather in Georgia. I am still playing with the layout of my new viola blog and need to see what things are going to look like. We took the boy, Baxley, to the Bark Park in McDonough today and he had an hour of fun with his brothers and many other new friends. I also took the picture of Sophia in my front yard this afternoon. Days like today make me happy I live in Georgia.