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.