all English

The first of the last concerts for SCSO was tonight. It was satisfyingly nice - those Planets and Elgar really grew on me the last few months. I especially enjoyed the English Folksong Suite. Fairly easy and really fun to play. I am lucky to have this community orchestra to participate in. Richard says we may play for the GA MEA conference next year in Savannah. Wouldn't that be fun?!

JUMC rehearsal

Had a great rehearsal at JUMC orchestra last night. We sight read several pieces for the May performance and a few had significant viola passages. Another good night for intonation. Hey... I could be on to something here! Andres played my viola briefly. I am always suprised at how good it sounds when someone else plays it. Maybe I don't really need a new viola after all.

Easter Sunday

JUMC had a wonderful church service this morning. The orchestra was in good voice with a few subs among us and I had an exceptionally good intonation morning! Woohoo! I feel like I've had one of those surprising bumps in ability. These steps up the viola playing ladder are very small and seem to come out of nowhere. I did have a good week of practice - make that smart practice - and maybe that's why my confidence level is up. I definitely have begun to listen more effectively when I play and that always makes for better intonation.

Top all of that off with an afternoon filled with fun and good food with family. Easter doesn't get much better than this.

Chamber Music at Noon

I attended a free concert at Emory University Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The artist was Karen Bentley and she was supposed to play a viola concerto according to the write up in the newspaper. She actually played solo violin, violin and piano and a cello duet. Yes, you read that right - she played violin AND piano herself. It was an amazing jazzy, blues piece. She moved the piano bench to the left end of the keyboard, sat on the edge and secured her violin with her chin. Then proceeded to play left hand on the piano, open strings on the violin interspersed with long, lingering chords (piano peddles) followed by several measure of violin. At one point she put the violin in her lap and played pizz with her left hand and piano with her right hand. How interesting was that? Anyway, I just love that I live in Midtown and can finally take advantage of free stuff in the city.

Mozart Flute Quartet

My new chamber group is a flute quartet made up of flute (duh), violin, cello, and viola. We are all members of the NAPC orchestra and are trying to put together the Mozart D Major Flute
Quarter for a performance in May at NAPC. Heidi's mom is coming for a visit and we plan to play during the 11:00 service so that she can hear us. There are 3 movements and the first 2 are easily doable for me. The third movement has many, many black notes and string crossings for the violist - all played at a brisk tempo. I am working hard to get it under my fingers. Below is a link to a professional ensemble playing the third movement at Julliard. We are totally psyched about getting this pulled together.

Spectral Ensemble

Sick Day

I am rarely ill, so today is unusual in that I woke up with a whopping headache and upset stomach. When I turned on the TV I realized how blurry my vision was and gave up the ghost. Dodge and I are chillin' on the couch with all the lights off and I am waiting for the drugs to kick in. It's pouring rain here today so I anticipate a low key day with some extra time for my viola. Hurrah! The Planets are calling my name.

Yoforia = Yummmmmm!

No SCSO or JUMC orchestra rehearsal this week due to director conflicts, so I got home early for a Tuesday. Christen came over and walked with me to Yoforia, my new favorite frozen yogurt place in VAHi. It is similar to the trendy CA yogurt shop, Pinkberry, and is very good. The fresh fruit is just that..fresh! Our hike was nearly 6 miles, so no guilt here! Well, maybe a little guilt because I haven't practiced my viola in 2 days.