I'm starting an experiment this week.  I've been trying to get that old fire-in-the-belly feeling I got for practicing when I first moved to CCM.  I tried recently an idea of "practice away from the instrument."  According to "The Inner Game of Music," this is just as important if not more important than our normal idea of practice.  So last Saturday, I forced to try this idea because I was very busy and didn't have time for a normal 4-5 hour practice session.  I recorded myself on three pieces I'm working on with no specific warm-up.  I listened to them and made comments on things I need to fix before my next lesson.  I also researched bow strokes on www.violinmasterclass.com (great resource btw's)  Anyways, another way I've tried to get the fire back is I signed up for Adv. Rep/audition class.  We go through excerpts for orchestral auditions.  I need to learn these because even though I don't plan on winning a spot in a high-to do orchestra, I need to be able to teach these.  So I'm going to record myself everyday, make notes, and base my practice for the next day based on my practicing away from the instrument.

Telemann Mvt. III

1. Clean Shift at the beginning
2. Check for correct pitches especially perfect interval between the E and B.  Make sure E's match
3. Keep the line moving from one set of slurred notes to the other.  Don't let the music die.
4. Don't choke or lose the sound during held notes
5. Be sure to start softer in order to bring out the cresc.
6. In the section of one 16th followed by three 16ths slurred, watch for intonation, specifically third finger G's and first finger C's in third position
7. After the cadenza, right before the tutti section, make sure the B's and everything in relation is in tune
8. The End sucked, fix it.

Telemann Mvt. IV

1. Make sure your unisons are consistent and reliable
2. Drill running 16th note passages checking for intonation and making sure you feel confident playing it at the drop of a hat.
3. Drill all shifts
4. Check Intonation on all perfect intervals, especially the harmonic ones

Kreutzer No. 2

1. Make sure all string crossings over two strings are crisp and clear and in tune.  Drill from 40-80 bpm.  Work hands separate if need be.

final thought:

"My Name is Kvothe.  I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings.  I burned down the town of Trebon.  I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life.  I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in.  I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day.  I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.  You may have heard of me."

"The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

65501.1

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

New practice goals, new weight loss goals, what have you.  It's a time to begin anew.

Just a quick update on the practice front.

-I think I'm finally understanding how to use my bow correctly; specifically in a detache style.  (Detache: the most common style of bowing.  It's pulled straight, up and down.  If done correctly, there's a "click" at each bow direction change, and the bow should be straight as well)  This is something I've been working on since the alter half of last quarter.

-I'm working on developing perfect pitch.  Never thought it could be taught, but apparently it can.  I've started this this quarter, and I've already made great strides.  I'm not quite ready for people to go a piano and start testing my ear, but I'll get there.  Ultimately this will be a tool to help me obtain perfect intonation. Yes, there is a difference.  Tuning systems, they're complicated, please don't make me explain them.

-I'm listening more, and I'm not happy with what I hear.  This IS  a good thing.  Dr. Carroll says, "If you're happy with what you hear you should be worried."  This has become one of my favorite Dr. Carroll "Bobble-Head" quotes.
    +the Bobble-Head comes from an inside joke at my undergrad.  Often times it's hard to keep motivated or know what to work on in practice.  So a bunch of us came up with the idea of having a pocket-sized bobble-head of our teacher.  Tap the head, and out pops a quote!  It's brilliant.

-I've noticed lately that I get more done if I pretend Mr. Kawasaki is in the room.  That man scares me.  I've come to accept that fact.

***

Quick update on my novel.

-I have it sent out to a couple of people.  The rough draft.  An incomplete rough draft.  I'm supposed to get comments soon.  I'm hoping the character development in particular is believable

-I have started writing Ch. 31 today.  Once I get this done, I predict 7 more chapters to go and I'll be done with a first draft.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

***

-Holiday weight, bane of my existence.  How have I decided to combat this?  by signing up for a half marathon.  You can't be fat and run 13.1 miles at one time right?  I hope so.  I'm up to 6 miles at 5.8 mph.  the race is in May.  I think I'm doing pretty good.

***

The current book I'm reading is titled "Yvohshilan: The Guardian" by JuleAnn Troutman.  JuleAnn is a friend of mine from WSU who shares my love of sci-fi/fantasy.  I started reading it once but got side tracked and then read other books.  However, it is my goal to get through every book on my shelf within the next two years.  I have a plan, and it will get done.  I'm close to the end of this one, and it's getting quite interesting.

***

I finally defeated Final Fantasy XIII!!!!  Just in time for the sequel FFXIII-2.  As far as games go, I give it about 3 1/2 out of 5.  Ranked on the Final Fantasy scale (based on my favorites that I've beaten) the updated order is: XII, IX, VIII, XIII, X.

I've started, for the second time, The Legend of the Dragoon for PS.  I started it once and made it to the third disc, but didn't finish it then.  So this time for sure, it's a done deal.

***

Now my rant:

ONE

I am tired of those who post things on facebook that are absolutely outrageous or otherwise offensive.  I probably have posted something like this before, but it would have been by accident.  I try my best to guard my "tongue".  Recently, one of my cousins posted things about how the Pope was a Nazi, and how Leviticus should be taken to the extreme literally if it is to be used at all in our society.

Of course, I challenged him on both accounts.  He had absolutely nothing to base these statements on except for the fact that they were in reference things both associate  with that he disagrees with.  And then, he goes to trying to prove me wrong on my views, unsuccessfully by the way, all the while not paying attention to anything I post.  I know this because if he had actually read what I wrote and used the correct head to think with, he might have figured out that I had answered every one of his future questions he had proceeded to ask me.

But he wasn't the one I was ultimately upset with.  It was his friend who believed it was her right to jump into our discussion throwing absolute nonsense around like she actually knew what she was talking about.  She was completely rude, mean, and disrespectful to me when I had done absolutely nothing wrong.  I never attacked her, nor my cousin verbally.  I attempted to be as diplomatic as possible while still making my point clear saying in not so many words, "I disagree with you because of x,y, and z."  But apparently I was actually being judgemental and condescending (not true), when actually she was embodying the exact behavior she hates Christians for.  Pot calling the kettle black much????

Anyway, neither one of them knew enough about either the Bible or Christianity Doctrine to make an acceptable argument.  Both made contradictions to themselves and this was why I eventually had to put an end to it because I was going out of my mind reading their replies.

Two

Tim Tebow, yes he's a Christian and great athlete.  Big Deal.  There are many other great athletes who are Christian.  Get over him.  I personally find it rather annoying that he always seems to push Jesus into the camera.  I think Jesus has more important things than winning Tim's football games.  Just sayin'.

***

Final Thought:


"Emotions were flooding him, super-saturating his being; he didn’t know what the proper response for a situation like this was.  However, his gesture appeared to be well received for Varra was smiling which only deepened the endless depth of her eyes.  He often got lost in those eyes, pools of green with depths unknown.  And when he did, there was no confusion, only clarity."
-Isaac, "Incarnations Chapter 26: Hopes and Fears" 
by Michael Garland