![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Ups and Downs
Jan. 25th, 2010 01:23 pmIt's been quite a while, no? My mood over the past month has not been very good, and I didn't feel like inflicting it on the blog. Who really wants a record of their own self-destructive behavior and it's consequences? However, I think I've stabilized a bit since, so I'm back!
Much has happened in the past month. I went to see my former roomie in Dallas right before the New Year. That was so fun. We ate really good food, drank some pretty good stuff, and watched much Big Bang Theory. That show so funny. I laughed until I cried just about every third episode. Sitcoms are back to being good. It seemed to me that they were silly or stupid for the past ten-fifteen years (and it creeps me out that I can say that. I can't be 22. That doesn't make sense!).
Since I've gotten back home, I've managed to complete almost all of my applications for graduate school. It's been a long, agonizing process, but all I have to do now it complete one last assistantship app, schedule my auditions, and practice, practice, practice!
Most recently, I had a two-gig day on Saturday. First, my band was an opening act for a European rock band, Tyr. Then, I played with a local symphony. We performed East European string orchestra music. It was absolutely incredible. Both gigs went really well, and I feel that most of my nervousness over them was needless.
Much has happened in the past month. I went to see my former roomie in Dallas right before the New Year. That was so fun. We ate really good food, drank some pretty good stuff, and watched much Big Bang Theory. That show so funny. I laughed until I cried just about every third episode. Sitcoms are back to being good. It seemed to me that they were silly or stupid for the past ten-fifteen years (and it creeps me out that I can say that. I can't be 22. That doesn't make sense!).
Since I've gotten back home, I've managed to complete almost all of my applications for graduate school. It's been a long, agonizing process, but all I have to do now it complete one last assistantship app, schedule my auditions, and practice, practice, practice!
Most recently, I had a two-gig day on Saturday. First, my band was an opening act for a European rock band, Tyr. Then, I played with a local symphony. We performed East European string orchestra music. It was absolutely incredible. Both gigs went really well, and I feel that most of my nervousness over them was needless.
I've also started attending a psychology course at the local community college. So far it has been very interesting. I've never considered psychology to be a true science, but the instructor is slowly convincing me otherwise. I'm intrigued by the connection between the mind and the body. How your physical form affects your psychology. Perhaps I'll post more on the subject in the future.
Until next time,
Greeny
The Long and the Short of it.
Nov. 20th, 2009 11:09 amWell, I'm back again. That's all I will say about my prolonged absences. I've gotten tired of confessing/apologizing/etc.
Halloween was good. I stayed home in town for the very first time. For the past four years I've either stayed at school or gone to a party. Me and Tim ate, read, and answered the door in what used to be the office. It's a little room off the entryway that we just put french doors on. I'm using it now for teaching my one student who comes to my house.
Life is still fairly busy: I work in the mornings tutoring, wait out the afternoons, and then go teach after school gets out. Some days the afternoons are used to do accounts for dad or my workplace or go to knit/crochet. The schedule is in for some changes. My tutoring days are probably coming to an end next week. No more getting up at 6:30am! The band is still meeting, and our next gig is coming up this Sunday. We will be playing for the Route 66 run. As our keyboardist says: An audience of 7000 one at a time. I did it with them last year. It was freezing, but a lot of fun. Hopefully it won't be quite as cold this time.
I believe I mentioned that I taught my little brother how to crochet in October. We've started a new tradition of going to knit group together. I convinced him to come once, and we've done it every week since.
Big news: I've finished the squares for the afghan I started last month. I've made a start on putting it together. There are 31 sides to join up, and then the border to make. It's exciting for me to get something done relatively quickly. Tim has requested that he be a part of finishing the thing. It should come out well, as he's gotten pretty good at controlling his tension and making even stitches.
Smaller news: I've bought yarn for my next project. I'm making a scarf for my sister. This is supposedly a Christmas present, but sometimes I doubt my ability to finish things on a deadline. The yarn is silk, and I'm salivating over it. I cannot wait to start knitting it up, though I might try crocheting it. We'll see.
There's been some activity where graduate school selection is concerned. I'm finally looking into the possibilities, and I'm taking the GRE in the next two weeks. Hopefully it isn't too late to get into my chosen schools. It feels ironic that I'm finally having some success at this process when this is likely the last time I have to do it for myself.
Halloween was good. I stayed home in town for the very first time. For the past four years I've either stayed at school or gone to a party. Me and Tim ate, read, and answered the door in what used to be the office. It's a little room off the entryway that we just put french doors on. I'm using it now for teaching my one student who comes to my house.
Life is still fairly busy: I work in the mornings tutoring, wait out the afternoons, and then go teach after school gets out. Some days the afternoons are used to do accounts for dad or my workplace or go to knit/crochet. The schedule is in for some changes. My tutoring days are probably coming to an end next week. No more getting up at 6:30am! The band is still meeting, and our next gig is coming up this Sunday. We will be playing for the Route 66 run. As our keyboardist says: An audience of 7000 one at a time. I did it with them last year. It was freezing, but a lot of fun. Hopefully it won't be quite as cold this time.
I believe I mentioned that I taught my little brother how to crochet in October. We've started a new tradition of going to knit group together. I convinced him to come once, and we've done it every week since.
Big news: I've finished the squares for the afghan I started last month. I've made a start on putting it together. There are 31 sides to join up, and then the border to make. It's exciting for me to get something done relatively quickly. Tim has requested that he be a part of finishing the thing. It should come out well, as he's gotten pretty good at controlling his tension and making even stitches.
Smaller news: I've bought yarn for my next project. I'm making a scarf for my sister. This is supposedly a Christmas present, but sometimes I doubt my ability to finish things on a deadline. The yarn is silk, and I'm salivating over it. I cannot wait to start knitting it up, though I might try crocheting it. We'll see.
There's been some activity where graduate school selection is concerned. I'm finally looking into the possibilities, and I'm taking the GRE in the next two weeks. Hopefully it isn't too late to get into my chosen schools. It feels ironic that I'm finally having some success at this process when this is likely the last time I have to do it for myself.
Post-concert update
Jul. 3rd, 2009 09:41 pmWell, that was fun. I didn't practice at all this afternoon. Instead, I went to the bank (they didn't even blink at my request for $30 in quarters, it's a real college town), CVS (envelopes! rubber bands! chocolate), and helped celebrate the fourth by picking out an assortment of colors to with which to make friendship bracelets and eating ice cream.
After that, we stayed and watched the next orchestra do their thing. It was very exciting. Now I am here, posting.
Oh yes, I also wanted to make a few observations about this place. Where else could you have discussions about reeds and their making with two oboe players, and then go and discuss strings and metronomes with bass players in the same day? (Also, I would ask where else would you get hollered at by two black guys within five minutes, but that's happened more than once to me, argh)
I guess I'm done for tonight,
Greene
On a side note: apparently the EMF people are not going to do anything tomorrow. However, never fear, us students have plans to find and attend some fireworks. I missed the festivities last year, and I really want to do it properly.
Returning to the subject, which is the rest of today, I also did my laundry here for the first time, using a few of those loverly quarters. I always feel like I've accomplished something after doing my laundry. It's the whole self-sufficiency complex a lot of women have, I think. After a quick dinner, me and Denielle got dressed and went to the pre-concert talk. It was about the composers and their pieces, and would have been interesting if the speaker laid out his ideas a bit more clearly. The concert itself was pretty good, in my opinion. Our director, expected a lot of us from the very first day, and managed to get us to do a good bit of it. Our dynamics were very noticable and wide-ranging, we stayed with him most of the time, and we definitely stayed together. Our pieces were Francesca di Rimini by Arthur Foote, and Carnaval Romaine by Berlioz.After that, we stayed and watched the next orchestra do their thing. It was very exciting. Now I am here, posting.
Oh yes, I also wanted to make a few observations about this place. Where else could you have discussions about reeds and their making with two oboe players, and then go and discuss strings and metronomes with bass players in the same day? (Also, I would ask where else would you get hollered at by two black guys within five minutes, but that's happened more than once to me, argh)
I guess I'm done for tonight,
Greene
If it's not one thing...
Jul. 3rd, 2009 11:11 amMy back is much better, barely twinging now. Thanks to everyone for your (mostly silent) well wishes. I had a genius idea after posting last time and used my lovely faux-feather comforter as a sleeping bag, and that helped a bit. Then I arranged a trip to Target last night (I'm turning into quite the mover and shaker here. It's fun), and bought a foam thingy for my mattress, which, when augmented by the comforter, is quite comfortable. I also got a couple of shirts, because a few of the ones I brought are too fancy for everyday wear.
Tuesday my roommate arrived. Her name is Denielle, and she's also a violinist. She's been here in past years, so she knows the not-so-obvious stuff, like when we get music for chamber. Randomly, we're both playing in the same chamber group. I like the piece, and our group is pretty serious about getting it right, which is heartening.
Today is a concert day. The orchestras here (there's three: two student, one faculty) perform on a weekly basis. So we've been having daily 3 hour rehearsals since Monday night. I've been amazed how rapidly everyone has improved, including myself. I'm still not ready to perform, but you take what you can get.
Proving the adage in my title true, at least while I'm away from my family...In a shocking twist of fate this morning, my bow broke during rehearsal. The hair came completely out of the tip. Don't worry, I have two, and a repair company is coming to the festival next tuesday. It was completely unexpected, but I just looked at it, and immediately got up and got my other bow. You never do know how you're going to act in a crisis, huh?
Um, since I can, here's a look at it:
Pretty scary, yes?
Thanks God for backups.
Until next time,
Greeny
Tuesday my roommate arrived. Her name is Denielle, and she's also a violinist. She's been here in past years, so she knows the not-so-obvious stuff, like when we get music for chamber. Randomly, we're both playing in the same chamber group. I like the piece, and our group is pretty serious about getting it right, which is heartening.
Today is a concert day. The orchestras here (there's three: two student, one faculty) perform on a weekly basis. So we've been having daily 3 hour rehearsals since Monday night. I've been amazed how rapidly everyone has improved, including myself. I'm still not ready to perform, but you take what you can get.
Proving the adage in my title true, at least while I'm away from my family...In a shocking twist of fate this morning, my bow broke during rehearsal. The hair came completely out of the tip. Don't worry, I have two, and a repair company is coming to the festival next tuesday. It was completely unexpected, but I just looked at it, and immediately got up and got my other bow. You never do know how you're going to act in a crisis, huh?
Um, since I can, here's a look at it:
Pretty scary, yes?
Thanks God for backups.
Until next time,
Greeny
What Life is Like in the NC
Jun. 29th, 2009 11:27 amAlright, how do I go about this? Two main impressions: Everything on campus is brick.
The sidewalks
The buildings
And even the ditches
(Oh, I figured out how to post pictures!)
Also, the trees are huge, comparatively. In Oklahoma, we're lucky to get thirty-five feet tall anything. Here, on the other hand, everything seems to grow ridiculously high:
The oaks
The pines
The magnolias (dear goodness, the magnolias)
At least the lamp posts are normal size, yeah?
I'm slowly getting used to the whole "all music, all the time" atmosphere. Apparently, my subconscious is way ahead of the rest of me in that department because I dreamed up a melody last night while trying to go to bed. There was this lady who was complaining to a man, and as her voice went higher it turned into music, and I couldn't help but write it down. I'm calling it The Lament or Complaint, haven't decided yet. I played it on my violin today, and figured out a harmony to the last half. I don't know what I'm going to do with it overall, but I want it to blossom and grow into a real song. Ever since I took Music Theory I've been interested in composition, but I'm not a big self-starter most of the time. Having a melody come to me in my sleep is quite welcome.
Besides taking photos, I've been hanging out a good bit with the people who live in my hall. As in Vienna (but this is way better), I'm working really hard at remembering names. We have Natalie, Rachel, Robin, and Kaila (say kyla). There is also Yi-Fang (say e-fon), the oldest of the students here (22 years and older than Natalie by a month) whom I met yesterday. A good few of the students here are from Asia, which makes a certain amount of sense. I'm quite interested in the cultural diversity around me. Sometimes I feel a bit racist for even noticing the differences, but that doesn't make sense. I cannot help but see that a person has a different ethnicity, nor can I completely forget the stereotypes that are so very embedded in our culture, but I can decide to treat every person as a person. And that is what I do.
Now, I need to go and get a cold pack from the nurse. My left thumb joint is not taking kindly to being used after I took such a long break. It doesn't hurt horribly, but preventative medicine is the best thing for it.
Until next time,
Greene
The sidewalks
The buildings
And even the ditches
(Oh, I figured out how to post pictures!)
Also, the trees are huge, comparatively. In Oklahoma, we're lucky to get thirty-five feet tall anything. Here, on the other hand, everything seems to grow ridiculously high:
The oaks
The pines
The magnolias (dear goodness, the magnolias)
At least the lamp posts are normal size, yeah?
I'm slowly getting used to the whole "all music, all the time" atmosphere. Apparently, my subconscious is way ahead of the rest of me in that department because I dreamed up a melody last night while trying to go to bed. There was this lady who was complaining to a man, and as her voice went higher it turned into music, and I couldn't help but write it down. I'm calling it The Lament or Complaint, haven't decided yet. I played it on my violin today, and figured out a harmony to the last half. I don't know what I'm going to do with it overall, but I want it to blossom and grow into a real song. Ever since I took Music Theory I've been interested in composition, but I'm not a big self-starter most of the time. Having a melody come to me in my sleep is quite welcome.
Besides taking photos, I've been hanging out a good bit with the people who live in my hall. As in Vienna (but this is way better), I'm working really hard at remembering names. We have Natalie, Rachel, Robin, and Kaila (say kyla). There is also Yi-Fang (say e-fon), the oldest of the students here (22 years and older than Natalie by a month) whom I met yesterday. A good few of the students here are from Asia, which makes a certain amount of sense. I'm quite interested in the cultural diversity around me. Sometimes I feel a bit racist for even noticing the differences, but that doesn't make sense. I cannot help but see that a person has a different ethnicity, nor can I completely forget the stereotypes that are so very embedded in our culture, but I can decide to treat every person as a person. And that is what I do.
Now, I need to go and get a cold pack from the nurse. My left thumb joint is not taking kindly to being used after I took such a long break. It doesn't hurt horribly, but preventative medicine is the best thing for it.
Until next time,
Greene
I was Right!
Jun. 27th, 2009 07:35 pmAbout being in line at security around 7:20 in the morning, about what the campus and dorm rooms would look like. I was wrong, however, about everything else.
I'm now safely ensconced in my dorm room at Guilford college in North Carolina. My roommate (not Julie, as I phantom-remembered/hallucinated as I was coming in earlier) will not arrive until Tuesday. So I basically have three days to adjust myself to living alone, and then four weeks to adjust to a new roommate. I really hope we get along.
Because I feel like it, here's the story of today: I stayed up until 2:30amreading fanfiction packing (well, both, really). Went to bed, got up at 6:10am after ignoring my alarm at 5:30am. That could have been bad, but thank God I wasn't driving. My lovely chauffer, mom, did the honors. Then there was checking in, and security. I forgot that you had to put laptops in a seperate container to scan, the security man told me very politely that a laptop in a bag with other wires looks "really scary". I think I was lucky not to be body-searched, but I looked nice, and it was 7am.
I then got a quick and interesting breakfast of a pig in a blanket, which I ate before and after boarding.
The first flight of the day was rather entertaining. The flight attendant was a funny lady (example: "This is the flight to Atlanta. If you are not headed to Atlanta, you are now".). Also, my seatmate and I were two peas in a pod. We both read for the majority of the flight, and even got the exact same snack.
I'm now safely ensconced in my dorm room at Guilford college in North Carolina. My roommate (not Julie, as I phantom-remembered/hallucinated as I was coming in earlier) will not arrive until Tuesday. So I basically have three days to adjust myself to living alone, and then four weeks to adjust to a new roommate. I really hope we get along.
Because I feel like it, here's the story of today: I stayed up until 2:30am
I then got a quick and interesting breakfast of a pig in a blanket, which I ate before and after boarding.
The first flight of the day was rather entertaining. The flight attendant was a funny lady (example: "This is the flight to Atlanta. If you are not headed to Atlanta, you are now".). Also, my seatmate and I were two peas in a pod. We both read for the majority of the flight, and even got the exact same snack.
I got lunch at the airport while waiting for my next flight. Apparently, four other EMF students were on that flight, but we didn't find that out until we got off it. We met up with the appropriate party (after I mistook a bunch of talking and laughing girls for the same), got our luggage (no lost bits!), and headed off to the campus. It was a very short drive, and the weather here is actually nicer than Oklahoma, something I was not expecting. Getting out of the car, it started to rain, prompting us to move inside very fast. Then...anticlimax. I got registered, got my box of bedclothes, hangers, and snacks that Dad and me sent earlier this week, and managed to get all this stuff transferred over to my dorm (with help of a car, the people here are very nice). Oh, did I mention that I found out that my placement audition was today at 4:30? After panicking slightly about the closeness of it, and also not having prepared a solo, I unpacked a bit (organization helps my nerves), and practiced the Bruch concerto that I've worked on since last summer. The audition went so-so (piece by piece recap: Bruch: as good as could be hoped, the two excerpts I sight-read: very bad, and pretty good). I'm so glad to have that over with. A good thing about this place: orchestra seating assignments will change weekly, so everyone can experience sitting in the front, back, etc.
Feeling the sharp pangs of hunger, I went to dinner. Oddly, I was joined by a French Horn player named......Robin (gotcha!). She lives down the hall from me, and didn't know where anything was. I was in slightly better shape, as the cafeteria and the audition room were in the same building. We explored the cafeteria (it's big, and yummy), and sat down together, only to be joined by a friend of hers. On a side note, the room arrangements are done by age, here. The 16-17 year-olds in one dorm, with 18-20's on the third floor and 21-22's on the first floor of a different dorm. Thus, because these friends were of the same age as her, they also lived down the hall from me. I really enjoyed conversing with the trio. There is talk of forming an "old people" clique.
After that, one of the trio and I went to Convocation. The speeches weren't horrible, and the music was quite nice. Now, I am going to read, and wonder if I should practice (answer: probably not, did it already, no audition = no incentive).
Au revoir, my peeps.
Greeny
(no subject)
Jun. 18th, 2009 11:22 amI haven't decided what to do today. I went to my lesson (now nicely scheduled to happen after my teaching days), and now must contemplate the rest of today. Sometimes having no 9-5 job is fun and annoying at the same time. I could go to knit and crochet, which would help with my utter lack of progress on all things knit/crochet. I could also go help my dad do accounts/spreadsheets. Alternately, I could stay at home all day and read fiction (i.e. repeat yesterday). I think I like the first option best, and I can always help dad out afterward.
So, having decided that, tomorrow looms. I know I'm going to a silent movie night (with a live organist accompanying!), but I don't have anyone to go with me. Anyone out there up for a night on the town? I've gotten so used to going out and exploring this city that the urge to do so is almost physical.
So, having decided that, tomorrow looms. I know I'm going to a silent movie night (with a live organist accompanying!), but I don't have anyone to go with me. Anyone out there up for a night on the town? I've gotten so used to going out and exploring this city that the urge to do so is almost physical.
To update on the whole "scoring a gig for the band" thing I mentioned last post, I finally got ahold of the lady in charge, and gave her all the necessary info/links to the band. Now I'm just waiting for a "Come play!" or a "Not interested". I don't think I'll be too disappointed if she declines our services, but it'll be really cool if we get to play.
My trip to North Carolina is coming up soon. Nine days until liftoff. You could say I'm nervous. It's going to be ridiculously busy. I've been trying to get back into a consistent practicing schedule so my hands (and arms, and shoulders) don't die of overuse once I'm there. Two weeks ago I practiced once. Last week I practiced twice (this isn't counting 2-3 hour band practices twice a week). This week I want to practice 4 times (see a pattern?), and then keep it up. Practicing itself isn't that hard, but making myself get the violin out and start playing is.
Wish me luck,
Greene
(no subject)
Mar. 31st, 2009 05:23 pmHere I am, posting a whole day earlier than usual, and I have no idea what to say.
The senior recital project (i.e. rehearsals and practicing) is going well. I still need to work on the paper portion. Knitting has stalled temporarily in the massive effort to be ready for my jury next week. I'm cutting back on band rehearsals, too.
I now have a cap and gown, for all you lovely sentimentalists out there. Me and mom went to Senior Salute...wait have I already talked about this? It's boring, you fill out forms, buy the sentimental stuff, and you leave. I did get a cool T-shirt for 40% off, though.
My entire life has been focused on music and the computer, lately. Therefore, not a lot of English homework has been accomplished, which is unfortunate. I have two papers due in the next two weeks. It's gonna be fun around here.
Other than that, my life is boring. It's also really, really busy.
Bye-bye,
Greeny
The senior recital project (i.e. rehearsals and practicing) is going well. I still need to work on the paper portion. Knitting has stalled temporarily in the massive effort to be ready for my jury next week. I'm cutting back on band rehearsals, too.
I now have a cap and gown, for all you lovely sentimentalists out there. Me and mom went to Senior Salute...wait have I already talked about this? It's boring, you fill out forms, buy the sentimental stuff, and you leave. I did get a cool T-shirt for 40% off, though.
My entire life has been focused on music and the computer, lately. Therefore, not a lot of English homework has been accomplished, which is unfortunate. I have two papers due in the next two weeks. It's gonna be fun around here.
Other than that, my life is boring. It's also really, really busy.
Bye-bye,
Greeny
My Life is Boring...
Feb. 10th, 2009 11:26 amThough it's also busy, make no mistake. I went to see Les Miserables with my roomie on Saturday. I've apparently stopped caring about deadlines for the English classes I'm in (don't worry, only "read by" deadlines, not papers). The practicing thing is still frustrating me. I have a lesson in an hour and I've fully practiced for it twice. This is worse than last week. I don't know, there's something about this whole "final semester" business that has me blocked from achieving what I want/need to.
I've almost finished some knitted scrubbies with a strange title: Wishy Washy Fishy Tawashi. Tawashi is the Japanese word for scrubbie. According to my roommate, I need to give them mouths before they are truly finished.
And just when I thought that my quilting days were over...my mom finds a completed top in need of quilting. I can't blame her for this, but I was reveling(!) in being done with my quilt.
Yesterday night, I went to an informal gathering of the Ghawazee Mafia. It's a musical group associated with a belly dancing studio. They are in need of a violinist, and I was interested. I don't know if I'll join. After the music portion of the evening, we drummed. I've never done that before, it was rather fun, and I learned quickly.
Okay, maybe my life isn't quite "boring", it's just... overly familiar to me.
Later,
Greeny
I've almost finished some knitted scrubbies with a strange title: Wishy Washy Fishy Tawashi. Tawashi is the Japanese word for scrubbie. According to my roommate, I need to give them mouths before they are truly finished.
And just when I thought that my quilting days were over...my mom finds a completed top in need of quilting. I can't blame her for this, but I was reveling(!) in being done with my quilt.
Yesterday night, I went to an informal gathering of the Ghawazee Mafia. It's a musical group associated with a belly dancing studio. They are in need of a violinist, and I was interested. I don't know if I'll join. After the music portion of the evening, we drummed. I've never done that before, it was rather fun, and I learned quickly.
Okay, maybe my life isn't quite "boring", it's just... overly familiar to me.
Later,
Greeny
That's what my blog should be named. The average thing is slightly ironic.
I always start by saying: Not much going on here, and then I find something to talk about. For instance, with my bestest friend now across the country, I've been seeking other people to hang out with. Reconnecting with old friends is fun. Also, I'm going to an Un-Valentine's day party/scavenger hunt.
Knitting has been going on here in Average College Student country. I've (slowly) motored my way through almost three dishcloth/scrubby things. My current project will be a fish-shaped one. It's red and white (stripes, I can't abandon them). I'm actually trying something new, surprise! The stripes are just two rows each, so I'm not cutting each color as they change, but twisting it up the sides. It's very efficient. The tail amuses me to no end, and I'm looking forward to giving it a happy face.
School and work have been rather hectic, and I didn't help it when I slept in until my class had started today. Life: apparently sleep is one of the most important things in it. Trio is going very well, I wish we could practice more together, which may be a first.
My Orchestra music is interesting, the Romanian Dances by Bartok are haunting me. First, I hear them performed by a fellow violin student (also my former stand partner and quartet member). Then, a weekend or so ago, my brother and I go to a concert and the performers played a version for cello and guitar (which was amazingly awesome, Viktor Uzur and Brad Richter are geniuses). Finally, my school orchestra is performing these lovely things in our next concert. I'll have to post when that will be, huh?
It's bedtime, until later,
Greeny
PS, It's truly ironic that a LiveJournal account's spellcheck thinks that "blog" is a mispelled word.
I always start by saying: Not much going on here, and then I find something to talk about. For instance, with my bestest friend now across the country, I've been seeking other people to hang out with. Reconnecting with old friends is fun. Also, I'm going to an Un-Valentine's day party/scavenger hunt.
Knitting has been going on here in Average College Student country. I've (slowly) motored my way through almost three dishcloth/scrubby things. My current project will be a fish-shaped one. It's red and white (stripes, I can't abandon them). I'm actually trying something new, surprise! The stripes are just two rows each, so I'm not cutting each color as they change, but twisting it up the sides. It's very efficient. The tail amuses me to no end, and I'm looking forward to giving it a happy face.
School and work have been rather hectic, and I didn't help it when I slept in until my class had started today. Life: apparently sleep is one of the most important things in it. Trio is going very well, I wish we could practice more together, which may be a first.
My Orchestra music is interesting, the Romanian Dances by Bartok are haunting me. First, I hear them performed by a fellow violin student (also my former stand partner and quartet member). Then, a weekend or so ago, my brother and I go to a concert and the performers played a version for cello and guitar (which was amazingly awesome, Viktor Uzur and Brad Richter are geniuses). Finally, my school orchestra is performing these lovely things in our next concert. I'll have to post when that will be, huh?
It's bedtime, until later,
Greeny
PS, It's truly ironic that a LiveJournal account's spellcheck thinks that "blog" is a mispelled word.
Lately I've had a problem on the violin. Don't worry, I can still play with the indomitable will and screechiness everyone expects. My problem is not the piece I've been playing. The Bruch Concerto. Though I dislike it. Rather intensely. Enough that this emotion could possibly be called hate.
The problem is why I hate it. Why in the world (when I've been very happy to play whatever my teacher desires for the past two years) do I not want to play this piece?
This has been puzzling me since the beginning of the semester, and I think I've finally got some sort of handle on the reasons.
1.) This piece is hard. Seriously, my teacher told me so. And one of my great pleasures in life is to be able to play hard stuff, or stuff that sounds hard but isn't. I haven't progessed as fast as I like on this thing, and that frustrates me to no end.
2.) Semi-traumatic experience trying to learn this in Vienna. The teacher there wanted me to learn the first movement all at once, and that stressed me beyond having school five hours a day and papers assigned two days before they were due (I'm never doing three classes in summer school again).
3.) Trying to re-learn the same stuff with my current teacher, who is much nicer (meaning we're learning things one at a time). I've stopped having Vienna flashbacks for the most part, but overall, this thing has no real positive associations in my mind.
So, now that I have mostly sorted this s**t out, what to do? My teacher was nice enough to say that I can stop after the first movement and move on to a concerto I like. I actually think this is a bad idea. The second and third movements have no real associations in my mind, and it might change my perception of the whole thing if I learnt those.
I can't believe I want to stick with this piece, but there you go.
Okay, I'm done with that subject. How about some happier stuff? I recently finished two knitting projects, small stuff that is easily portable. The first is a round dishcloth using short rows, it's very thick and sumptuous-feeling. I made it with red and peppermint colorway cotton yarns. The second is a belt made out of faux suede. I had a time getting that belt going. I picked out a mismatching yarn for my original pattern. It was easier to change patterns, so I did, and got a pretty little belt out of it. Unfortunately, I must have been sleep deprived when I bought the yarn, because I only got half of what the original pattern called for, which was far too much for my second pattern. Now I have a skein and a half left over. I think I'll make a bag with it. Gotta go buy that pattern.
Yay, busyness pushes away upsetness. Sorta.
Greeny
The problem is why I hate it. Why in the world (when I've been very happy to play whatever my teacher desires for the past two years) do I not want to play this piece?
This has been puzzling me since the beginning of the semester, and I think I've finally got some sort of handle on the reasons.
1.) This piece is hard. Seriously, my teacher told me so. And one of my great pleasures in life is to be able to play hard stuff, or stuff that sounds hard but isn't. I haven't progessed as fast as I like on this thing, and that frustrates me to no end.
2.) Semi-traumatic experience trying to learn this in Vienna. The teacher there wanted me to learn the first movement all at once, and that stressed me beyond having school five hours a day and papers assigned two days before they were due (I'm never doing three classes in summer school again).
3.) Trying to re-learn the same stuff with my current teacher, who is much nicer (meaning we're learning things one at a time). I've stopped having Vienna flashbacks for the most part, but overall, this thing has no real positive associations in my mind.
So, now that I have mostly sorted this s**t out, what to do? My teacher was nice enough to say that I can stop after the first movement and move on to a concerto I like. I actually think this is a bad idea. The second and third movements have no real associations in my mind, and it might change my perception of the whole thing if I learnt those.
I can't believe I want to stick with this piece, but there you go.
Okay, I'm done with that subject. How about some happier stuff? I recently finished two knitting projects, small stuff that is easily portable. The first is a round dishcloth using short rows, it's very thick and sumptuous-feeling. I made it with red and peppermint colorway cotton yarns. The second is a belt made out of faux suede. I had a time getting that belt going. I picked out a mismatching yarn for my original pattern. It was easier to change patterns, so I did, and got a pretty little belt out of it. Unfortunately, I must have been sleep deprived when I bought the yarn, because I only got half of what the original pattern called for, which was far too much for my second pattern. Now I have a skein and a half left over. I think I'll make a bag with it. Gotta go buy that pattern.
Yay, busyness pushes away upsetness. Sorta.
Greeny
Aah, the good life
Jul. 8th, 2008 02:59 pmI am very content and happy. I am full, comfortable, looking out the window at trees, and am doing productive things. This music thing I do? It totally pays off sometimes. Like today, I was asked to play at a friend's wedding, which is way cool, and am going to a "jam session" of an alt rock band that has invited me to play with them. How did my life get this neat?
Also, I am healthy, wealthy, working on the wise part, and engaged in life. I have a wonderful loving family. I have a job! (that still frickin amazes me sometimes) I get to go to a school that I love, and I am going to go learn about teaching violin in three days. My life is good. I would never , ever have imagined being this happy at 13 or 16. Starting at 18, things improved so much, and they continue to get better (a big thanks to TU and its employees). Here is hoping that the next three years are like the last three.
I don't have much more to say, so see ya'll later.
Greeny
Also, I am healthy, wealthy, working on the wise part, and engaged in life. I have a wonderful loving family. I have a job! (that still frickin amazes me sometimes) I get to go to a school that I love, and I am going to go learn about teaching violin in three days. My life is good. I would never , ever have imagined being this happy at 13 or 16. Starting at 18, things improved so much, and they continue to get better (a big thanks to TU and its employees). Here is hoping that the next three years are like the last three.
I don't have much more to say, so see ya'll later.
Greeny
