Discouragement.

Since I feel too kind to reply to your email personally, I will reply on here. Since I know you would never read my blog.

I will start by answering your questions.

1 - I am in 9th Grade.
2 - Right now with Madison, I am working on the Bach Concerto in A minor. I recently finished the Vivaldi Concerto mvmts 1/3.
3 - I am not using the book position etudes.
4 - I have no problem with 2 octave arpeggios, and I am learning 3 octave scales.
5 - Every day, I have from the time I get home (around 3:30) until I feel like going to bed to practice. On the weekends, I have basically all day Saturday to practice. Sunday I am in South Bend and I do homework.
6 - I would not have to give up any activities to practice 2-3 hours a day. I get bored, and I play for that long. I'm not on the computer that much. Maybe if I had something to actually practice, I could make good use of my time.
7 - Last year for ISSMA, I played the Gavotte from Book 3 and I got a 9.5 rating. I have improved so much since then.

You have not heard me play privately in a lesson for almost two years. You have no idea what I sound like at this present moment in time. I have improved so much over the summer.

Of the pieces on Interlochen's list, only one is required. Not all. I wanted to do the Bruch concerto. Not that you want to know or anything, but I can already play half of it. If I did that, I could also compete with the SBYSO in the Concerto competition. Not that you'd come to watch anyway.

Although you strongly believe in the order of the suzuki books, I strongly believe that I can do whatever I put my mind to. And honestly, that is what matters to me.

I want to grow up and be a violinist. I want to perform, and I want to teach. I would like to go to Yale College as an undergraduate and double major in performance and Education. I wouldn't mind giving private lessons. But I want to be the type of teacher that is willing to work on what my student wants - If I see that my student is eager to learn, I will teach them all I can. I won't hold them back.

And I won't ever discourage them.

End of an Era - Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls.

V1.
Don’t you ever wonder what
Will happen when it ends?
How can we let go of the
Ones who we call friends?
And I know, it’s only a story, but
For so many it’s more than that.
It’s a world, all on its own where we
Want to put on that Sorting Hat.

Chorus.
I will miss the train ride in.
And the pranks pulled by the twins.
And though it’s nowhere I have been
I’ll keep on smiling from the times I had with them.

V2.
Could there ever be again
Another one like this?
One that’s brought us together and
Started its own music movement?

Bridge.
Soon we will see it closed.
The final chapter exposed.
It’s an end of an era
And I’m seeing clearer
That nothing will ever be the same.

List of Accomplishments.

6th Grade
______________________________________________
Goshen Middle School 6th Grade Orchestra
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble - Gold Ensemble Rating
Varsity Volleyball Team
Junior Varsity Basketball Team

7th Grade
______________________________________________
Goshen Middle School 7th Grade Orchestra
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble - Gold Ensemble Rating
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble - Silver Solo Rating
Private Violin Lessons
ASTA All-Region Orchestra Festival Participant
- Honored for Achievement by Goshen Community School Board
Elkhart County Junior Youth Honors Orchestra
Goshen Middle School Yearbook Committee
Goshen Middle School Ski Club
National Junior Honor Society
Varsity Volleyball Team


8th Grade
_____________________________________________
Goshen Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble - Gold Ensemble (1) Rating
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble - Gold Ensemble (2) Rating
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble - Gold Solo Rating
Private Violin Lessons
ASTA All-Region Orchestra Festival Participant
Goshen College Vivace Ensemble
Maple City Chamber Orchestra
Goshen Middle School Yearbook Committee
Goshen Middle School Teen Court
Goshen Middle School Student Council
Goshen Middle School Ski Club
Goshen Middle School Builder’s Club (Secretary)
National Junior Honor Society
Who’s Who Academic Excellence Award

9th Grade
_____________________________________________
Goshen High School Philharmonic Orchestra
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble -
Private Violin Lessons
Maple City Chamber Orchestra
Elkhart County Youth Honors Orchestra
South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra
Goshen Summer Youth Orchestra
Beginning Orchestra Volunteer
Goshen High School Student Government (Secretary)
Goshen High School French Club

Louis II

Last Monday, I adopted Louis II, successor of Louis I.

More like married him. ;)

He and I are going to have many new and exciting adventures.

Especially now that MCCO has started. It feels so much different now.

Before, I had to TRY to get the sound to come out how I wanted, but now it just pours out. Every violinist needs to find an instrument that sounds good with them and their style. It doesn't matter so much how well your teacher thinks it sounds if it sounds natural when you play it.

I love Louis II.

Audition... Among other things.

Today: Besides missing school (if I miss 4 more days I'll fail all my classes) I auditioned for South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra. Although it's not exactly the prestigious orchestra of Interlochen School of the Arts, it's the closest thing you'll get around here. The audition went well, or so it felt. I won't know until tomorrow how well I did or what placement I received. There are two main options, Symphonic or Philharmonic, then Violin 1 or Violin 2 inside both of those. If I didn't make Symphonic (since I didn't try out using 3 octave scales) then the most I can hope for is Violin 1 for Philharmonic. Which I wouldn't mind - my goal would be principal violin that way.

I arrived feeling slightly nervous, only to enter the practice room with a dude playing some sort of band instrument, a cellist, and a younger violinist who was scratching out Gavotte from Suzuki book 2 or 3. I opened my case to tune wishing that I could be warming-up in a room that wasn't full of college-aged musicians or people just hanging out. I warmed up with a few scales and practiced a few parts of my piece. I noticed while I was practicing quite a few people stopped to watch, including the Gavotte Girl. The cellist kept plowing on through Bach's Cello Suite No 1 which sounded pretty good, and I'm sure if he wasn't nervous he would have gone a little slower. I felt comfortable in the room and practiced a few other pieces to adjust. Then they called my name.

I was lead up to room 100, up the stairs and to the left. In the room it was rather stuffy and crowded with tables stacked up everywhere. In the back of the room there was a stand, and one table set out with two judges smiling and waiting for me. They picked the scales I was dreading - although prepared for. But what I noticed most is that it wasn't as hard for me as before. It's getting easier to play for people. That's my goal. Results tomorrow.

Music is good.

Light and Dark Rosin: The Difference?

You'll always see the two different kinds of rosin. Dark, and light. But what's the difference?

Basically, rosin is the most important part of your set up, and also the least expensive. It makes the hairs on your bow sticky so they can grasp the strings when you slide it across. You could compare it to fishermen all hooking some fish at the same time.

Light: Some argue that light rosin is the best choice for treble instruments. It's harder and doesn't melt as easy.

Dark: Most people say this is softer, more likely to melt, and has a better grip. Sometimes you get a light rosin with a dark color added.

But there are other things that go into picking the best rosin for your instrument. Where you live and your climate could change what you should use. Your type of strings and brand of rosin may or may not mix well together. Some rosins can increase the build-up you get making you have to clean it more - although you should wipe it after you play every time.

One brand of rosin compared to another can completely change the tone of your instrument.

Also, another factor... whether your bow is made of synthetic hair, or horse hair. Horse hair is always the best for playing.

Update.

I'm kind of sad to say that beginning orchestra is over for this year. It's one of those things that no matter how hectic the day before was, you keep on going back. You get to share what you know with the little kids and sometimes add your few cents about what you think is important, tricks, and tips, that will help them be successful. I know there are some things I wish my helpers would have told me that would have helped. I get to be silly and make mistakes too - and I think that helped some of the kids to keep coming back. And now, they know someone older than them they'll run into sometimes. :)

I think I learned a lot about myself and was able to correct some things about my own playing in the process. Going back and re-learning the bow hold made me more confident in my own.

I can't imagine not doing this for all the summers through High School. :)

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I really want to learn to play the viola d'amore. I have no idea where to buy one or where I could get lessons (although Rachel Barton Pine said she'd give anyone who wants one a lesson....)

I've also got a baroque violin coming soon. I'm going to try and get a special fingerboard put onto it along with a matching tailpiece. Then I'll have to look for a baroque bow.

I'm starting to understand why Rachel quit school and homeschooled instead. There is just so much to do and learn plus school it's hard to balance it all!


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School starts Friday. I'm excited. Not really nervous, because as long as I have a map I'll be fine. I'll just highlight my different classes and color code them so that I know how to get there easily. Orchestra is first period. 3 days a week I'll wake myself up in the perfect way. :)


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I'll add more to this later.