master the violin

regularly, often and efficiently.

So why aren’t I doing it? Maybe because my muse is not playing at the moment and I am lacking some inspiration. Maybe I should get those CDs out and listen. Yes I’ll do that!

I took an audition for a very excellent local symphony and got in. The director asked if I prefer to play first or second violin! This is a huge step because I’ve been practicing specifically for this audition for a year.
Thank you!

Sounds a little weird, I know. But just now, when I was playing, I thought to myself – each note that I play will only exist once. This upcoming note that I’m about to bow out will only have one life to live and echo around my room and disappear. Its life is short but I have the opportunity to make it sweet – in fact, it’s my duty to make it sweet. To love that note, to cherish that note, to make it as beautiful and fully realized as it can be. I have to be true to the note’s character.

Thinking that, my music sounded a little better. I was focusing a lot more because I felt so invested in making each note beautiful. It improves tone and musicality, not to mention technique (proper technique allows beautiful music – like yoga, let the poses, the techniques, the structures work for you – your job is to just hang out with these poses and techniques, and let it work its magic through you. You’re really just a vessel). And it gives a window into the idea that each note is part of a larger song, so you must view the character of that note as part of the character of the song. It’s like how every person has a very different personality and energy, but they’re also inescapably part of the fabric of society. With the music, you’re trying to construct the entire society while loving each and every person for what they are. Their roles are already there, and the more you try to understand each one the more you can let each note relax into its preexisting structure, and you can allow each of them to be as beautiful and unique as they are able and meant to be.

I may be a little crazy.

Over the next couple of days, I’m specifically going to be working on:
(a) pizzicato-ing a lot of my repertoire, paying special attention to how perfectly on-pitch the notes are. I want to practice putting my fingers down in precisely the right spots no matter how fast I go.
(b) keeping my bow running very straight so I can draw the most beautiful tones out of my strings.
(c) having control over my bow so it doesn’t bounce, figuring out my wrist, figuring out more about bow pressure, speed, and the tones it produces.

I want to learn Paganini! I want to be able to play him!

I want to get to the Suzuki Method’s Book 10!

I’m practicing at least an hour every day. That’s strictly the base line. And if I need to take a break, that’s fine, but I need to keep an eye on technique instead of just zoning out and going with the feel-good aspect of it (though that’s good to sink into sometimes).

I’ve been playing a lot of violin today and am loving how it makes my brain feel. It makes the workings of my mind feel more acute and privately satisfying. This is something I should hold on to.

It’s bought! and sounds beautiful.

I have a lot of practice to do. My parents won’t pay for lessons anymore, so if I’m going to do this I have to figure out something by myself. It’s worth it. I’m so excited. And with this new violin, so motivated!

I need to work on my bowing – I never want to hit two strings by mistake. If I hit two, I plan on only doing it on purpose, when the music calls for it.

I also need to work on coordinating my bow hand with my fingers more. I want no improper slurring between notes.

And of course, I’ll always keep an ear out for pitch and tone.

I’m going to restart with Suzuki Book 1 and work through every single song in every single book, painstakingly, until I can truly say that my technique is equatable to that of when I quit.

Finally, I’m buying my first violin on Saturday! I’ve been renting my entire life. I’m going to love and take care of this baby like nothing else. In some way, I want it to become an extension of myself.

3 octave F major scales

(The fingerboard is just about long enough)

I have heard it from the very top.

Playing the violin with technical mastery is (quote) “easy” (ahem…might be for you mate…but us mere mortals find it a little more challenging). All you need to do is practise every day for 7 hours. (Of course…now THAT’S where I have been going wrong – I can’t even manage 7 hours in a week!!!)

But the emotional mastery can only come with life’s experiences, playing with your soul and heart, and that is what makes all the difference.

^{I think right now I would settle for the technical mastery….}

My awesome and cute teacher is having a recital for all his students tomorrow on Veteran’s Day. I will dedicate my music to the soldiers trying to keep peace in the world.

I will be playing a duet in 5/8 with him and Bach’s Partita #3 in E Major. It may sound silly but he is going to play it with me. I’m glad for that because I am working on stage fright so that just takes all the worry away.