Today's Update
Well there's been months of my life that I haven't posted about but I don't think I have it in me to look up what I've done and report on it.
But you can hear about how I'm feeling today :)
At the work concert today we had one of the world's best violinists perform. He actually played something that I've played in an exam before. It was nice to hear it played properly cos I never had. Only now, at my age, that I think about playing with some musicality rather than worry about every single note. Also this guy did his first public performance at the age of 5. I didn't even start learning until I was 7 :P
Anyway, I thought he was a lovely man. I always take notice of the talented people who are also gracious. I can't stand divas/divos (is that a real word?). And I enjoyed his program.
Tonight, I did some violin practice. I want to play the first movement of the Bach Double Violin Concerto with Emilie and the orchestra at a concert in August so I thought I better get cracking with some practice. We did some rehearsals with the orchestra last year to see if it could work and the conductor really wanted me to play faster. For now I can play it at MM=76 (which stands for metronome marking, kinda like a bpm measurement). I can play the easier bits at MM=88 but I'm discovering the passages I can't play at that speed!! Also I didn't quite believe that I would have to play it that fast even though I've heard many recordings of it so I checked and yeah, they're playing it at around MM=92 or faster!! SHIT!!!
I'm not letting myself get down about it because all I can do is use that "SHIT!!!" feeling to motivate myself to practice more. Plus I don't think I've ever played anything that fast so it will be a useful skill to pick up. At the moment it feels uncomfortably fast and I have to get comfortable with it or I'll never be able to express the piece - I'll just be struggling to keep up with the orchestra and that wouldn't be a fun performance.
Also I've been thinking about the lack of composing and what it means. I'm sad that I'm not talking about composing with anyone so I'm not motivated. I'm not sure what will happen to my Masters degree either cos I'm fairly certain that it won't be complete by mid 2009 which is why I reported to uni. I really just don't have the time or energy to devote myself to it much. I desperately want to finish this French song for Fleen though cos I know she's been wanting to express this particular French poem we've picked. Anyway, Joon and I have been trying to do some study on a weekly basis so I will get back into the French song when I'm not so busy at work (that I have to work on Saturdays) and back from overseas. I have been listening to ABC Classic FM at work though - most classical music I've ever taken in, in my life so far. (Heard Harptallica play The Unforgiven the other day!?)
Aside from that, work has been really busy in the lead up to the major concert. Last week was horrible as I was trying to get 1200 invitations out in the post. I actually gave myself RSI in the shoulder and had to stop at 900. My supervisor got some people to step in and help, thank goodness. So I am actually too old to physically do that stuff on my own now! I'm not opposed to delegation but it does take more planning.
I'm always wishing that I could do more at work - implement more things, do more advertising and I just have to remember that I am only 1 person. I don't really have a team to delegate things to. I am 1 person - organising, promoting and managing 17 concerts; including a major concert with a major venue to liaise with, that has 1200 invitations and 800 guests to allocate seats to; AND 5 schools to visit - in a matter of 4 months. I'm not sure there's someone else in the world doing that by themselves :P I do have people to turn to for help but they aren't always available to help me cos their own jobs are so busy.
In other news, there's less than 4 weeks 'til my overseas trip and I am so excited by all the possibilities! The more I read about the things I can do in Japan and Europe, the more excited I get! I'm SO looking forward to a good dose of shopping, culture and relaxation. I'm even hoping to read a book while I'm away. Maybe even do some composing...
Right, that's enough from me. My man made me lasagne for dinner - oh, that was yum! - and I now have a new Air Crash Investigation to watch!
If you're still reading my LJ, please give me a hoy. I don't feel like I have an audience these days so it's nice to know who cares.
But you can hear about how I'm feeling today :)
At the work concert today we had one of the world's best violinists perform. He actually played something that I've played in an exam before. It was nice to hear it played properly cos I never had. Only now, at my age, that I think about playing with some musicality rather than worry about every single note. Also this guy did his first public performance at the age of 5. I didn't even start learning until I was 7 :P
Anyway, I thought he was a lovely man. I always take notice of the talented people who are also gracious. I can't stand divas/divos (is that a real word?). And I enjoyed his program.
Tonight, I did some violin practice. I want to play the first movement of the Bach Double Violin Concerto with Emilie and the orchestra at a concert in August so I thought I better get cracking with some practice. We did some rehearsals with the orchestra last year to see if it could work and the conductor really wanted me to play faster. For now I can play it at MM=76 (which stands for metronome marking, kinda like a bpm measurement). I can play the easier bits at MM=88 but I'm discovering the passages I can't play at that speed!! Also I didn't quite believe that I would have to play it that fast even though I've heard many recordings of it so I checked and yeah, they're playing it at around MM=92 or faster!! SHIT!!!
I'm not letting myself get down about it because all I can do is use that "SHIT!!!" feeling to motivate myself to practice more. Plus I don't think I've ever played anything that fast so it will be a useful skill to pick up. At the moment it feels uncomfortably fast and I have to get comfortable with it or I'll never be able to express the piece - I'll just be struggling to keep up with the orchestra and that wouldn't be a fun performance.
Also I've been thinking about the lack of composing and what it means. I'm sad that I'm not talking about composing with anyone so I'm not motivated. I'm not sure what will happen to my Masters degree either cos I'm fairly certain that it won't be complete by mid 2009 which is why I reported to uni. I really just don't have the time or energy to devote myself to it much. I desperately want to finish this French song for Fleen though cos I know she's been wanting to express this particular French poem we've picked. Anyway, Joon and I have been trying to do some study on a weekly basis so I will get back into the French song when I'm not so busy at work (that I have to work on Saturdays) and back from overseas. I have been listening to ABC Classic FM at work though - most classical music I've ever taken in, in my life so far. (Heard Harptallica play The Unforgiven the other day!?)
Aside from that, work has been really busy in the lead up to the major concert. Last week was horrible as I was trying to get 1200 invitations out in the post. I actually gave myself RSI in the shoulder and had to stop at 900. My supervisor got some people to step in and help, thank goodness. So I am actually too old to physically do that stuff on my own now! I'm not opposed to delegation but it does take more planning.
I'm always wishing that I could do more at work - implement more things, do more advertising and I just have to remember that I am only 1 person. I don't really have a team to delegate things to. I am 1 person - organising, promoting and managing 17 concerts; including a major concert with a major venue to liaise with, that has 1200 invitations and 800 guests to allocate seats to; AND 5 schools to visit - in a matter of 4 months. I'm not sure there's someone else in the world doing that by themselves :P I do have people to turn to for help but they aren't always available to help me cos their own jobs are so busy.
In other news, there's less than 4 weeks 'til my overseas trip and I am so excited by all the possibilities! The more I read about the things I can do in Japan and Europe, the more excited I get! I'm SO looking forward to a good dose of shopping, culture and relaxation. I'm even hoping to read a book while I'm away. Maybe even do some composing...
Right, that's enough from me. My man made me lasagne for dinner - oh, that was yum! - and I now have a new Air Crash Investigation to watch!
If you're still reading my LJ, please give me a hoy. I don't feel like I have an audience these days so it's nice to know who cares.