Category Archives: Performing

Christmas, Performing

Christmas Vacation begins!

Today is my first day of Christmas Vacation!  It’s earlier than most people’s because I opted to take over a few more days of teaching—after the concerts it didn’t make sense to have one more class. 

Yesterday was very busy, but ended really fun.  I ran a race (though since I messed up the tag thing there is no record of me…oh well, it wasn’t my best time, in fact was my worst), played a wedding at the Jewel Box, played my last mass at St. Mary’s in Madison, IL, and played a four hour holiday party in Sappington.

stmarys

St. Mary’s

I had been dreading the 4 hour party but it ended up being quite fun!  We were playing at a private home, which was super decked out for the holidays.  There was a themed Christmas tree in just about every run, and nutcrackers of all sizes (tiny to human sized) displayed throughout.  We were encouraged to eat and drink (yummy shrimp and sushi!) while we played, and we played tons of Christmas music, including selections from the Nutcracker (I love the holiday volume of “Music for Three” and need it for myself STAT! )  It was exhausting, but the people I played with were easy going, good musicians and the evening was very enjoyable.  I should have taken some pictures of the house, but didn’t have my camera and didn’t want to be weird and creepy either.  Maybe I’ll be asked to play again next year, and I”ll remember my camera and not care about weird and creepy!  At the end, the host told us if we played one more rousing finale we would each get $50 cash on the spot.  Well, we couldn’t’ pass that up, and played a rousing “Trepak” from the aforementioned Music for Three.  FYI to other musicians:  the audience really loved hearing the Nutcracker tunes.  

I was utterly exhausted by the time I got home and just read a bit and went to sleep. 

Today:  I did my long run—8.5 miles I believe (or so) in the park.  It was manageable, icy in spots but fine overall.  I am loving my new running tights (though I should probably get another, slightly warmer pair, also to switch out for laundry purposes) and felt like a real runner going around the park 2 1/2 times. 

Then I did the first step of the Tres Leches Eggnog cake…though I decided to just use a box mix.  (First step is to make the regular cake and let it cool).  I had a box mix on hand, okay?  It was taking up room in the cupboard!  (Second step is to pour milks/eggnog over cooled cake and let sit overnight).  Besides, after I add the Tres Leches, will it really matter if the cake was from a box or homemade?  NO!

Tonight we are going to a Holiday Party at a friend’s house.  I am looking forward to seeing people—I haven’t seen several of my friends for a few weeks as we have all been so busy!  The next few days are for relaxing, seeing friends, and preparing to go to Long Island for the holidays. 

HBBC:   8.5 mile run: 8.5 points, 20 minutes stretching: 1 point, Total:  9.5 points (will edit if I eat 7 f/v)

Performing

Playing the violin #reverb10

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Prompt: Body integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

 

This is exactly how I feel when I’m playing the violin well. 

Playing the violin is both physical and mental.  My mind knows what I want the sound to be and makes body makes it happen.  If everything lines up, the magic happens!  I play the music exactly as I imagine it to be.

What can keep this from happening for me?

Pain:  from injury or overuse.  I am very susceptible to injury, particularly in my wrists and joints.

Tension:  due to nerves, stress, improper warm up, too cold, cramped for space, tired, sick, etc. 

Not practicing enough:  lack of planning, lack of inclination, lack of time, too much pain

But when these things don’t happen, when I am:

Pain-free

Relaxed

Well-prepared

I can play the performance of my life!  I can love my music!  I know why I have chosen my career!

Generally this happens during orchestral performances for me—I become ONE with the music, and I am absolutely swept away in the moment. 

I was glancing back at my concert schedule from this year (so sparse in contrast to previous years) and thinking of concerts I LOVED playing…

The recent Chamber Project Concert definitely fit the bill in places…Werther with Winter Opera did as well…Shostakovich 10 with Columbus Symphony…I could go on. 

So often, as a professional we get caught up in the details, the rehearsal schedule, our fee, the breaks, etc, and of course those things are important…but…we mustn’t lose sight of the forest for the trees!

This is exactly why I love to play the violin.  To become ONE with the music.  To have my mind and body absolutely integrated.  This is what I wish for all of my students to feel some day! 

Performing, Teaching

Grandparent’s Day

I always get stressed before my students perform.  Tomorrow morning’s performance (at the weekly Chapel, but for a special “Grandparent’s Day”) is at 8:30 am; therefore I am stressed tonight.  Firstly, I have to get up VERY early to be there on time (6:15 to 6:30 am, very early for me).  Secondly, I don’t know exactly what is going to happen so I am not sure how tuning will happen or what the set up is.  Thirdly, there is of course the usual stress as to whether the kids will behave, freak out, etc.  We are only doing a few pieces, but this is the first time I am “performing” for the school and naturally I am nervous for myself as well!  Wish me luck Smile.  It’ll all be over by 9:30 or so…and then I’ll have another week before another student performance.  (This month contains FIVE different concerts.  Luckily I am not in charge of any of them, we just show up and play.)  The kids will be great of course—they have been working hard and we have likely over-rehearsed. 

Today was a day off from work, so I decided to double down on workouts.  I am still within my two week unlimited Bikram time frame, so I figured I should head back and torture myself again.  Wow, it was still very hot!  I had a lot of trouble feeling like I was going to pass out.  Maybe I was pushing myself too hard?  The teacher lectured me after class about not going directly from trying the posture to sitting down (instead, I should stand with arms by sides first) but I really didn’t want to pass out.  I’ve fainted in my life, and I know how it feels when I am about to.  That is not the time for continuing to stand.  She also suggested I should wait to try a posture again until I really feel up to it.  Maybe I will go to a larger, busier class next time so I won’t be the only one sitting out!  (Yes, I know it’s meant to be non-competitive.  Not my forte!)

Then I had a workout with Mike.  First one since Thanksgiving—it was tough but as usual fun.  I am feeling more like myself again after all the butter!  (You know, from stuffing and turkey and pies and cookies).

I also did tons of emailing—I think I’m actually caught up on my “correspondence.”  It’s amazing how much time goes into communication/scheduling with the parents and teachers. 

HBBC:  90 minutes Bikram Yoga: 4.5 points, 1 mile walk: 1 point, 60 minutes cardio/strength workout: 3 points.  Total: 8.5 points.

Performing

The Masters! Chamber Project St. Louis

We’ve been rehearsing like mad men this week (yes, just like Don Draper 😉 ), and tonight’s the concert!  Tickets are $10 at the door and include two drinks.

Chamber Project St. Louis

Friday, November 5 at 8:00 pm

Location:  The Chapel

THE MASTERS
with guests
Megan Stout, harp
Valentina Takova, cello
Kyle Lombard, violin
Hannah Frey, violin

Serenade Op. 25 (1800)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
flute, violin, viola

Introduction and Allegro (1907)
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
harp, flute, clarinet, string quartet

Clarinet Quintet in A Major (1789)
W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
clarinet, string quartet

Performing, Teaching

Busy week ahead!

Okay, after a fairly relaxing week, this upcoming week will be nuts!  It’s all due to my upcoming performance with Chamber Project St Louis.  Well, not all–but the extra busy is.  I also have another new student this week (that makes one each week for about four weeks), and that fills up my home teaching schedule until something changes.  I can’t believe how many students I’ve added at home in the past month!  Usually I add more in August, but this year has been different.

I had a great lunch today with my friend Melissa.  We went to Bar Italia and sat outside (it was a bit cool, but nothing we couldn’t handle).  I hadn’t been before, but will definitely go again!  I was starving after my “long run” in the morning (ran 1 hour 10 minutes doing a 8 minutes run/2 minutes walk ratio, nice, slow and easy) and really enjoyed my lunch–food and company.

After that we had rehearsal for the Chamber Project concert.  We’ve been working hard and are down to our last few rehearsals.  It should be a great concert, but I am getting pretty stressed–it’s a big program!  I haven’t played at the venue “The Chapel” before, but people say it’s really great.  If you are local and free Friday night, come to our concert!

What else this week?  Two weddings, lots of running/working out, TONS of teaching as usual (no days off this week) and of course Election Day.  Yes, I’ll be voting.  Will you?

 

 

Performing

Winter Opera Masquerade Ball

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Tomorrow night I am performing for the Winter Opera St. Louis “Masquerade Ball”.  I’m concertmaster of the orchestra (we had three performances last year), and Gina Galati (artistic director) asked if I would play a couple of pieces for the program.  The dinner takes place at Dominic’s Trattoria in Clayton.  I haven’t been there but I am told it is delicious (I get paid plus dinner 😉 ).  I am also excited to wear one of my cocktail dresses versus the usual “all black”.  I don’t have a mask to wear, nor would that work well for violin playing, unfortunately.

Speaking of Italian food, I am excited to go visit Chris’s family in Long Island and the Bronx over Christmas.  We recently purchased our plane tickets to visit for a few days.  The food will be fantastic, I’m sure!  I realize it’s just the end of October, but nonetheless the stores are practically in full Christmas spirit, so it’s hard to not be excited already.  I purchased some lotion at Bath & Body Works yesterday, Twisted Peppermint Flavor.  The saleslady said the whole store would be holiday-ready by November 1.