Category Archives: Performing

Performing, Running

Time to Foam Roll

8 Comments

This was my first ten mile week in a long time. I’m very proud of myself. Running does get easier, doesn’t it? And today’s beautiful weather helped.

IMG_8832 IMG_8833

Belated yet obligatory post run selfies. I’m a little out of practice. And oh so shiny.

Weekend eats:

Stellina Pasta (LOVE this place!)

IMG_8822

Dim Sum at Wonton King. Loved the pork buns so much.IMG_8831

Saw a show last night at Venice Cafe. The Bottoms Up Blues Gang. The view from above.

IMG_8826

That’s so you can’t fall through or throw things down below. We had great seats, and I didn’t mind the live music too much 😉 I tend to hate live music because it’s usually too loud, but this was pretty good, and the singer was great. I started to get really annoyed at one of the sets when there was a song that the blues chords just repeated and repeated and there was a poet kind of vamping over it, and I literally thought my head might explode (blues songs all have the same chord progression, and sometimes that gets to me, but I managed to recover.)

I’ve got some exciting stuff happening right now—I’ve recently been asked to join a band as the violinist—it’s a tribute band to the Transsiberian Orchestra. They tour around the local area here (some longer trips) in November and December, and I thought it would be a fun adventure and a challenge. I’ll need to get an electric violin, and I’ll tell you more about it as I know more and learn more, but in a nutshell: I’m not going to be rich or famous, I’m not going to quit doing anything I’m already doing, but I will be learning some new stuff, having a good time, and look forward to a great year ahead of me! If you know anything about electric violins and have recommendations for me, please let me know as I am new to the game.

And it’s my little sister Carrie’s birthday today. Let’s wish her a happy birthday!

Performing, Random thoughts

It was probably the Last beautiful weekend of the Year

3 Comments

And I spent most of it inside. That’s okay. I did do some stuff outside…

Saturday: I ran! Tower Grove Park was absolutely gorgeous with the leaves turning, the sun shining, and the weather was about 60 degrees. It could not have been nicer weather. And yes, that’s mainly all I did outside. But it was almost enough.

IMG_8186 

I love fall. Especially when it’s not too cold.IMG_8183

Saturday night I went to my friend Melissa’s bassoon recital at the Tavern of Fine Arts. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the entire program! She sounded wonderful and the repertoire she and her pianist chose kept us interested and entertained. It was a fun evening and I’m really glad she played her recital in St Louis for us—she had already performed it twice in other cities, but it worked out to do it while she was in town for Opera week.

IMG_8195IMG_8196

Sunday was our last opera performance. Long week of rehearsals and performances…done! I had plans to hang out with a friend tonight, but I ended up crashing on the couch for an hour or so after the show and then just put on my pj’s and spent the evening catching up on my television (White Collar and How I Met Your Mother)…yeah, I am pretty awesome. I figure I’m resting up for the week ahead, and I hope to really get caught up on the stuff that got lost this past week.

IMG_8210

During opera weeks I really try to limit my outside practicing, for instance, so I’m looking forward to getting back to regular violin practice…I was completely inspired by Melissa’s recital and started really wanting to play a recital of my own soon. I’m hoping my friend Jennifer and I will be able to do something in the next year (fingers crossed!) but either way I’m looking forward to rehearsing some this week.

Speaking of being inspired, I was also inspired by my friend Kate who ran the Skippo 30K this weekend. I ran the race last year, but missed out this year. I’m hoping to be back next year! My biggest obstacle now to getting back into shape is pure laziness. I am not busy enough to make that an excuse—I just get lazy and get caught up reading instead of just putting on workout clothes and going out the door. At least I’m reading? And blogging again, semi regularly. I love blogging, and the biggest issue sometimes is just…opening up windows live writer, uploading the photos I’ve taken, and starting to write. Writing is fun, running can be fun, and they are both frankly more fun than sitting on the couch reading articles about thigh gap.

IMG_8205

Then again, she does make it hard to move from the couch—being so cute and cuddly and furry. *sigh*

How was your weekend? Anything exciting going on this week?

These are what I want for Christmas. Leslie texted me this picture from Target. Cat’s pajamas!

IMG_8177

Don’t forget that I am running a giveaway through Friday. Enter to win if you haven’t!

I hear there is snow in the forecast for us tonight…fingers crossed!

Performing

Going full nerd

2 Comments

My friend Sarah and I have been having a fairly regular weekly “movie night.” Really it’s an excuse to get together and chitchat without spending much money, but lately we’ve been trying to watch a variety of classical music movies, combined with a funny movie too. The thing about movies is that they are long, and since we live in the iPhone age, it takes a lot to keep our attention. (Something shiny! The internet! Look, it’s a cat!)

Last night we watched most of “7 Psychopaths” before turning it off (well, I don’t know if it was most, it felt like a lot though) and then we watched “Carnegie Hall.” I ordered this movie from Netflix after seeing the video of Jascha Heifetz (my previous cat’s namesake) playing the Tchiakovsky Violin Concerto and couldn’t resist. Spoiler: the movie is both awesome and terrible. It’s awesome because there are some fantastic musical performances from very old musicians. It’s terrible because the plot is both confusing and fairly non-existent, and the acting is bad. I highly recommend it.

 

The other noteworthy performance was Artur Rubinstein performing a couple of pieces on piano. Sarah and I were struck by how high he lifts his hands while playing (we are terrified to do that on the piano because we would likely hit all the wrong notes on the way down.)

 

We thought this was hilarious. I’m not sure if you had to be there, but I had to share it with you.

I found the video of him playing the entire Ritual Fire Dance on the youtube as well.

 

Anyway. Like I said, full nerd. I won’t even tell you about our lengthy conversation about the russian bow hold versus that of the franco-belgian school and the evolution thereof, because you would point and laugh at me.

So—what are some good classical music movies and good funny movies that will be good for future movie nights? We want suggestions!

Performing, Running

Deturtle June Tour, Fitness Event Stuff, and Brad Pitt

Deturtle June Tour:

So my little sister (that’s CARRIE) is touring with her band Deturtle and thought I’d mention it to you guys in case you were interested in checking them out. They combine a jazz trio and a string trio to make a whole new kind of sound world. (Pretty good stuff. I recommend you listen to the tracks they have online.)

From their website:

“At the crossroads of the Oberlin Conservatory is the Kohl Plaza, the space between the classical conservatory and the jazz building. It was in this space that deturtle, an ensemble combining jazz and classical music, could be conceived. In September 2012, guitarist Matt Gold brought together a jazz guitar trio and a classical string trio to play original compositions and arrangements. He aimed to create an unconventional, modern sound by merging two traditions of music. The goal was to create an ensemble not only fusing traditional sounds from the jazz world and the classical, but to go beyond that.”

deturtle

I’m honestly pretty bummed they aren’t coming to St Louis. I offered room, but I guess transportation was the issue. Maybe it you all go out and support them someday she can tour my neck of the woods!

Did I mention that Carrie plays the viola??? I mean, really, a band with a viola. If you’re at all interested, listen to the tracks on their website to get a sense of what they are doing. I’m pretty impressed by my little sister sometimes.

Fitness Event Stuff

Saturday is the CDM Body and Mind 5k.

Next Saturday (June 1) is the Benton Park Remembering the 80’s 5k—if you are planning to run this, let me know and I’ll look for you!  I’m somehow less excited about it this year than in the past but I still have a myriad of outfit options. I sent a few sample pictures to Jen the other night and her response was “how do you have so many choices?”

IMG_2071

June 8: Get Outdoors St Louis

I was also told about another event the morning of June 1 that might interest you if you don’t care for the 80’s.

image001

Bethesda Hospice Care Hosts First-Ever 5K Memorial Walk/Run

Free event honors loved ones with remembrance ribbons for participants;

local St. Louis guitarist Lisa Jones to perform at opening ceremony

WHAT: On Saturday, June 1, Bethesda Hospice Care will host its first-ever 5K Memorial Walk/Run at Queeny Park in Ballwin. The walk/run will celebrate the lives of participants’ loved ones.

The 5K walk/run is free and welcome to all ages.

REGISTER:   Registration form and more information can be found at http://www.bethesdahealth.org/pics/db/document_library/64_MemorialWalkInformationRegistrationForm.pdf

 

BRAD PITT

YOU GUYS!! BRAD PITT EMAILED ME!

bradpittspam

Auditions, Deep Thoughts, Performing

Is that your expert opinion?

2 Comments

I keep thinking I should write a post about auditions. My casual readers won’t care at all, but musician readers would care. I’m not the Bulletproof Musician though—I don’t have any real advice for you—I haven’t shown tremendous success in the audition world—and I don’t consider myself an expert on auditioning. But I think that’s part of the charm of my blog: I don’t pretend to be an expert on things that I am NOT an expert on. (Many do. I think this is a big problem with the world—too many “experts” and too little actual knowledge.)

What do I consider myself an expert on? 

Well…I’m starting to feel that way about teaching violin.  The more I do it (going on what, 15 years or so now?) the more I feel like I’m starting to know what I’m doing. You say, what, that’s ridiculous, of course you’re already an expert on violin teaching. I say, I am learning every day. I learn from my students what works, what doesn’t work. I learn from talking to other teachers. I learn by reading a couple of blogs and journals. I learn from taking workshops and classes. I will likely never consider myself to be an expert, because I consider myself a constant student. But I do know that I am a better teacher NOW than at any point in the past and that I will only continue to grow. So check back—maybe in two years I’ll say, yeah I’m an expert violin teacher.

I’m really good at playing for weddings. I still get a little stressed about timing and I’m no expert at dealing with brides—I do my best, but people don’t always respond well to me—I tend to have a dry sense of humor and sometimes my efforts to calm people down don’t work! I have a fantastic smile though and often people respond well to that 😉 That said, I’m great at playing the music, I’m great at keeping an eye out for cues and knowing when to start and stop.

I used to be a really good orchestral player. Or at least I thought I was. I probably still am—I just don’t get as much of an opportunity these days. I’m great at playing in a section and I’m a darn good concertmaster for Winter Opera St Louis.  Expert? I’m always improving.

I guess it depends on the definition of expert.  Merriam Webster says the definition of expert is: having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience. 

By that definition, I’m definitely an expert violinist and violin teacher. I have special skills AND knowledge.  Maybe I’m an audition expert too? I’ve certainly participated in enough to consider myself one, and playing for a judge has been a skill I’ve used since I was a young girl, both for violin and piano.

Maybe I’m afraid if I say “expert” that I’ll sit on my haunches and think no one has anything else to teach me? I’m an avid reader (as you know) and I’m constantly looking for more information about life, the universe and everything…I often feel that many people lack the intense intellectual curiosity that I have, but that might just be me thinking I’m smarter than a lot of people.  (I do think that but I’m especially tickled when I realize a friend really is smarter than me!)

So what do you think? Can I consider myself an expert but also admit that I have tons more to learn? I’m sure I can, but I’m hesitant to do so. Or I just have low self-esteem 😉

Really though, we have so many self-proclaimed “experts” in the world.  You see it on other blogs, you see it in the mainstream media. How many of those people are truly experts? Very few! Most just seem to like to hear themselves talk.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I like to read my own writing, which is very similar, but I’m not pretending to be something I’m not.

All that said—I should write some audition posts. I know some readers have asked questions about my most recent experience (which is STILL very raw) and my past experiences…maybe I’ll add that to my blog “to do list”.

 

 

Auditions, Performing, Practicing

DON’T PANIC

3 Comments

I finally had a quick urge to come tell you guys how I’m doing, and then Windows Live Writer (the program I use to write my blog posts) wouldn’t OPEN!  I briefly panicked, and tried to open it a whole bunch of times, and kept getting error messages, then I started to do a Google search, realized I didn’t have time to get into a fancy computer problem because I’m already an hour late on my practice schedule (which is fine, it just means I HAVE to, absolutely HAVE to practice tonight after teaching)…anyway, then magically about three windows opened up, so here we are.

dontpanic

My teacher once (or more than once) said, the most important things at an orchestral audition are rhythm, intonation, rhythm, and rhythm.  Others have argued for more intonations.  But yesterday I think I actually started to get the whole “something special” idea…

If you’re not a musician, you’ve probably already stopped reading.  But in a nutshell, I’m trying to get everything on my list (which includes a couple of solo concertos and then a whole bunch of excerpts from the orchestra literature, i.e. Brahms Symphony no. 4, 1st violin part, measure 392 to the end) in tip top shape.  I’m practicing with a drone, I’m practicing ever so slowly, I’ve broken everything down to get the precise rhythm, bowing, and sound that I want…and now I’m putting it back together.

The trick is to put it back together so that it doesn’t sound like you are worried about rhythm or intonation.  To play in a way that makes it sound as if you are absolutely throwing caution to the wind WHILE playing with wonderful sound and intonation and rhythm.  And while you are absolutely focused on the tiniest of details, you must make it sound like you are just thinking about the long lines and the long phrasing…something that I do much more naturally outside of audition preparation because I am actually less focused on the details (maybe that’s a major fault of mine in other performances, but I can’t worry about that right now).

Plus there’s the audition scene—it’s like the Olympics. you have to be in the zone, you have to focus, you have to do the whole Michael Phelps, have your headphones in, ignore everybody and just do your thing that you’ve been training for…and then in a couple of minutes you’re done. 

This post probably doesn’t even make any sense because I’m just rambling, and I’m overwhelmed, and I should already be practicing.  I’ll be okay in a few more days though, that’s all.  The other day I was having a minor breakdown from the stress, and I asked Chris if it had been like this in the past—he said he didn’t remember.  Musicians do this sort of thing all the time, but I think as I’ve gotten older I am putting more pressure on myself.  Or I was too young to know better.  Or I’ve just forgotten how being under intense stress all the time felt?  Anyone want to weigh in on that?