It's Great to be Back!

Greetings,

I know I haven't wrote a post in a very long time.  I have been REALLY busy.  During the second semester school year I was working with the Freshman Orchestra mainly on music.  Now I am working on part two:  children.  That's right, I am working at a day camp.  I am working with nine and ten year old girls.  The days consists of arts & crafts, archery, basketball, blongoball, dance, kickball, soccer league games, and swimming twice a day.  That's not all, there's a bonus.   Every Thursday we go on field trips, such as Active Kids, Medieval Times, and Splish Splash.  The upcoming trip I am looking forward to is the Spirit Cruise.  We get a tour of New York City and get to see the Brooklyn Bridge.  I'm excited.
It feels like deja vu when I see all the kids and I say to myself "It can't be nine years ago I was nine years old or it can't be possible that thirteen years ago I was five"  I remember being five years old.  Believe it or not?  Now why would I be mentioning about five year olds?  Well, I get to camp by bus with all the campers who live around my area.  There are so many five year old girls and six year old boys plus an hour and ten minute bus route.  This means they need to be occupied.  But, I have created games and brought drawing materials for them.  I also have a plush pencil case elephant named Phantom and some of the children love to play with him.  The best part is when the children are having fun and make me laugh.  It's a great experience.

No School!

The fact that I don't have to worry about anymore tests or assignments is an incredible feeling.  But, I still am getting ready to be a musician in the real world.  I am practicing Bartok Romanian Folk Dances arranged for viola and I am practicing Bach's Cello Suites arranged for viola.  Bartok shows virtuosity and I am working on becoming a professional musician.  Bach is essential in the music world, because the suites are the standard literature for auditions and recitals.  My goal is to learn all six suites, by the time I graduate college.  Some movements are harder than others and take more time to learn, but I am determined.  I am also determined to learn Walton's Viola Concerto.  Unfortunately, the viola literature is smaller than the cello and violin's.  There aren't many options to choose from in the viola world.  But, I have played around with some violin literature and laugh at myself everytime I play the reknown works.  But, more works for viola are being composed as I write this.  I can't wait to see the new compositions for viola in the future. 

My last day of High School

Yesterday, was my last day of high school.  It went by very quickly.  Each year goes by faster and faster.  It's scary.  It was surely an interesting day with firecrackers and frogs.  I will never forget my last day of high school.  Despite the chaos, lots of my great friends signed my yearbook and they wrote a lot of compliments.   It will feel weird not to eat lunch in the music hallway with them.  They are the greatest friends anybody can ever ask for.   I also learned how to use to new Brita filter in my school yesterday, ironically on the last day.  It was great after being outside in the heat for an hour how refreshing the water tasted.  It was clean and cold just as the description said on it.  I also took my last test ever in my district.  It was the greatest feeling!  Then I had the senior countdown.  It was great to hear all my fellow seniors outside, while I was in the library.  It meant it was my turn to count down the last ten seconds of high school.   My fellow seniors and I were all excited to spend the last seconds together, the way we started.  But, I feel I'm missing something everytime I think about high school such as: an assignment, homework, textbook, or a test.   Luckily, I remind myself I am completely done being a high school student.  But, the best is yet to come.  I have graduation and prom.  I am looking forward for both.   

Memorial Day Weekend

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while.  Hope everybody has been enjoying the 4 day weekend.  All the students in the Freshman Orchestra have presented their stories, including myself.  I thought it would be fair to write my own story and present it to the class with my own matching sound effects.  Everybody seemed to enjoy it.  Right now I am continuing to work with them by playing bass.  Playing bass is pretty fun with 7 bassists.  It never gets boring. 

The first thing I did during break was actually on thursday night.  The youth orchestra I play with played at Alice Tully Hall.  I thought it was a great concert.  We played with assurance and a lot of musicality.  I myself had a lot of laughs with all of my friends.  There should be a review in the times in a couple of days about the concert.  I am confident there was a good review.  Well that's all I got for today.
Happy Memorial Day

Story Time Continued

The Freshman Orchestra made some pretty great stories.  As a surprise I thought it was fair to share the story I made up on my own with matching sound effects.  Surprisingly, they all liked the story.  They all made stories within less than a week.  The biggest challenge is teaching students who are only three years younger than me, but it's a lot of fun too.  Everyday is a new adventure with them.  All of the chaos makes me laugh after the class is over I just can't stop laughing as I'm writing about it. 

Story Time

The Freshman Orchestra is ready for some stories. They are going to be making up some stories in groups using their instruments. They are going to learn certain embellishments to use in their stories. I've made a list of a bunch of embellishments for the students to use. I've been looking forward to this project for a semester now. I can't wait believe this will start tomorrow

Telephone Livin On a Prayer!

The Freshman Orchestra sightread the arrangements of Telephone and Livin On a Prayer for String Orchestra.  I have to admitt I could not stop laughing.  Everybody got so excited when they played these classic pop tunes, especially the bassists.  They went a little overboard by rushing and playing so forte.  Three bassists and I laughed so hard, that I thought our laughs were louder than the rest of the orchestra playing.  We had a great time!   It was a great way to end my stressful week of 5 tests.  Good ole bassists. 

Music as a Universal Language

Yesterday, I realized music isn't necessarily a universal language.   Yes, everybody around the world has music in their culture.  But, your ear can cringe at sounds you have never heard before.  Yesterday, on Itunes I listened to some Classical Indian music, both (Northern and Southern).  At first I thought it was odd and I asked myself: "This is classical music?  Surprisingly the same country can have different music in two different regions as well.  Northern Indian Classical music is completely different from Southern Indian Classical Music.   But as I kept listening to it I heard embellishments from the Classical European music I play.  Indians probably cringe at European music, because their ears aren't use to the sounds.  I have started to research the different types of classical music all around the world and not just the typical European music I listen to.  Today I heard some samples of Chinese Classical music and enjoyed it.

Hectic Week!

This week was definitely not an easy week back.  It was very hectic.  I had two tests and a quiz.  Along with playing three different instruments in three different orchestras in only two concerts.  I had a lot of fun playing this week.  The concerts went well and I was ecstatic to be acknowledged by my orchestra teachers during last night's concert.  I can't wait to continue working with String and Freshman Orchestras after my AP exams.  I will be playing and conducting for them.  Conducting!  I'm so nervous and excited about it at the same time.   Well I hope everybody has a good weekend despite the studying us AP students have to do. 

Last Day of April Vacation

The break went by too quickly. Unfortunately, I won't be able to blog everyday. This upcoming week is going to be chaotic with preparing for AP exams. Additionally, I will be playing in 3 orchestras on 3 different instruments in the two school spring concerts. Hopefully, I will write about those concerts this weekend. Right now I have to get to sleep, because it's back to the normal wakeup schedule. I hope everybody has an easy time going back to school tomorrow.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, everyone!  I can't believe how fast this vacation went.  We have two more days including today and tomorrow.   It was a great vacation.  I had fun blogging all my musical adventures.  Today I am made chocolate chip cookies.  They turned out very huge.  My sister is dying easter eggs.  By the way you should read her blog.  It's http:fastfuriousfashion.blogspot.com.  It's a great blog. 

I'm having a lot of fun writing in all these different lighter palettes.  This will definitely be the most colorful blog post yet.  Well that's all I have for today.  I'll hopefully write a lot more tomorrow.  I hope everybody has a great Easter. 

Bad Habits!

Habits are very difficult to change.  The area where I have the most bad habits is on my instrument.  Yes the viola.  But, I am in the process of overcoming those bad habits.  I will share with you my bad habits and how my teacher solved them.  Now where to begin.  Oh yes! 

1) Problem
My bow hold was the worst.  Teachers would always tell me my wrist was "over pronated".  I didn't know what was worse the fact that teachers would constantly tell me that or the fact I thought teachers were making up the word pronated until I looked up the word.  Then I knew I had to fix this problem. 
Solution
My teacher, Sheila gave me exercises such as Shradeick Studies and Carl Fleish System Scales every week.  I spent 10-15 minutes every day practicing to get a lower wrist bow hold.  It certainly worked within a year, because I was playing fast passages effortlessly. 

2) Problem
2)  I had problems with my left hand too.  My palm didn't push out enough.  Instead my hand was curved in too  much. 
Solution
Coordination with the left hand bow hold from the first problem.  Worked on going up and down in various positions

3) Problem
I didn't curve my fingers enough with my left hand and I was more prone to playing out of tune. 
Solution
My teacher told me to curve my fingers and immediately I stopped playing with such flat fingers.  Playing with flat fingers hurt so much.  Curving my fingers felt so much better and I was playing much better too. 

4) Problem
I got nervous when I saw sixteenth notes and would play as fast as I can. 
Solution
My teacher would tell me I sounded verklempt.  The word sounded comical to me.  Now, everytime I see sixteenth notes I always remember the word verklempt and how I should not sound. 

5) Problem
My favorite bad habit (no oxymoron intended) is I move when I play. 
Solution
My teacher told me to stop moving and I would sound better if I didn't move while playing.  She told me to stop moving and I did.  I was much more satisfied with my playing.  So when I move I remember yes it's important to let the audience know I love music, but I can sound musical and cleaner without moving.  Also I practice in front of the mirror and I notice how moving can be distracting.

Within a year I sounded so a lot better.  I established a confidence and better self-esteem.  It really feels I've made so many little accomplishments incorporated into one enormous one.  I am continuing to grow technically and musically. 

The Competitors

A couple of days ago I wrote about the movie I saw called Russia's Wonderchildren.  Today I finally saw The Competitors.  It was great to see the children ten years older.  The youngest, Irina, is my age and I was amazed at how well she played.  Additionally, I could relate myself a lot to Irina.  We are similar in age and we have similar personalities.  More importanly we both love our instruments and music. 

Lena the oldest played Beethoven so well.  Her control and technique was absolutely amazing.  Mitya had great composition skills and he based his tunes on jazz music.  Nikita not only plays the piano well, but he also plays trumpet.  I was amazed how all of them pursued music as their careers.  10 years ago they had ambitions to become pianists and they did.

I hope to see their names on posters and see them in concerts. 

Dvorak 9 Part 2

I still can't help everytime now when I listen to Dvorak's 9th Symphony to think about Leonard Bernstein's analysis.  I still want to argue that Dvorak did include folk tunes from Native American and African-American music.  Why would Dvorak title a symphony "New World", if he included elements from the United States' folk music? 

Dvorak titled the symphony "New World, because, the United States is considered a baby to Dvorak's home country of what was called then, Czechoslovakia.  Dvorak did include elements from the "old world" of European music too, but he I think he was trying to get a point across.  He was trying to create a melting pot to indicate that music is present in every country and there isn't a country more superior than another.  Music is a universal language. 

It's difficult to deny there isn't any an influence from the United States.  Especially the legendary second movement.  Many people know that the second movement is from a famous tune Goin Home.  This may sound insane, but everytime I hear it I can picture a boat docking into Ellis Island with all the immigrants. 

The piece continues with more Native American and African-American tunes that are present that I hear.  But, really the entire piece just has moments of beauty and excitement, which makes it well written.  Each movement contains both qualities.  I like that Dvorak seemed to compose what was in his heart at the moment and he didn't worry about the standard form of classical music.  Dvorak never wanted the piece to end and the last bars with the horns holding the notes out long indicates that. 

Well, it's more important for the listener to just enjoy it.  So if you read this thanks for reading and now just enjoy the piece. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAZ50E3zwLw&feature=related (Dvorak 9, 1/5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVERlJgghOY&feature=related (Dvorak 9, 2/5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB7sBIa70rE&feature=related (Dvorak 9, 3/5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQE4IVVpGc&feature=related (Dvorak 9, 4/5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XYI3HZP25s&feature=related (Dvorak 9, 5/5)

Can Learning Classical Music be Interesting?

Sometimes children cringe when they hear the word classical music.  Usually when classical comes up people think of dead composers and the long pieces that last more than 10 minutes.  People can not relate to the piece or composer, because there is such an enormous gap between when the piece was written and to present day.  It's sometimes difficult for young children to listen to concerts, because they cannot talk, remain still, and it can be long.  If a child faces this at a young age it's challenging for them to take any interest in learning an instrument or learning anything else about classical music. 

So how do we solve this?  Well, my first suggestion is for children to listen to pieces on CDs first, but listen to a piece that tells a story.  Two known pieces for this are the Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saens and Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev.  Carnival of the Animals contains movements portraying a different animal(s) by instrument(s).  Sounds great?  Peter and the Wolf is a children's story with both music and text.  Each instrument portrays a character or animal to tell the story.  Prokofiev's purpose was to cultivate "musical tastes in children from the first years of school".  Music telling stories and portraying animals sounds a lot better than just learning math or science doesn't it?

Another suggestion for children to get interested in classical music is to play something with speed and gives thrills.  Such as Leonard Bernstein's Mambo from West Side Story, Rimsky Korsakov's Flight of the Bumble Bee, or Aaron Copland's Hoe Down from Rodeo.   I think these 2 ways will get children more interested in classical music.  That's all I got for today.  Hope everyone is having a great vacation! 

Dvorak's "New World Symphony #9" American or Not?

Today, I heard an analysis of Dvorak's famous 9th symphony by my favorite conductor, Leonard Bernstein.  The analysis was very surprising it changed my thoughts about Dvorak using primitively Native American and African-American folk tunes incorporated into his piece.  But, really it has everything in it from Native American, Scottish, French, German, to Chinese.  Leonard Bernstein concludes "We don't have American music till a quarter of a century later with Gershwin".  But as I listen to the piece now I still hear the Native American and African American folk tunes.  But, I'll leave to all of you.  Maybe your thoughts will change. Here's the piece and analysis.  The music is from when the New York Philharmonic went to North Korea.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAZ50E3zwLw&feature=related (Dvorak 9 1st movement)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVERlJgghOY&feature=related (Dvorak 9 2nd movement)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB7sBIa70rE&feature=related (Dvorak 9 2nd and 3rd movements)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQE4IVVpGc&feature=related (Dvorak 9 4th movement)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79D5sOD5duE (Bernstein's Analysis)

Russia's Wunderkind Competitors

A couple of years ago I saw a movie about 4 Russian piano child prodigies, made in 2000.  It showed the talents of 4 children Irina age 8, Nikita 9, Mitya 10, and Elena 16.  Now they are ten years older and have to face the challenges of becoming famous pianists, because these prodigies have grown up.  While they were children they could amaze the public with impeccable ability.  But, once these prodigies grow up they face the challenges to have perfect performances, top prizes for competitions, and just simple luck. 

They have spent numerous hours practicing the piano.  Will it pay off?  The world of classical music has changed according to the director Irene Langman "The innocent simplicity of the early years is long gone by now, and the concert appearances have become rarer. And it’s not just the size of their bodies that has changed: the world of classical music has also changed since then. Performing artists are now expected to act like pop musicians and be as attractive as a Hollywood star. How can all that be combined under one hat alongside physical and spatial precision when performing on stage?" 

I now realize how being a child prodigy is not cracked up as it is to be.  I remember how I longed to be a child prodigy when I was younger.  I knew I was talented for my age, but I knew I lacked the technique on mhy instrument that child prodigies had on theirs.  I kept practicing and practicing in hopes of becoming one, but it wasn't worth it.  I realize that if I was a child prodigy I would of been playing at such a high point and would of had no room to improve.  Not being a child prodigy paid off.  Because last year I started with my new teacher, Sheila  and she is my hero.  Because she helped me improve to the high point I am at now and I owe much of my advanced playing to her. 

Here is the link of the snip of the movie I was talking about.  I haven't seen the 2010 movie yet.  I am getting it soon though.  I will post about how the movie was.  Enjoy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnr-Vv9aEEA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0uZkzXLdY4 (Elena and Irina)

Sorry I was not able to get a picture of Elena when she was younger.

Hallelujah it's Finally Vacation

Vacation is finally here.  It's great.  I will be able to have more blog posts.  Anyway, my first interesting thing I did over break so far was seeing a bunny.   It was so cute.  It was carrying grass it hopped over to my neighbor's front lawn where all the easter eggs were layed out.  It was so ironic that the bunny seemed to know where it's habitat is.   Additionally, I checked the weather, it is supposed to be high 50s, and low 60s.  20-30% chance of showers from now till Tuesday :(.  We've had enough rain.  I hope later in the week will get a really nice day for a picnic.  Well now I am going to get more SLEEP!  

Last day of School before April Break

Finally, it is the last day of school before April break.  Seven full weeks of school calls for a break.  Tomorrow is Shakespeare Day at my school.  People do performances and acts from Shakespeare such as: plays, music during the time of Shakespeare, or musicals influenced by Shakespeare.  It's a great time for students to just watch during their off periods.  It's even better when teachers take their classes to the auditorioum.  Anyway that's all I have for tonight.  Hope everybody enjoys their last day of school before April vacation. 

April Fools!

Freshman Orchestra was full of jokes today.  Students were switching instramints and they asked me how to play they're secondary instramints.  I helped them with fingerings to trick the orchestra she was hearing the students on their primery instramints.  Students also started playing other pieces from what we were supposed to be playing.  Additionally, they played fortes when their were pianos written.  My symphonic orchestra teacher tuned one of the bassists G string out of tune.  The entire rehearsal definitely portrays Mozart's personality.  It is reported that Mozart never said one serious thing.  His personality is definitely depicted in his pieces.  Here's a link.  I love the last note of this piece.  It really is my favorite chord. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S44TxEaAsDA (Mozart's Musical Joke movement #4) 







(APRIL FOOLS I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR, THEY'RE, AND THERE
(I DO KNOW HOW TO SPELL INSTRUMENTS AND PRIMARY)

Arranging and Repairing

This week I made a list of the instruments that needed repaired as I noted before.  Since, the weather is up and down weird things have been happening with tuning and bridges.  Additionally, I arranged a section of the violin part in Alice in Wonderland for viola on my school's school's software program, Sibelius.  The instruments I played this week were viola and cello.  I am surprisingly getting better and better on cello.  I was able to help someone with fourth position on cello.  I told her to play her open A and play her 1st finger on A on the D string and match it.  After I told her this she immediately got it and told me "I'm such a great teacher".   I now feel I am going in the right direction  (this is the extensive story from the last post). 

Even when the freshman entered the classroom yesterday with smiles on their faces and said hello to me while I was sitting down arranging on Sibelius makes me feel accepted as a teacher.  It doesn't even feel I worked that hard.  Conficius said "If you love what you do you'll never have to work a day in your life".  This is really true for me, because I love music and children, which is why I decided to go into teaching.  At first it was tough and I thought the freshman wouldn't never respect me.  But, that has certainly changed. 

Deferred Saga

I always look forward to working with the Freshman and String Orchestras. The students always make me laugh. If I made a list of the funny stuff that happens in each orchestra and each section we would be here all day. The bass section in Freshman Orchestra definitely wins that category "most comical section". Everytime the period ends I get upset cause I wish it wasn't over, because I really understand music and children better than French and science. I was also told yesterday that "I was great teacher. Now, I know I'm going in the right direction. But at the moment I have to wait till Thursday for more Freshman Orchestra saga.

Expanding Alexander String Technician!

 

Today, I wrote down information about what was wrong with three cellos.  I included the model, number, and problems.  This was my first day being asked to work as a real string technician.  Being a string technician is useful.  Especially in emergencies whenever a string pops off or when a bow hair snaps.  Additionally, I have instructed students about the certain chairs they should be sitting during rehearsals.  For example cellists can't have the ordinary student classroom chairs it's not good for their sitting position  they need the national public seating music chairs.  Bassists need stools obviously because the height of the bass combined with a student sitting down needs to be in proportion.  Violinists and violists also should be comfortable and they should not be forced to sit in any uncomfortable position.  Wow never thought I would get this close to speaking like a doctor. 

POP Spring/String!

I can't believe how warm it is today.  I wish it was this nice everyday.  But, it's supposed to be back in the 40s and 50s over the weekend.  Boo!  Today I decided to practice cello and bass to get more confident when I play them with String and Freshman Orchestra.  But, here's more to the story.  After I grabbed the bass I always play in Freshman Orchestra.  I began to tune one of the strings and then all of a sudden the string I wasn't even tuning popped.  It's very unusal  for bass strings to pop, because the strings do not have much tension compared to the violin, viola, and cello.  It's even more unusal for a string to pop when you haven't even touched it.   But, luckily I was able to take one of the other basses and was pleased with the progress I made today with fingerings. 

Zin Zin the Violin

The Senior Project is getting better and better everyday.  I get along really well with a lot of the freshman in Freshman Orchestra.  I got to know a lot of them outside of orchestra, during off periods.  It's great to know more about them to know how their personalities and to become friends with them.  Additionally, Mrs. Garafolo just added a new tune to their concert program.  It's Alice and Wonderland Themes from the movie that came in out last year.  I am going to play in their concert.  I have played both violin 1 and 2 last week.  Tomorrow I am going to play cello in Freshman Orchestra.  Wow!  I have played every instrument in both orchestras.  What an accomplishemt. 

Happy March!

I can't believe it's already March.  The year is flying by.  I can't believe I will be going to college in less than 6 months.  It's scary!  Anyway I continued with my Senior Project.  I played bass once again, today.  I really am starting to understand the finger placements.  I write in fingerings to help myself play the right notes.  It's great that I can say "I play 4 instruments".  I never thought I would be able to say that.  Of course I don't play cello and bass as well as violin and viola.  Of course viola is still my favorite in the string family, because I learned it first and that's where my music education began.  I can't wait to learn more on violin, cello, and bass.  Well that's all I got for tonight.  Hope you all have a great night! 

Slap that Bass!

I played bass for the first time ever today, in Freshman Orchestra.  Bass isn't that bad, it actually is a cool instrument.   Although, my legs do hurt from standing up.  That's another thing today was my first time standing up in orchestra today.  Usually I sit down and when I do stand with my instrument it's rare that I have to use my strength to stand a 100 pound instrument.   Also,  the strings are in the reverse order of violin, which is what makes it difficult.  I had some help from my friend, Sophia.  The bass section is great in Freshman Orchestra.  There are SEVEN bassists.  I think that's the most my school has ever had in just ONE orchestra.  It really is great!  It never gets boring in the bass section.  Who would have ever thought that bassists get to have fun?  Most of the time the bass section gets the accompanist part, but there are so many of them.  It gives a great opportunity for me to teach them about some music tactics.   Additionally, they are the jokesters of the orchestra so it makes learning the bass more interesting.  It is difficult to hear whether or not I am in tune, because it's below my range I am used to hearing.  But, this is another great way to train my ear.  Well that's all I got for today.  It was a great way to start the first day back from break.

How I Spent my Last Day of February Break

Back to school tomorrow! Boo!  On a happier note back to working on the Senior Experience.  Time to learn bass. I actually can't wait.  I just made a slant rhyme.  Yes, I'm going to get a 5 on the AP Literature and Composition test.  Anyway I am ecstatic that Toy Story 3 won best animated film.  It deserves to win.  I saw it last month.  Just like any teenager I was crying from the part where the toys are in the fire pit and onward.  I remember seeing Toy Story 1 and 2, when I was in elementary school.  It really is incredible to see a sequel to a movie 10 years later.  Seeing a movie you haven't seen in 10 years too is great.  Today I saw The Sound of Music.  The last time I saw it I was the same age as Marta, the second to youngest child.  Now I saw it and I am a year older than Liesl, the oldest child.  The Sound of Music has influenced me to love children.  After all there is 7 of them in the movie.   Children and music are probably my two favorites, which is why I am majoring in Music Education.  Also, The Sound of Music is a great movie to show young children who are interested in music.  Because, it shows how Maria brought music into the Von Trapp home and it brought the family together.  A perfect example of how music can bring people together. After all it is based on a true story.

Compositions

Yes! I have included all the disney tunes I wanted in my composition.  But, I'm not really creative when it comes to figuring out embellishments and other composition techniques when it comes to composing.  If anyone has any ideas please list them below.  One of my biggest fears when it comes to composing is too much dissonance.  I can't stand hearing some modern music today that is so mind bobbling and so dissonant.  But, there were compositions in the past that brought so much riot and are now part of the staple repeitiore in professional orchestras.  Take Stravinsky's Rite of Spring for example.  When it was premired in 1913 the audience broke out into a riot.  Saint Saens stormed out when he heard the opening bassoon solo, saying "That is not how to use the bassoon".  Here is the spot where the audience went ballistic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phIRRINOF-M&feature=related.   It's one of my favorite parts of the piece.  My point is now today Rite of Spring is one of the most famous pieces.  It is also one of my favorite pieces.  I heard the Philadelphia Orchestra play it this summer in Saratoga at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on opening night.  It was incredible.  All those dissonances really are not so terrible to the hear they can actually make the listner excited.  Leonard Bernstein commented "it's also got the best dissonances anyone ever thought up, and the best asymmetries and polytonalities and polyrhythms and whatever else you care to name."  So all that music we hear today wondering and saying to ourselves "that's music" may become famous a couple decades later. 

Plans After the Final Audition

I am finished with college auditions.  It's a fantasitc feeling.  I can't wait to continue with the senior project and work on some new pieces.  Not to mention learning double bass for my senior project. You know thats the enormous instrument where people have to stand and play with this stick, and that sounds like an elephant.  Currently, I am also working on Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances for Viola and Piano.  It's such a interesting piece.  It has a different color and tonality from what I usually play.  Additionally, I am composing/arranging a Disney Suite for String Quartet.  I am using my ear, "creative ability", and musicality.  Also, the CDs Heigh Ho Mozart and Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach are great sources.  In case you don't know what kind of music those CDs have, they contain Disney tunes in the style of classical composers.  They are great CDs.  I highly recommend it to anybody who loves classical music, disney, or both.  I have a nostalgic feeling every time I listen to the CDs.  Anyway, back to the subject of my composition.  So far I have included 2 tunes.  This is the first string quartet I have arranged without any guidelines.  But, one of my own guidelines as a violist composing/arranging is to give EVERYBODY the melody.  Believe me I know how terrible it is when only the first violin gets the melody and none of the other parts ever do.  Right now I am going to work on more of my suite.  I hope the suite works out well and that all of you are enjoying your vacation!

Best Wishes,
Emily

Disney's Fantasia

Fantasia 1940 and 2000 feature 2 of my favorite things. 

1) Disney Animation
2) Classical Music

That's what makes it great.  The composers did have different story lines in their compositions from the Disney animators.  But, Disney still interpreted their animations that made senese with the music.  In the 1940 edition Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra and in the 2000 edition it's James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Here are my top 3 favorites from each year.   Note it is descending order, like a countdown.

1940
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1z12_Ps-gk&playnext=1&list=PL6ACA187296120295 (Bach-Toccata and Fugue)
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ4ru5YYb3w (Tchaikovsky-Waltz of the Flowers)
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqyVZK5yN1E&feature=fvsr (Dukas- Sorcerer's Apprentice This one I remember the most when I first saw it at 4)

2000
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krMvlYxWe2c&feature=related (Shostakovich Piano Concerto #2-The Stedfast Tin Soldier
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9azR5V8efUc&feature=related (Gershwin-Rhapsody in Blue)
1) Ugh it's tough between http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGZeT07rqlU (Respighi-Pines of Rome) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FWq17CT6Cs (Stravinsky-Firebird Suite)

Enjoy,
Emily

Devotion to Julie Andrews

Todays blog is not about my adventures.  I decided to commend Julie Andrews today, because she is one of my musical heros that's not an instrumentalist, but a vocalist.  Julie Andrews' voice has a 4 octave range.  Something instrumentalist have trouble accomplishing.  Her voice is fabulous.  Here are some of my favorite videos of her. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrWWnKq2CZI (My Fair Lady-Wouldn't be Lovely, she did this at the age of 20)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2-YGGn0y4&feature=related (Je Suis Titania-WHEN SHE WAS 12)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b-Z0SSyUcw&feature=related (Mary Poppins-Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious only time I've every spelled that word)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ckpkMihCs (From the Julie Andrews Hour Show when she did herself, Eliza Doolittle, and Mary Poppins all in one show)

Enjoy!

~Emily

Way Overdue

Happy Vacation!
I have so much to say.  I haven't wrote a blog in almost 3 weeks.  I know it's really bad.  The senior project is going pretty well. I have already played viola, cello, and 2nd violin.  I have met new friends in each section of both String and Freshman Orchestra.  But, I need to learn bass.  When I return to school I am going to learn bass.  Because, my last audition is this Thursday and I won't have to worry about ruining my hand position.  Halleujah!  Right now I am listening to youtube videos.  Despite how much bad music there is out there.  There are a lot of good youtube videos.  I can't say that there aren't a lot of great soloists that don't influence me to practice.  Like these, check out my favorite videos.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCLxso5XDN4&NR=1 (Sarah Chang at 15 playing Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ1Iet0vgjk (Yo-Yo Ma playing Piazzolla's Le Grand Tango)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-bok3otfMs (Mark O'Connor, Yo Yo Ma, and Edgar Meyer playing Emily's Reel it was named after me just kidding)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lypAWtnFB8 (Mark O'Connor, Yo Yo Ma, and Edgar Meyer playing College Hornpipe and Chief Sitting in the rain check out their amazing technique)

I'll keep you all updated with any new videos and any other musical events.  Hope you enjoy your vacation!

Emily

A Clean Slate

What I like about the start of a new quarter is that I get another chance for personal "academic" development.  Believe it or not, I am the last person in my grade that will probably catch senioritis.  I do homework during lunch even though it won't be due till the next day.  I don't only strive for development in school, but in music too.  I make a list of aims, I need to improve.  After all even professionals are always striving to do better for future performances.   Even if a soloist has played a concerto upteen times they can not just dwindle on the job.  They need to work on their weaknesses to enhance their upcoming performance.  That's part of my criteria of a great musician. 

Why do I mention this? Well, today I played in Freshman Orchestra.   It's been three years since I've played in Freshman Orchestra.  But today I realized that even though I may know a lot about music I still have a lot to learn.  When my 9th grade orchestra teacher introduced me to the orchestra she told them I would be switching off between violin, viola, cello, and bass.  When she said this I panicked.  Cello and Bass woah.  I taught myself cello when I was 11 years old.  But, viola took over as I became better at it.  Today, when I am given a chance to play cello I can pluck in tune, but when it comes to using a bow I am dreadful.  Additionally, I have never played bass in my life.  I have plucked the strings, but have never attempted to take a bow, and play a simple tune.  But, now's my chance.  Plus there's 7 bassists in Freshman Orchestra.  I think that's a record for the most amount of bassists in 1 school orchestra.  I am bound to eventually learn a thing or 2 about bass.  I am looking forward to it.

SECOND SEMESTER SENIOR

I am finally a second semester senior. It's so exciting. I'll be graduating 142 DAYS from now. But who's counting? As a second semester senior I'm doing a senior project. Today marks the first day of it. This was one of the MAJOR reasons I started my blog. What am I doing? Well, since I will be majoring in music education in college I am helping out String Orchestra, Freshman Orchestra, and 6th Grade Orchestra. Today I started in String Orchestra. I played Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Guitairs arranged for String Orchestra. I got to admitt the viola part is not too bad. Which is rare. Considering Vivaldi did not really give violists such interesting parts. He wrote about 400 concertos and around 300 of them are for violin, because he was a violinist himself. Biased? Anyway, in String Orchestra I received an enormous hello/welcome from all my friends and met new friends. That's all for tonight. Stay tuned. No pun intended. Emily