Thursday, February 3, 2011

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.

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