As Requested!

Julia and Tali (and Aunt Cathy and anyone else reading from far away!),
Here is a clip from my junior recital last night. :)
The audio quality isn't that great, but it'll have to do until I get my professional recording.

Enjoy!

Regarding last night:
I felt so loved. Many supported me by their presence, and many more supported me from afar with words of encouragement! I will say that it's so much more fun to play for a live audience than to sit in a practice room alone!
(In case my students are reading: the former is impossible without the latter! So practice hard!)
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the performance! I was nervous all day, but in the end I stepped off the stage after a final bow and thought to myself,
"That was quite possibly the most thrilling experience ever!"

Knocked out an exam this morning. Only a few more to go. The end is so near. I am so ready to rest.

Mad Lib Madness

Just some silly ones Ty and I did today. I (mostly) took the day off and just tried to relax before my big day tomorrow! FYI, the non-super WalMart does not carry dried blueberries! Why??!

What's In A Name?

By: Roger Price & Leonard Stern

William Shakespeare is regarded by scholars and Houses alike as the greatest playwright and Blueberry to ever put pen to Dragon. Although he wrote in his native Ear Lobe, Shakespeare has been translated into twelve different Bats and his plays and poems are Wearily read and performed everywhere in the world. Hamlet's soliloquy -- which begins "To be or not to be, that is the Killer Bee," -- has been delivered on stage by more Grotesque actors than any other Sulky Water Fountain ever written.

Among Shakespeare's greatest plays are Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Jessie of Venice, King VanWinkle, A Midsummer Night's Alligator, and The Taming of the Keyhole. We could go on, but we must leave. As Romeo said to Juliet, "Parting is such Violent sorrow."

Weather Report

By: Roger Price & Leonard Stern

Good evening, ladies and Hippos. Let's take a look at the weather picture. Right now, the temperature is 94 degrees and there are Cruel winds coming from the west. However, according to a report just received, a/an Disturbing front is moving down from Canada. This Gracefully moving mass of Wrinkly air is headed directly for Fancy Pants Health Food Store and should result in a/an Dark pressure area over Laos by early morning. Tomorrow we can expect temperatures in the Bright forties. Also, it will generally be Tattered and Stitched with a chance of scattered Sushi Bars near the coast. If you are going out, be sure to wear your Sock and a heavier Belt, just in case.

For My Far-Away Sisters

Here's a video of my performance at Music Forum today. :)

Excuse the timpani, bass drum, and music stand that were so rudely in the way.

Take Your Own Advice, Teacher

One of my students is a perfectionist. I don't relate at, of course. (Insert sarcastic tone.)

Today at her lesson we took a break from recital music and chatted. I asked her,
"What is the purpose of music?"
When she looked back at me with pleading eyes and responded, "To play everything correctly?" my heart ached. I have believed this so many years. Still do on so many days.

It's a hard tightrope to walk, playing your best while not being anal about every mistake. (That's my professor's favorite word to describe me: anal. Very flattering.)

I looked at this sweet girl and spoke words of Grace and Truth.
"You don't have to be perfect. Always do your best, but nobody expects perfection."
I could feel the struggle inside her surfacing.
"But if I play a wrong note, don't I have to go back and fix it?"
"What do you mean it can still be wrong if I play everything correctly?"

She was looking for a formula, the one I've been searching for all my life.

"What is the purpose of music?"

I spoke her name and invited her to meet my eyes, take in my words:
"Music is about communication - saying what's on your heart and mind."
We talked of how our words affect others; for instance saying "I love you" to someone evokes a response, as should the sound that proceeds from an instrument.
We talked of the joy the performer should feel, instead of the stress that always accompanies anal perfectionism.

We talked, and I can only hope I was listening.

Music City

Performances, competitions, and recitals galore!

So many notes whirling around in my head, but I can't help get excited about music I'll begin learning this summer! There's so much fantastic piano repertoire out there. Three years into this program, and I've barely even scratched the surface! I'll be a life-long learner.

Super stoked to learn this Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue from Bach:



Listen to this and just tell me Bach's not a genius. I dare you.