Monday, 1 hour and 30 mins of Practice!, Good Advice!

It was such a beautiful day today. I am thankful to have had some practice, it being Memorial Day! We were going to go spend it with family but plans changed. We went and had frozen yogurt from Goldenspoons and drove to La Jolla where we had lunch and looked around. Later we came home and BBQ'd? It was a great day. I'm starting to notice changes in my violin playing. The continuos practice is starting to really payoff now. It is inspiring to me and makes me want to work even harder! Thanks to God for all that I have!

I heard some great advice from a preacher on tv last night. I don't normally watch this show but it came on right after a movie I was watching and it captivated me so I watched the entire speech. The message was about what kind of friends do you have in your inner circle. Are they people who lift you up or tear you down? The inner circle is very important because they are the friends who will support you and help you reach your goals and help you on the path God meant for you to be on. The preacher was saying that the inner circle are the people you lean on. You may have lots of friends but there might be only a few of them that you might only choose to be close to. He said, "if you want to soar with the eagles why hang out with the turkeys?" That sounds harsh but I know what he is talking about. He's talking about the friends that are negative and constantly pull you down. They are the people that may say, oh your too old, or, that really isn't you or, that is stupid, or, my personal experience "I've never really liked the violin" etc.. I've experienced lots of friends like this through the years and it has caused me to get off my purposeful path. It is important to be careful who you choose to be close to. When you are on the right path God will put people in your path who will help you reach your potential and will help you succeed and wont be jealous of you. He also said that you might fear of being alone if you make a decision to stop hanging around negative friends but it is only temporary because God will work in your life and bring you the right people. He also said that this doesn't mean to shun your friends because yes we all can be negative at times but he is talking about the constant drainers! This was a great message. I had to pass it on!

Sunday, no practice!

Spent the day visiting family! I will put in extra time next week for missing Sunday's practice!

Saturday, No Practice!

I took the day off from practicing. This means I will be getting 5 days of practice in this week.
I did teach most of the day. All the students that come on Saturday are usually violin students. Violinist always tend to choose Saturdays. Very interesting!

It was a super day but I definately miss practicing. I am staying connected to my goal! Very exited! :-)

Friday, 2 hours and 9 mins of practice!

Yeah, I got back to 2 hours today. I warmed up with all my scales and Carl Flesch Book, same, 5 Pages of Schradieck up tp 110 on the metronome. I spent over an hour on Technique. I played mostly the Rondo Capriccioso and only the 1st movement of the Winters Vivaldi. It felt better today. I have a long ways to go.

Today I helped one of my students Rabekah pick out a new violin. She loves her new violin! She already had it open in the car. The violin came with a beautiful Purple lined case. It was very Retro, I loved it! It made me happy to see her so excited about her new violin and now she is going to sound great and be more inspired! It was a great day!!

Wed, 1 hour and 40 mins of Practice!

It was a great day. I got some good practicing in. I spent a lot of time on the Vivaldi. I did my usual warmup. I'm rusty but it felt good to play. Yeah.

Political note: we are praying for Israel and the Americans in certain parts of our country who are facing devastation due to the tornados!

Tuesday, 1 hour and 30 mins of Practice!

I didn't get my full 2 hours in but I came pretty close. I did my usual warmups and then spent most of the time on all three movements of the Vivaldi Winter and the last 20 minutes on the Rondo Capriccioso. I love being back. I feel complete after I've practiced. Music is such a healer and a great way to vent and express myself. I am so thankful to have it as a main part of my life! It's not always easy to practice because I'm tired but I always feel better when I do.

One of my students (Rachel) today played through the entire movement of the Vivaldi's Summer Concerto. She finally got through the entire 1st movement. I am so proud of her. She is 10 years old and is off to a great start! It was inspiring to me as her teacher to see her progress.

Monday, 40 mins of Practice!

I finally got back to practicing. I didn't get my two hours in unfortuantely. My daughters nap time was shortened. At least I got my scales and technique in today! I hope tomorrow I'll be able to get my 2 hours! It felt good to be playing again! I love it!

Sat, Sun No Practice!

I wasn't completely well from this awful bug. Couldn't do very much or I would stay sicker longer. :-(

Wed, Thurs, Fri No Practice!

Today was my last day of being sick. I had a bad virus that just kept me off my feet. I finally felt better today but didn't want to over due it so I mainly rested. I am going to start my practice again Saturday! Yeah!! I miss it so much!

Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues No Practice!

Yes 4 days of no practice. I have been very sick with a bad cold and on top of that had a big final to study for that I finished today! Yeah!! I finally finished my class! I am so happy! I will be back to normal very soon. I miss my violin! I hope tomorrow I'll feel a lot better! This bug requires lots of rest which I haven't been able to do because of my final.

It was a rainy day and very cold! I had to ditch my flip flops for tennis shoes and bring out the jacket again. It felt like winter today! Love it!!

Friday, 2 hours and 20 minutes of Practice!

Yeah! After not feeling well yesterday wasn't sure how today was going to turn out. I was able to manage going over my usual time, yeah!! I need to now start memorizing the Winter and the last page of the Rondo. I am up to 85 on the Rondo's last page. I'm trying to keep it somewhat slow so that I'll really know it well when I speed it up. I drilled the last 2 measures over and over since it is so difficult to get in tune! I started with the last page first today on the Rondo and worked my way to the front.

I have a lot more control of my bow since I moved it out away from bridge. I'm learning how this bow works and every time I discover something new about it, it makes me better. The Winter I'm between 62 and 70 on the first movement. I'm trying to keep it on the slow side so that I can really master it.

I am going to schedule a trial performance in front of my family in August. I figure I could get out my nerves on my family. They are more forgiving if I make mistakes. Then if it goes well I'll schedule a performance in public in October or November. I'm very excited about it!

Another great day!

Thursday, No Practice!

I wasn't feeling good today. I had to take the day off. I didn't want to push myself and get sicker if I was to be coming down with a bug, so I rested! I noticed my arms and fingers were a little achey from all the practicing. My body is adjusting to all the practice. It's amazing how much upper body strength we use for the violin!

Wed 2 hours of Practice!

Yeah. Things are starting to really improve on both pieces. Moving my bow more away from the bridge solved so many of my problems. I really love practicing. A day complete!

Tuesday 2 hours and 17 Minutes of Practice!

It was a tough day! I woke up early to head to school for my last class. I didn't get to bed till after 1am. I came home and was totally exhausted. I just wanted to lay on the sofa all day but couldn't. I taught and later practiced my violin while my daughter naped. I went over the 2 hours today. Even though I was tired I pushed myself to practice. Once I started I regained my energy to keep going. I am thankful.

I practiced my scales and Schradieck as usual. I'm up to 4 pages on the Schradieck. The last page of the Rondo is now up to m=80. Im inching my way! I've been having trouble with getting a smooth sound with my bow. Everything was sounding harsh. I decided to move my bow out away from the bridge. It fixed the problem. I didn't realize I was playing so close to the bridge. I was even able to spicatto better. It made such a difference! Great discovery!

It was a wonderful day! I listened to a few recordings last night on Youtube of the pieces I am playing. I really enjoyed listening to Heifetz play the Rondo Capriccioso! I was pleasantly suprised by his performance on this piece. I thought it would be all technical and not musical but I really enjoyed his interpretation and found that it was very musical.! I also enjoyed David Oistrakh, he too is very musical however, his performance was a little too slow for me. But I do really regard Oistrakh as an amazing violinist and truly love his sound!

Thanks to God for a wonderful day!

Monday 2 hours of Practice!

Yeah! I feel so good! I was tired today but I pushed myself to practice and the 2 hours flew by. I had to really work on keeping my upper body relaxed. The Rondo tenses me up a bit and the bowing gets stiff so I just stop and relax my arms and try again and it works a lot better! The Winter is coming together pretty good, all three movements. The Rondo I got up to met =75 on the last page. The up bow spicatto on the first page is so hard for me. I was starting to think its the bow's fault but I know it's not. I just have to keep practicing it and I know it will get better! I warmed up with my 3 octave scales and the Schradieck. I am up to 3 1/2 pages in the Schradieck book. It's really giving my left hand a work out! Love it!!

This is my last week of class! Yeah! I have to say that I really love my Psychology class and will miss it. It would be a fun subject to Major in!

Sunday 2 hour practice!

Wow, I didn't think it was going to happen but it did. I got my 2 hours in on a Holiday! It was a wonderful Mothers Day! My husband took me out last night to the Cheesecake Factory. It was awesome, there was no wait, just walked right in and got seated within 5 minutes.

Today we took my Grandma, Mom, Dad and siblings and kids all out to the Harbor for a tasty lunch. Then went to Grandmas house to have some of my mothers Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake. Yes, eggless cake! My mom made it with me in mind since I'm allergic to eggs unfortunately!

We came home and Mark said, "Go practice while you can". We put Chloe down for a nap and she woke up right at the 2 hour mark. Perfect timing! Thank you God for blessing my life and my family's!

It was a lovely and wonderful day! I love being a mom to my daughter!!! It's a priceless gift!!

Saturday 1 hour practice!

Got a lot done in my one hour of practice! Wanted to do more but it wasn't in the cards for me. It wasn't because of laziness just due to being a mom, wife and teacher. I am just so thankful to be able to get time in on a regular basis. I love practicing!

Thursday 2 hours and 20mins of Practice

It was a great day! I got my time in. Played through both pieces (Rondo Capriccioso and the Winter). It felt so good!
I'm feeling the improvement. Looking forward to tomorrow!. I didn't do the Shradieck today. I will tomorrow and I'll do extra to make up for today.

Yeah! Life is wonderful!

Wed 1 Hour Practice!

I wanted to to do more practice today but I couldn't! I am going to try to make up that 2nd hour on Thursday. I will try to do 3 hours. I did all my Carl Flesch Scales and Schradieck. I did a lot on the Winter. I am making a lot of progress. I didn't get to the Rondo. My daughter needed me so I stopped. But tomorrow I know I'll get more time in.

It was a wonderful day. I am so thankful! :-)

Tuesday 2 hours and 15 minute Practice

Yeah, I got my 2 hours in. I wish I could have done more but I was just too tired. I had a Psych test to study for last night and didn't get to bed till after 2am. My practice went very well. Both pieces are starting to sound better now. I did my scales and Schradieck. The scales are sounding more in tune. I'm trying to relax more in my arms and it seems to really help with playing fast and shifting! I am also using more wrist in the Winter when I have the 2 slur 2 slur fast run at the beginning of the 2nd page. It really works!

It was a wonderful day! I can't complain about anything. I am keeping my self positive and not allowing outside sources distract me. It is important to keep my mind clear when practicing and to send the negative thoughts out the door. Negative thinking is a destroyer of dreams! It's not productive at all! I am thankful for the peace of mind!

Monday, No Practice!

I purposely took tonight off considering I had a lot of studying to do before my big test tomorrow. Its the beginning of the week so as long as I get my 5 to 6 days in I'll be happy. Last week I practiced 5 days out of the week. Not bad. I did miss my practice tonight. School is almost over and I'll have more time. Yeah!! One of my students wants to learn the Tarantella Scherzo by Weinawski. I listened to it tonight on Youtube....OMG it sounds insanely difficult. I can't wait to order the music!! I'm going to learn it after the current pieces I'm learning now. Can't wait!

Good day! :-)

Sunday, 2 hours of Practice!

Yeah, I got 2 hours of practice in. I was tired tonight since I started late. I started at 11 pm and ended at 1am. I thought maybe this time I'll skip the Scales and Schradieck and just practice the Rondo and Winter. It was a nice break but only for this time. I noticed that my shifts were more in tune when a had less pressure on the finger and was relaxed. It really made a difference!

Today was a wonderful day spent with my family! Later came great news that Osama Bin Laden was killed. That is a great victory for us Americans. Way to go Military!!