This was the first week I with the new practice diary. There were many things to do. Some of them I did every day and the others I had to play some on one day and some on another. I learned a few things from this exercise. Firstly I have not been doing the exercises enough. I need to spend more time on them to get basic skills nailed down. Secondly I play the pieces a little too much. It didn't feel I spent enough time with them this week to fit everything in the twenty minute limit.
This week's lesson was at a special time because Laura had rehearsals at QPAC with one of her schools. She kindly made time between rehearsals to meet me at the studio for a lesson. And what a lesson it was because it covered everything in the practice diary.
The whole bow exercise needs more time. It's getting there but I must improve control over the bow to get a smooth sound the whole length of the bow. This means relaxing my hand when playing with the heel of the bow because gripping it means the tension is transferred to the string.
The finger stretching exercise is going well too. I have to get used to using the metronome to make sure the timing is good. I think this week I am going to try using the mute to try and hear the metronome a little more, or I might need to get a metronome app like Laura's. Also, a little more stretching won't hurt.
The heartbeat exercise is tough. The sound must be smooth for each note. I have to lead with my wrist. I have to put weight on the down stroke. I have to make an ellipse or teardrop shape with my elbow. But it's all for a good cause as I learn to use the heel of the bow. I think I will be doing this exercise for a while to come, and even after I have learned how to do it, I will keep it going.
Old Man Fiddler... Laura remembers me wondering how I was ever going to play it fast enough. Well, it's happening. And it's because of practice. I am at the point where I can run the whole song through and focus on getting the transitions between the segments I have been speeding up separately.
Row Boats is sounding good. The softer notes need more work and the string crossing has to be a little cleaner.
For Heat Haze focus is required on dynamics and timing. I can learn the music quickly enough. Getting the dynamics right for this song, and the others, is taking longer.
To finish up, I earned a sticker for Barrier Reef. This was not my finest performance of this piece, but I have reached the point of diminishing returns: spending more time on this song is not going to teach me anything new. I was a little disappointed I did not play it better to finish it off. It's a pretty piece of music - yeah I say that about most of my pieces - and one I will continue to play when I practice repertoire.
To replace Barrier Reef I have Medieval Tale, which is to be played "sadly". This reminds me of a question I saw on a violin forum. How do I play music with feeling? Fortunately for me I have a teacher who helps me with things like this. Sometimes it is hard to put into words. I think it is a question of tempo and dynamics, but there is more to it than that. I wonder how sadly I can play this song?
Apparently Sarisha has "commissioned" an Indian-themed piece from Laura that she can play when she visits her family in a few months time. I would love to hear that. I imagine it would be pretty cool.
Laura also told me the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra are playing in Brisbane. November 24th and 25th. The cheapest tickets are $99 each but for an orchestra of this magnitude, and with the music they are performing, I am sure it would be worth it.
Also that weekend the Browning Street Studio is having a concert. More details as they come to hand but I would either be going or perhaps performing.
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