November 17, 2006
My lesson this week went really well..we talked about how to make
a bigger, more resonant sound by just physically moving how you
hold the instrument. We talked about keeping the violin flat during
large, heroic of resonant sections as opposed to scrunching into oneself.
This all helping my sound immensely! We also worked on placing
the bow before playing and starting with a clear instead of foggy sound!
October 30, 2006,
Sooo much has happened since I last wrote. I have had lessons and
concerts galore! My most recent concert was this past Thursday, our
Autumn concert which went really well and was tons of fun since
my harp friend, Emily, was in it too. The Scherezade concert also went
spectacularly, as did the Music Department's Gala Concert which was
way too hectic for its own good! Not being able to tune before playing
as an ensemble in orchestra was not such a good idea on the organizers'
part!!
In my lessons we have been doing a lot with bow and bow-hand technique.
It is really fun, and it is helping everything that I am playing!! More updates
after my next lesson...
September 24, 2006
This past lesson on Wednesday went really well. Here are a couple
main points...
1.) Pay attention to how much arm weight is needed for a full, rich
tone on each string.
2.) Notice the shape of the arm when on the diferent strings in the
different areas of the bow.
3.) On up bows go in a straight line up the your nose.
4.) When playing chords the attcks are very important, make sure
to bite but not scratch, so experiment with pressure and speed.
The next day, Thursday, after ochestra a large group of orchestra
kids went up to the Max M. Fisher hall up in Detroit to hear the
Detroit Symphony play Scherezade. We had a wonderful time and
a great group, Mr. McNeela would have been very happy with us.
We knew the piece so well sometimes it was like we were playing our
parts...and now we know that we want to sounds just as good for
our performance!!!
September 10, 2006
I forgot to update everyone on how orchestra is going. For this
upcoming concert in October we are playing Rimsky-Korsakov's
Scherezade and the Introduction to Mozart's The Magic Flute. We
have been working very very hard on Scherezade since there are
solos everywhere played by all instruments and the parts are also
quite challenging. WE are havinga wonderful time working on it though!
I was given concertmaster after the seating auditions, so I am also
extremely excited that I get to play the beautiful solos! It's a lot of
work though..which is why there have been many sectionals as well!
September 8, 2006
My lesson went really well this Wednesday. We are still working
on lots of bow arm and hand stiff. Here are a couple of points...
1.) It is good to learn to use only the fingers on the bow hand instead
of using the wrist or the arm.
2.) Be very aware of the left hand positions on the violin. When your
hand shape switches between half and whole steps be very aware and able
to hold the hand still while moving fingers.
3.) Once passages are clean begin to add all of the expessive things,.
USE THE CLEAN MACHINE!
September 1, 2006
This past Wednesday I had my first lesson of the Fall semester!
It was a really great lesson where we covered a lot of ground!
1.) Sometimes it is not necessary to use the wrist or arm when
bowing, only the small finger muscles are needed. To work on this flex
fingers first without and then with the bow.
2.) Passages can be "cleaned up" by using four simple ("clean machine") steps...
-Use strong strokes with no rhythm and no vibrato.
-Use strong stokes with no rhythm and vibrato.
-Use completely legato strokes connecting each stroke
shifting carefully and never lifting the bow (with vibrato)
-repeat step three but with vibrato.
Now try the passage normally and see the difference. Work this a
couple of times to get passages clean. Can be used in excercises such
as Kreutzer or Bach solo or concerto!
3.) After working hard on finger technical passages make sure to even
it out with bow work.
August 23, 2006
Well...my oh my what a summer. I had a wonderful time in Italy
with the Oberlin in Italy program. It was great fun and I met some
wonderful people.
UT classes have now started and the first orchestra rehearsal was
yesterday along with my audition (which I was pretty happy with).
We are playing Scherezade by Rimsky-Korsakov along with the
overture to the Magic Flute by Mozart.
I hope everyone is enjoying their last days of summer vacation and
spending lots of time outside in the beautiful weather! It is great to
be back and writing again..so, as always, write me with any comments!!
May 16, 2006
Points from Saturday lesson
1.) When shifting around the bout keep the hand position looking
the same as when in third position
2.) With thirds make sure that the hand has the specific shape
for either a major or minor third
3.) In the Bach make sure to work on articulation with the music
so as not to learn something wrong
4.) With the Bach be very careful to stay consistent with the
articulation
5.) When in sixteenth note passages, make sure to keep the bow
in the "straight line" which is actually more of a 'U' shape
New Exercise for people to work on intervals
1.) Make a sheet with 20 numbers
2. Pick at random 20 intervals (be sure to get them all)
3.) Begin on C and then go from there (ex. m7 from C
is B flat, now a M3 from B flat is C sharp...keep going
from there)
4.) Now play bottom note on piano and sing bottomand then
the interval
5.) Play bottom note then sing top
6.)Now the hardest, play bottom note and sing top simulateously
I hope that this is all useful!!! Have a great day!
May 10, 2006
Here is a recording of the Bach Siciliana!
A lot has been going on these couple of days...keep posted and
I'll be able to update you on all of the goings on here at
Cheltenham!
May 3, 2006
Hello again! I forgot in my last entry to talk about my lesson...on Saturday
it went really really well...I worked on thirds and Bach and octave sliding
exercises! I had worked really hard on it all, so it was really well!
Yesterday was a crazy day full of rehearsals with Linda, Grace, and
Claire..and today is pretty much the same and tomorrow! haha
I hope that everyone is enjoying this LOVELY day!
May 2, 2006
Happy May....it's pouring....I guess the April showers are coming a
bit late!!!
I was working on the Berio sequenza yesterday over at Todd, and we
came up with a GREAT system to work on it, here are the steps....
1. play a line of notes straight without rhythm
2. sing the rhythm while conducting
3. play the rhythm on an open string while tapping foot to beat
4. play the notes with the rhythm but without bowings
5. YAY..the last step...play the whole line with bowings and rhythm!
Now, on to the next line, and repeat the steps all over again!
I hope these steps come in handy to other people...it sure helps me...
it works WONDERS!!
Have a wonderful day...and remember, slow and steady wins the race!
April 25, 2006
Hi everyone..I hope everyone is doing fantastically!! Things have
been quite hectic here, so I apologize for the delay of this entry.
I have something to make up for it though..here is a recording
of the Bach Presto from the first solo sonata!! Have a listen!!
Everything has been going really wel here..lessons, the group,
orchestra. Orchestra actually end tonight..it is the last last
rehearsal and our final concert..weird huh?! I am also finished
with chamber group at UT too...the Beethoven quartet performed,
it went really well..and now we are finito until next semester.
Well, I plan on recording the Siciliana either today or tomorrow
and putting it on as well...so look out! Have a WONDERFUL
day!!!
April 6, 2006
So much has happened since I last wrote! The Thursday concert
on March 30 at UT went wonderfully!! We had great fun, and
now we are starting our new project for our May concert called
'L'arte del'arco'!
I am now 17!!! I can't believe it!
My lesson this past Monday went really great. I am working on so
many technical things and Bach. I have also switched my lesson
back to Saturday, so we will only be going to Oberlin once
a week.
This Sunday I am going to hear Claire (violinist in the CPC) peform
with Youth Orchestra...I can't wait to hear her!!
Lastly, I have heard from all the camps which I have auditioned for.
I made it into all of them, including the Interlochen Advanced String
Quartet Program. I have declined Interlochen, because my teacher,
Mr. Fulkerson ahs invited me to go on the Oberlin in Italy Program
which he is teaching this year, so I will get to keep taking lessons in
the summer!!! I am sooo excited about this trip!!!
I hope that everyone else is having a wonderful April full of showers and
flowers!!!
March 27, 2006
Hello everyone!!! Life has been CRAZY DAISY!! With all the
practicing and concerts and everything. There were three Peter
Pan performances this weekend that went really well, and the
Cheltenham Performance Cirlce Concert on Sunday which was
amazing!! Lot's of rehearsals this week too because orchestra is
still on and the group has another concert (at UT) on Thursday
night which should be great!! Well...I'll write later, hopefull with
a recording of the Bach to put on!!! Have a wonderful Tuesday!
March 16, 2006
Hello! My lesson this past Monday was really great...we were
working on the balance of my hand so that all fingers are
comfortable and balance (especially the thrid and fourth
fingers) so that the fingers can move with ease and be independant.
I have an extremely busy day today...recital hour, chamber coaching,
coaching for my solos in Peter Pan, and then a full rehearsal
tonight. Along with my regular practice, running, yoga, and
Practice Musica..I will be exhausted tonight!! Have a great
thursday, and get a GREEN outfit out for tomorrow!!
March 12, 2006
Rehearsal went really well yesterday with the group..we have so
much to work on and I think it is going well! We also have a
rehearsal today just with the violins and Linda, I hope to just
tweak some things and work with the Fuga on both parts along
with me on guitar, which is going quite well if I do say so myself.
So, that is today, practice and rehearsal. Oh, and do wait for a recording
of the first page of me rehearsing the Fuga..should be on very soon!
Talk to you all soon, and have a great Sunday!
March 11, 2006
Hi!! Well...I am stil trudging along with my Practica Musica!
The intervals are really great...and the singing is getting bettter,
but I am still having a little trouble with the chords. I keep
second guessing myself and then I have to listen to the
chord arpeggiated (then it is fine), but I would really like
to be able to hear what chord it is without the arpeggio...
I'll just keep working, it will get better!
Well...I have someguitar practice to do, so I better get going!!
Have a WONDERUL saturday!
March 10, 2006
Hello! This week is sure going bizarrely...there is Spring
Break, and then my uncle Cliff is working so I can't go
over and work with him! I have been practicing my normal
amount (probably more) and have been doing my Practica
Musica (a program to help to help me work on intervals
and chords) and having regular group rehearsals, but
it feels so different..oh well ,next week will be back to
normal!
My unlce is working on the COOLEST quartets (I put the
pizz one on my iPod this morning....it is sooo much fun)
Go and listen and see the score at...
http://cs-music.com/whatsnew.html
Well...this has been a pleasant practice break, but I should
get back to it!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday!
March 9, 2006
Hi!! Well...today I was looking at the photos from the
Mozart concert and I noticed that there was one that
I haven't shared with you all yet....
(from left) ME! and Grace
rehearsing our lines together
before the concert at Wildwood!
Today I have a bizarre Thursday...
it is still hectic with all the things that I must practice and
get done, but usually I am out at UT all day, but they are
on Spring Break...how very inconvenient since our orchestra
performance is approaching! Tongiht I have a rehearsal with
Claire at which we have a lot of things to get done..so wish me
luck!! Remember to write to me if you have anything to say!! I
LOVE to get feedback!
March 8, 2006
Hello everybody..sorry that it has been so long, I was
doing well...and then things got crazy, but that will not
happen again!! My life has been pretty busy with the
group, and my lessons in Oberlin, and orchestra (with
the Peter Pan), and the chamber music (we won the Chamber
Competition by the way..so that was fun). I got all my auditions
in on time, and I have heard back from MYA and Luzerne
Music Center (I was accepted to both and given scholarships,
I actually just got the letters today!). I am still awaiting the
big one though, Interlochen! Also, my letter from SOundfest
should be coming soon.
The Bach Fuga is getting better daily, though working on all
the stops can be tiring after awhile! I have written out the
arpeggios to the stops and that helps a lot! I can just play
straight through the stops witholut having to worry about
the context which they are in (I just have to make sure that my
fingerings are correct!!).
Here are a couple more pictures from the Mozart concert rehearsals.
Grace getting her lines down
at Wildwood
(froml left) me and Claire
practicing the Mozart Table Music
and Bartok Duos at Cheltenham
Olga practicing Mozart sonatas
at Wildwood
Claire practicing at Wildwood
(from left) Grace and Claire
rehearsing their Mozart skit
together
February 12, 2006
Hello!! Here is a new recording of me playing the
Bach Sonata No. 1, Adagio. It was one that I did
in preparation for my audition cds. And don't forget
to check out my latest recording on my front page
of Linda and I playing the Bartok Rhapsody No. 2!!
My audition CD will be done very soon too, so watch
out for that recording!!
January 27, 2006 Early Evening
Hello again! I have a new recording of a rehearsal with
Claire and Jon playing two of the Bartok Duos!! Take
a gander!
January 27, 2006
Hello everyone!! Yesterday's concert went ah-mazingly!!!
Everything went so perfect...no problems with the HUGE
cake..Claire and I could read off of it perfectly!!
HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY MOZART!!
Be sure to listen to public radio to the concert in Mozart's
honor in Salzburg!
January 26, 2006
Hello again...here is a recording of Grace (our MC for
tonight's concert) reciting some fun facts and quotes for
tonight. She is joined by me in the first and Claire in the
second!
January 26, 2006
Hello!!! Today is the day of the Happy Birthday Mozart
recital at Wildwood. It is going to be a huge celbration,
lots of fun!! It is at the Wildwood Manor House tonight
at 7:30...be there...there will be cake!! hehe
Listen to a recording of Claire and me rehearsal a
Mozart Table music and a Bartok Duo!!!
January 18, 2006
Hi!! I have another recording...the third page of the Biber!!!
Well..I should go..long day awaiting..rehearsals, music history,
practice!!
January 14, 2006
Hello!! I was having problems putting this Biber yesterday,
so this is a little delayed...but here it is...
the second page of Biber!!
January 11, 2006 Evening
