If you didn't notice, I didn't post a life update yesterday. I've decided that I'm only going to post life updates once and awhile, because:
a. I feel like I'm boring you guys! My life isn't too horribly exciting.
b. Having to post a life update every day is too much; it takes the fun out of blogging.
c. It' gets off topic from violin stuff, which is why you guys are reading my blog in the first place!
So I'm limiting myself to about once a week, or when something exciting happens. :)
Ice Cream Social was today! I stayed after school and helped set up, mainly because my orchestra teacher said pizza was the reward. ;) However, I left early because I was tired and needed to freshen up. We were supposed to stay and write down our names so my teacher knows we were there, but Erica and I just didn't want to stay that long. Pizza didn't matter that much to us after all.
Kyle was there, helping out. He gave some girl I don't know a piggy back. I just had to look away, it ticked me off so much. Apparently I still have feelings for him, which I need to get rid of... fast.
Mostly there wasn't anything for us to do, so we stood around awkwardly, waiting for instruction. That's another reason why Erica and I decided to leave for a while.We went home for about an hour and then I picked her up and we returned to the school for our performance.
We played outside, so I wore my sunglasses. Those were a God-given gift to me that day because the music was otherwise impossible to see. We used clothespins to pin our music down, but it still fluttered in the wind, occasionally folding away from view. All-in-all we sounded okay, considering the fact that we couldn't see my orchestra teacher in the bright sun, even with sunglasses, and our music had a mind of its own. It definitely wasn't our best performance though.
It was a fun night, but all I kept thinking was how I wanted to get home as fast as possible and take a long nap-- which I did! It was great.
Kennerd the Violin Nerd
Showing posts with label life update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life update. Show all posts
Monday, September 10, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Life Update 09/08/12
The football game last night went better than I predicted! Well, not for everybody... we lost 57-9...
I have to admit, it was a little awkward at first since Erica and I didn't see anyone we knew, but that's always how games start out. Eventually we saw our friends Jesus (pronounced like "hey Zeus", not like Jesus Christ!) and Gil and talked to them for a minute or two.
We then sat near where ROTC shoots the cannon for touchdowns and Erica and I talked for a bit. They shot the cannon at one point and I hadn't been paying attention so I jumped! Erica laughed so hard at me! It was hilarious.
Later on, I heard someone say, "Hey you!" from behind me, so I turned around. Some random guy had said it and he was with a friend. They appeared to be freshmen. He started talking to me and asked Erica and I for our names. He told me his name is Valentine but everyone calls him Val, and his friend's name is Garret. Val told me that I'm cute and then asked me for my number. I really didn't want to give him my number since he honestly kind of creeped me out. Luckily, a few of his friends came up to him and they started talking to him. Great! A distraction! I pulled out my phone and quickly looked up Kyle's number on my phone. I memorized it and then when Val came back I gave him "my" number. Best idea I've ever had! Cayla and Erica were talking nearby and I told them what happened. We all cracked up. :) A few other guys asked me what happened and when I told them, they laughed too. They agreed with me that Val is pretty weird.
Our friends in ROTC, Daniel and Alex, talked to us at half-time. Alex invited Erica and I to go to Buffalo Wild Wings with him and some more people from ROTC, so that's what we did after the game.
Side note: I did see Kyle of course, but I don't think he saw me. Or maybe he was trying to seem like he didn't see me.
Daniel, Alex, Colton and his sister, Erica, and I ended up being the only ones who showed up at Buffalo Wild Wings. That was fine with me! I don't really like big crowds. We were all making fun of the "Can I have yo numba?" skit and when Colton said, "Can I have yo numba?" Daniel actually gave him his! We all laughed, and then he asked me and I said, "Sure, why not." and gave him my number. He actually texted me while we were still at Buffalo Wild Wings and ended up flirting with me and asking me on a date. I don't really like him that way though, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I said sure. I kind of regret that...
When the waiter came by to ask us what we wanted, I said, "Do you have anything for a dollar? And Erica and I are splitting." and laughed. Daniel threw 10 bucks at me, but I said I couldn't take his money. The waiter gave us free chips and cheese, actually! He was really nice.
As I was driving off with Erica in the passenger seat, Alex called me. I told Erica to answer it and she told me that he needed to jump start his car. We returned to the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot and parked next to Alex. He and Daniel tried to figure out my car's battery and everything but apparently Chevy's are weird (I know nothing about cars). They told me they'd find someone to jump start it so I took Erica home.
When we looked at the clock it was close to midnight. Erica called her dad and he was really upset with her that she stayed out this late. I wished her luck with her dad when we got to her house. I felt like it was my fault in a way but she assured me it wasn't. I let my mom know I was on my way home and it was midnight by the time I got there. I told her about Alex's car troubles and luckily she understood.
That was one heck of a night. It was a lot of fun, but when I fell right asleep when I got home. I've got to do that again!
I have to admit, it was a little awkward at first since Erica and I didn't see anyone we knew, but that's always how games start out. Eventually we saw our friends Jesus (pronounced like "hey Zeus", not like Jesus Christ!) and Gil and talked to them for a minute or two.
We then sat near where ROTC shoots the cannon for touchdowns and Erica and I talked for a bit. They shot the cannon at one point and I hadn't been paying attention so I jumped! Erica laughed so hard at me! It was hilarious.
Later on, I heard someone say, "Hey you!" from behind me, so I turned around. Some random guy had said it and he was with a friend. They appeared to be freshmen. He started talking to me and asked Erica and I for our names. He told me his name is Valentine but everyone calls him Val, and his friend's name is Garret. Val told me that I'm cute and then asked me for my number. I really didn't want to give him my number since he honestly kind of creeped me out. Luckily, a few of his friends came up to him and they started talking to him. Great! A distraction! I pulled out my phone and quickly looked up Kyle's number on my phone. I memorized it and then when Val came back I gave him "my" number. Best idea I've ever had! Cayla and Erica were talking nearby and I told them what happened. We all cracked up. :) A few other guys asked me what happened and when I told them, they laughed too. They agreed with me that Val is pretty weird.
Our friends in ROTC, Daniel and Alex, talked to us at half-time. Alex invited Erica and I to go to Buffalo Wild Wings with him and some more people from ROTC, so that's what we did after the game.
Side note: I did see Kyle of course, but I don't think he saw me. Or maybe he was trying to seem like he didn't see me.
Daniel, Alex, Colton and his sister, Erica, and I ended up being the only ones who showed up at Buffalo Wild Wings. That was fine with me! I don't really like big crowds. We were all making fun of the "Can I have yo numba?" skit and when Colton said, "Can I have yo numba?" Daniel actually gave him his! We all laughed, and then he asked me and I said, "Sure, why not." and gave him my number. He actually texted me while we were still at Buffalo Wild Wings and ended up flirting with me and asking me on a date. I don't really like him that way though, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I said sure. I kind of regret that...
When the waiter came by to ask us what we wanted, I said, "Do you have anything for a dollar? And Erica and I are splitting." and laughed. Daniel threw 10 bucks at me, but I said I couldn't take his money. The waiter gave us free chips and cheese, actually! He was really nice.
As I was driving off with Erica in the passenger seat, Alex called me. I told Erica to answer it and she told me that he needed to jump start his car. We returned to the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot and parked next to Alex. He and Daniel tried to figure out my car's battery and everything but apparently Chevy's are weird (I know nothing about cars). They told me they'd find someone to jump start it so I took Erica home.
When we looked at the clock it was close to midnight. Erica called her dad and he was really upset with her that she stayed out this late. I wished her luck with her dad when we got to her house. I felt like it was my fault in a way but she assured me it wasn't. I let my mom know I was on my way home and it was midnight by the time I got there. I told her about Alex's car troubles and luckily she understood.
That was one heck of a night. It was a lot of fun, but when I fell right asleep when I got home. I've got to do that again!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Life Update 09/07/12
I unsuccessfully played String Symphony No. 2 in C by Anton Filtz today. That's the other piece that I had forgotten about in a recent post. It's really not my fault though! The music notes are tiny! Plus it doesn't help that the tempo is pretty fast, too. I'll definitely be practicing this weekend.
Tonight I'm going to my high school's football game with my friend, Erica. Should be interesting due to the fact that's raining right now... oh boy. The guy I'm having problems with (and currently not communicating with), Kyle, is in the marching band. God I hope he doesn't see me. Rain and an ex-boyfriend at a football game do not mix. We'll see how this goes.
Tonight I'm going to my high school's football game with my friend, Erica. Should be interesting due to the fact that's raining right now... oh boy. The guy I'm having problems with (and currently not communicating with), Kyle, is in the marching band. God I hope he doesn't see me. Rain and an ex-boyfriend at a football game do not mix. We'll see how this goes.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Life Update 09/06/12
Today in symphony class we had to do sectionals. Of course, my teacher asked the top two players from the first violin section to lead our sectional. That's great and all, but those top two players are pretty full of themselves, no matter how much they try to hide it. Whenever something isn't played right they play it back to us correctly, all loud and arrogant. Yes, we do need to hear how it's supposed to sound, but do you really have to play it so loud and in our faces? I wish we could've practiced on our own and asked for help if needed.
We got our Ice Cream Social t-shirts today. I love my shirt! It's crimson with a tree in the front that has white music notes for the leaves. It's much better than last year's, which looked very girly. The boys didn't enjoy wearing that shirt at all.
It took a while for us first violinists to get our shirts, however, because while all the other section leaders were passing out their sections' shirts, our section leader was busy playing. She couldn't take 5 minutes just to hand us our shirts, apparently.
After school I had an NAHS meeting. We paid our entry fee and t-shirt fee and then received our plain white masks that we'll be decorating for the "Boo Ball". I'm lacking ideas though. Luckily we have plenty of time to work on them before we have to turn them in.
Nothing much else happened today. Pretty relaxing day.
We got our Ice Cream Social t-shirts today. I love my shirt! It's crimson with a tree in the front that has white music notes for the leaves. It's much better than last year's, which looked very girly. The boys didn't enjoy wearing that shirt at all.
It took a while for us first violinists to get our shirts, however, because while all the other section leaders were passing out their sections' shirts, our section leader was busy playing. She couldn't take 5 minutes just to hand us our shirts, apparently.
After school I had an NAHS meeting. We paid our entry fee and t-shirt fee and then received our plain white masks that we'll be decorating for the "Boo Ball". I'm lacking ideas though. Luckily we have plenty of time to work on them before we have to turn them in.
Nothing much else happened today. Pretty relaxing day.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Life Update 09/05/12
Today after school I had private lessons. I drove myself there for the first time (the last time I had my mom drive me, just to make sure I'd know where I was going). The drive went surprisingly well! My private teacher and I went over the district orchestra tryout music. First, she had me play the G major scale slowly and helped me with the positions. Then we slowly worked on Overture to Die Fledermaus, which she made me play slowly as well, working on the positions she recommended. She also gave me little tips and tricks for playing it, like how there was a pause that wasn't marked somewhere in the middle of that excerpt... things you would have never known!
She told me a little about the opera, Die Fledermaus: a husband and wife who were having issues went to the same ball one day without each other knowing, and the wife was wearing a mask (it was a masquerade ball) so she started flirting with her husband, and the husband had no clue it was her the whole time. My private teacher explained it much better, but I obviously can't remember what she said word for word! To read the whole plot line, click here.
That's the best part of taking private lessons-- you get the inside scoop about the songs you play!
My private teacher also told me about a website, www.sheetmusicplus.com, where I can buy the three books she requested me to buy. Apparently they also sell cd's which leave out your part so you can play along and sound like you're playing with other people! I'm definitely going to try that website out. Let me know what you guys think, if you try it too.
I'm really starting to enjoy these private lessons... so informative! :)
She told me a little about the opera, Die Fledermaus: a husband and wife who were having issues went to the same ball one day without each other knowing, and the wife was wearing a mask (it was a masquerade ball) so she started flirting with her husband, and the husband had no clue it was her the whole time. My private teacher explained it much better, but I obviously can't remember what she said word for word! To read the whole plot line, click here.
That's the best part of taking private lessons-- you get the inside scoop about the songs you play!
My private teacher also told me about a website, www.sheetmusicplus.com, where I can buy the three books she requested me to buy. Apparently they also sell cd's which leave out your part so you can play along and sound like you're playing with other people! I'm definitely going to try that website out. Let me know what you guys think, if you try it too.
I'm really starting to enjoy these private lessons... so informative! :)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Life Update 09/04/12
Well, tonight was the famous two-dance-classes-in-a-row night.
I met up with my friend, Abby, and we walked into jazz first. We took the same exact class last year, so we knew what to expect. It was funny seeing everybody learning steps that we already have down (to an extent) and watching their facial expressions. :) I would've taken a higher-level class this year, but my teacher recommended taking this class again. Maybe I'll be able to move up soon once I get the hang of my leaps and turns again.
Next, Abby and I went to our ballet class. There weren't very many people, maybe 10 or 12. Our teacher had us do barre work first and that really made my feet and ankles sore. We had to balance on our tip toes several times for long lengths of time. Those were killers. We then did some leaps and turns across the room and jumps in the center of the room. I didn't realize how challenging ballet would be for me, especially with my feet. But I'm willing to stick it out and keep taking classes so some day I'll get better and start to enjoy class more!
Besides dance, nothing really new has happened to me.
Oh, and class with the guy I'm having issues with went surprisingly well.
That doesn't mean we talked.
I met up with my friend, Abby, and we walked into jazz first. We took the same exact class last year, so we knew what to expect. It was funny seeing everybody learning steps that we already have down (to an extent) and watching their facial expressions. :) I would've taken a higher-level class this year, but my teacher recommended taking this class again. Maybe I'll be able to move up soon once I get the hang of my leaps and turns again.
Next, Abby and I went to our ballet class. There weren't very many people, maybe 10 or 12. Our teacher had us do barre work first and that really made my feet and ankles sore. We had to balance on our tip toes several times for long lengths of time. Those were killers. We then did some leaps and turns across the room and jumps in the center of the room. I didn't realize how challenging ballet would be for me, especially with my feet. But I'm willing to stick it out and keep taking classes so some day I'll get better and start to enjoy class more!
Besides dance, nothing really new has happened to me.
Oh, and class with the guy I'm having issues with went surprisingly well.
That doesn't mean we talked.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Life Update 09/03/12
There's nothing much that's new with me.
Guy troubles...
School is starting again after this long 3-day Labor Day weekend...
Dance classes start up again tomorrow night. That means I'll be spending 2 hours in my dance studio. I better do my homework beforehand.
For once I'm feeling a little uneasy about going to symphony class tomorrow. He is in there. He is the guy I'm having issues with. We're probably going to make awkward eye-contact at least once.
Oh God.
Just focus on correcting your bow hold 20 freaking times and just breath... It'll be okay.
Maybe I can come up with some sort of mantra to repeat over and over to calm myself down. He's a dumb ass. He's a dumb ass. Yeah. That'll do.
Ugh.
Guy troubles...
School is starting again after this long 3-day Labor Day weekend...
Dance classes start up again tomorrow night. That means I'll be spending 2 hours in my dance studio. I better do my homework beforehand.
For once I'm feeling a little uneasy about going to symphony class tomorrow. He is in there. He is the guy I'm having issues with. We're probably going to make awkward eye-contact at least once.
Oh God.
Just focus on correcting your bow hold 20 freaking times and just breath... It'll be okay.
Maybe I can come up with some sort of mantra to repeat over and over to calm myself down. He's a dumb ass. He's a dumb ass. Yeah. That'll do.
Ugh.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Life Update 09/02/12
I think I'm going to do these type of posts once a day, if possible. These will be little breaks from violin stuff. But it may include at least a little...
Sorry. I have to start out with the violin stuff.
So Wednesday last week I took my very first private lessons. Ever. I know, it's sad that I never took them before but I never really thought I needed them until I found out that I'd be a first violinist this year. And until I took a look at the music for district orchestra tryouts. I mean really. Romeo and Juliet Overture- Fantasy? I'm only 16!! I'm not a professional violinist... District orchestra tryouts are really going to be interesting. But I'll have time to get some practice in since tryouts are in November, I think.
But anyways... back to the private lessons.
I had called a private teacher this summer who my friend told me about, but she never called me back, even though I left a message. So I asked my orchestra teacher the other day if he knew any private teachers that he'd recommend and he wrote down the names of a few teachers, along with their numbers, and handed it to me. I called the first one, but he didn't answer his phone. I left him a message and decided to call the next name on the list. She answered her phone (Yay! Finally someone answered!) and we got lessons set up and everything. She told me to bring a notebook and a piece that I've played before. She also informed me that she has her Doctorate, taught in Europe, and she's the private teacher of a girl in my orchestra class who played violin in Carnegie Hall! I got really excited when I heard all that. Maybe it was a miracle that the first two private teachers I called didn't answer their phones. :)
Wednesday was the big day for my first private violin lesson. My private teacher told me to go around the back and ring the bell to the back door, so that's what I did. She opened the door and I immediately saw a girl that I know. We're sort of acquaintances, I guess. I'm not sure. But she's really sweet. I smiled and waved. At first I thought, Wait... am I going to be playing with her? I thought this was a private lesson... but then my private teacher said, "Okay, let's try playing the first line slowly and then we'll wrap it up here in a few seconds" and I knew that the girl was just finishing up a lesson of her own.
Eventually she finished her lesson and I unpacked and got ready for mine. My teacher asked me if I had a notebook and I handed her a notebook which she told me to bring. She then told me to play a piece that I've played before so that she can observe my technique. I had brought in a Chuck Mangione piece since I played it exactly one year ago, and it's easy. Once I finished playing a little bit of it, she immediately started taking notes in my notebook (I thought I was going to have to do that but she did it for me!) and telling me some things that I need to focus on, as well as things I'm doing correctly.
She said that I was holding my bow incorrectly. How odd. I never knew that I was, and nobody had ever said anything, so that was a shock. She also said that I need to play with my bow closer to my bridge. I thought you were supposed to play in the middle of where your fingerboard ends and your bridge begins! The things that I didn't think I needed to be corrected on needed to be corrected...
She did, however, say that my vibrato was spot-on. She even immediately said when i stopped playing, "... You've never taken any private lessons before?" And when I said no, she said, "Your vibrato is amazing for someone who has never taken private lessons. Usually people shake their instruments or they do it incorrectly, but yours is fantastic. It really gives you a great sound." I was so flattered! And glad that my vibrato wasn't another thing to be changed. That was about as much change, for the time being, that I could handle.
We worked on my district orchestra tryout music and then she told me the titles of three books she wanted me to buy, preferably by next week, and our 30-minute lesson was soon over. Long story short: I now have to practice correct bow holds 20 times a day, I have to go out and buy three books that are in a music store that isn't very close-by, and 30-minute private lessons are way too short! But these are the types of things I have to do in order to get a whole lot better.
Hey, now we can move on to the other stuff!
I went to my first NAHS (National Art Honor Society) meeting a couple Thursdays ago. NAHS is this club at my high school and you basically do a bunch of fun art projects for different fundraisers and things just because you love making art so much. :) I found out in the meeting that we're going to be making these awesome masks for a Halloween ball, face painting (I forgot what for), and creating a float for NAHS that will be in the Homecoming parade! I'm so excited!
My dance classes are going to be starting back up again this Tuesday. I've missed them so. I've taken jazz for a year now, and this year I'm taking up ballet as well. For months I've been obsessing over ballet photos and videos. I even saw the ballet Romeo and Juliet this past February! It was amazing. I got my ballet shoes last Monday and I have leotards and tights and everything I need for class. The funny thing is, I had a dream last night that it was Tuesday night and I was late for dance! It was more like a nightmare, actually. I'm glad that wasn't real. And I sure hope that won't happen. I seriously doubt it will, considering that I'm so ecstatic about classes starting up again.
Sorry this post is so long! It's finished, I promise! You can go on with your busy lives now. :)
Sorry. I have to start out with the violin stuff.
So Wednesday last week I took my very first private lessons. Ever. I know, it's sad that I never took them before but I never really thought I needed them until I found out that I'd be a first violinist this year. And until I took a look at the music for district orchestra tryouts. I mean really. Romeo and Juliet Overture- Fantasy? I'm only 16!! I'm not a professional violinist... District orchestra tryouts are really going to be interesting. But I'll have time to get some practice in since tryouts are in November, I think.
But anyways... back to the private lessons.
I had called a private teacher this summer who my friend told me about, but she never called me back, even though I left a message. So I asked my orchestra teacher the other day if he knew any private teachers that he'd recommend and he wrote down the names of a few teachers, along with their numbers, and handed it to me. I called the first one, but he didn't answer his phone. I left him a message and decided to call the next name on the list. She answered her phone (Yay! Finally someone answered!) and we got lessons set up and everything. She told me to bring a notebook and a piece that I've played before. She also informed me that she has her Doctorate, taught in Europe, and she's the private teacher of a girl in my orchestra class who played violin in Carnegie Hall! I got really excited when I heard all that. Maybe it was a miracle that the first two private teachers I called didn't answer their phones. :)
Wednesday was the big day for my first private violin lesson. My private teacher told me to go around the back and ring the bell to the back door, so that's what I did. She opened the door and I immediately saw a girl that I know. We're sort of acquaintances, I guess. I'm not sure. But she's really sweet. I smiled and waved. At first I thought, Wait... am I going to be playing with her? I thought this was a private lesson... but then my private teacher said, "Okay, let's try playing the first line slowly and then we'll wrap it up here in a few seconds" and I knew that the girl was just finishing up a lesson of her own.
Eventually she finished her lesson and I unpacked and got ready for mine. My teacher asked me if I had a notebook and I handed her a notebook which she told me to bring. She then told me to play a piece that I've played before so that she can observe my technique. I had brought in a Chuck Mangione piece since I played it exactly one year ago, and it's easy. Once I finished playing a little bit of it, she immediately started taking notes in my notebook (I thought I was going to have to do that but she did it for me!) and telling me some things that I need to focus on, as well as things I'm doing correctly.
She said that I was holding my bow incorrectly. How odd. I never knew that I was, and nobody had ever said anything, so that was a shock. She also said that I need to play with my bow closer to my bridge. I thought you were supposed to play in the middle of where your fingerboard ends and your bridge begins! The things that I didn't think I needed to be corrected on needed to be corrected...
She did, however, say that my vibrato was spot-on. She even immediately said when i stopped playing, "... You've never taken any private lessons before?" And when I said no, she said, "Your vibrato is amazing for someone who has never taken private lessons. Usually people shake their instruments or they do it incorrectly, but yours is fantastic. It really gives you a great sound." I was so flattered! And glad that my vibrato wasn't another thing to be changed. That was about as much change, for the time being, that I could handle.
We worked on my district orchestra tryout music and then she told me the titles of three books she wanted me to buy, preferably by next week, and our 30-minute lesson was soon over. Long story short: I now have to practice correct bow holds 20 times a day, I have to go out and buy three books that are in a music store that isn't very close-by, and 30-minute private lessons are way too short! But these are the types of things I have to do in order to get a whole lot better.
Hey, now we can move on to the other stuff!
I went to my first NAHS (National Art Honor Society) meeting a couple Thursdays ago. NAHS is this club at my high school and you basically do a bunch of fun art projects for different fundraisers and things just because you love making art so much. :) I found out in the meeting that we're going to be making these awesome masks for a Halloween ball, face painting (I forgot what for), and creating a float for NAHS that will be in the Homecoming parade! I'm so excited!
My dance classes are going to be starting back up again this Tuesday. I've missed them so. I've taken jazz for a year now, and this year I'm taking up ballet as well. For months I've been obsessing over ballet photos and videos. I even saw the ballet Romeo and Juliet this past February! It was amazing. I got my ballet shoes last Monday and I have leotards and tights and everything I need for class. The funny thing is, I had a dream last night that it was Tuesday night and I was late for dance! It was more like a nightmare, actually. I'm glad that wasn't real. And I sure hope that won't happen. I seriously doubt it will, considering that I'm so ecstatic about classes starting up again.
Sorry this post is so long! It's finished, I promise! You can go on with your busy lives now. :)
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