The Happy Farmer, Not!

Back to see R after several months away.  Chamber music class had kept me pretty busy working on stupendously hard stuff like Schumann.  I still hadn't memorized "The Happy Farmer" in Suzuki Cello Book I.  

R reduced me to working on only two measures of the piece.  Since I don't have chamber music class until September he thought it would be a good time to work on my technique.

Another Project Completed

Hubby had volunteered me to do an award for the Bulgarian Stamp Show next month.  I finally completed it today.  Hubby (the critic) was wowed.  

A Chart Decline

Boring cello stats:

Cello practice weeks 53-60 (35 days)

Total of 24.5 hours. Avg 3/4 hr per day.

Bow, left hand, thumb, trill, vibrato exercises every day

Suzuki pieces 4x

Chamber music pieces 32x

Romantic pieces 1x

A drop from the last stat report in February where I was averaging 1.5 hours a day. Tax Season took its toll.  I also switched to a two week planner exercise page which seemed to lose the visual incentives I had when I was using a monthly.  I'll switch back.  Maybe I can get some good practice in before I run away to Europe May 17th.  

A Couple of Musicals

This month I had the opportunity to see two musicals.  One was "I love you, you're perfect, now change" done by the local community college which was cute and well-done.  Even hubby liked it.

The second was courtesy of a friend who had a ticket she couldn't use.  So today, I traveled the 20+ miles, navigated the closed interstates and dodged through huge crowds to see "Jersey Boys".  I had no idea what the musical would be about -- I like to come in "cold" on these things.  Okay, I'm told it's about a guy named "Frankie Valli" and the "Four Seasons".  I scan through the playbill looking for a song I'd recognize.  Sherri sounds familiar.  Anyway, lights come on and its blasting "rap-style" music.  HUH? Then the story begins, I can now unplug my ears and by the time the climatic "Can't take my eyes off of you" is sung I'm sucked in.  Actually, I do recognize that song from those sappy tunes I listened to as a kid. The book was fun for someone who wasn't part of that generation;  I understand for the rest of the audience it was like travelling back in time.

Encore?

Just got an email from my chamber music teacher wanting to know if the pianist and I could play the Breval again tomorrow.  OH DEAR!  I haven't practiced all week.

Anything Worth Doing is Worth Doing Again

I thought I had completed all my ATC (art trading cards) for the Drawspace Music/Musical Instruments. Then someone noticed I sent them an extra card.

Huh? My word doc decided to erase one recipient and double up on another. Neither I nor my husband who mailed the envelopes noticed the dupe. Happily, I saved the doc so I was able to sleuth who was left out. So created yet another card tonight which I'll mail out next week. Here's all fifteen cards in digital format.

Changing My Mind.

Okay, I re-watched the vid of the Schumann and decided that I'd post it anyway for your amusement or cringing (you have been warned).   

Afterall, this blog is all about not being perfekt! More practice!!!

Trying Too Hard

My 4th pastel work. I think I was trying too hard.  

Funny Recital

Better to laugh than cry, right? The Breval should have been better. As you can tell from the video there's all sorts of rhythm, intonation and other issues. We don't even start together. However, it had its moments. At one point the pianist gets all the attention. The Schumann suffered a different fate, it started out well enough but then the violinist got lost and that threw me off as well. I won't post that video, it's too embarrassing :)

Playing with Pastels

This week's challenge at Drawspace. 5 x 6, pastel pencils, about an hour. Thought it came out pretty well and it passes the mirror test.

It's April Already?

Tax Season Accounting Work

Drawspace Art Card Trade (14 cards this time)

Substitute Teaching

Old clients coming out of the woodwork

Chinese Classes

and a chamber music recital in 5 days... 

Time sure flies with all this work and fun.