Update

I took a week off. I spent the entire time sleeping and reading superfluous books that didn't benefit my mind in any grand way. Now I am back and ready to get some things done.

I started private piano lessons, and I enjoy my teacher very much. She is not only interesting in the performing side but also takes the theory and musicology side seriously. She has me listening to pieces and researching the history of them. The piece she has me working on right now is the second movement of Moonlight Sonata. My timing is off, but so far my notes are right. I am determined to accomplish this piece.

Violin is going well too. Working extremely hard, and I am on a new minuet. I am told my bowing technique is getting better, but it is always a little hard to determine one's own progress.

Over all I feel I must work even harder at my music to catch up for not having the opportunity to play when I was younger.

Besides music, I have working hard on essays for various competitions, and preparing for my SATs, because all the colleges and universities I want to transfer to require excellency. :D

I'm also figuring out where I would like to volunteer. There are some really interesting places that I think I would like to donate my time to.

On a less serious note, my birthday is fast approaching and I am told I will probably get the camera I want for it. I am rather excited.

I Don't Like

1. That I recommend wonderful music to people that I later hold great contempt for. Wonderful music becomes a part of people, and the people I greatly dislike don't deserve to have such things be a part of them.

2. Why most of the modern books (not classics) on sale are Romance novels. These are superfluous to me.

3. That every time I walk by the new candy shop the song "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent starts playing in my head.

4. The name 50 cent, it should be "50 cents." "50," implies that there is more than one, and therefore it is PLURAL not SINGULAR.

5. That almost every time I'm having an intellectual conversation I end using the word "awesome," or "that's cool," to express my enthusiasm for the particular topic of discussion. I've never even like the word "cool"....... I do like the word "awesome." Unfortunately.

6. The amount of STUPID vampire books. Apparently, in these modern times, vampires go academies, sparkle in the sunlight, and fall in love with humans. Pretty soon they'll stop drinking blood. What would Bram Stoker say?

7. Every pianist seems to specialize in Beethoven.

8. That I can't understand most text messages I receive. People aren't using abbreviations anymore, they are creating their own idiotic language.

9. The poetry of today.... at least most of it. I don't understand the motive behind most modern poets. I don't know what their trying to communicate, therefore their work has no meaning to me.

The Day

Today is fantastic..... or superlative (a better word). Went to the coffee shop first thing in the morning (drink of the day= iced coffee w/milk... simplicity), with a very enjoyable person. Which means that I was able to converse with him on the topic of the difference of playing the violin and the piano, and why I prefer the Baroque period over the Classic, without him getting bored. Bonus was..... he was actually able to participate in the conversation, and give me his own input on the matter (which I happened to agree with... shocking).

It is quite nice to have someone, besides my teacher, to talk to about things of this nature--It always feels good to be duplicated. Speaking of my teacher, I found more articles on L.A. Opera's version of of Wagner's "Ring" cycle to take to him, a version we both find to be quite "interesting" (yes, it is in quotation marks for a reason). We can be snobby together! Honesty is a virtue....

The rest of today will be devoted to violin practice and piano practice, and then to my many, many essays. I am actually kind of excited about the newing bowing techniques my teacher assigned. As for piano, all the notes have been learned, and it is now a matter of repetition. I'm only going to focus on this one piece until finals end. Then I will finish mastering the 2nd movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" (really "Fantasia", which is what Beethoven intended to call it. "Moonlight," was much too romantic of a title for the grumpy man).

Today's playlist:

1. Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken by Camera Obscura

(There is actually organ and strings being utilized in this song. I feel as if I should be disgusted by this, such sophisticated instruments being used for a pop piece. But besides what my mind is telling me, I find this song charming. My intellect will have to rule later.)

2. Fools by The Dodos

(The singers voice is something to listen to, has an interesting quality. The repetition kind of reminds me of a basso continuo.)

3. Wrapped In Piano Strings by Radical Face

(Lyrics= superlative, instrumental use= amazing, and the title is obviously of good merit.)

4. TAM by The Spires

(Like the indie quality, like the way the singers sings, is good when one is in a mindless mood).