Sorry, I tried to think of a creative title. I really did! For a few seconds, anyway.

Have you ever played your instrument four or five hours in one day? I did on Monday. I played and played my violin all day long. And then Monday evening I played for two hours straight with a group. Sight reading the entire time! That was a good experience! And you know what, it was not as hard as I anticipated, either.

Two things motivated me to play the violin more lately:

1. I saw that a friend had all her sheet music in page protectors in a three-ring binder and liked the idea so much that I did the same thing to my sheet music. I found out that I didn't have as much sheet music as I thought, but I've printed and copied some more since then. For some reason, it is a lot more fun to play music out of a three-ring binder than out of a book or even loose pages. Don't ask why.
2. I borrowed a book from a friend. The Year of Abi Crim, by Sharon Hambrick. I admit, it was way below my reading level (it was ages 8-12, okay?), but it had a violin on the cover, and then entire book was about... a violinist!!!!! And the main character was always playing her violin. And she was in her school orchestra. It was a wonderful book. Sigh. It was the kind of book I would love to have written. But unfortunately, my name is not Sharan Hambrick.

So on Monday I played and played. It was so fun!

Monday night, I got together with a couple other violinist ladies, for the first time. Actually, they and one other lady meet regularly to play together, but this was the first time that I have joined them. So Amy (flute) and I played with them from seven to nine in the evening. And it was all new music, so we had to sight read the whole time. That was awesome. We both did a lot better than we thought we could. When you're playing in a group, you will just naturally sight read better because you have to. It just almost comes naturally. Almost. Until about eight thirty, when my brain went into tired mode. Then it didn't go so well.

I'm excited because I'm going to be joining a group for the first time! Remember a couple years ago when I wanted so badly to be in an orchestra? Well, that's died down a little since then, but I'm still excited!

Guess what else is coming up? That's right -- our Third Annual Homeschool Recital is in two weeks. I have a bunch of things to practice for that. They sort of get dumped on me. I'm playing the Concerto for Two Violins by Bach with a friend (yes, all three movements, but we shortened the first and the third. Even so, it's going to be kind of long), a violin/flute duet of Saviour, Like a Shepherd with Amy, a violin solo, Student Concerto No. 5, third movement, by Seitz, (I'm hoping either Amy or Dad will be able to learn the piano accompanyment in two weeks. I sprung it on them at the last second. LOL), Air on a G String, by Bach (with a few other people, of course), and I'm playing the piano for the grand finale at the end where everyone plays or sings a couple hymns.

So with recital peices, "group" peices, and for-fun stuff, too, there is no way I can get through it all in my previous amount of practice time. And no, I'm not taking private lessons right now. Can you imagine? It would take me like an hour and a half to get through all of that. Of course, I don't have to play it all every day (and I don't), but it still takes a while.

So that's been my big thing lately. Leave a comment if you play violin, and tell me what you're woring on right now!

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

Posted by weheartmusic

Yes - I have played my instrument for four-five hours in a day. =) Not all at one time, though. One time I had a symphony nursing home tour. We went to four different nursing homes, and played for about 45 minutes at each. Plus I had practiced that morning. =)

Are you joining an orchestra?

--Renee--

• Permanent Link

Posted by Eyebright

None of my family can really play any instruments, but I can plunk out quite a bit on the piano, although I am limited to easier pieces. Bluejane has a guitar, but she doesn't know how to play it, and my brother has a violin, but the instructional cd that came with it is confusing, so we don't know how to play that either. I have often thought that it would be simply lovely to play in an orchestra, but I would have a lot of learning to do!

Good luck at your recital and all,
Have a very bright, very cheerful day!
Miss Eyebright

• Permanent Link

Posted by Bluejane

That is so neat! I wish I could hear you play, I'm sure it's beautiful!

I don't play the violin, actually... I don't play anything. : )
I have a guitar, but don't know how to play it, I'm hoping to learn this summer though.

Out of the Blue:jane

• Permanent Link

Posted by Hannah

I have been reading your blog for quite a while now. I found it once, then lost it, and found it again recently. It has really been encouraging to me, we seem to have a lot in common! I play the violin too. I am just working on being able to play (well) in church. I don't yet, but I hope I can start soon!
I read your book when I first found your blog, actually I think I found that first. It was really fun to read, and inspired me to keep writing my own stories. I love to write, but alas, they are all in my head and not on paper at the moment. :P
Anyways, this is becoming a letter! :P
I REALLY REALLY like your blog, and I will keep reading it!
Have a GREAT day!
God Bless!
~Hannah~

strivingtoencourage.blogspot.com

• Permanent Link

Posted by BookwormMN

hee hee It looks like last night we were at eachother's blog at the same time! LOL But thanks for the comment!!

Wow, that does sound like allot of music to learn!! Congrats on being part of a group, it sounds exciting!! I suppose I've never told you that we tried to be part of a group once!? There's this Christian, country style (I know, I know - more of that "country twang" lol) band, that decided to try to start this thing where kids got together to play some music (this happened a while ago)! Well, we got to the place where they were having there first meeting, and no one's there!!! We don't know what's going on or anything. Later on we talk to them and all they say is that they're to busy to do something like that right now - not why they weren't there or why they hadn't let us know!! Oh well, it would be fun to start some kind of orchestra with the kids at our church!!!

The chicks are really fun to cuddle - except for some reason they're not as friendly as our last bunch!? We were thinking of sending you and Amy a picture of a chick and you could name it for us (if you want to). We sure have enough of them that we need some help figuring out names!!

Well, got 2 go!

~Amber

P.S. Oh, I forgot to say that I've never played violin that long - wow!! But today I did play for two hours, not all at once - but close together!! One hour and 15 minutes at home and 45 minutes at violin lesson.

Edited by BookwormMN on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7:37 PM

• Permanent Link

Posted by JessLBee

Wow you practice a lot! I bet you can make the violin sound really pretty! I am excited that you get to play in a group!

I didn't know that your mom had Type 1! I am sure you would know enough if there was an emergency! Yeah I bet it is a way of life for you....but for me the first 14 years of my life were lived without a diabetic brother so it has just become a way of life for me and my family!

Oh, I am sorry I asked that......I was just interested.....no, I don't think I have ever heard of that series.....what are they about?

Have a wonderful week!

~Jess

• Permanent Link

Posted by weheartmusic

Still, it sounds like alot of fun! =) Is Amy going to play in it?

--Renee--
P.S. Yes, I'm glad I already know English, too! ; )

Edited by weheartmusic on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 6:45 PM

• Permanent Link

Posted by BookwormMN

Hope your day has been great so far!

Hmm, let me ask mom when it was that we tried to get in that group... Ok, she said probably about a year and a half ago. It's seems longer than that, but it must have been.

hee hee Well, you can try to name one if you want. The black and white ones are pretty easy to tell apart - but the the brownish ones really are allot alike. So far we're doing ok though, but as they keep changing and growing it may be quite hard!! We found some really cute names on the internet (you CAN find anything there!!!), so now we just need to give them out!

Hope Amy is feeling better today! Was she dissapointed not to be able to do it yesterday? And do you know when she WILL be able to get the real thing?

Have a good afternoon! Talk to you tomorrow!

~Amber

• Permanent Link

Posted by JessLBee

Wow those book series sound good! Yeah I like sword fighting and fantasy stuff like that. Have you ever read the "Dragons in Our Midst" series?

So are you writing stories that will actually get published in the series?

~Jess

• Permanent Link

Posted by weheartmusic

Oh, okay. Still sounds fun, though. ; )

--Renee--

• Permanent Link

Posted by JessLBee

Oh.....how shall I explain......"Dragons In our Midst" is a series about how (and remember that this is fantasy)how a young boy has very hot breath and his mother starts wincing when he kisses her but then he sets off the fire alarm at school, he starts to wonder. Also there is a man that starts stalking him.....then he meets a young girl named Bonnie who always wears a back pack.....will he find out the truth of his breath and of the man stalking him? You will have to read the book!!!

Sorry I didn't give you very much background.....but I didn't want to give anything away.....the books are very good and clean......and Christian...........also they keep you on your toes and they are good and thick.....(that is always good for me because I read way to fast! )

~Jess

• Permanent Link

Posted by JessicaLetchford

I was upset when other friends of mine left for WP too! I'm still a little 'caught' between wordpress and HSB, because I love HSB!

I am still going to be doing stuff at HSB, and I'm leaving my account open too.


Can we still be friends? :)

Oh, and congratulations and best wishes for the orchestra! I know you'll do great!

Edited by JessicaLetchford on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 6:20 PM

• Permanent Link

Posted by fiddler4him

Hello! Yeah- it is/was/should still be fun! :-) I have been playing violin for- oh... lets see... maybe 4 years? Something like that :-) But I didn't have my first lesson until about 3 years ago. I am working on like- um, I think the 3rd song in Suzuki book 4. But my teacher doesn't really use Suzuki very much on me, mainly other pieces, that's why I forgot :-) Beth says that you play violin, how long have you been playing? I loved your post, that is very interesting about owls, thought it is rather sad that some people think of it as a sign if death, I like owls :-) Oh deary me, this is getting to be a rather boring comment- I had better stop writing :-) Thanks for the comment!

~Katy

PS I love your template!

• Permanent Link

Posted by Emily94

Wow, that sounds like so much fun! I have played my violin that long before, many times. I'm in an orchestra! It's actually the same one that Renee is in! It's a lot of fun, but I most certainly need more time to practice.

I have been playing violin for about seven months, and I'm on the fourth song of Suzuki book four. What book are you in?

I love the Bach Double! I can't wait to learn it better! I play it mostly for fun, but pretty soon I'll learn it for real!

I awarded you! Come to my blog to get it! Wow, this is a really long comment! Hope your performances go well!
Emily

• Permanent Link

Entry 25 of 217
Last Page | Next Page