I have no exam stories this year. Which, in case you hadn't noticed, is a VERY GOOD THING. It went really well, I played my pieces almost perfectly - I mean, minor slips, but nothing I haven't done before - and the only area I'm pretty sure I definitely lost a couple of marks is ear training. And I only messed up the melody playback, which is worth a total of two marks, everything else was good. The examiner was this really nice Chinese lady who totally made me feel so comfortable, it was pretty awesome. So I'm quite happy about that. It's so nice to have it over!
~Sil
"Does his mother call him SpongeRobert?"
16 June 2007
14 June 2007
Does it work both ways?
Something weird just happened. I sat down and played all of my exam pieces - all six - exactly the way I want to play them tomorrow. This might sound lke no problem to all you non-musical people. But I started at the right speeds, didn't have one memory slip, and I'm pretty sure I had some good dynamics in there.
So. My question now is - bad dress rehearsal, good performance. Does it work both ways? Good dress rehearsal, bad performance?
And strangely enough, even if it does work both ways, I don't even know if I really care anymore. Because, really, what is a music exam on the grand scale of things? Even a grade 8 RCM music exam? I've said it so many times before - the whole reason I do piano is because it's fun. Not because I want a career in it, not because my parents make me, but because I like it. So why am I so scared? Honestly, this is one person's opinion of my playing/technique/ear and sight on one given day. I'm not petrified for every single one of my piano lessons, and they're pretty close to the same thing. Why am I more scared to perform in front of one person than I am in front of, oh, fifty people? Just because they're giving me a mark?
That sorta strikes me as silly.
~Sil
"Kill the butter!"
So. My question now is - bad dress rehearsal, good performance. Does it work both ways? Good dress rehearsal, bad performance?
And strangely enough, even if it does work both ways, I don't even know if I really care anymore. Because, really, what is a music exam on the grand scale of things? Even a grade 8 RCM music exam? I've said it so many times before - the whole reason I do piano is because it's fun. Not because I want a career in it, not because my parents make me, but because I like it. So why am I so scared? Honestly, this is one person's opinion of my playing/technique/ear and sight on one given day. I'm not petrified for every single one of my piano lessons, and they're pretty close to the same thing. Why am I more scared to perform in front of one person than I am in front of, oh, fifty people? Just because they're giving me a mark?
That sorta strikes me as silly.
~Sil
"Kill the butter!"
11 June 2007
Life's slowing down
Yeah, stuff's kinda wrapping up...haven't got much school left, piano exam this Friday, youth's over...leaves me a lot of free time. I like it.
My sister got Mario Party 8 for her birthday, so we've been Wii-ing that lately. Pretty fun game, some very creative mini-games and new worlds and stuff. And more female characters. We've played three or four board games and in every single one I'm Peach, Susie's Daisy and Grace is Toadette. It makes for less fighting over who's who, which is nice. Ben was mad that there was no DK, but he'll live. I've also (finally) made it out of Moria on Third Age. Currently trying to find my way through devilishly confusing East Emnet Gullies, which is near Rohan, and have met up with (sigh) the elf scout Aranel and his pals. No matter how much research I do, 'Aranel' still means 'princess'. A name for a MALE elf. Pfft.
Home renovations are going on...knocking out a couple of walls on our main floor, which is sorta cool, and my dad's home from work for the next few weeks. So other than a dentist appointment on Thursday which I'm actually sort of scared for - never had a cavity filled before - and my piano exam on Friday which I'm PETRIFIED for, this week's fun. As soon as that's all done I'll be even better.
~Sil
"What's an autobiography?"
"It's a book about a car."
My sister got Mario Party 8 for her birthday, so we've been Wii-ing that lately. Pretty fun game, some very creative mini-games and new worlds and stuff. And more female characters. We've played three or four board games and in every single one I'm Peach, Susie's Daisy and Grace is Toadette. It makes for less fighting over who's who, which is nice. Ben was mad that there was no DK, but he'll live. I've also (finally) made it out of Moria on Third Age. Currently trying to find my way through devilishly confusing East Emnet Gullies, which is near Rohan, and have met up with (sigh) the elf scout Aranel and his pals. No matter how much research I do, 'Aranel' still means 'princess'. A name for a MALE elf. Pfft.
Home renovations are going on...knocking out a couple of walls on our main floor, which is sorta cool, and my dad's home from work for the next few weeks. So other than a dentist appointment on Thursday which I'm actually sort of scared for - never had a cavity filled before - and my piano exam on Friday which I'm PETRIFIED for, this week's fun. As soon as that's all done I'll be even better.
~Sil
"What's an autobiography?"
"It's a book about a car."
07 June 2007
Last piano lesson
...was yesterday. We had a sort of mock exam type thing. I'm sure it had a purpose besides making me horribly nervous, but it definitely accomplished that if nothing else. Had a completely unexpected memory slip on my first repertoire song that I was SO mad at myself about, but I guess it was actually good other than that...missed a cadence on ear training but all year I've been missing cadences so I guess it's nothing new. And the Sonata. This is where I sigh inwardly. I seem to have two options for the sonata - either play it the way these weird teacher people want me to play it, which is about as fun as washing dishes, or play it the way I would prefer to play it, which I actually enjoy. The problem with my way is that I go too fast and the problem with their way is that I get bored and it lacks a certain 'spark' my teacher says it has when I play it my way. Bleh. So I'm supposed to find something in between for the recital.
And just cause I can...my musical pictures, images or stories I connect with songs, are:
Study #1, Rohan: This one's easy because it's from a movie, so I think of the Rohirrim or Eowyn standing at Edoras, and a lot of wind. And the flag ripping. Though that comes more toward the end.
Study #2, Cappriccio: I renamed this, it is now The Masked Juggler. He juggles throughout the song with varying patterns and color, and at the end he drops all the balls and disappears. This is probably my favorite piece out of the six so I had fun with it.
Repertoire #1, Solfeggietto: Renamed The Mouse in the Bedroom. I had a piece in grade 2 once called The Mouse in the Coal Bin that sorta sounded like this one (if I remember correctly, which I'm not sure I do) and it does sound a lot like a mouse running around.
Repertoire #2, Sonata in G: This one didn't get renamed because it was going to be some boring thing about dancing. So I just think of dancing while I play it and all goes well, except I go too fast. SLOWER dancing.
Repertoire #3, Puck: This one was really easy, as it sounds exactly like a mischievous little elf running around pulling people's hair and stealing their pocket watches. Shakespearian. And the crazy running up the piano at the end and and the end of the first section is him laughing.
Repertoire #4, To The Rising Sun: Again, easy, because it basically sounds like what it is. I'm not actually a huge fan of this song, I only picked it because I didn't like any of the other options, so I didn't expend a whole bunch of energy on it.
Right now I just want my exam to come so I can a) get it over with and b) stop playing these pieces! Argh!
~Sil
"Four wieners and a shrub, please."
And just cause I can...my musical pictures, images or stories I connect with songs, are:
Study #1, Rohan: This one's easy because it's from a movie, so I think of the Rohirrim or Eowyn standing at Edoras, and a lot of wind. And the flag ripping. Though that comes more toward the end.
Study #2, Cappriccio: I renamed this, it is now The Masked Juggler. He juggles throughout the song with varying patterns and color, and at the end he drops all the balls and disappears. This is probably my favorite piece out of the six so I had fun with it.
Repertoire #1, Solfeggietto: Renamed The Mouse in the Bedroom. I had a piece in grade 2 once called The Mouse in the Coal Bin that sorta sounded like this one (if I remember correctly, which I'm not sure I do) and it does sound a lot like a mouse running around.
Repertoire #2, Sonata in G: This one didn't get renamed because it was going to be some boring thing about dancing. So I just think of dancing while I play it and all goes well, except I go too fast. SLOWER dancing.
Repertoire #3, Puck: This one was really easy, as it sounds exactly like a mischievous little elf running around pulling people's hair and stealing their pocket watches. Shakespearian. And the crazy running up the piano at the end and and the end of the first section is him laughing.
Repertoire #4, To The Rising Sun: Again, easy, because it basically sounds like what it is. I'm not actually a huge fan of this song, I only picked it because I didn't like any of the other options, so I didn't expend a whole bunch of energy on it.
Right now I just want my exam to come so I can a) get it over with and b) stop playing these pieces! Argh!
~Sil
"Four wieners and a shrub, please."
04 June 2007
Aimlessness
No bad puns. I mean it. If my name happens to sound like the word 'aimless', it's really not my fault.
But yeah...I feel really restless and generally lacking a point in life at the moment. Bleh. I was all set up to go babysitting and then it turned out I didn't have to, which left me a whole afternoon to pretty much...do nothing. So I wandered around the house for a while without settling down to anything and eventually decided to do a blog post.
Pirates of Dark Hold Keep was on Friday, and it was fantastic. Best youth event of the year. Picture of me as a pirate, with Sarah also as a pirate. Debra with our 'treasure'. It was an amazing night, I had SO much fun. Bryan with his awesome piratey accent was SO cool, and the amazing piratey sponsors. I brought home a whole load of piratey stuff, including plastic gold and silver coins, a picture of Calico Jack Rackham's ship, apparently named The Bloated Porpoise (which is going up in my room) and a bunch of chocolate.
Helped set up for the penny carnival the youth put on for the Sunday school kids on Saturday, and got ice cream cake into the bargain, and had the quizzing wrapup Saturday evening. Quizzing is officially done until next year. Youth is ending this Tuesday. Piano is ending this Wednesday. Wow, and I think I'm aimless NOW.
Sunday we had the penny carnival, and I face-painted adorable little kids. Then I got to see more adorable little kids at my sister's dance recital, all dressed up as candy (there were peppermints, lemon drops, cookies, sugar crystals...I'm sure more I can't remember), which unfortunately I was not allowed to take pictures at. Sadness.
And...today has been unremarkable. So far. Maybe something fun will happen this evening.
~Sil
"There's a slight butt location problem."
But yeah...I feel really restless and generally lacking a point in life at the moment. Bleh. I was all set up to go babysitting and then it turned out I didn't have to, which left me a whole afternoon to pretty much...do nothing. So I wandered around the house for a while without settling down to anything and eventually decided to do a blog post.
Pirates of Dark Hold Keep was on Friday, and it was fantastic. Best youth event of the year. Picture of me as a pirate, with Sarah also as a pirate. Debra with our 'treasure'. It was an amazing night, I had SO much fun. Bryan with his awesome piratey accent was SO cool, and the amazing piratey sponsors. I brought home a whole load of piratey stuff, including plastic gold and silver coins, a picture of Calico Jack Rackham's ship, apparently named The Bloated Porpoise (which is going up in my room) and a bunch of chocolate.
Helped set up for the penny carnival the youth put on for the Sunday school kids on Saturday, and got ice cream cake into the bargain, and had the quizzing wrapup Saturday evening. Quizzing is officially done until next year. Youth is ending this Tuesday. Piano is ending this Wednesday. Wow, and I think I'm aimless NOW.
Sunday we had the penny carnival, and I face-painted adorable little kids. Then I got to see more adorable little kids at my sister's dance recital, all dressed up as candy (there were peppermints, lemon drops, cookies, sugar crystals...I'm sure more I can't remember), which unfortunately I was not allowed to take pictures at. Sadness.
And...today has been unremarkable. So far. Maybe something fun will happen this evening.
~Sil
"There's a slight butt location problem."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)