And I'm Alive

There's something about performances and concerts that I just love. It can't be explained completely accurately. I think it's derived from being able to share with others the thing which I love most. Expressing emotions, present and past, through the music. Music is truly a wonder. A paradox of simplicity and complexity.
Today I had my first concert with a symphony I just joined. It was incredible! Sometimes in rehearsals or during performances, my brain takes a step back and I listen to the music with my heart. And I feel at home. I'm enveloped in the music- physically, mentally, and emotionally. That is when my soul soars and my spirit rejoices. All of my senses revel in the substance which energizes my being. And I'm alive.

AP Music Theory

I haven't had much instruction in music theory in my young life. Not much at all. I took piano when I was young, and I know enough to sight read and do well in my music pursuits. But I don't know as much as I would like. So, I'm taking AP Music Theory next year.
The teacher is letting me skip the prereq, Music Theory, because I'm in Symphony and I've had a lot of musical experience. However, if I were to go into that class now, I would not be prepared. So, I'm creating a music theory curriculum for myself this spring and summer to prepare for AP Theory.
It's quite exciting, and rather daunting at the same time. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.
It is so important for me to be on top of my stuff because I am one of only three incoming sophomores the teacher is letting into his class. It's quite the privilege.
I just can't wait until I start learning lots and lots about the way music works. It's going to be so cool!

How to Feel Better Fast

For one reason or another (or possibly ten) I have had a rather terrible week. Those who know me know that this is not a usual occurrence because I try really hard to be happy and optimistic as much as possible. But as much as I tried, I could not shake the feeling of bleh.
So I did everything to try to feel better. The cell towers might have combusted for all the texts I was dumping on my friends. I slept more. Did completely nothing. Tried to chill. Tried it out. There were many more attempts I set in motion to try to feel better, but I shall spare you the details. Let it suffice to say that I worked really hard to try to feel better, to no avail.
I felt so miserable, that I stopped doing everything. Including practicing. I hadn't practiced since Sunday. But today I just sucked it up and practiced even though I felt lousy and had no motivation to do so. Guess what happened when I practiced, though? I felt 100%, completely, genuinely, all-the-way better.
Maybe I was just having a viola withdrawal and didn't know it.But that, my friends, is how to feel better fast.

When You Can No Longer Claim Proficiency at Something You Were Once Proficient

Music, while the bliss of my existence, sometimes pains me. It's always better than me. No matter how far I get or what I accomplish, there's always something I cannot do. For example, I've been putting my soul into viola work. But on the flip side, I've been ignoring my voice and vocal work, another talent at which I enjoy claiming proficiency. But there's something really heart-wrenching about the day you realize you probably should no long consider yourself proficient at something. And that day is today for me with singing.
I've been a great singer for as long as I can remember. As an older child I took lessons and even joined an acclaimed children's choir. Off and on during my pre-teen years I also took lessons. But alas, the more serious I became about viola, the less time I had to practice voice and to go to voice lessons, which lessons eventually dwindled into nonexistence. And so, I haven't had lessons for several years.
I still sing, though. Whenever I sing, my soul is lighter than it was starting out. Singing makes me so happy. So, it's no wonder how upsetting it is that I can no longer hit the notes I used to reach and do not have the same fluidity and grace in my voice. It makes me want to cry.
Fortunately for me, however, I've carved out time this summer for more voice lessons! I'm soooo excited! It's going to be great! Maybe after another few months of lessons I'll feel confident singing solos again. What a joy that will be!

Attempting to Describe Music's Power Over Feeling

I have decided that music from the romantic period is my favorite to play. The method I'm using to learn involves almost all baroque style pieces, and while I don't hate them, they are definitely not as enjoyable as the romantic pieces I've started playing lately.
Right now I'm playing my favorite piece ever- Meditation on Thais. It makes me feel so alive when I play it. My soul breathes along with the melody of the music. When I play music like that, I feel like I can bring out the beauty in humanity, and that's an empowering feeling.
People don't comprehend what I feel when I play, and I don't think even I understand just how much I love it, sometimes. Music takes me somewhere I can't go any other way. The music envelopes me and lifts me out of the monotony of daily life and into a reality somewhere between real life and the faraway place where the untouched aspirations of man lie.
That. That is one reason why I love music.

This Is A Post Title. Cute, huh?

This is my new post to add something to my blog. Isn't it grand? I think so.