Practice. Study. Repeat.

18 // loyno'22 // music ed //english lit // Just a musician with a book obsession trying to motivate herself to make it through!

[doubleca5t]

the funny thing about the whole "no one wants to work" trend is that this is, hypothetically, how wages are supposed to go up naturally under capitalism. When wages are too low, workers refuse to work, so businesses raise their wages. The problem is that american companies are so used to paying people scraps and so far removed from the idea of workers having any kind of power or demanding some degree of dignity that they're just completely dumbfounded by this. When everyone refuses to work, their first instinct isn't "oh, our wages are too low" it's to post signs complaining about kids these days and begging people to pwease pwease come back to work I pwomise you won't get the cowonaviwus whiwe being yewwed at by a woman who compwains they made hew food wrong and demands a comped dessewt befowe leaving you a $2 tip

[viola-studies]

Meet Siria! (not to be confused with Syria...) 

I had to get a recorder for my woodwind methods class, and because I name all of my inanimate objects and instruments, it was only right I name my recorder and introduce yall to her. 

Siria means “sun-bright; glowing” in Spanish (according to nameberry.com) and was perfect not only because of her bright yellow color but also because playing recorder just takes me back to when I was a kid, annoying my mom with the most obnoxious sounds I could make. It was my favorite pass time. 

(Shoutout to The Outsiders for inspiring my “Stay Gold” mirror and to Buffalo Exchange for my dad shirt). 

[lesseratonin]

yeah sex is great but have you ever had no pressure practice sessions with your instrument where you just fuck around and remember why you love it and realize that music isnt a chore

[ukulelehugger-blog]

I really cannot stress this enough for the elitists in the back.

Music is for everyone, and everyone’s journey is valid. Whether you’re a retired schoolteacher who picks up a guitar on the weekend or Dan Smith of Bastille (I LOVE U DAN), your musical journeys are just as fulfilling and as important as each other.

Music is for everyone, and everyone’s work is valid. My music therapist taught me that humans have been trying to make music pretty much ever since they crawled outta the swamp, and when we make music we’re adding to the song of the universe. It doesn’t matter that you don’t like it or think it’s bad, keep unkind words where the sun doesn’t shine and put yourself to something useful like practicing or composing.

Music is for everyone, and adult learners are valid. Whether you’ve been tinkering with violins since you were in your crib, or are that same retired schoolteacher picking up a guitar for the first time, it doesn’t matter. Your journey is going to be just as memorable and wonderful as anyone else’s, so don’t let child prodigies make you feel bad.

[viola-studies]

First Day!

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while guys, but I had to go to orientation for college and get settled. But the other day was the first day of classes, so I’m back and I’ll be here more regularly! 

Being a Music Education major, my schedule is pretty much booked. But Mondays are my light day.

I had an 8:30 Woodwinds Methods class, and while the time is absolutely terrible, it’s actually pretty fun once I get there (though I am gonna have to be careful about when I go out. Would hate to have a wild night and then have to get up at 8:30 to go to a class full of people learning how to play Oboe). 

Next, I have a Music Theory class. It moves pretty slow for my pace right now because I’ve sat through a good bit of theory classes already, I’ve never been particularly good at theory. So I’m gonna stick around. 

Next, I have my Prelude to Music Education Class, which is pretty chill. I honestly can’t tell you too much about this class because I was freezing and couldn’t focus.

And finally, to end my Monday, I have Paino 1. Which is going to be agonizing. Because my teacher is really mean, and not at all understanding to people who have never taken a piano class before. Yall pray for me.  

[keyofcsharpminor]

wear flip flops to performances to assert dominance

[opus3no1]

the real move would be to wear crocs lmao

[keyofcsharpminor]

wear a croc on one foot and a flip flop on the other to performances to assert dominance

[stolentrafficcone-blog1]

Don’t forget it has to be concert black

[squishypinkbear]

at my school the percussionists practically live in the percussion rooms and we have this box of “emergency concert clothes” which is basically anything alums forgot about and left in the room and there are some alright clothes and ties and stuff for when we forget but then there’s also a pair of flip flops and this post got me SCREAMING bc this one kid who usually goes barefoot to concerts was yelled at by the conductor and needed to borrow shoes and that was all he had he literally wore black flip flops for our concert

[needforcolorbis]

Kate Bush

[classical-carp]

Romeo and Juliet but it’s section leaders from band and orchestra

[classical-carp]

Juliet: Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?

Romeo, wheezing and sweating his ass off: I was at Band camp

[classical-carp]

Romeo kills himself by drinking valve oil

[viola-studies]

Does anybody have planner recommendations?

I leave for school in a week and I COMPLETELY forgot that I need to get a planner. Any recommendations would be appreciated, bullet journaling really doesn’t work for me! 

[violalife]

Classical Music Questionnaire (reblog with your answers)

1. what instrument(s) do you play? 2. favorite instrument in an orchestra 3. least favorite instrument in an orchestra 4. piece of classical music that describes your life and why 5. saddest piece you’ve ever heard/played 6. happiest piece you’ve ever heard/played 7. how many years have you played your main instrument? 8. do you/are you going to pursue music as a career? if not what are you planning on majoring in? 9. favorite era 10. favorite composer 11. favorite chamber music piece 12. favorite symphony 13. favorite concerto 14. favorite music joke/pun/riddle 15. what would you tell your past musical self if you could give them one piece of advice right now? 16. favorite key 17. least favorite key 18. biggest musical accomplishment 19. do you come from a musical family? 20. most difficult piece you’ve ever learned

[violalife]

1. viola, piano, violin, french horn, guitar, and i’m in choir 2. viola, cello, or timpani! lol 3. probably trumpet but still respect the players immensely 4. ok i know this is my own questionnaire but i honestly can’t think of anything 5. second movement of the american quartet by dvorak, the entirety of shostakovich 8, arensky piano trio no. 1 third movement OH MY GOD makes me cry every time, nimrod by elgar 6. finale of american string quartet, symphony no. 9 dvorak, lalo cello concerto third movement, tchaikovsky string quartet no. 1 finale movement 7. 6 and ½ years! 8. yes! i want to major in viola performance 9. classical/romantic/some contemporary 10. dvorak, shostakovich, or elgar 11. i literally can’t choose one 12. any dvorak, especially 8, shostakovich 5 13. sibelius violin concerto, tchaikovsky violin concerto, stamitz viola concerto 14. why are violas so much bigger than violins? they’re not, the violinist’s heads are just so much bigger 15. PRACTICE YOUR SCALES AND WORK ON THAT BOWHOLD 16. C minor or E flat major 17. C sharp minor or E major 18. all state orchestra 19. lol nope 20. shostakovich 8, cockaigne by elgar

[hello--cello]

Im going to do this so??????

1. Cello! 2. Viola and bassoon, probably 3. Um Bass 4. 433 by John Cage 5. 2nd movment of Beethoven 7 6. The entire Beethoven 131 quartet makes me want to die because it’s so sad, but the beginning of the second movment, for like 15 seconds sounds like a really cheery wedding and it makes me grin and oh boy that piece. 7. This is my fourth year 8. I really want to, I have been working really hard, so the answer right now is yes ( might change, hopefully not) 9. Classical or Contemporary (side note: baroque really bugs me and idk why. Like it sounds nice and I apriciate it but ????) 10. SHOSTAKOVICH 11. It’s always changing, but right now, Soliloquy by Shulamit Ran (piano trio) 12. Beethoven 7 butI really like Shostakovich 5 too 13. Oh my gosh Elgar Cello Concerto. Probably cliche but it’s the piece that I listen to when I need inspiration, and it’s the one that really got me into cello. I WANT TO PLAY IT SO BAD, but it will probably be a while. 14. Why couldn’t Bach pay for his food? He was baroque. 15. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE AND ALSO MAYBE WORK A LITTLE HARDER THANKS 16. C minor or E flat major 17. Anything with over 5 sharps or flats, I don’t need that thanks. 18. I’m working on not sucking at some future auditions right now so nothing yet, well see 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃 19. Nope! 20. Idek, nothings as hard as I am lazy. Like I struggle more with proper solid technique than difficult pieces, if that makes sense

[viola-studies]

I’m new to the community so I’ll use this to introduce myself a bit further! 

1. Viola, and I sing.

2. There’s nothing like a great French Horn section

3. Piccolo. It’s awful. But I seriously respect Piccolo players as musicians because I can’t even imagine trying to practice that thing, Jesus. 

4. Right now I think it’s Les Préludes by Franz Liszt. I’m going to be leaving for college in a week and a half, and I just feel like my life has been a prelude up until now. Now I’m going to college and I’m finally going to be able to truly begin my story. 

5. Dude that’s hands down the Theme to Schindler’s List. The first time I saw the movie I literally sobbed for 15 minutes, and even to this day I hear it and it’ll bring tears to my eyes. 

6. Rodeo by Aaron Copeland. I’m sure there’s a better answer for this, but I have such great memories connected to that piece that it never fails to make me happy. 

7. Since 6th grade, so 7 years now. 

8. I am pursuing my degree in Music Education, and I would love to teach for a while because I feel like every kid deserves a shot at their passions, whether they can afford it or not. But I’m also a photographer and a writer, and I hope to start my own magazine one day. 

9. Romantic and 20th Century. 

10. Oh gosh, this is hard. I’m just gonna mention the composers I’ve been listening to a lot lately: Shostakovich, Debussy, Bartok, Danny Elfman, and Berstein

11. Ugh. Okay, again. Just gonna mention some pieces I’ve heard recently. Because frankly asking me to choose my favorite chamber piece is just rude. Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Beethoven String Trio No. 3 in C Minor (I’m realizing I have a thing for C Minor), and Mendelssohn Quintet No. 2 in B flat Major. 

12. THE PLANETS BY GUSTAV HOLST. I DON’T CARE. CALL ME CLICHE IF YOU WANT. But also, The Romeo and Juliet Suite by Prokofiev (which I guess isn’t technically a symphony but...)  and also the Schubert Unfinished Symphony No. 8 in B Minor. 

13. For my own instrument, I love the Forsyth Viola Concerto in G Minor. I think that might be a bit controversial lol. And for another instrument, I recently heard a friend of mine perform the Koussevitzky Double Bass Concerto and I actually really enjoyed it. 

14. A guest conductor actually told this one at camp the other day, and it’s the only viola joke I’ve ever enjoyed. 

“So I was doing a gig with my chamber group, we were going around town to play for elementary school kids to introduce them to string instruments, and we ended up at this school that was not in the best part of town. But we were late, so in a rush to get in the building we forgot to lock the car. I was worried sick thinking about it the whole time. The gig is finished, we go back to my car, and unfortunately...someone put a viola in my car. It was devastating.”  

15. DO NOT be so hard on yourself. No, you’re not as good as your peers. But a lot of them started playing in elementary school. The fact that you’re able to hold your own against them is admirable. AND DO NOT let other people’s opinion of you affect your craft. You love Viola. You are good at Viola. Don’t forget that. And for the love of fuck’s sake, play closer to the bridge. You’ll save yourself a lot of unlearning to do. 

16. C Minor apparently (see 11). But honestly, anything minor. 

17. Anything with excessive sharps or flats (excessive being over four). 

18.. Honestly, getting into college. I didn’t think I could do it. Also playing Carnegie Hall. 

19. Yeah, learning an instrument is pretty much required in my family. You don’t have to stick with it, but you will learn. Family gatherings are fun though because we always read music together or do some improv.

20. Thus far I think the most difficult things I’ve played has had Shostakovich's name on it. 

[violaboss]

I’ve seen a lot of curious people wanting to dive into classical music but don’t know where to start, so I have written out a list of pieces to listen to depending on mood. I’ve only put out a few, but please add more if you want to. hope this helps y’all out. :)

stereotypical delightful classical music:

battalia a 10 in d major (biber)

brandenburg concerto no. 5

brandenburg concerto no. 3

symphony no. 45 - “farewell” (haydn)

if you need to chill:

rondo alla turca

fur elise

anitra’s dance

in the steppes of central asia (borodin) (added by viola-ology)

if you need to sleep:

moonlight sonata

swan lake

corral nocturne

sleep (eric whitacre) (added by thelonecomposer)

if you need to wake up:

morning mood

summer (from the four seasons)

buckaroo holiday (if you’ve played this in orch you might end up screaming instead of waking up joyfully)

if you are feeling very proud:

pomp and circumstance

symphony no. 9 (beethoven; this is where ode to joy came from)

1812 overture

symphony no. 5, finale (tchaikovsky) (added by viola-ology)

american (dvořák)

if you feel really excited:

hoedown (copland)

bacchanale

spring (from the four seasons) (be careful, if you listen to this too much you’ll start hating it)

la gazza ladra

death and the maiden (schubert)

if you are angry and you want to take a baseball bat and start hitting a bush:

dance of the knights (from the romeo and juliet suite by prokofiev)

winter, mvt. 1 (from the four seasons)

symphony no. 10 mvt. 2 (shostakovich)

symphony no. 5 (beethoven)

totentanz (liszt)

quartet no. 8, mvt. 2 (shostakovich) (added by viola-ology)

young person’s guide to the orchestra, fugue (britten) (added by iwillsavemyworld)

symphony no. 5 mvt. 4 (shostakovich) (added by eternal-cadenza)

marche slave (tchaikovsky) (added by eternal-cadenza)

if you want to cry for a really long time:

fantasia based on russian themes (rimsky-korsakov)

adagio for strings (barber)

violin concerto in e minor (mendelssohn)

aase’s death

andante festivo

vocalise (rachmaninoff) (added by tropicalmunchakoopas)

if you want to feel like you’re on an adventure:

an american in paris (gershwin)

if you want chills:

danse macabre

russian easter overture

egmont overture (added by shayshay526)

if you want to study:

eine kleine nachtmusik

bolero (ravel)

serenade for strings (elgar)

scheherazade (rimsky-korsakov) (added by viola-ology)

pines of rome, mvt. 4 (resphigi) (added by viola-ology)

if you really want to dance:

capriccio espagnol (rimsky-korsakov)

blue danube

le cid (massenet) (added by viola-ology)

radetzky march

if you want to start bouncing in your chair:

hopak (mussorgsky)

les toreadors (from carmen suite no.1)

if you’re about to pass out and you need energy:

hungarian dance no. 1

hungarian dance no. 5

if you want to hear suspense within music:

firebird

in the hall of the mountain king

ride of the valkyries

night on bald mountain (mussorgsky) (added by viola-ology)

if you want a jazzy/classical feel:

rhapsody in blue

jazz suite no. 2 (shostakovich) (added by eternal-cadenza)

if you want to feel emotional with no explanation:

introduction and rondo capriccioso

unfinished symphony (schubert)

symphony no. 7, allegretto (beethoven) (added by viola-ology)

canon in d (pachelbel)

if you want to sit back and have a nice cup of tea:

st. paul’s suite

concerto for two violins (vivaldi)

l’arlésienne suite

concierto de aranjuez (added by tropicalmunchakoopas)

pieces that don’t really have a valid explanation:

symphony no. 40 (mozart)

cello suite no. 1 (bach)

polovtsian dances

enigma variations (elgar) (added by viola-ology)

perpetuum mobile

moto perpetuo (paganini)

pieces that just sound really cool:

scherzo tarantelle

dance of the goblins

caprice no. 24 (paganini)

new world symphony, allegro con fuoco (dvorak) (added by viola-ology​)

le tombeau de couperin (added by tropicalmunchakoopas)

carnival of the animals (added by shadowraven45662)

if you feel like listening to concertos all day (I do not recommend doing that):

concerto for two violins (bach)

concerto for two violins (vivaldi)

violin concerto in a minor (vivaldi)

violin concerto (tchaikovsky) (added by iwillsavemyworld)

violin concerto in d minor (sibelius) (added by eternal-cadenza)

cello concerto in c (haydn)

piano concerto, mvt. 1 (pierne) (added by iwillsavemyworld)

harp concerto in E-flat major, mvt. 1 (added by iwillsavemyworld)

and if you really just hate classical music in general:

4′33″ (cage)

a lot of these pieces apply in multiple categories, but I sorted them by which I think they match the most. have fun exploring classical music!

also, thank you to viola-ology, iwillsavemyworld, shayshay526, eternal-cadenza, tropicalmunchakoopas, shadowraven45662, and thelonecomposer for adding on! if you would like to add on your own suggestions, please reblog and add on or message me so I can give you credit for the suggestion!

[pianopianica]

Classical Music Asks!

Because why not.

Do you remember your first lesson, how was it?

How long have you been studying music?

What is your greatest strength in music?

What do you need to work better on in your music?

What piece made you fall in love with your instrument?

What is your ultimate have to play piece?

What instrument would you like to learn how to play?

What is a funny story related to music that you know?

Does your instrument have a name?

Who is your favorite alive artist?

Who is your favorite passed away artist?

Where in the world does your favorite traditional music come from?

Do you have perfect pitch?

What would you advise a person who is struggling with their music learning?

What are you grateful for, related to your music?

Have you tried composing your own music?

Who is your favorite composer?

Do you know of many female composers?

Have you played anything by a female composer?

Have you played anything by an alive composer?

Why did you start learning your instrument?

What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned through your music lessons?

Do you have any music friends, e.g. friends that you’ve met through music? How are they?

When do you feel the happiest, music-wise?

What music genre do you listen to the most?

What was your absolute worst performance?

What was your absolute best performance?

Has anything embarrassing happened to you, regarding music?

How long do you practice each day?

Do you practice every day?

What performance advise do you have?

Have you ever cried because of your music learning?

Have you gone through struggles related to music?

Have you every cried because of a beautiful piece?

What do you feel when you stand in front of the audience when you take a bow before your performance?

What do you feel when you stand in front of the audience when you take a bow after your performance?

How was your first teacher?

How was your best teacher? What made them different?

What makes a good teacher?

How do you memorize a piece?

How do you sight read?

How do you sight sing?

How do you practice?

How is a normale practice session for you?

Do you plan your practice session, how?

What is the hardest piece you’ve played?

What is the funnest piece you’ve played?

Have you played in a non-classical band?

Have you played in a chamber group?

What is your favorite chamber music piece?

Have you participated at a music festival? How was it?

Have you performed for 50+ people?

Have you performed for 100+ people?

Have you performed for 200+ people?

Have you played a 30+ min piece?

Have you performed a full (1hour 30min) recital programme?

What is your biggest music dream?

Has music ever helped you dealing with non-music related situations?

What advice would you give a musician with stage fright?

Why do you love music?

[argerichs-steinway-blog]

I need to follow more music related blogs and be followed by more music related blogs.

Please reblog this if any of the following apply to you:

-You play an instrument -You study classical music -You love classical music -You play classical piano -You love classical pianists -You post about classical music -You love talking about classical music -You want to dedicate your life/you dedicate your life to classical music -You study in a conservatory -You want someone to talk to about classical music. -You love any of the following: *JS Bach *WA Mozart *LV Beethoven *Frédéric Chopin *Sergei Rachmaninoff *Robert Schumann *Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky *Edvard Grieg *Sergei Prokofiev *Dimitri Shostakovich *Francis Poulenc *Martha Argerich *Vladimir Horowitz *Arthur Rubinstein *Glenn Gould *Ivo Pogorelić *Claudio Arrau *Daniel Barenboim *Nelson Freire *Maurizio Pollini *Mischa Maisky *Gidon Kremer *Isaac Stern *Mstislav Rostropovich *Herbert Von Karajan *Charles Dutoit *Eugene Ormandy *Riccardo Chailly *Claudio Abbado *Luis Herrera de la Fuente *Jan Latham-Koenig

[viola-studies]

I started working on Bach’s Prelude to Suite No. 3 and my chair test cuts for Capriccio Espagnol so I can be ready for school in August. Because I haven’t been able to afford lessons this summer, I asked some of my friends from school for tips on fingerings and I’ve determined there’s 3 types of Violists: 

1. The ones who hate 2nd position and will do any string crossing they have to in order to avoid it. 

2. The ones who live and breathe by 2nd position, and will use it every chance they can (even over 3rd position). And, 

3. The mutants with hands big enough to stay in 1st. 

[viola-studies]

Introduction

Hi guys.

 I have never been a productive person. Like ever. But between the longing I’ve always had to start a studyblr, and the fact I’m starting college as a Music Education major in about two weeks (and hopefully I’ll they’ll let me at least minor in English since they refused to let me double major, we’ll see), I’ve decided I need to get my ass into gear.

Thus this blog. Viola-Studies. Killing two birds with one stone. Holding myself accountable. 

I hope to get to know you guys and make some friends in the muiscblr and studyblr communites! My post won’t be too consistent as of right now, but once school starts I’m going to hit the ground running! 

- Alyssa