Change

One thing that has changed for me with practice, is that I have gained confidence that if I work on a difficult passage, day after day, I truly will improve in my ability to play it. I actually have the ability to play it well. I think the lesson is that practice actually does work.

Now of course this is not earth-shattering news. But in the past couple of years, it seems that I have always been tackling things that are so much bigger than me that I am gasping (literally) to keep up. Now I feel settled into a more stable routine, and I feel that my practice is daily making improvements in my ability to play the music I am setting myself to.

Speaking of which, I must start working methodically on the Student Symphony Beethoven piece. I'm doubling on the first bassoon part and while it is playable, it will take some work. We played it last Monday much more slowly than we will perform it, and at that speed, I surprised myself in how much I was able to play. At twice the speed - that is another question entirely.

I just worked on the 1st movement of the Shostie, and on three of my exercises from the Beeler book, which are coming along nicely. I am striving to play as cleanly as possible. I warmed up very slowly, and worked on my the high exercise Jack had given me - it came very nicely, very nicely.