Shostie Sectional

We worked in quite a focused fashion on the Shostakovich, in our sectional tonight. FUN, FUN, FUN. And, that goal setting I did a week ago? It was the punch that took me over the big hurdle. Sure, I have things that I need to work on, and I need to work on them every day, but I am so getting it. I am playing this stuff with power, it feels good, I think it sounds good, and it'll just get better.

So, one week later, I want to work on the tricky passages in the Shostakovich every day, every single day. Work on my regular exercises. Maybe start working on the Student Symphony pieces every other day.

There has been a qualitative change in my playing in the last couple of months - Jack noticed it in a lesson before Christmas, as well. I'm not sure what to attribute it to, as there are several possible factors: Playing every day without fail for the last 100+ days; the focused trombone lessons with Jack; the sight singing lessons with Rick; ... curiously, I wonder if a primary factor might have been playing in the solarium on the Taku the day before Thanksgiving on my way to Wrangell. The feedback was so incredible and it was like I could hear myself, hear when I was in tune vs. out of tune, in a way that I don't think I've experienced before. I feel like I started hearing myself that day and it has stuck.

Of course, I have miles and miles and miles to go before I sleep, but something has indeed changed in my playing.