Start now

I'm going to shamelessly repost a blog I just read, which itself was a snippet of another blog...

Because it is so incredibly to the point about just getting started and the (often stupid) things we let stand in our way (hint: it's us, we stand in our own way). 

This is the post I suggest you read

There's a few f-bombs in there, so beware.  But it comes straight from her heart and can all be applied to your practice and your direction as an artist.  Set goals, be willing to change them.  Don't whine about your situation, do something.  Inform yourself.  (man, that one alone is worth the price of admission) 

One thing especially hits me: #10 complaining changes nothing, action changes everything.  There have been too many times I've felt I was discriminated against, bypassed or completely overlooked in the orchestra world.  And I spent my fair amount time of having a pity party.  But waking up from that and grabbing the reins of my own career and my own playing was the best thing I ever did.  For me that meant going back to get a Master's degree 10 years after getting my undergrad.  Renting two apartments so I could continue to work in Rochester while I studied full time in Pittsburgh.  Having very little social life for those two years while I racked up miles, practiced about 5 hours a day, gigged on the side, wrote papers for the degree, and took auditions for orchestra openings.  Best Thing Ever. 

Read it, I won't comment on it further.  But I'd love to hear how you feel about your practice and goals once you read it. 

Gaelen

Slo-Mo

This just tickles the nerd in me... so much!  I saw this video of a violin string being bowed shot at super slow speed so you can really see the oscillation of the string.  It's crazy!  Check it out for yourself, only a few minutes long, but you'll get the idea pretty quickly:

I'm not sure what to do with this new found knowledge.  I'd love to say: apply it this way!  But sorry, it's going to take me a minute more to figure this out.  Meanwhile, enjoy the macro world of slow speed photography.

Happy practicing!
Gaelen