so-tee-YAY!

I'm almost done here at the Kent/Blossom festival. I had my last orchestral repertoire class with Robert Vernon (principal violist of the Cleveland Orchestra) today, I perform the Beethoven Op. 18 No. 2 string quartet on Saturday, and then I'm done.

I've really enjoyed this festival and I would definitely consider coming back next year. I have learned a lot from Mr. Vernon and look forward to when he publishes his book on how to play the orchestral excerpts.

Mr. Vernon taught me the sautille stroke (pronounced SO-tee-yay with the emphasis on the first syllable unlike my punned title) at my lesson this week and now for the first time in my life I really understand how it works. This is very important because it's impossible to play some of the orchestral excerpts without it. I spent a substantial amount of time on it yesterday and played it for him again today and he said that it was a lot better.

I won't have a break before school because I want to work on the excerpts for the two auditions I have coming up in September. It's very important that I take every audition seriously and with respect even if it's a community orchestra. Besides that I have a lot of fellow students from the Cleveland Institute of Music that will be auditioning as well and I have a lot of respect for their ability so I have to be as prepared as possible.

I never stop reading though so I might put a book review or two up in the interim.