Music

picture of dimly-lit sheet music

A whole new page?!

Yes, child, a whole new page just for music. Though I already have a section on the main page with weekly music recs, it simply isn't enough. This shall be a sanctuary for even more music reccomendations, yappings about artists and composers, my experience in/with music, and even more. In the near future I will have a space for YOU, dear reader, to submit your own song recs because ⋆˙⟡ community bonding ✧˖°. For those of you who do play an instrument, have you practiced today. Should you have practiced today? Will you practice today? Why- ok I think you get it now. Each mini blog thing is in chronological order.



What I'm currently working on (june 2026)

I am free from auditions (big auditions, I still have a seating audition for camp in july,) until ILMEA is due at the beginning of october. Such a relief oh my goodness geeze. I've been doing auditions allll schoolyear and now I can finally rest. This past week, I haven't been playing much so I can relax and just give myself time to decide what I want to work on technically for viola next. With this past youth orchestra audition I was afraid I was going to injure myself, my hands started to do weird clicky things and my wrists started hurting and that is NOT good. They should teach us how to actually stretch and warm up because I don't know how to do that. When I do start practicing again, I'll be working on some Back stuff (urgh), technical improvements, ILMEA district material, and eventually the excerpts for camp. I also need to learn bass clef so then I can actually read notes when (attempting) to play cello. And I haven't touched my violin since school ended. I'm allowing myself to not feel The Guilt because (unfortunately) breaks can actually be really important and helpful. (Especially at higher levels where you're playing symphony things and parts of concertos.) I've also been listening to this book on practicing and the science behind it and I would highly recommend reading or listening to it. (It's called "Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing" by Molly Gebrian.) I should probably practice now. Viola. Yes.


My CDs

Due to AI and big corporations and stuff, I've been trying to buy CDs secondhand rather than rely on phone music apps (spotify). They're usually a lot cheaper ($1!!) and you might find things that you wouldn't normally listen to otherwise. It's been a nice way for me to find orchestral pieces and such that I'd never heard before getting the CD. I wish I had a record player as well, but those tend to cost more and I don't feel like spending money on that when my family and I already have manyy CDs. Some of these CDs I did, in fact, steal from my parents but it's ok.

What I have been listening to as of late within my collection (2026)


Life in music

It's kind of crazy how all of my closest friends are in either band, orchestra, or choir. I love you, music people. This summer I'm going back to music camp, the same one I went to last year. There's nothing quite like playing your instrument all day until you feel like you could fall asleep in the middle of rehersal. Speaking of which, shout out to All-State (the music conference, not insurance,) for making me insanely tired. I had a great time though. Peoria. I will add onto this later.


If I knew how to make and layer sound for videos, I would definetly do my own covers of pieces on violin and viola. I want to post something with me player (even if just on tumblr,) eventually. Mostly to find other musicians out there.


Everyone is connected.


Random Facts from my Brain

This section of the page is brought to you by my occasional wikipedia excursions.

Stravinsky (Russian 20th century composer) married his first cousin and had to go to another town to be officially wed because it was illegal where he lived (reasonably so...) and later had a super long afair with an american lady once they moved to the U.S. Him and his wousin (wife-cousin) also had 4 kids. Yikes. But ya know he wrote a ton of good stuff like The Firebird and Rite of Spring and stuff so. Oh well he's dead anyway.


Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony was premiered nine days before his death. He was said to have died from cholera after drinking contaiminated water, but by his time, people knew to properly boil water to make it safe to drink. Because of this, many think that his death was not as straight forward as it may seem. The symphony itself is extremely emotional and is called "Pathétique" (as in very passionate, not pityful,) almost as if he knew he was dying. (Though it is said that the symphony was for his nephew who he was "deeply fond of"- in love with- gross I know. what's up with all the incest guys.) Some speculate that he actually died from arsenic poisoning, as it has similar symptoms to cholera, as a way of suicide, or if the Russian government wanted to eliminate him because he was a homosexual.


AURRRGGGGHHHHHH

I LOVE TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONY NUMBER 5 SO MUCH!!!!! IT IS SO WONDERFUL!!! EVERY MOVEMENT IS SO GOOD!!! I AM SO GRATEFUL TO OWN THE STUDY SCORE BECAUSE IT'S SO GREATTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHOUT OUT: BERLIN PHIL.


Youth orchestras. (may/june 2026)

I'm not really doxxing myself by saying this because I already have my state in my About Me page so this isn't huge. Please don't doxx me. Also, nobody really looks at this anyway so I'm not that concerned.

A lot has happened since my first little tidbit on this page about what I was working on with violin and viola. For one, school is over so no more schorchestra and no more playing violin in ensembles until august. The concert for that was pretty good, but sad because some of my seniors are leaving. (More about that will probably be in my About Me blog space. I don't want to clutter up this music page.) Let me start from the top. (Yap incoming...) The day was the 22nd of May, I had just finished all of my finals and I was tired as hell, so I took a nap, as one does. I had really bizarre dreams, but the main one was: I was looking for the rehearsal room I was supposed to be and couldn't find it, but I heard a symphony in my head that I had never heard before. I then tried to write it down, but I couldn't get out of the dream. It was one of those where you keep thinking that you're awake, but in Reality you're still asleep so it takes a while to wake up. When I finally woke up I check my phone, expecting a text from my best friend, but instead was faced with an email from the top youth orchestra in the state and one of the best internationally: CYSO. I had submitted the audition months ago, it was one of my worst, I felt. But I made it into the top ensemble. What..?

Now, most people in my situation would probably be ecstatic with joy. I was not, only because this now means that I will most likely have to pick between the flashy youth orchestra and the symphony which I have been dreaming of being a part of. The other orchestra, EYSO is where I know more people and has a friendlier environment and the main director is someone I would really want to work with. Just yesterday I had my auditon for EYSO. It went okay. I am super frustrated because I was by no means underprepared, my nerves just made me mess up everything. I've been practcing so for long for this, but my bow was incredibly shakey and I was all too nervous. We will just have to wait and see how it all turns out. Hopefully me and my friends get into the same orchestra. The top one there. Because if I get into the main EYSO ensemble, I will kiss the sweet and extravagant CYSO life goodbye. I'm incredibly grateful to be in a position where I have to make such a decision, but man is this difficult. My pro-con lists can't save me now. Hopefully this all makes sense grammatically because I don't feel like going back and reading all that. Ciao. (hello evan.)


Even more thoughts on orchestra (how is that possible?! kidding.)

My friend, we'll call her C, said something like, "I'll give you a million dollars if you don't get into EYSO [ys.]" I'm loving the confidence from basically everyone I've talked to, they all think I'll get in, but other factors are always at play. Both C and I auditioned for both youth orchestras, we both made CYSO, and now we're both anxiously awaiting the audition results which should come out either tomorrow or the day after. (Today is sunday, 7 june.) I have another mutual friend, I'll call him D, who is also trying to get into ys. The hope is that we all get in, my friend A too, and then everything will be happy and joyous. It will even bring jollity, if you will. (Haha iykyk.)

I've tried to talk to as many that I can about the whole youth orchestra thing, because choosing is a big deal (for me and C, at least.) I talked to two of me teachers, my peers, etc. and though I have a general decision made, I'm just afraid that I will regret not choosing the other. I could technically spend one year with each, if I were to re-audition again in the spring, but I only have two years left of highschool and don't want to jump between the two. Decisions decisions. I shall update in two days time with my choice.

ugh today is six seven day.


Youth symphony (9 june 2026)

The wait is over. (As I kind of expected, and so did other people,) I made it into the other youth orchestra. All of my friends who were auditioning for that one made it too. I'm going to do that one, even if it isn't the "number one best," (this is cheesy,) it's about the people and the community. (And convenience let's be honest.) I can finally stop worrying and focus on a more planned out (youth) orchestra future lol. When I got the email I lowkey started shaking, and then it took several minutes for the website to work. That was quite a stressful six minutes there. I am so joyous. Good thing my friend C and I both got in so she doesn't have to give me a million dollars because she would be in debt !! (jokes, jokes.) There are still updates to come because I don't know if C is going to do this orchestra or CYSO. Friend D said he's gonna do EYSO and we knew A was going to make it. We get our repetoir for the first concert cycle in july and I don't have to worry about seating auditons I'm so excited.

ugh today is 69 day. how does this keep happening.


A Prediction (June)

I think we're going to play Carmina Burana by Orff for the first concert cycle. With the adult choir. I think the viola part will be super boring unfortunately. I will update this in about a month in a half when I get my music. If I win this bet you have to give me ten dollars or 1,000 euros.



Are you feeling lost?

Take the train home.

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