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It has been a year of injury and annoyance for me. But there have also been some amazing things that have happened this year! I've had to delay auditions and stop playing violin for about a week or more at a time. If you can stretch and keep your body in tip top shape, you'll really benefit as a musician. And I don’t know, THINK ABOUT ALL YOUR MUSCLES ALL THE TIME.... You would think I would learn that maybe a fire arms class, an intense lesson, practicing and a workout would probably exacerbate an old injury. 🙄 I can still teach and play a bit but every day it gets better. It all kind of started right after the hurricane. Which I still can’t even talk about yet. Houston has definitely suffered but we are pulling together and getting though it all!

That all being said, I have to figure out how to stop over working my left wrist. I have apparently been twerking it in a weird way that it hurts so much I have to stop playing. Now that I am done playing for the holiday season, I can think more about my movements and everything I am doing that causes the pain. I took the last few days off and have noticed a few things about my technique that make things a bit better. Do any of my musicians friends have any good stretching techniques or tips other than stop playing? That’s just not an option. I have an audition in the middle of February and I cannot see myself doing it if this pain doesn’t stop. I will try Tiger balm and Kinesio Tape tonight. Even after a couple hours of teaching (not even full on playing or practicing) the muscles in my wrist and arm are inflamed.
I have a book called “Playing (Less) Hurt” by Janet Horvath. I’ve heard amazing things about this book and it’s finally time to read it! (I’ve had it since 2011 🤦‍♂️)

That all being said, I’ve finally figured out that my wrist has just been working too hard. I usually do wrist vibrato and I love my vibrato. NowI have to change it up a bit and do arm vibrato to let me wrist heal a bit. I’ve also realized that my fingers love to fly off of the fingerboard dramatically when I am playing. I think it’s a habit I picked up playing mostly Celtic music growing up.
I do love watching my idols and friends play and studying their technique. Almost all of my idols growing up fit wrist vibrato and I remember learning it in 7th grade.
So friends and colleagues, what type of vibrato do you do and How have you had to reshape your technique to help your muscles and playing?

Happy 2018!! Obviously my resolution is to practice more and be more aware of my playing to not overwork my wrist as well as a few other personal things.
Working out more (I already fail that on the first day of the new year) 🤔
Cooking more
Saving money
Spending more time with my puppy
Singing more (I secretly want to be a backup dancer/ singer)
Being a happier and nicer person
Drive less
Getting more rest

What are some of your resolutions?

So two things of no importance...
Item 1, It's Shark Week
Item 2, I just got rid of my cable... #TVaddictfail #Sharkbait #Oohhaha

NOW to the real blog post;
Since my last post, I've been decluttering, cleaning and selling all my useless possessions. (HOORAY)
I love seeing my house open up and seeing things go to people that will use them! After taking some time to myself and looking at what I want to do with my life, I've come to the radical conclusion that I am just not 100% sure yet. I do have dream jobs!
Want to know what they are?
Me too. ;)

I've started taking steps to realizing my dream and making them a reality. Not only do these dreams take place in the music world, but also in my personal life. I have a lot of self progress that I want to accomplish this year. I am now 27 and am not where I thought I would be in my life. In all honesty, I've never really thought about where I would be after college. My career is getting there but all things stem from being happy with yourself. I'm happy but there are still many things left to make sure I'm completely happy with myself and my life.

Eating healthier to ensure my body can handle all the performance and practice that I want to do for the rest of my life is my biggest goal. I hope this will help me lose weight and feel more comfortable in myself. This means a more energetic performance from me.

How many of you have come up with a successful diet? I'm finally cutting gluten out and running at least 4-5 a week. I probably need to cut out carbs but I'll start that soon.
When I run, it is a way to clear my head AND think of new ways to further my career. That being said;

I have some amazing things planned for my Electric Quartet that I will announce very soon! I'm really looking forward to getting back into the classical crossover scene.
I'll leave you with the little gem I recorded years ago! #MondayMemories

Have a happy week!!

I think I am still in vacation mode but I think it's me trying to Do Less. While I was on vacation I started reading Do Less by Rachel Jonat. It really gave me a sense of relaxation in my thoughts as well as what I was going to do once I get back home! Or maybe it was the waves crashing on the beach...

EITHER way I was ready to start getting rid of crap I didn't need at home just after the first few chapters. My list consists of Beanie Babies, a couch, dvds and a Blueray Player and more!

That all being said I feel well rested and like I want to move somewhere with beautiful water not too far away. I did a lot of walking/ hiking, eating AMAZING Puerto Rican food, enjoying their beautiful beaches and enjoying San Juan Day and Pride! My colleague and I tried to see a concert while we were there but the time was posted incorrectly. So we just wandered around Old San Juan. If you have never been, you need to go!!

The food was amazing, the beaches were stunning and the people there were so kind and beautiful! I had never been to Puerto Rico and really wasn't sure what to expect but I would go back in a heartbeat!

I love asking people questions and seeing what your responses are! Where are some of the most beautiful place you've visited and why was it so stunning?

So this past Sunday, I was asked to play in a recital given by one of my mentors. Aside from my nerves and cold fingers, it was going fairly well! I played better than I thought in the moment. However, I was not without my flaws.
I was performing Mozart's Violin Concert No. 5 in A Major! I love this concerto!
So I'm going through it and making most of my shifts. (I still have a lot to work on) But then I get to my couple measures of rest and think it's safe to lower my violin and turn the page. (I think it's only a total of 10-12 beats then right back in) I turn to the final two pages of the exposition (the ones I was most concerned about playing) and all of a sudden I hear a THUD!
............ I look down and see my shoulder rest just laying there. And believe you me, it came at the WORST possible moment in this concerto for me. I thought in my head one of those lovely four letter words which should not be said out loud in public but I was completely out of time and had to continue on to the next passage!

So having to adjust ALL of my shifts and intonation to compensate for the lack of support under my instrument, I struggled may way through (giggling slightly with the occasional eye roll) to the end of the 1st movement. There was no time to pick the shoulder rest up and the show MUST go on! So I just kept going. No matter what, I had to keep going! Hopefully the other students learned from my mistake and will do the same if something befuddles them during a performance!

Needless to say, I've switched shoulder rests, YET AGAIN... ;)

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