Sectional / Workshop

Today was a less intense day of playing - I could have spent some more time practicing but I decided to take it easy for today. I practiced for about an hour in the morning and then we had a sectional (like a group lesson with Mark on the Mahler). Bass sectionals are always dissapointing - you don't really realize how out-of-tune the section is until you isolate us. I think that bad intonation in the bass section doesn't tend to come across to the audience like it would in other sections, but still, it would be nice if everyone could play in tune with eachother. During the sectional we also worked on spiccato, which is a certain bouncing bow stroke that is notoriously hard to do. Mark had an interesting approach to it where you focus on what your elbow is doing - I think that I'll play around with it more when I get home.

Mark played with the bass section during Mahler rehearsal today - that was pretty fun! It was great to have him there to give us comments on the spot. He's the only faculty member that has been playing with the orchestra - it's nice of him to do it! (he has played with us in a few rehearsals now when he is not rehearsing for the faculty recital)

After dinner was a workshop where the faculty as a group answered people's questons about auditioning and told stories from their own experiences, both auditioning and hearing auditions. It was really interesing, even though I'll probably never take a professional orchestral audition. Well, who knows ;). They also talked about the importance of stretching and exercising and being conscious of how you breath and tesnion in your muscles while you play. Then one of the violin teachers took us outside and showed us some yoga stuff - that was fun. After the workshop I walked with Isabel and Patrick to a coffee shop that was having an open mic night. They brought a cello and played some music - the people there really liked it! Especially the bach cello suites. I didn't bring my bass since we walked there, but maybe I will on Saturday when we go back - they are having some event there for Canada Day.

Woo - it's late! Time for bed :)