A little sentimental journaling
The first day I arrived back at Orford, I was practicing the second movement of this sonata late in the evening, exhausted by all the challenges that have been overwhelming me these past few weeks, and suddenly I began to feel myself tearing up ... which happens often when I’m working on in incredible music like this. But this time, as I went on repeating that section where the main theme returns, I just allowed the raw emotions to take over, and soon I was crying uncontrollably. It felt almost indulgent, to just let myself weep like that as I kept playing. At a certain point, my fingers came to a standstill, but I still couldn’t stop the tears, so I just sat there in the silence, sobbing until I drained out all those emotions.
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It’s not about being perfect …
It’s not about being perfect. It’s that we are real, sincere, spontaneous. Take risks and commit to our beliefs, take confidence in our ideas and embrace our strengths and limitations. Find joy and excitement in the unknown, unexpected, unpredictable.
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Rachmaninoff Piano Sonata No.2
I love that the music we study is so in-depth and powerful and endless in insight and possibilities that everytime we come back to them we discover new perspectives and gems and details - this new enlightened, renewed fascination with the same notes we’ve been repeating and perfecting for so many tireless hours. There’s always more, more to find, more to improv, more to do justice for. And it’s so worth it. We grow and change and mature with our music, and I love experiencing and becoming aware of that constantly developing relationship.
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The Japanese Lover, Isabel Allende
"Happiness is not exuberant or noisy, like pleasure or joy; it's silent, tranquil, and gentle; it's a feeling of satisfaction inside that begins with self-love."
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A Day in Hamburg zu Fuß (by foot!)
:D it’s been such a relaxing and amazing feeling to just wander into a cute coffee shop, put my feet up for a while, and read a beautiful book while sipping a cappuccino. A lot of getting the feel of the city is just that - getting the feel of it. The atmosphere, the mood of being there. Not necessarily seeing anything or doing anything particularly active or ‘special’. Sitting at a cafe or visiting a bookstore could do exactly that. And having a book on hand makes you feel comfortable there, like you belong there, you’re enjoying a special, peaceful time to yourself - you’re exactly where you want to be.
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