Bochsa octaves.

Worked on last 2 Prelude Intimes.

Knocked out more measures of Prelude 4.

Played many of the Solos for Harp Player.

Worked trouble spots in Fuga to bottom of 2nd page.

Gave myself blisters trying to get one measure of Arabesque 2.

Ran through exercises looking for repertoire - some Boscha might be good? Or Pozzoli?

Tried to do the Raymond Chandler way of practicing which is you don't hav to play, you just can't do anything else. It almost worked. I was completely beat just 10 minutes shy of the 2 hour mark, so I stopped. And of course, considered doing other harp-related things as fulfilling that goal anyway. But it's not.

I played a lot of different things, because of lack of concentration, however I feel I gained muscle.

And now, holy crap, must nap.

I'm writing this entry with my Bamboo tablet! My hand muscles were fatigued for some reason and didn't get any better the more I played and I didn't really feel like practicing today so just did some Bochsa etudes. To change things up l tried playing Major exercises in minor as I was as playing. My technique went to sh*t as I was figuring out if I was playing in natural minor, harmonic minor, or melodic minor. Ie. no sharps, 1# on the way up and down, or 2 sharps on the way up and none  on the way down. Also, key changes threw me for a loop because the circle of 5ths really does jack for me. I have to do the "it's the key that's a minor 3rd above" thing. It sounded more interesting, at least, and kept me more mentally engaged.

Exercising for today. Worked on website more.

Finger to the point it doesn't hurt when I play at all. Yay!

Poking around fixing behind the scenes things on the website and designing new pages.

Pinky better enough I could play with minimal pain, and of course, I played more than I planned - I missed playing severely.  Just did some exercises.

So tired - just played a few Etudes.

Audacity - organized and labeled all tracks.

I've been exercising, adjusting my harp, and letting it settle.

Today, I started work on Prelude 2, and had just decided to try to record again, when it started (loudly) pouring rain.  Another day then.

Harmonic Resonance

My grandmother's brass roses I have in an old raspberry soda bottle from Russia have a resonant frequency of about 65Hz. In case you were curious.

Fighting off a cold and feeling under the weather. The weather seems to be under the weather today, too. So I exercised for a little while focusing on relaxing.

Crocheting is not a less fatiguing substitute for knitting. Shaky, shaky hands.

Exercised.

Listened to Insónia and put in dynamic markings. We'll see if they help.

Going to compare Zarabanda versions later on this evening. Or I guess I should say "night".

New music. *sigh*

New blister. *sigh*

Just played exercises today. Trying to pay close attention to the sound I'm getting.

I need to learn not to make phone calls right after practicing. My brain doesn't work in a sequential manner. Can't. Sentence. Properly.

Passacaille might actually be close to being finished. I need to work on the endings for Var. IV, X, and XIII. And that might be it!

Prelude 1 is still coming slowly, but it is working. I vary between complete crap and flawless (I think) between one play and the next. How do I get the average to move more towards flawless?

Played through Notturno and Zarabanda. And a Bochsa.

And it all really only took 1.5 hours? I'm not sure I believe that.

Smashed my knuckles while tuning. Bandaid was distracting. You'd think after *mumble* years I would have figured out how to tune safely.

Two up one down does work, so keep using it! Except I'm overcoming a LOT of muscle memory in Rumba. Work on smooth transitions between phrases.

Today is a day I wish I could have played 3 hours or more. :(

Got out some old "theme and variations" pieces because my interest was piqued in class today.

This video features the lovely Catrin Finch playing harmonics. Watch until 2:36 (but the whole video is good):


Then take a look at the first measure of Bach's Prelude in D for Cello:

Specifically the first three notes. :)

Played lots of exercises, more than was absolutely necessary. But they are necessary.

Worked on more spots in 3rd movement. I had some scales starting out with 1 2 4, and I'm not sure why, but it's equally as difficult either way. So I guess I'm relearning it with 1 2 3.

Read through some of the list stuff. Can't wait to start work on them!

All my harp strings are now back in the right place. Nameless exercises and Bochsa.

Bochsa #27. Thumbs not so collapsy.

Timer set, hands fine after 30 min, so played 45, hands still fine. Well, if I don't count where I stabbed myself in the tip of my finger with my stitch ripper. And the teeny tiny little blister on my 4th finger.

Bochsa hurt tendons, stopped after 15 min.

(Flight) arpeggios @ ♪=160.