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​Musings

These posts are my musings and cover many topics.  Some posts will be observations that I have made over my lifetime...some will be what I call, truisms.  Truisms that I have developed from having to deal with the tough situations life sometimes deals us.  I developed these little philosophies to help me avoid a situation in the future or  to allow me to have a better outcome the next time around.  All observations, truisms , and whatever other post this blog contains are  based on my own personal experiences and  opinions.  Hopefully, some post will be of some help to someone in a situation or  give someone another perspective...another way of looking/thinking about a situation that is helpful.  I love writing these posts and I appreciate you  reading them :-)

Please be aware there is a NEW  feature added to  some of the Musings.....AUDIO....There will be an audio bar on those Musings that offer this option.....You may not feel like reading at that moment....now you may listen:-)

Quote:

"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."- Gibran

DEAD ON THE SIDE....AND ..HAPPY ABOUT IT !

3/4/2014

2 Comments

 
This musing is dedicated to all those out there, in the world, striving and pursuing their dreams.  I have one word to say to you....my favorite music word...BRAVO !!!!!!
In the past 10 days or so, I completed a major cello work.  Hadyn's Cello Concerto in D Major....Adagio .....I have been working a minimum of 4 hrs a day...sometimes more.(most days)..for 3 months.   I knew from the moment I started it I loved it..it was in my heart.... and I wanted to learn it very badly.  For those of you who read my musings,  it is another finish line for me.   This piece is a professional level piece and way above my pay grade but , I felt, that if I invested everything I had , I could do it.   Three weeks ago I was very close, but ,needed more time...more work...my teacher said I was doing all things right but I needed more time to train my brain/muscles so I took a sabbatical from lessons.   A sabbatical to work until I could not do better....it was a gift I had to give myself.  I did not do this with the E minor(Brahms) and I regretted it...I'm still thinking about it months and months later.  I was not going to do this with my Haydn.  So, I told my teacher, I would call when I was done .

I have always had a philosophy about  doing my best.  Although goal oriented, I never minded if I didn't meet my expectation level ( I do not care about someone else's expectations at all), if I did my best...gave it my best effort....Everyone has heard that phrase...but, what does it mean.....I have a favorite saying that tells clearly what it means to  me....it is in the Vitamins for the Mind section of this site:

"Resolve says, "I will".  The man says"I will climb this mountain.  they told me it is too high, too far, too steep, too rocky and too difficult.  But it is my mountain. I will climb it.  You will soon see me waving from the top or dead on the side from trying."  Jim Rohn

This saying of Mr. Rohns says it all for me....my best effort is being dead on the side from trying...metaphorically , of course :-)....to me, it means I am exhausted mentally and physically and burned out from trying and working.  Then I know ,I can't do better.  I am happy with what I have done even though I may have fallen short of  my expectations.

So, I took the time on sabbatical to see just how far I could go in  my goal with this music.  It was gift to me.   It was so worth it and in the future when I have something I want to learn , I am giving  myself all the time I need to learn it until I can do no more....This has made me very very  happy.  I have the recording sitting on my computer for my teacher this week .....did I meet my expectation level  for the Haydn ?...no, I did not...but, my level of expectation was  an impossible one to meet with the experience I have.   I know I did my best  because....I was dead by the side from trying.....and I was very happy and satisfied about it.

Fortunately, I do not expect another major  piece that I care about that much for a few months or so...that will be Chopin's Nocturne in Eb.....I have been waiting a long time to play this piece in the original Eb flat key.....so...I had better keep my favorite saying close by  to remind me of what it might take:-)


QUOTES:

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort." - Jesse Owens

"Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential." - Winston Churchill

"Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory." - Mahatma Gandhi

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle." - Napoleon Hill

"It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things." - 
Theodore Roosevelt


Last but, not least....one of my favorites:

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

2 Comments
Alexander Carlisle White
3/4/2014 12:39:39 pm

Very good examination of what it means to work hard, and if working hard were represented and defined in a book, your name would be listed among the definitions. I am convinced that you achieved what you set out to with the Adagio, and surely you will with the Nocturne in Eb. Keep up that mountain-climber attitude - there are many Mount Everests that you will come to conquer.

Reply
MELLOW CELLO link
3/4/2014 01:33:18 pm

Such a wonderful comment, Alexander....you know me too well, you are correct....i did not reach performance level on the Adagio...but, I got very very close..and in much of the piece...i did achieve it :-) it was those areas we discussed on FB recently...it is difficult ...even though technically correct...to get good sound in those areas...but I will....it just will require more work...the Chopin is mostly in those areas also...as is ...my final finish line...the Hadyn Violin Concerto....This is why Alexander so many people give up on their dreams...it is such excruciating work....you, Alexander, will definitely be one of the ones that accomplish what you set out to do....not only by your positive generous attitude but, by your diligent efforts and unfailing commitment...and also, something else that I have never mentioned on a musing but is truly critical for the hard haul....an inner drive fueled by excitement and enthusiasm. You have all that.....thank you again for reading and supporting my musings and always having kind words......

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    Who Am I ? 

    I am an adult female who is a cellist, composer, and a student of life experiences (by necessity).  I feel we are all students in life until the day we die.  I am, a realist and I try to stay grounded in what I feel is  the truth in any situation. I feel we have a responsibility to God, ourselves, and the people who love us to be the very best person we can be.

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