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Name: Merryn

Grade: 8th

Level: Avant/Chamber

Instrument: Violin

How long have you been playing?

3-4 yrs

What sparked your interest in playing this instrument?

I have always listened to classical music since I was young, and I always wanted to know more about the instrument that made that music and maybe learn how to play it myself.

What is your favorite musical piece that you've played?

My favorite musical piece that I’ve played is most likely Concerto No.5 in D Major, Op. 22, 1st Mvt (Seitz) from the Suzuki Book #4. Going to the fourth Suzuki book was really exciting and that piece was the first one I played in that book and I remember it being extraordinarily fun.

What type of music do you most like to play and why?

I love to play classical music because there is such a wide range of it. You can have classical music that is very strict and neat but then you can also have classical music that sounds strange but… wonderful at the same time. Like it all clicks together.

What is giving/gave you the most trouble while learning, and what advice would you give to others having similar difficulties?

For the longest time I flexed my right hand wrist so that it was very rigid and tense. Doing this led to a major block in my progress. New bowing techniques were impossible and playing quickly was hard. However, as soon as I started breaking down what I was doing wrong and focused on smaller problems that led to the bigger issue, I was able to make much more progress and my wrist became a lot more flexible and relaxed. The advice I would give to others having similar difficulties is that breaking things down makes the problems seem much smaller and that having focused practice is much more efficient than rushing.

Any words of wisdom or encouragement for your peers?

Practice never makes perfect, but you'll always make progress. Nothing worthwhile is easy.