Name: Ved

Grade: 8th

Level: Chamber

Instrument: Viola

 

Comment from Mr. Krijnen:

Ved is being recognized for a variety of reasons, including his outstanding leadership as a violist, his consistency in preparation, and his generous nature in supporting those around him. As a TA, Ved is always engaged and has developed an excellent balance of strength, support, and flexibility with his students. He is a clear and thoughtful communicator, and his leadership continues to make a positive impact on the classroom environment.

Ved is consistently kind toward others, and, as one of our strongest musicians, he carries himself with humility—modeling for others the best way to grow and contribute. His impact will only continue to expand, and I am so proud of the person he is becoming!

 

How long have you been playing?

3-4 yrs

 

What sparked your interest in playing this instrument?

Honestly, I really wanted to play an instrument ever since I was a child. My parents really encouraged me to join the wonderful Simonds Orchestra program led by Mr. K, and I really enjoyed playing viola.

 

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

I really like a lot of the variety of pieces that Mr Krijnen gives us, as we play many genres of music. My favorite music piece is probably Take 5, originally written for piano and solo saxophone. It is really a wonderful jazz piece, one of my favorites.

 

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

I really like a lot of classical music, as it gives me a sense of accomplishment by playing music that was written centuries ago. Haydn, Mozart, Bach, and Schubert are some of my favorite composers. I also like a lot of modern compositions, from composers such as Soon Hee Newbold and Richard Meyer, a lot of which we play at our concerts.

 

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

One thing that gave me a lot of trouble as I was learning was mainly the bow. Handling something without tensing my fingers and still going fast was something that took me a while to understand. To others, I would say definitely go slow while practicing, and make sure to concentrate and actively observe what is going wrong with your posture to fix it.

 

Any words of wisdom or encouragement for your peers?

Remember, as Mr. K says, even if you are feeling a little behind, always remember that this is an incredibly accelerated program. So even if you are behind, you are actually ahead of others your age. And never forget to practice!