Orchestra and Barbara

Yesterday was the first orchestra rehearsal at Prayner. I was nervous to go because it is in German, but I knew I would meet Carolyn, another one of Barbara's students that Ben told me to look out for. The school orchestra is tiny, and though Ben had said it was not very advanced and was more of a conductor's orchestra, I can't believe the group was so bad. We sight read Mozart Symphony no. 40, which is not difficult, and running the first movement with 3 student conductors did not help the ensemble improve in any considerable way. I enjoyed it for what it was, but after rehearsal Carolyn told me that it does not get any better. Ugh. We went out to get a drink at a restaurant around the corner from the school, which will probably become standard procedure. I got home after 6 and promptly passed out. Which ended up being a bad thing because later I couldn't fall asleep until after 3 in the morning. 

I had emailed Barbara to set up a time for my first lesson. I assumed that she would not have time this weekend and I would have a few days to pull my Tchaikovsky and Ysaye together. I was mistaken. She wrote back and asked me to come in right after Ben's lesson, at 12:30. Waking up early today took considerable effort because I got did not sleep well. I was nervous that I would play horribly for Barbara, but she was happy to see me and I immediately felt at ease. Like Ben said later, it's a safe place. Ysaye was decent but I didn't get far into Tchaikovsky. She asked me which hand was stronger, and I had to think about it. But it's clearly my left hand. I never focus on my bow arm and don't really know how to practice good right arm technique. She told me that my bow arm needed a lot of work in 2010. I'm glad she thinks my left hand technique is solid. And I'm excited to get help working on my bow arm. She sent me to a nearby music shop to buy a new chin rest, because my new Kreddle was way too high, even when I adjusted it to its lowest level. I had only changed chin rests about 3-4 days before I left for Wien, too! Oh well, she is adamant that a high chin rest is bad for your back, and I feel okay with my new low chin rest. I just need to continue to monitor my left shoulder for tension. 

After getting a new chin rest and rosin, Ben showed me one of the best kebap places in the city. It's close to Schwedenplatz and I will be going back often. I hope to not have any more jet lag tomorrow and after practicing I want to see some museums. Die Lange Nacht der Museen is coming up soon, too! Hopefully I'll hear back about this apartment as well. Otherwise, I might take over Barbara's son's apartment, even though it's more expensive than I budgeted. I can't thank Ben enough for allowing me to crash at his place for so long. It's starting to sink in that I'm here for the foreseeable future. And I'm very excited.