Fine Instrument Withdrawal

I had the fortune during my final semester at New York University to play on a the best cello I have ever played on. It was a Thomas Kennedy cello, made either in the late 18th or early 19th century. It belongs to my teacher, Marion Feldman and she loaned it to me for my grad school auditions as well as my senior recital. It was amazing. My confidence on this instrument (which I nicknamed Sir Bob) soared. I found interesting colors which I had been unsuccessful in finding on my personal instrument (a 1920 Juzek cello from Prague I nickname Princess Sophia).

Needless to say, with the end of my time at New York University I had to return Sir Bob to his rightful owner and I am left with Princess and my not-so-high-quality carbon fiber bow and it's difficult. Frustration and lack of endurance and confidence have settled back in as I find myself searching high and low for fragments of the sound that I was able to create with Sir Bob. Although there are moments when I can hear a beautiful moment lurking in the background, I know that the sound has probably reached its peak and won't become any more magical.

My goal for this summer is to try and find a bow that works properly for Princess. I think that will add a lot as far as finding all the many colors of my instrument that I know it has. I must say though that I'm incredibly inspired, however frustrated I am, to overcome the obstacle of my instrument and bow and one day reward all my effort with a nice cello of my own.

What the future has in store....

Recently I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Music from New York University. Although I am going to miss my friends, teachers, and New York City terribly I am incredibly excited to start the next stage of my life. So what exactly does my future have in store for me???? GRAD SCHOOL!

This fall I will begin my M.Mus. at Indiana University in the studio of Sharon Robinson. I'm looking forward to the change. I think it will help make me into a more versatile cellist. I will be inspired by different people and definitely a different environment. Right now, at the beginning of the summer, the fall seems like it will be so new and fresh, but I know as time approaches I will be growing steadily more nervous. Here's to excitement jitters!