Last Monday I had my final year piano concert, I wanted to make a post about it once I had a video recording of me performing the piece (Dream of Olwen), but due to time constraints I’m not sure if that will happen any time soon so I decided to move on and hopefully come back to it later

For many years I’ve spent a great deal of energy only blogging about what I think people want to read, as opposed to what I want to type and I am determined to leave that bad habit behind in the new year, I have so many ideas, concepts and just parts of me I want to share with anyone and everyone!

Currently I am moving waterscape.cc and all it’s contents over to my main server, I’m trying to make it so all my websites are located on the same server, saves money and a lot of hassle too. Instead of reinstalling Word Press, I will be developing my own blogging tool. In fact I have already begun, but it is a slow process for someone who hasn’t coded anything solid for the last 2 years. I hope to open it to the public early 2009 and slowly build on it as time allows

At my new home I hope to expand my blogging to many areas that cover all my interests. I’m still not sure whether it would be smarter to open a few different blogs with specialised subjects or just lump everything into this weblog. I’m leaning towards the former currently at the advice of some friends. If you have a better suggestion, feel free to email me!

If there was ever a perfect CD that could match exactly the sort of music I enjoy and hope to compose one day, it would be Classical Trancelations. It’s a beautiful CD that translations all the famous trance pieces into a classical format. I can’t recommend this CD enough, if you’re like me! Classical musician with a passion for trance, get this CD!

Today was I fortunate enough watch the MSO (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) perform, with Robin Ticciati (exceptional young talent, only 25!!) as the conductor and the famous Emanuel Ax as the pianist. The pieces were:

Frank Bridge’s The Sea

• Seascape
• Sea-foam
• Moonlight
• Storm

Frederic Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.2, Op.21

• Maestoso
• Larghetto
• Allegro vivace

Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No.5 in E flat, Op.82

• Tempo molto moderato
• Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
• Allegro molto

I’m only going to talk about the Chopin piece, mainly because that was the one Emanuel Ax performed in, this entry would be far too long if I reviewed the entire performance. And after all, I am a pianist

This particular Piano Concerto is easily one of Chopin’s more popular pieces, I had previously listened to Dong-Hyek Lim‘s version of it (a pupil of Emanuel) and loved it, so I was sure the teacher would be the same, if not better.

I think my only complaint was during the first movement, now and then I felt like the piano bits were getting lost within the orchestra. Though this could be how it normally should be, since I’ve only listened to the piece live once, all the other times were via recordings which are usually altered to enhance the piano.

I really loved the sweet recurring theme, it adding this dainty touch to an otherwise powerful and strong piece.

My favourite movement was the third, I’m just a sucker for any piece that pushes a pianist’s technique and Emanuel’s was exceptional, left me in awe. I found the piano part far stronger than the previous two, and I love how smooth, yet fast the interchanging was between the orchestra and piano, extremely precise.

After the concerto, Emanuel surprised us with an encore and performed Chopin’s E Minor, a beautiful slightly sombre piece. This is a very popular piece among my peers at my piano school so I’ve heard it played many times, but no surprise Emanuel’s version ranks high on my list

Overall, a musically enriched day! For any locals who are classically inclined, I highly recommend attending. There is a second session going on, this Monday (16th of June) at 8pm, at the Melbourne Concert Hall~!

*haha* NOT funny to kill entire mobs on WOW only to have some idiot waiting from behind so they can run in and steal the chest. Sometimes I think common courtesy just flies right out the door on this games Now I remember why I stopped playing! @_@;;

Eric Jordan is a genius (and my long-time online hero), if you’re in need for some chillout inspiration, check out his latest mixes.

Tomorrow will mark being sick for exactly one week, fortunately Flipper is not as ill as she was last week but still She goes from coughing, to sore throat, to fever/headache, to now feeling very nauseas. And she’s been spending most of her time sleeping, so at least she’s well rested! *^^*

The Master class was excellent! *^^* It went so well, according to Flipper’s teacher, “you’re best public performance yet”. So uplifting~ ^_^ She has another concert to perform at in one and a half weeks~ Same piece, so she’s excited! ^^

Anyways, really just came online to just grab from assignments and print out tomorrow’s lecture notes so Flipper can read them as she’s resting! Bye~

Yep, Flipper = total idiot! Master Class application is strictly due seven days before the actual class, the class is next week Sunday! Everything is closed tomorrow and Monday is the earliest, but Monday is already a day late. Yep! Flipper = LOSER! LOSER! >_< Can’t wait to hear piano teacher yell at Flipper on Tuesday for being so disorganised @_@

*goes to web design* Ahh… web designing… always eases the pain…

Ah! This isn’t working, Itunes is really bad for ripping music off CD! I’ll popst the links again when I get it right! Sorry everyone ^^;

In the Uni computer Labs

Toby – Do your work!
Me – ;_;
Toby – Do it!
Me – *does parts of it*… *draws pictures*
Toby – Do your work!
Me – ;_; *does a little more*…. *flips through diary*
Toby – -_-; Work! Do it, now!
Me – ._. … ^_^
Toby – >_<
Me – ;_; *little more work*
Toby – I got to go to my tutor meeting, I’ll be back later! *goes*
Me – >:D (nows my chance to be bad!!!) *goes on LJ*

Flipper is bored! And she doesn’t feel like doing work right now So she’ll ramble on in her LJ for a bit~ <3

Umm, she was just thinking how exhausting playing that Chopin’s Waltz is, requires so much energy and strength >_< Wonder if Flipper’ll get some wrist or bone problems if she keeps straining her wrists all the time O_o; Maybe better not stiffen joints so much when playing~ *lalala—random random*

There are so many of those real-life crime shows on nowadays, Flipper’s parents are addicted to almost all of them because they think that’s how they will learn to stay safe, by “studying” the actions of past criminals. but they are so scary >< Flipper had to leave the light just outside her bedroom on all night cause she got scared ;_; <~~ Baby!

Easter weekend starting tomorrow Can’t have too much fun cause SO much Uni work is due right after, but still Since Daddy has time off work, we’ll all plan something fun for sure! ^_^

Oh gosh, typing this entry only took like…5 mins? >_< She has another 40 mins to kill before German-man (Toby) comes back to yell at her again O-o; *thinks thinks thinks*

Oh wow, so this will definitely make Flipper sound like a whiner, but the weekend was even worse. And finished off with the worst start to the week ever, in more ways than one But you know, gotta keep going and just be strong Sometimes it takes a crisis to show you who are your real friends, Flipper is lucky to have them~ ^_^

Now the silver lining, Flipper’s piano is going good! *^^* She has her first real master class in two months, and she feels so ready to tackle it! She actually can’t wait, because this time she has practiced really hard and knows she really is putting in 100% *^^*

Flipper hates / loves The Queens Victoria Market! @_@; She hates it because it is so dirty, crowded and people there are generally very rude. And things there aren’t that much cheaper than a lot of shopping centers nowadays X_x; So was not worth the long drive to get there

However, she loves it because she was introduced to River Tribe, an Australian band that is similar to most Chill Out bands, only they inherit a lot of their style from various different genres and cultures. Jazz, House, Celtic, Italian, Aboriginal / African, Pop etc. They are officially Flipper’s current favourite band, and being able to stand there watching them play live was just the added bonus because each member of the group has to play almost 2 – 3 instruments at the same time in order for everything to sound perfect! She just had to buy their CD~ XD;

Aside from needing a better website and a much better CD design to match their awesome talent, these guys rock! Check them out Their music is inspirational~ <3