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!

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~!

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…

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% *^^*

Concert was SUCCESS! *faints* So tired! X_x; Thank you all for the warm wishes~ <3 *hugs for all* ^_^ You really have no idea how wonderful it makes Flipper feel, it really does help alot! So thank you again~ <3

Good news, and bad news. Piano lessons start NEXT week! There is still time to rush all of Flipper’s homework! *joy* Bad news, Flipper’s ex-piano teacher was put into a home about a year ago and she only just found out ;_; She was the nicest person on earth, and she only taught piano because she believed that music should be for all people, not just rich people. She was so kind, so Flipper plans to go visit her next weekend! *yep* Bring her pretty flowers and such

Ah! Flipper’s left leg is numb… O_O *shakes it* Ah! It feels funny! >_< I feels like it needs to be stretched, but Flipper can’t stretch it anymore than she is right now! *feels weird*

Bedtime bedtime! *hugs for all again* Night!

Created a new music portfolio site! See? Flipper said she’d get it done, and done it is. Well, not completely. There are still some “coming soon” parts, but for now it is finished, Water Notes.

Took Flipper six tries to get that photo with the piano keys right. And even after that she still had to edit it to look… good! ^^; Still, she’s proud

Credit goes to Flipper’s piano teacher who gave/taught her almost all the knowledge that is and will be going up on the site Enjoy~ And good night! *^^*

*heeeeee* XD, Flipper woke up to an email from one of the people running Manifest this year asking her whether she would like the be a panelist at this year’s Manifest Cosplay Panel, seeing as she is an “experienced” cosplayer. XD; *haha* Flipper is definitely NOT experienced, nor is she very hardcore. But when you think about the number of active online Australian cosplayers there really is only very few to pick from

Still! Even though she knows she’s certainly not the best pick for this panel, she is still really flattered nonetheless and feels rather motivated to get cracking on some more costumes

Piano is stress! X_x; Have four pieces now! Need one more *_* Argh! Going to make it a very simple piece too, because trying to learn five new-ish songs within three weeks is rather intense O_o;

Going out to get parking permit for Uni (so expensive X_x;) And and~ Going to try and register Toby as a tutor for this year too >:) *hehe* He is so smart, he was top student out of the entire degree for 3 out of 4 subjects last semester! Yeah, but he won’t ever tell anyone, so it’s up to Flipper to do all his advertising for him! XD; The fun thing is Flipper’s sibling is entering the SAME degree Flipper is currently in! So… Toby could end up as Sibling’s teacher! O_O! *hehe* How funny would that be? XD; Or awkward O_o; Either way~ *^^*

Feel very happy this morning for some odd reason Hope everyone has a lovely day/evening~ <3

Rantage! The concert deadline is drawing close, and Flipper is growing more and more anxious as each day passes. She has to have at least five pieces prepared for the concert, and she has none. Infact, she only is aware of two songs she would like to perform, and has no clue as to what the other three are. And to make matters worse (and this will sound really childish) but she’s never ever had to select her own pieces before, and she’s actually quite frightened of this.

All her life, her teachers have selected the piece she will perform, they’ve trained her and everything. And for the first time, she has to do everything on her own, and she’s scared to death that she’ll do something stupid, like choose a silly song, not play it the way it was intended to be played.

And yet at the same time, she’s excited. Because this is her first time! This performance will be all her, if she does well it’ll be because she can do it, and if she does poorly, same thing. So it’s like… after all these years of learning the piano, it’s the first time she’ll be able to step on stage, look at all the faces in the audience and know that what she has to perform is truly her own work. Perhaps, this is one step closer to the dream of being a real performer, eh? *^^*

Well, eventually Flipper will erect a site just for her piano nonsense, where she can babble on about her pieces and upcoming events/performances since she knows most of you are bored (only one person would be interested in reading and he doesn’t have access to read anyways!) by this sort of content! ^^;

So it’s finally the new year! SuzakuNU is officially five years old! So old, especially for a domain! *_* Umm, Flipper is an official 3rd year Uni student! Since Christmas it has been busy busy! Attending and inviting people over for lots of dinners and late late nights! Ah! On New years her guest stayed over till so late she couldn’t even stay awake to bid them farewell and just fell asleep! Bad Flipper XD;

As for tomorrow~ Two major things she wants to do! GO to Allan’s music store and spend lots of money on music sheets! Ah! She’s in LOVE with all this classical piano work, so wonderful~ <3 And go see Ladder 49~ Have no idea if it’s a good movie, but only one way to find out!