INTRO Dear reader, although there hasn't been much progress, I am posting weekly updates as promised. For the newcomer, the project I am undertaking this semester is my first studio recording. Scroll down and take a look at previous posts to see what you have missed; what repertoire I will record; where will the recording take place; who will help; and more. Some things might have to change as I am currently suffering from pain in my left arm. I did not recover, reader. I fell into the trap of believing that my hand was fine, and used it, and made it worse. I quoted Saadi at the beginning of this post to remind that patience is a virtue. During hard times, one has to have the courage to wait patiently until things get easier. I read (or heard) somewhere: everything will be fine in the end; if it is not fine, it is not the end. So remember that whatever you are going through, it is not the end of the world! Are you a pianist? If the answer is yes, study the picture below. Are you a computer user? If the answer is yes (it should be, unless you are over 90 years old), study the picture below. The reason I posted the picture above is that I constantly forget about my posture, especially when sitting in front of the computer. I am sure many of us do. But all of us should not. Why? Because incorrect posture and especially wrong position of the head, which weighs around 5 kilos (wow), leads to muscle/tendon/nerve tension and possibly chronic injuries! I thank a colleague of mine at the University of Arizona, Fred Fox School of Music who referred me to this book for musicians of all ages - especially attractive to kids with its illustrations. You can click on the picture above or here to check it out on Amazon. I also thank my professor who reminded me of all this during our lesson, and for being patient with me. Important: be careful with correct posture and do not overdo it. "The enemies of our balance are posture and slumping", says professor who teaches body mapping at the University of North Florida, in this informative video on YouTube. WEEKLY UPDATE So what about my recording? As I refrain from practicing until my hand feels better, the recording sessions are pushed to April, when hopefully I will be 150% ready to record my pieces in the 2-4 hour slot in the studio. During this past week I focused on my academic responsibilities, which include studying and teaching, I did some mental practice, and read about the pieces I will perform. Oh! I also had to postpone my qualifying doctoral recital that was scheduled for March 21st! What I learned and recommend:
Dear reader, thanks.
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