INTRO Dear reader, thanks for checking back in. For the newcomers, this project update is about my first studio recording, which I chose to pursue this semester as part of a class called Careers in Music, offered at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. Unfortunately, I injured my left hand, starting from the thumb. The pain was mostly localized around my forearm but has since spread to my neck and shoulder. The doctor said it's neuritis. Neuritis is inflammation of a nerve or the general inflammation of the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms depend on the nerves involved but may include pain, paresthesia, paresis, hypoesthesia, anesthesia, paralysis, [basically a bunch of Greek words], wasting, and disappearance of the reflexes. From Wikipedia. A full studio album recording with all my recital pieces is an ambitious goal that might need to be toned down. I can practice, but should not overdo it. I still refrain from washing the dishes (thanks, Jacob) and try not to type as much (well, except now). And Schumann's Fantasie is a long piece, with quite a demanding second movement, which was possibly the cause of my hand injury. This is why Schumann is... temporarily put to sleep (read last blog post here). In order to have a good result, one needs to take time. And why hurry? Clara Josephine Wieck urges us to linger and enjoy beautiful things, as quote says at the top of this post. The spouse of Schumann, Clara was great pianist and frequently performed his pieces. She also performed the Fantasie I am working on, and Schumann was secretly at the audience at a time when Clara's father wouldn't let them be together. Such a romantic story! <3 So why hurry? I will see how my hand responds to practice and decide how much I will record; as much as I feel comfortable with. The project need not be completed in eight weeks. I can still work on it later on. Let us enjoy the present. Mental health is important, and grad school can be stressful. Find balance. Find light. WEEKLY UPDATE During this past week, I worked on my repertoire, slightly avoiding Schumann's second movement. In addition, I edited the text to be included in the CD later on, set a date for a recording session at the studio, and sent a tuning request to the piano technician of the school. What I learned this week:
Dear reader, thanks.
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