A little bit about my history with violin.
I started playing violin in the fifth grade with my school’s strings program. Initially I had wanted to learn how to play the viola, however they had run out of them and I moved to the violin. Once I started playing, I had found I really enjoyed making music with an instrument. I was already involved in my school choir and the violin only helped me to explore and expand my musical ability. My parents decided to sign me up for private lessons through the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) of Victoria. Although I didn’t work well with the first teacher, we quickly found a teacher with whom I connected well with. I stopped playing with my school strings programs after grade eight as I found I preferred solo work. Finally, at the end of grade twelve I took the RCM’s Gr. 6 practical and theory exam for solo violin. In the lead up to the exam I had a breakdown due the stress of graduating and the pressures of expectations for the exam, although I did end up passing the exam with honours. Unfortunately violin had to take a backseat to my travelling and my job at the time, I also avoided violin for a while due to the memories of the overwhelming stress.
I am hoping that this project will allow me to reconnect with an instrument I loved playing and remind me of all the great things that come with making music.
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