Musical Diary

Welcome to my Musical diary, where you will find out everything about what my progress!

April 2021

I recently got admitted into the Schulich School of Music (McGill University in Montreal!!!) in Music Composition and violin! I'm beyond excited to start this journey. I have known for a long time that music was what I wanted to do professionally, and this brings me one step closer to my dream.

February 2021

All Music 4 students are required to do the music pre bac, which is slightly different than any other exam. The music pre bac is very preparation-based, meaning no 'real' exam takes place. Instead, each student submits the link to their music portfolio, on which they have published 1) a music research paper, 2) either 2 compositions + 1 performance or 2 performances + 1 composition. For my research project, I have decided to research the relationship between music and politics (how politics have affected, and keep affecting, music and vice-versa). Doing the research and writing the paper was quite long, but efinitely worth it in the end. I am quite satisfied with how it turned out! I chose to be a composition major, so I submitted two very different compositions; 1 very classical, string trio and one (French) pop song. Recording the song took quite some time, but again, was really worth it. For my performance, I chose to perform 'Allemande' of Bach's 2nd violin partita, which I will also be playing for my university audition! 

November 2020

As I am starting to apply for music colleges and universities, I am also rehearsing for my auditions. The required repertoire (for violin, when auditioning for the music composition program) is one movement of a concerto (I chose the Concert in A Minor by JB. Accolay) and two movements by Bach (I chose the 'Allemande' and 'Gigue' from the second violin partitia). I really enjoy working towards a goal like this, and feel really motivated to keep working and progressing! Since I have to submit 3 compositions, I decided to start following composition classes/theory classes online (through videos, PDF files and I enrolled in one MOOC) which I am really enthusiastic about, too!

October 2020

The very unusual start of the year also introduces new ways of working and learning; more online-based, distanced singing, etc... which, in the end, also offers new possibilities. I have been working on more 'virtual' collaborations for example, or online-recorded covers!

August 2020

I signed up for a sort of music stage, during the summer. Luckily I was able to attend it, despite COVID19. Each participant composed left the internship with his or her freshly composed, very own song! It was honestly a great experience, though very stressful at first. 

May 2020

I finally started new pieces on the violin, which makes me very happy. I do love Schindler's List Theme, but I also like switching every now and then! I am now playing Accolay's Concerto in A Minor, and Massenet's Meditation from Thais! I have alsostarted to follow online university courses for music and music composition. I always kind of knew what moulating was, but I had never been able to really do it myself. In my 'Composition in F Major' piece (here), I do kind of modulate although in most cases, it is just borrowing a chord from a prallel tonality. But I do change from F major (Bb) to G minor (Bb and Eb), using the V chord, D MAJOR. 

April 2020

I have recently started to record some of my compositions/songs with better quality, and real instruments. I have also started really looking into universities and colleges, as I probably want to do a composition major. 

March 2020

In music, we have been studying ground bass for a little while now. So, as a challenge for myself (and a way to chase boredom!) I decided to try and compose soething using ground bass. Furhter information about the process can be found in 'my compositions' -> 'piano compositions', or click here. A video of me playing my "composition" can be found below the text, on this page.

February 2020

As a melody challenge, I have chosen Schindler's List main theme, not wanting to challenge my voice as I don't even have actual singing lessons. Myrto will accompany me on the piano, which is really nice. We have also worked with the S1 group to finally have a concert version of our 'Movement' song - I think it sounds really great, especially considering most of these children are barely older than 12!

January 2020

I have been working on three 'pieces', one of which is the phantom of the opera (in fact, it contains all the themes that appear in the musical!). I will be playing them at my violin exam, next week. I absolutely adore the phantom of the opera, it's definitely one of my favourite musicals.

November 2019

I have been working a lot on my own compositions lately, especially songs. It was a huge challenge to finally publish some of the songs I had recorded, because I always feel that songs are a bit more personal. Most songs still need work, such as a better structure or 'bridges' to make it more interesting because it is true that, after a while, the song gets boring (they're very repetitive). But that's also why I posted the first drafts of the songs, to get feedback and actually improve them! (And hopefully my next compositions as well!). 

We are currently also working with the S1 group, to cover Hozier's song "Movement". I was also asked to choreograph the song, which is fantastic because I really love dancing. I'm also in hcarge of the violin part (see 'Arrangements').

October 2019

This year, in solfège, we aren't taught any "theory". Instead of that, it is now our turn to compose and arrange several pieces, into a story that will eventually be presented in front of an audience (as an exam).  This makes me extremely excited, as this means we will be performing our own compositions, at our final concert/exam. Looking forward to it! I am also trying to compose something for an 'orchestra' (big ensemble), but it's a struggle : I only have experience with string instruments. Saxophones, trumpets, ... need to have their part transposed before they can play it, and that depends on the instrument itself.

September 2019

I've been working on a new piece over the summer, Schindler's List. Since I already struggle with intonation, hitting those high notes is a big challenge. But I'm determined to keep playing it and eventually get there. I've also been working a lot on intonation these past weeks (as I've said, it's a struggle), just doing over 10 minutes of scales and exercises per day. It's exhausting and repetitive, but it does help.

June 2019

I'm finally able to play the Mozart Sonata a little better now. I'm also working on a new piece, Passacaille (Haendl), and on one of my compositions. I'm really in love with Passacaille(/Passacaglia).

I'm also still working on the two pieces for my violin exam (which is going to be very soon, June 8th). 

I recently started working on a violin piece I played a long time ago, Concerto nr 5 (3rd mvmt) by Seitz, but this yime I'm playing it on the guitar ! It is challenging, since I'm not used to reading notes on the guitar. I love to challenge myself, and it's exciting to see improvements every day! It's still very far from perfect, but it's improving. 

May 2019

I am currently learning a new piano piece : Sonata in C Major (Mozart). I really love this piece (I would listen to it a lot when I was younger), but some parts are difficult (especially when the left hand has to go fast, since I'm really not used to that). I'll keep working on it though.

March 2019

I am currently working on the two pieces I will play at my violin exam : Sonata in G Minor (Eccles) and Romantic Piece nr1 (Dvorak). The Dvorak one isn't too hard to play (except for some position changes) and is quite slow. The other one, however, is quite tough. The first and third movement are both slow (largo and adagio) but the two others have to be played very fast. I also keep accelerating in the last part, which is why I should definitely work with a metronome.

Some Clips

Not the greatest quality - But, useful to see evolution over time (and difference between a 'home rehearsal' and actual performance).