Katja & Her Viola...

"Music and rythm find their way into the secret places of the soul."

-Plato

Above: Katja loves to play with her eyes closed as she claims that it helps her feel the music and improve her expression. Below: Katja and her friend Alyssa wait outside a classroom for their turn to play in their first Solo & Ensemble Competition. The girls competed not against others, but rather, against the high standards they were trying to meet. Both girls scored a "1", the highest rating.

Since parents were not allowed to view their child playing while being judged, I asked Katja to play for me as we were heading home from the competition so I could have a recording of her "humble beginnings back in 6th grade" . To get away from noise of the hundreds of children tunning their instruments and practicing inside the school, we headed outside the front entrance of the school, next to the parking lot...thus the sound of cars driving by, etc... The recording is below. The pounding you hear in certain sections is actually Jack smacking his sippy cup against the stroller tray. :) He absolutely LOVES to hear Katja play so he decided to accompany her with a bit of "toddler percussion". The mother in me is already smiling at the memory. This is what she deals with on a daily basis while she practices among her rambunctious brothers. She just smiles and keeps playing and tells Jack, "you're SO cute!" He points, smiles, & says "Kata!"

Scherzo

by Carl Webster

This selection has contrasting parts, fast then slow, a requirement for her Houston Youth Orchestra audition. Katja hopes to further polish this piece (and two others) before her tryout scheduled later this month. She is hoping to make the "Symphony Orchestra", the lowest of the four Houston Youth Orchestras.

Can you believe this kid didn't know what a viola was about a year and a half ago? Seeing as she didn't get her musical genes from me, I think that's pretty cool!