We just had a Napfa test which lasted till 7:30. Been a long time since I walk home in the dark (and by the eerie canal), staggering at the weight of my bag (filled with clothes and one year of notes), and the fatigue of the 2.4km run. It felt eerie enough to remind me of the Prelude in C# minor which I happen to be playing right now. (ok, that was unnecessary but I just had to mention it). I'm not going to post my scores because I happen to be very unfit at this point of time I happen to take the test. My 2.4 km run I managed to recover a little of my stamina and managed to finish in the early 11s, which is way far from my record time. (but note that after not exercising for approx 3/4 a year, I got late 13s in my last run.) which you can conclude that I improved by 3 minutes in just one run. (which kind of proves that recovery is steady). I intend to retake my 2.4km run, and hopefully enter in the As, once again. But somehow, the way I run now, and how much I have to struggle, simply clouds my memory, causing me start to disbelieve my past timing of 9 minute. (which was approx 1.5 years back).
As usual, I was lacking in strength. I failed pull ups horribly but I am determined to up it to a five in one month. (at least some told me it's possible), it's time to be less half-hearted and do things more seriously. I have been relying on assisted pull ups once every 3 days and that definitely is not enough to increase my pull-a-bility. What a pity. Not exactly disappointed but I knew my forte was not at arm strength. For some reason or another, I have poor standing broad jump technique, which resulted in one inadequate measurement and another with my hand sticking at the 100+ range (which is again, another pity) because my legs were at 230. I definitely can make it, but the only thing I have to do is learn how to jump without hindering myself.
On the whole, I was surprised my sit and reach can manage a C (i stretched and stretched desperately last minute because I was afraid I could fail), disappointed with my shuttle runs (however, in my opinion, s-runs are more of technique than agility, just like s-broad-jumps).
It was overall ok, the only thing was not ok was the fact that it ended so late and ate up so much of my precious time. I have one station to retake (and properly learn how to swing and jump) and another to train for. I find myself lacking in arm strength and to even think I was a badminton player once. But wait, Badminton players do not necessarily have thick bulky strength endurance muscles. I believe our muscles (for me) used to be concentrated at the wrist area, and a little of the forearm. However, these muscles are fast muscles and probably not help much in strength based pull-ups. Again, what a pity. Time to go full force.
What a rant. Another point, we were sort into "details" which were basically groups and merged with another class. The other group of guys we were paired up together with were l33t. And I mean, l33t. They were 1st, extremely versatile in all stations, perfectly fit and mostly were in their 9s for 2.4km run. They started off the run sprinting to the point they probably lapped me quite early. Quite scary. Again what a pity. if it was last year, I could have been of some match, but only on the track.
It's a sauna in my room and the fan is on and everything is perfectly fine, except that I'm perspiring for no reason.
Back to the real world
I need to learn more music theory on composition. If you realize I've been playing recently nothing but etudes (which translates into technical pieces for study, explaination for non-musical people). Usually they are tough, and an easiest one (which is rather rare) is of Grade 8 standard (op25-2 probably). they are playable but I admit they are NOT perfectible at my level right now. Perhaps in the future.
For me right now, all I want to aim is for the virtuosity path. To gain as much technical ability as my fingers can absorb per day. To feel improvement every single day is great gratification (better than the me of yesterday-is a good principle I believe).
My another ambition (aside from technical aspects), is to someday write compositions. Perhaps not original compositions (because the me right now lacks motives as well as inspiration, unless I become so inspiration-struck in the future). I intend to write variations/transcribe on easy pieces, overplayed pieces. (for example, the "ballade pour adeline down into the toilet bowl" or overplayed Richard clapclapman's pieces which are below jerkwater pieces, though melodic, but somehow lacking in difficulty, and maybe canon in d, fur elise or whatsoever), into harder, tougher (or maybe seemingly difficulty) pieces resembling etudes. And that is why I need that technical ability to play what I create.
Other than that, sonatas, and other forms of compositions will be just side quests for me. My compass is pointing towards the etudes, and technical ability. I will not waver.
My source of motivation for transcribing overplayed easy pieces is fueled by how these pieces seem harder than what they actually are (when they are freaking easy).
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