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__Week one__ :

One of the most fun cross-country races I have ever run was at the University of Wisconsin Parkside national cross-country course. I ran with my dad in the open division of the Footlocker Championships race. I remember that it took place on Thanksgiving weekend, and it was cold out. I wore a green long-sleeved running shirt, black running shorts, and my bright red nike cross-country spikes. I shivered with excitement as I stood at the starting line of the 5k course. As the gun blasted I took off running with my dad at my side. The race was awesome. Any race with that much mud has to be. It had been raining for the past few days and what was left on the day of the race was mud four inches deep. All of the water had accumulated at the bottom of those famously gigantic parkside hills. A course that was already hugely challenging was now ten times harder. By the time I finished the race I was very satisfied with myself. My spikes were drenched and coated in mud and a huge smile was on my face. I will never forget that race.

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__Week two:__

My symphony will most likely be about spring. It will be written for violin.

First Movement- I think that this movement will be about a thunderstorm. I plan to do it in rondo form. I am uncertain about the key and time signature.

Second Movement- This movement will portray the quiet and peacefulness after the storm from the first movement.

Third Movement- This is the movement I am currently working on. It is supposed to sound like birds. The key is either a major or e major. It is played mostly on the E string, and it's introduced with some harmonics in fourths. Trills and other ornaments to mimic bird song.

Fourth Movement- ???? Not sure if I want one yet.

__Week three:__

I can hear a steady beat in this song with what I think is the stamping. Underneath the stamping I can hear a very complex rhythm and syncopation which is smoothly intertwined in it. I am pretty sure that it is done in four-four time.

__Week four:__

One of my favorite musicians is Tommy Emanuel, a guitarist. I like the way he really gets into the music, the way he plays makes his performances fun to watch. You can tell that he enjoys what he does because his musical style is so unique and he seems totally immersed in the music. One of my favorite pieces that he plays is classical gas. When he plays it, it isn't exactly as we know the song to be. Sometimes he mixes in other music and he also dresses up the song with harmonics. You can see some of his performances on youtube.

__Week Five:__ (in response to Ingrid's first movement) I can tell you worked really hard on your symphony, good job!I think that one of the best parts about it is the layering techniques; they give the song depth. One thing that I think could be improved is the distinction between the variations because I couldn't really tell one from the next. I liked how well the your song tied in with its theme. The rhythms sounded just like a light shower.

__Week Six:__ (in response to Erin's second movement) I really like your symphony so far Erin! I enjoyed how in some places you jumped from high to low, it gave some variety to your song. The one thing that could be improved is that on the shorter notes, it sounded a bit staccato. I don't know if that is what you wanted, but I think it would sound nice a little more legato.

(in response to Katie's third movement) Good job on your third movement. I really liked how well the violin and piano fit in together. One thing that you could improve is the middle portion. I think it sounds happy, but a little busy.

__Week Seven:__ There are several ways I can incorporate these techniques in my symphony. In the first movement, the thunderstorm, I could use crescendos and lines that speed up to create tension. By bring the dynamics and tempo back down, I could create release. I think this could really add to this movement since thunderstorms are really like that. I don't think tension and release would do much in my other movements however. I think that unity and variety will add a lot to my third movement. This could help me better portray the birdsong theme of that movement because birds sometimes sing alone, but you often hear a chorus of birds. It may be difficult to do this because my symphony is for a single movement, but it's possible that I could try using layering techniques in garage band. Balance could apply to any of my movements, but I think it would apply to my second movement in particular. For my second movement I envision the quiet after the storm: fog drifting in and then gliding out slowly the way it came. Balance would make it sound consistent and peaceful like it is supposed to.

__Week Eight:__ To be honest, my symphony isn't doing the best. I'm more behind on it than I'd like to be and my recording of the first movement does not sound like it should. Ideally, it shouldn't be too hard, but for me, trying to write music is like trying to water ski (if you know me, you know that I've only tried once, it was an absolute failure, and I'm terrified of the water in the first place. Since everything is on line, I'm worried about what people will think of my music, especially because it doesn't satisfy me very much. I am also having writer's block with the music. After all the negatives that I've rattled out, there is some good. I have a great first line for my third movement, I like the theme I chose and the movements fit well with it, and once I had gotten going with my first movement, after struggling with writer's block, I eventually got the ideas flowing and I wrote the rest of the movement quickly. So far, I'm not so sure about everything, but I have to get it done sometime...

__Week Nine:__ I think that most people are drawn to music with lyrics than without because is more understandable. Music with lyrics is easier to connect with because it literally speaks to you. It can be challenging to interpret and enjoy instrumental music, because it is more complex. Instrumental music is not English. It can have very different meanings for different people. When music has lyrics, there is less space for interpretation. This can make the music more attractive, and sometimes give it a deeper meaning, but it is my opinion that instrumental music is more personal because it can be interpreted so many ways.

__Last Little Hoo Ha:__ 1. My favorite project was the stomp compositions. I liked working with my friend creating the intricate rhythms.

2. My least favorite project was the symphony project. I had trouble coming up with songs, procrastination, and recording the songs.

3. In theory the music I wrote was pretty good, but I really didn't like the recordings of it. I also am somewhat regretful that I didn't spend more time coming up with ideas for my different movements.

4. I wish we had learned a bit about some of the famous composers and their styles and what about their music made them so famous.

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