Something I'm looking for

I've been looking for something fun to play on the piano recently. I mean, apart from the duet I was supposed to work on with someone.

I'll be honest. I'm the type who gets bored with the same piece after a while. Don't get me wrong - I do love the music I play, but it just gets kind of dull. I just have to keep finding new songs to keep myself entertained and after some time I will pick up those songs to play them once more.

Like how I finally picked up "Those who fight" (from FFVII) the other day after a few years. I was sick of that piece because I had to practice it nearly everyday for my exams. I couldn't play with the same accuracy I once had, but it was, after all those years, actually refreshing to play it again.

I am looking at this certain piece I chanced upon on youtube. It's called Hidamari, composed by Yukie Nishimura. Hidamari means sunshine I think, and it is a very beautiful piece. Now normally I'm not a huge fan of playing those really emotional, lyrical kind of pieces (I'm really a Swimming kind of person), but this one is too beautiful to pass up.

I can't really find any sheet music for that though, so I'm looking through her other works. And if anyone has any recommendations on what to play, please let me know.

At work right now, and listening to some Bad Weather California. Awesome songs.

Bethena: A Concert Waltz

I've been somewhat confused as to what I have been doing.

Since the last project ended it was just more or less studying for exams. And there were only 3 papers, no big deal. I guess the third year sort of looms ahead rather menacingly. Our break has been reduced to a pathetic 5 days becuase of it, which starts today, incidentally. I'm not going to plan anything, since most of it would be used for catching up on sleep anyway.

I was afraid that my piano exam and my final year project would clash at some point. I mean, I already signed up for it, and since I just knew that I was dispatched to the dreaded "fish tank" (project area), it's not very good news for my schedule. I just hope I don't end up failing my exam or something, since the fees are up to a thousand dollars. Also, next year's syllabus is different, so I'd have to change my repertoire, and that means more time wasted to learn new songs.

The way I look at it, there just isn't enough time. Perhaps I worry too much. I don't know.

Level Sync

Well, I got Puppetmaster to 56 few days ago. Most of it, in fact all the parties have been level sync'd ones. My only complaint is that I cannot cap my skills when I level in a party sync'd way below my current level.

First level sync party in Qufim.

Levelled Warrior a bit as well for my sub job.

A 5 Puppetmasters and 1 Ninja party in the dunes.

And apart from levelling, I did some Nyzul Isle assaults, ZNM fights and lots of farming.

I recently got my hands on Poulenc's Nocturnes, and have been practising Nocturne No.1 in C major like crazy. I'd been looking for this one for a while now.

Speaking of piano, next year's diploma exam syllabus is going to have some changes. If the Britten piece I'm playing doesn't get through I might want to try some of those Poulenc pieces listed, I don't know.

And just to be a little pessimistic here, less than one month of break left.

Prelude

I logged into Final Fantasy XI for the first time in months yesterday(not counting the viewer, I do that a lot).

Apparantly nothing much has changed. I don't do end game stuff, so there isn't really much for me to do. Haven't had the mood to party, either. The rest of AntiHero moved to WoW, so no one's really left. Orestia's mule left a linkshell message recently though.

What is left, is Deosil. While I don't really like it all that much, it's nice to see it still alive and kicking. Not that it matters, in any case; I don't really talk to them.

I don't know how much longer this game will last. Perhaps a few more years. For me though, I haven't really thought about seriously picking it up again. While I want to level puppetmaster, I never ever get enough motivation to do it. Xeo seems to still enjoy it though.

My mind has wandered somewhere else. It's been hovering around Warhammer, and since the recent delay, I went back to LOTRO. I'm still waiting for Warhammer to see how it goes. Depending on the circumstances, I might not even play it for long, I don't know.

That's as far as gaming is concerned. There's so much other shit to care about as well.

My diploma exam. I haven't signed up, but I think I'm going to this year. I can't imagine playing in a concert hall. It's far too overwhelming.

And then there's my theory results. I missed 3 marks to achieve merit, but I passed nonetheless. Well, it's all good, because I got the qualifications to teach piano now. All I need now is to learn how to teach and to gain experience. It might be fun, as a back up job.

Today's the first day of our two week break. And y'know the funny thing about breaks is that the school still doesn't let you off. I need to go back for at least three days this week.

I caught up with some friends today that I haven't seen in a while. Not a bad day.

Perfect Cadence

I'm finally done with the theory grade 8 exam today. 3 damn hours in a cold room, it couldn't have been any better. Luckily for me my nose didn't act up so much.

I met Xue Li at the entrance after my exam. What a coincidence, considering I'm no longer entered through the school. I switched to a private teacher last year. It wasn't such a surprise to me though, I mean, we were both taking grade 8.

It was fairly easy I think. Question 1 was very fun to play around with the sequences, and question 4 was, hands down, the easiest question I've ever come across. I guess it's safe to say that. I'm going to laugh if I fail that question. Question 5 had me trying to recall single and double reed instruments. I didn't figure it out in the end, I just guessed. 2 and 3 were average. Not the hardest I've seen, and at least the damn tune was easy to hum out. They could've thrown us 6 sharps with lots of accidentals or something, heh that'd have been hell.

Okay I got sort of carried away, but well yeah the exam wasn't so bad.

I watched The Spiderwick Chronicles a few days ago, and I thought it as pretty good. At least, in my opinion, better than The Golden Compass. The tickets were free too, cause I won them from Lime or something. That guy's sister reminds me so much of Karin from Shadow Hearts Covenant, with the rapier and all. And I think she was the only one who did any actual fighting. The rest was all throwing and spraying tomato sauce and stepping on floorboards and stuff like that. Pretty interesting though, and the idea that the ogre would become his father didn't occur to me.

On Phoenix Wright, I slowed down a little. I'm still on case 5 of Trials and Tribulations and things are looking quite interesting right now. I wonder who would be the next few witnesses to appear.

I guess I've said all that I wanted to for now.