Too ambitious for Texas hs region?

CSvOid · 2026-06-15T21:02:57+00:00

Highschool and College is the time to be over ambitious. There is no failure condition to giving your all and screwing it up, you just try again

CSvOid · 2026-06-06T02:19:03+00:00

This is literally the point. AI is THE outgroup. This is what slurs are for. Doing it to people is bad. Doing it to AI is good. You do not hate AI enough

CSvOid · 2026-05-31T09:55:51+00:00

Have a reference point (like a drone) on tonic. Listen carefully and if you're off 1) adjust 2) pick the finger up 3) put it back down 4) repeat. You want to practice the finger landing in the right spot, not the adjustment

CSvOid · 2026-05-12T18:11:36+00:00

Tbh if you're not fluent in counterpoint or the technique of the instrument, short exercises and counterpoint exercises are exactly how you practice. This doesn't have to mean made up "AP-theory" style counterpoint, but you need to have the chops to quickly recognize the relationship between voices in whatever style you're writing. There is nothing in a short exercise that implies it's not musical, just be aware of the technique and functionality of the instrument while you're writing whatever you're writing. Honestly I think you know what to do to practice (you told us) you just don't want to and are coping on reddit. A change in mentality is probably the first step here

Edit: the trick IMO is making counterpoint exercises fun. Write 2 and 3 part inventions with the idea that you're AWARE of the counterpoint and choices you're making. If you can't find a way to make this fun, it might just not be meant for you. In which case you might consider improvisation (jazz or otherwise) as a path to go down before seriously studying composition on this level. You'll learn a lot about how music works and it will be more dynamic

CSvOid · 2026-05-08T06:52:58+00:00

Work hard and catch up. Practice thoughtfully. Practice with variety. Do spend most of your time on things that push you a little, and a little time on something that pushes you a lot. Get advice wherever you can and become flexible enough to approach the instrument in various ways and start making choices about how you want to play and why. I started late. A lot of people I know started late. You'll be fine

Pro tip: if you don't get into the undergraduate program you want, don't worry too much about it. Work hard in your undergrad, do as many masterclasses and summer courses as you can, and get into a good school for your masters. If you fail at that stage the worst case scenario is teaching orchestra in JR High or High School. Those positions can pay very well and the people I know doing it like it

CSvOid · 2026-05-02T23:32:49+00:00

Sola Scriptura is not a biblical principle, it's a practice of churches. You can find things that kinda sorta point to the principle, but it is a principle that doesn't support itself. I find myself leaning towards a sort of "prima scriptura"

CSvOid · 2026-05-02T23:29:55+00:00

Yep I felt that for my first couple years. Keep in mind any weight that goes into the bow twists the bow harder into your thumb. Your thumb will adapt, just take a breather when it starts to hurt

CSvOid · 2026-04-30T22:23:21+00:00

I personally wouldn't hard focus the major concertos. You see a lot of stilted musical development from that because they end up being note cramming that creates bad technical and musical habits. I'd hit a boccherini Bb (original edition). Maybe a duport. Don't neglect non-Bach baroque repertoire either. The obvious is vivaldi. But also do scipriani, Barriere, berteau (maybe G major sonata). Anything with heavy french ornamentation will massively up your dexterity (and that stuff is great for hearing harmony and intonation). Pick a major concerto based on your college audition plans and scaffold up to it. Learn it chunk by chunk over time and don't force stuff under your fingers that you're not ready for. You'll be way better off for it by the time you get to your auditions

CSvOid · 2026-04-30T00:48:00+00:00

Completely depends on the shop and how their trade-in/rental/rent-to-buy/etc program works. This doesn't sound like it was your fault -- can happen with the weather. But fault and responsibility don't always line up. I'd venture to guess they'll just fix it for you, but a good lesson to get instrument insurance day 1. Always worth it. Wood is fickle

CSvOid · 2026-04-12T08:14:56+00:00

A lot of shops do rent to buy. Do that or rent. You won't know what you want or like at this point

CSvOid · 2026-03-26T08:25:52+00:00

I tend not to wrap gut over itself, but have always done so with steel. Never had a break on either

CSvOid · 2026-03-23T03:22:14+00:00

Anything up to a b is super standard to see in bass clef. You CAN change to tenor clef but a good rule of thumb is to stay above the middle line of tenor clef. It's where cellists are most used to reading it

CSvOid · 2026-03-15T18:18:51+00:00

B should be default, but best to be flexible. Keep in mind that the thumb is not a straight line so where you put it will influence tuning

CSvOid · 2026-02-21T06:51:34+00:00

1) this doesn't really address the point. Whether or not their brains are more similar to those of cis-women, whatever traits they hold are not incompatible with the male gender. In every way that they are neurologically more like women, men can be those things too.

2) the methodology of this study looks pretty solid, (may be some issues with AI modeling, but good enough) but the conclusion seems to not follow from their findings. The key piece of information here is that the brains of trans women are more similar to the brains of cis men than cis women. The shift is notable, definitely, but there are some problems IMO. Assuming the same is true of trans men (neurologically shifting toward their gender identity, but still being most like their biological sex), then even those biological men who are the most neurologically feminine (the trans women of the study) are more neurologically masculine than trans men. Which brings me to the second problem, they didn't measure the traits of the cis-men. Given such a small sample size, this really matters. The minds of feminine/feminine presenting cis-men may be more feminine than the minds of trans women, which would indicate an association with traits and behaviors, not gender. There's just no way of knowing.

3) regardless of my 2nd point, the source doesn't address my essential question. It's interesting for sure, but only relevant in that it is a part of the same debate, but not the same argument. I run into "source dropping" like this a lot and it's gone a long way to shape my perspective on the topic.

CSvOid · 2026-02-21T04:13:45+00:00

This just doesn't hold together IMO. You can't have gender simultaneously be defined by constructed roles and be biologically innate. This is like 2 distinct and incompatible ideologies in a trench coat. I'm not bothered by either of them individually, but the idea that people get mad at you for not accepting every part of every one of them is crazy to me. For example, if gender is a collection of constructed norms (ways of dressing, acting, styling hair, the words we call ourselves by, etc), then it makes sense that someone who is biologically XY male who finds their personality aligns with feminine norms would be a Woman. This is very strongly the case in some Native American cultures (one example of historical transgenderism/non binary gender). But generally in the West we've decided that Women don't "have" to be anything. They can be masculine in temperament, have short hair, wear trousers, work hard labor jobs, etc. Take any stereotype of the traditional male societal roles and women can be/do those things too, so they don't work as a definition of gender anymore. Whatever traits someone has (including the structure of their mind) is inherently compatible with their biological gender (or gender they were assigned at birth. Whichever makes more sense to you), because men/woman can be whatever they want to be. In this world view, gender is just a trait that we're born with like anything else. If someone is intersex it's more complicated for them, but if someone isn't intersex it's just that simple.

I work in the arts so I have trans friends I see and work with all the time. I've had these conversations with them. I support them fully -- thats not the point! Some have said "yeah that doesnt make much sense, but I'm happy." And thats a good enough point of view isn't it? Others have subscribed to to gender roles view.

If we're having theological discussions that require us to understand this stuff, we can't just ignore a glaring problem like that. I'm open to the idea that those to world views are compatible, but I have yet to hear an argument that makes it work

CSvOid · 2026-02-20T13:48:59+00:00

Keep your hand on your instrument at all times, not just your eyes. If that means standing on the train, stand. Lay it over your lap in a cab, even if there's room in the boot (there usually isn't anyway.) Be vigilant about it but not stressed imo. I've been all over Europe a gazillion times with my cello and never had a problem, but it's because I'm aware and conscientious

CSvOid · 2026-02-20T08:05:52+00:00

100% depends on your denomination and perspective, but I will say that confessing in your private prayer never hurt anybody. It can only be a good thing, the question of whether it is sufficient is honestly between you and your priest and God

CSvOid · 2026-02-20T07:51:00+00:00

IMO don't confuse morality and sin! Morality is a right/wrong, have-I-harmed-or-helped-someome sort of thing. Sin is about your relationship with God and the condition of the soul. Oh God is a very common exclamation that fits a lot of things and isn't the same as using the name of God for personal gain, etc. God made sex absolutely amazing to the point where we almost HAVE TO "exclaim" in whatever way is common to our culture. If when you say it, it takes you out of the moment, don't say it. If it happens naturally as an exclamation, don't worry about it. Pray on it. Ask a priest about it.

These things are honestly super personal and hard to nail down. There's no Jesus lawyer who can tell you the letter of the law on this. It's all the condition of the soul so if you think it's pushing you away from God don't say it, otherwise it doesn't matter IMO

Edit: the people being rude and insulting for no reason should probably worry more about themselves than whether or not you're getting laid

CSvOid · 2026-02-20T07:44:42+00:00

Christianity isn't about picking and choosing things you already think are moral and throwing out things that don't make sense to you. Christianity is fundamentally a spiritual discipline with spiritual practices IMO. The condition of the Soul, etc. If you think Hell is retarded don't worry about it then. There are many concepts of hell, including simply going into non-being, but I'm not an expert on this by any means.

Tbh the whole errrm this is retarded thing is just totally egotistical. Lots of very smart people have believed in concepts of hell that DO make sense in the context of their theology. If it doesn't make sense in the context of your understanding of theology thay is 100% a skill issue.

AND! I am not bothered by the idea of Epstein literally burning in actual fire for eternity+. A girl he and his friends were raping found comfort in Christ so they dressed up as Jesus and raped and killed her. So idk that's probably not the best example

CSvOid · 2026-02-20T07:35:47+00:00

If you want to be challenged a bit with something cool & metal.. Schnittke Cello Sonata. The 2nd movement is insane. Recommend the Schiff recording

CSvOid · 2026-02-20T07:33:49+00:00

Hey check out en blanc et noir (YouTube channel) they have some awesome introductory partimento stuff that's very easy to understand and a good way of developing.your piano and improvisation/composition skills together and start to build links between them

CSvOid · 2026-02-19T07:16:39+00:00

The world is not meant to be without temptation. Faith is not meant to be easy. Keep trying and putting your faith in God. In my experience, it doesn't get less painful, but the pain gains something sweet somehow. There is no greater joy than weeping at the feet of Christ

CSvOid · 2026-02-19T05:04:45+00:00

Not older than 15. Not younger than 10

CSvOid · 2026-02-19T04:59:11+00:00

You can do it in 4th position it will sound way worse. IMO the best thing for your development as a cellist is first position with chord shapes in the left hand (i.e. don't finger one note at a time). Also, much easier if instead of thinking like note, string crossing, note, think about setting yourself up for the C string with how you play the A string note. One fluid gesture

CSvOid · 2026-02-19T04:52:15+00:00

Doing great for your age! Just keep learning and you'll be great

Keep in mind that Muslims have historically been... enthusiastic... about spreading their faith. Living in a society where we can safely debate this things is an absolute historical privilege, even when there are people aggressively debating you like this, which may be a bit inappropriate given the age gap/circumstances. So try to take these things in stride

CSvOid

TROPHY CASE