The Devil's Trill

Si Yu stood on the stage of a world-class violin competition.

"Talented musicians from all over the world have gathered here," the host said.

She looked around and felt she was the only exception.

`

5:00 Wake up.

5:30 Open strings, scales, arpeggios, double stops.

7:00 Breakfast.

8:00 Left-hand fundamentals: shifting, vibrato, pizzicato.

9:30 Right-hand fundamentals: changing bows, separate bows, up-bows, legato, détaché, controlled sautillé, natural sautillé, ricochet, triple stops, quadruple stops.

11:30 Lunch.

13:30 Analyze and refine old études / analyze and slowly practice new études.

16:00 Refine old pieces and memorize them / slowly practice the technical challenges in new pieces.

18:30 Dinner.

20:00 Music theory and stylistic studies.

From Wohlfahrt and Kayser to Hrimali and Sevcik, to □□yavsky and Paganini.

Back then, she didn't know that this was the path to becoming a prodigy.

She knew even less that someone would quietly accompany her along the arduous road to becoming one.

Tentative blurb, 2023.6.9

Theme: A musician's journey of growth