About 1 (one) year ago I started studying violin in an institute because previously I was doing it on my own, but I was not progressing and I did not see satisfactory results so the first day of class I knew I would have to start everything from 0 (zero) and today, very happy I come to share for the first time in this community, my first presentation in front of the public.

Yo soy una persona tímida e introvertida, por ende, supe desde el principio que el pánico escénico seria uno de los mayores retos a superar si quería cumplir mi sueño de tocar el violín. Desde que comencé el curso, me costó demasiado incluso poder tocar sola frente a mis compañeros de clase. Las manos me temblaban y el corazón me latía a 1000 por hora, por ende, el arco del violín temblaba demasiado y nunca podía demostrar mi avance.

I am a shy and introverted person, so I knew from the beginning that stage fright would be one of the biggest challenges to overcome if I wanted to fulfill my dream of playing the violin. Since I started the course, I had a hard time even being able to play alone in front of my classmates. My hands were shaking and my heart was beating at 1000 per hour, therefore, the violin bow was shaking too much and I could never show my progress.

Un día mi profesora nos dijo que el 16 de diciembre haríamos una demostración de lo que habíamos aprendido y tocaríamos frente a un público, no sé qué cara de terror habre puesto para que mi profesora me preguntara si me encontraba bien. Esa noche no pude dormir, primera vez que estaría frente a un montón de personas desconocidas tocando y aun no superaba mi miedo de tocar frente a mis compañeros, pero sabía que algún día tendría que hacerlo y este era el momento, aunque admito que ya estaba inventando excusas para no ir.

El aviso nos lo dieron dos o tres semanas antes de la demostración, así que teníamos poco tiempo para practicar y entonces dejaríamos que saliera lo que saliera. Yo practiqué por horas la pieza que escogí “Long, Long Ago” del libro 1 (uno) de Suzuki, cuestión de sentirme más segura a la hora de estar frente a todos, también tocaría a dúo con una de mis compañeras. Cabe resaltar que nunca pudimos reunirnos a practicar juntas y era cuestión de rezar que fuéramos a ritmo y supiéramos la pieza “Sound of the Silence”, en el video podrán apreciar cómo nos salió.

One day my teacher told us that on December 16th we would do a demonstration of what we had learned and we would play in front of an audience, I don't know what terrified face I must have put on for my teacher to ask me if I was okay. That night I could not sleep, first time I would be in front of a bunch of unknown people playing and I still did not overcome my fear of playing in front of my classmates, but I knew that someday I would have to do it and this was the time, although I admit that I was already making excuses not to go.

The notice was given to us two or three weeks before the demonstration, so we had little time to practice and then we would let whatever came out. I practiced for hours the piece I chose "Long, Long Ago" from Suzuki's book 1 (one), a matter of feeling more confident about being in front of everyone, I would also play a duet with one of my partners. It should be noted that we could never get together to practice together and it was a matter of praying that we were in rhythm and knew the piece "Sound of the Silence", in the video you can watch how we did.

Hasta el día del evento me dispuse a estar tranquila, de hecho, llegue bien al instituto, pero cuando llego el momento de tocar, pensé que me iba a desmayar. El corazón no paraba de latirme, las manos me sudaban al punto de que casi me deshidrato (estoy exagerando), me temblaban ambas manos, que hacía que fuera más difícil tocar aun, hacia calor y eso no ayudo mucho, me sudaban el doble mis manos y empape el violín, ni hablar podía.

Until the day of the event I was prepared to be calm, in fact, I arrived at the institute fine, but when it was time to play, I thought I was going to faint. My heart wouldn't stop beating, my hands were sweating to the point that I almost got dehydrated (I'm exaggerating), both hands were shaking, which made it even more difficult to play, it was hot and that didn't help much, my hands were sweating twice as much and I soaked the violin, I couldn't even speak.

El colmo fue otra cuestión: el violín es un instrumento que no tiene trastes como la guitarra, por ende, se toca de oído, pero a los principiantes les colocan unas líneas guía para que aprendamos la ubicación de las notas. Yo las tuve todo el año, pero unos días antes del evento, se despegaron dos de ellas y tuve que aprender a la fuerza la ubicación de las notas. Al principio me desespere, pero luego me tome el tiempo de aprenderlas, tenía un par de días y aunque sea me aprendí las notas de las melodías que debía tocar. Entre que ya estaba nerviosa, que se hayan despegado las cintas me saco la poca seguridad que tenía.

The last straw was another issue: the violin is an instrument that does not have frets like the guitar, therefore, it is played by ear, but for beginners they put some guide lines so that we can learn the location of the notes. I had them all year, but a few days before the event, two of them came off and I had to learn by force the location of the notes. At first I was desperate, but then I took the time to learn them, I had a couple of days and at least I learned the notes of the melodies I had to play. Between the fact that I was already nervous and the fact that the tapes had come unstuck, it took away the little confidence I had.

La presentación que hice no me salió como la había practicado, sé que pude haber dado más, pero los nervios me traicionaron, aun así, logre no errarles a las notas (quizá un poco pero no se notó) y no me olvide la melodía, pude tocarla sin frenarme, aunque me hubiese gustado demostrar lo que realmente había aprendido. Aun así, fue una experiencia increíble, muchos nervios, mis compañeros estaban igual que yo, pero es cuestión de tiempo y más experiencia para poder superar el pánico escénico y sé que lo voy a lograr porque quede conforme de todas formas y lo disfrute, aunque casi me da un paro cardiaco, esto es lo que quiero.

Fue solo mi mamá a verme, por ende, no pudo tomar más fotografías y grabo lo que pudo, así que les debo las fotos.

¡Te agradezco tu visita y me disculpo si le rompí el tímpano a alguien, prometo seguir aprendiendo hasta ser una gran violinista!

The presentation I made did not come out as I had practiced, I know I could have given more, but the nerves betrayed me, even so, I managed not to miss the notes (maybe a little but it was not noticeable) and I did not forget the melody, I could play it without slowing down, although I would have liked to show what I had really learned. Even so, it was an incredible experience, a lot of nerves, my classmates were the same as me, but it is a matter of time and more experience to overcome stage fright and I know I will achieve it because I was satisfied anyway and I enjoyed it, even though I almost had a cardiac arrest, this is what I want.

Only my mom was there to see me, so she couldn't take any more pictures and she recorded what she could, so I owe you the pictures.

I thank you for your visit and I apologize if I broke someone's eardrum, I promise to keep learning until I become a great violinist!