Happy New Year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am thrilled to write my first post on this first day of 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last summer I had the opportunity to attend Rodney Friend\u2019s FIVA, Friend\u2019s International Violin Academy<\/em>. It was an attempt to jump start my violin playing after being away for so long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had tried to get going a year earlier by learning and performing a new piece at a festival in Illinois, but I wasn\u2019t quite ready and it showed. That is a story for another time though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FIVA<\/em> was unique and incredible. Surrounded by excellent musicians and professors spanning the globe, I was inspired and yet I also felt frustrated. Inspired because I was gaining knowledge and motivation from international teachers and performers at the highest level; frustrated because my own playing was nowhere near where I wanted it to be and I felt like a weak link! This was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will be ever grateful to Rodney for accepting me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Afterwards, keenly aware of my long absence from the violin, I felt I was at a crossroads. I could silently step back and no one would know the difference, or I could push forward, trying to play again professionally, to get it all back and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I debated this for a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was tempting to simply step back, but I knew deep inside that I would not be truly happy if I stopped playing. I knew I would regret it. I needed to play, to share my story, my thoughts, and even my love, through music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My goal for the new year is to not give up. This website is a demonstration of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wish you all a happy new year filled with continued progress toward your own hopes and dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashley<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Happy New Year! I am thrilled to write my first post on this first day of 2021. Last summer I had the opportunity to attend Rodney Friend\u2019s FIVA, Friend\u2019s International Violin Academy. It was an attempt to jump start my violin playing after being away for so long. I had tried to get going a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n