Thomas Yee - Violinist

A part of my personality had always enjoyed repetition. Yes, repetition may seem quite boring and cumbersome, but looking back throughout my life I have learned so many life skills through type of repetition that came natural to me. In my adolescence I had a knack for experimentation of repetition, in part to be prepared for all aspects of what it was I was doing, and it also prevented myself from going insane! I enjoyed mixing things up, and in turn, I suppose it paved away the process for my current life achievements.

Travel. It seems as if one is in a rut whether in music or life, one should look for new and inspiring things through travel. It occurred to me why nearly all music festivals are in rural and exotic places? These are clearly places that instill creativity and aspiration.

http://www.sfcv.org/event/duo-revirado-presents-a-world-premiere-for-gui...

http://www.examiner.com/x-4783-San-Jose-Classical-Music-Examiner~y2010m2...

Here is info for the events:

Duo Revirado: Featuring Music of Paganini, Piazzolla, Sarasate, World Premiere by composer Beeri Moalem, and more
$15 Suggested Donation at door
*March 11th, 2010, 7pm at Red Poppy Art House presented by Classical Revolution, 2698 Folsom Street, SF, 94110
*March 12th, 2010 8pm at Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto, 94306

Welcome to Revised Thomasyee.net

The third week of my trip to Korea is passing up, and it seems as if I have been here for quite a long time. I'm sure when it is all over it will seem like a blink of an eye. It always seems like that. Thank goodness that we can take pictures to remember how much was actually seen. The performance or audition experience seems like an eternity, but when it is done, the time too also seems to pass by so quickly. I had helped host and perform in my international wedding reception, entertained visiting family, and experienced very traditional Korean culture this week.

The second week of my trip to Korea is finishing up, and I have been literally "soaking" things up through hot weather, fervent shopping, commuting around, and new tastes. I have been getting to know my additional extended family, and to experience firsthand what all of the luxuries this country has to offer. Still, I am finding some time to involve my life with music regularly through morning practice and tying cultural experiences with it.

I've been in Seoul, Korea for the past five days now, and it has been an incredible experience for me. I have been staying in the heart of the city; Kangnam-Gu Samsung-Dong area, which is a landscape of skyscrapers and teeming business. I have noticed and am impressed with the Koreans' system for many things. From learning a very respectful etiquette & mannerisms, daily life schedule, the cleanliness of the packed city, fashion, the subway system, and even restrooms!

Saw this article and thought it was useful to spread the word and share it with all of you.

-Thomas

July 21, 2009 at 8:09 PM blog by Catie Rinderknecht at violinist.com

The bear paw. I know, it sounds incredibly cheesy. But, it's something that makes sense. I mean, David Russell actually used this metaphor in a lesson I had with him in summer '07. It works, why else would he mention it?

A bear's paw is vaguely hand-shaped, but it has no fingers. When a bear scoops up honey (or whatever), it uses its whole paw as a unit.

What a beautiful day in South San Francisco Bay Area to practice and teach the violin! This is my first of many routines Blogs on Thomasyee.net, especially since I will be away for half of the summer. Now that the summer has rolled in, it is time to rethink strategies and practice routines! I encourage visitors and my students to visit here often for advice when I'm away. In return, I will dedicate a majority of my blogs to pedagogy and practice.