I don't know why, but since I started highschool, I've gotten more into playing the violin. I've even started practicing more, to the point where I can't picture life without the violin. This is where the frustration part comes in: I know that I'm improving, I can hear it when I'm practicing, but when I have to actually perform, even if it's just playing a small passage for my teacher, I'm back to where I started. I always try to tell myself to perform what I've practiced and show my teacher that he isn't wasting his time with me, but I end up making the same mistakes that I made the week before that I thought I had taken care of.

Anyway, now I'm trying to figure out what my problem is. Is it:

a) Confidence

b) Not practicing long enough (I usually try to practice at least an hour and a half every day)

c) Practicing the wrong way

d) Practicing the wrong things

e) I just suck

f) All of the above

So...I guess I should get off the computer now and go practice.

-Melissa