Words of advice from a TMEA All-State Symphony Concertmaster [Q&A] - Steven Lu

[@kai_ller]

dude that amount of practice time is CRAZY. you absolutely deserve this great job!

[@stoovb]

ahhh thank you!~ i definitely look up to the dedication of my colleagues and those around me, and i’m very lucky to be in an atmosphere that’s constantly inspiring me to dedicate more of myself 🥹

[@allyg6184]

2023-2024 was my first year attending TMEA as a college student and genuinely my jaw was dropped watching you perform. It was beautiful to see the energy you put through your instrument.

[@stoovb]

🥹 my heart is so full and humbled knowing that my music could make an impact on you, thank you 💙

[@kaylinsheng8640]

congrats!!! that is actually insane because texas is a really competitive and large state! you should make a video bringing us through your practice or like good practice methods you use

[@stoovb]

ahhh thank you so much!!! i will definitely put that on my bucket list of video ideas to make in the near future!~ :)

[@BillyBob-xi9ih]

Whoa just looked you up in the rosters and looks like we’re fellow Plano All-Staters! I’m 30 now and I made it 3 times on viola (2010-2012). Was taking a trip down memory lane and stumbled upon this. Making concertmaster in Symphony in Texas is insane!

[@stoovb]

thank you so much 🥹 also that’s so cool! congratulations to you as well!!!

[@spacekitty0w099]

IM SO GLAD THIS IS IN MY RECS

[@stoovb]

🥹

[@tokenkenny]

this is great steven, thank you! praying these q&a responses help me LOCK TF IN

[@stoovb]

of course!!! best of luck on this year’s audition!!! we’re rooting for you!~ :)

[@warneryan1085]

THANK YOU STEVEN

[@stoovb]

i hope it helped!!!~ :)

[@estherthekim]

been waiting for this YAY STEVEN

[@stoovb]

thank you for waiting so patiently TT

[@angelicamanzano1358]

it also apparently helps if you run around the room and randomly facetime friends to play for them!

[@stoovb]

i completely forgot about this TT but yes it helps!!! i promise

[@haeun1157]

an angel sent from heaven frl

[@stoovb]

LOLLL thank you rebekah!!! :D

[@classic014]

I’m working on all region rn and this was just the video I was searching for. You don’t understand this was an answer to my prayers. Keep it up Probs not gonna advance cause of freaking region 24

[@stoovb]

i’m so glad the video was helpful! TT best of luck on your all region audition!~ you will be great!

[@chrissidk4401]

SAME😭our region is so competitive

[@classic014]

@@chrissidk4401if mckinney/prosper kids r good im cooked💀

[@penny9008]

how did you do?

[@jylepark]

this is so good steven 🤩🤩

[@stoovb]

i hope it’s helpful TT

[@jylepark]

@@stoovb it actually is for sure like i always just play the entire 30 seconds so ill make sure to try to be more mentally calm🙏

[@KeikoMcCue]

This is so amazing! the way I saw this 1 day after my audition lmao

[@stoovb]

oh no!!! hopefully this helps with all of your future auditions :’)

[@rachelgardner3301]

steven the legend

[@stoovb]

rachel the legend!

[@Melon21]

16:12 i think the 1st time especially it's so easy to just throw the audition. things you won't be expecting will happen and yuh you might sell

[@stoovb]

i completely agree- i was definitely very fortunate and also very lucky to have a lot of time/past experiences to have learned to feel comfortable with the environment, but even then it was a very different and daunting initial experience nonetheless. i think during that time, i tried to play as much as i could for the people around me and for people i knew were my harshest critics! but i think i’m definitely my harshest critic, so i try to record myself a lot and listen and practice through trial and error :D

[@dafaruzirani8932]

WE LOVE YOU STEVEN! -Ruzbeh

[@stoovb]

TYYY i appreciate it TT

[@icedlatterR]

Till eulenspiegel T.T and the thirds on the rode T.T thank god its easier this year

[@bella.w0o]

You’re amazing !! thank you for this

[@stoovb]

@@bella.w0o of course!!! i’m glad it helped TT

[@emiymb]

thank you for all the advice!

[@stoovb]

of course!~ :)

[@benviolaz]

SO HELPFUL. THANK U SMMM

[@stoovb]

of course!!!

[@bella.w0o]

This is so helpful!!

[@sijiosunkoya97]

GO STEVEN!!!!

[@stoovb]

:D

[@juliatardy03]

Love the video man

[@stoovb]

thank you julia!!!

[@GregoryFaught]

We all hate listening to ourselves talk. Great video and good luck at Colburn!

[@stoovb]

thank you so much gregory!!!

[@hyunibun4942]

woooo! go steven

[@stoovb]

:]

[@dawidkasprzak.violinist]

Found my new favorite channel 👌

[@stoovb]

@@dawidkasprzak.violinist dawid!!!

[@kaylnguyen]

YAYY STEVENNNN

[@stoovb]

YAY!!!

[@HornMouf]

Wonderful video!

[@stoovb]

@@HornMouf thank you!!!~

[@HornMouf]

@@stoovb you’re welcome!

[@SimbaDoggyBoy]

Just finished State yesterday, ur advice helped me at taping thanks bro Update: made area but was sadly 19 spots from state 😭😭, not bad for first time as a sophomore

[@stoovb]

congratulations man!!! i’m so glad you found it helpful 🥹

[@anwta_k]

gmea all state soon ✨

[@stoovb]

best of luck!!!

[@julianwang08]

HI STEVEN

[@kelvinsun5099]

I’m in region 23 btw

[@danielladhaliwal]

Samee

[@HannahSong]

❤️❤️❤️

[@stoovb]

hannah!!!

[@AllisonIsAPotato]

holy crap mad respect to you for being able to practice that long. can i ask what you do when you practice that allows you to spend hours focusing on a piece? (rhythms, slow practice, etc etc) 'cause right now my total practice time on a good day is probably around half of yours (edit: i realize that this may be a stupid question and that i just refuse to accept that slow practice is recommended) also i believe the amount of people who advance past area is based off the population (or so to speak) of the region? (my region/area has 28 spots for violinists i think) honestly pretty cool that your video popped up on my home page 'cause some of the all state people from my school met you this past season

[@stoovb]

thank you so much for watching 🥹 usually, i use very slow practice and focus my attention on how my body reacts to the music and realize any adjustments i might make (like releasing my left thumb, or adjusting the angle in which my violin is at. practice is a way for us to experiment, test, and push what we feel is comfortable and push our music making, and i think there’s a never-ending drive for discovery that allows us to practice for longer periods of time! also yes! that’s what i was thinking too, but i wasn’t so sure; thank you so much for correcting that! 😓

[@AllisonIsAPotato]

@@stoovb tysm for the advice 😭

[@stoovb]

@@AllisonIsAPotato it’s my pleasure!!! i’m so glad that you found my experiences to be helpful in some way 🥹

[@Kbles2648]

YIPPEEEEEE

[@stoovb]

:)

[@benviolaz]

YESSS

[@stoovb]

:)

[@777AU]

very cool👍

[@stoovb]

:)

[@chrissidk4401]

Would you also be able to share fingerings for the excerpts for this year? I’m struggling alot with what fingers to use 😭

[@stoovb]

yes! i’ll try to make them available for you all!

[@austinwebster-perks5481]

Can we get a Waxman video😁

[@stoovb]

HAHAHA one day 🙂‍↕️

[@IsraelMartinez-rt6lu]

What did you play for college auditions??

[@stoovb]

it varied depending on the music school, but my complete program was the tchaikovsky violin concerto, mozart 5 (turkish), bach g minor sonata, paganini 11, saint-saens introduction and rondo capriccioso, and ma sicong’s 3rd rondo!

[@IsraelMartinez-rt6lu]

@@stoovb you’re like my hero.. that last GDYO performance was amazing 😪

[@kuraX1Z]

⁠@@stoovbDo you have a video of you playing introduction and rondo capriccioso? I would love to see it 🙏

[@stoovb]

@@kuraX1Z i’ll have to look for it, but i’m pretty sure i do!

[@kuraX1Z]

@@stoovb If you could, could you send it to me? 🙏

[@JulieJung-y1w]

hi im your biggest fan

[@stoovb]

LOLLL thanks julie!

[@mikasj6118]

I’m working on the all region audition but it’s been a struggle😭 in your opinion, do you think it’s worth it just keep going and try to audition, or to maybe lay back on this and work on my foundation for like the techniques and skills I’m still lacking/struggling with…🙏

[@stoovb]

definitely give it a try! the experience auditioning is a great learning opportunity for future auditions. every opportunity creates an experience for you to look back on and work on, with new knowledge of what you may need to prioritize in your practice or how you should approach your unique audition experience!

[@mikasj6118]

@@stoovbthank you so much!!!😊😊

[@vincentcsvn]

i didnt know you had a nice PC setup

[@stoovb]

LOL yes ^^

[@benviolaz]

steven will u pls mention me in ur autobiography when u get famous 😛😛😛

[@theorion8768]

this was a NEED(im not gonna be concertmaster😭🙏)

[@stoovb]

trust in the process! best of luck on your audition!!!

[@yourpettypomegranate7]

this is Erin the lemon one HII

[@stoovb]

hi!!!

[@kelvinsun5099]

Why do you think that people sometimes play better in front of a judge than normal, and other poeple play worse performing

[@julianlee3587]

Hi Kelvin

[@stoovb]

hm… i honestly would say that everyone’s performance will undoubtedly be affected in that kind of situation, but it’s more so the level at which they’ve prepared to that helps them perform better when they’re under pressure. or how people deal with performing under high stress situations. i would go as far to say that every one of my musician friends has expressed concerns for performance anxiety at one point or another, and it’s very normal and valid to deal with! it ultimately just comes down to how to embrace it~

[@qekruxt5089]

how much was your violin

[@stoovb]

@@qekruxt5089 i got it on discount on temu!

[@qekruxt5089]

@@stoovb i doubt this

[@stoovb]

@@qekruxt5089 in all seriousness, i am content with what i have, and am very grateful! that’s all i have to say.

[@qekruxt5089]

@@stoovb alright. be secretive. i understand

[@Ron-cr3hb]

LMAO what are the odds I have an audition in 2 days

[@stoovb]

best of luck on your audition!!! we’re all rooting for you!

[@Ron-cr3hb]

Thank you!!

[@CarlaHolmes-c8c]

Lee Ruth Jackson Jose Walker Richard