so far this week, i've been mostly playing Mendelssohn's Spinning Song. At first I thought that learning the piece would be really difficult, but turns out it's not. However, my professor warned that very few can pull it off [correctly]. And I could see what she's saying..you have to sound nimble yet not strained...don't want that metallic sound. I've been playing it at or near tempo (presto) for the first 2-3 pages...but I think I will slow it down (conscience tells me so) and play it at moderato to make sure everything is played correctly and clearly.

I was asked to do piano jury (where you play on stage in front of a committee of piano professors who grade you on your performance)....but b/c I'm not a degree-seeking student and the jury's at 1pm (I work full-time), it's not required. May decline this time (since I don't think I'll be approved to leave work at that time).