study-like-you-mean-it:

MY 2019 STUDY HOLIDAY STUDY ROUTINE

 Hello hello, I’m finally back with a long text post about how I’m studying this holiday. I’m not necessarily going to go into huge detail with the kind of revision techniques I use when I study, just because I’m planning on another post for that since my studying style has changed quite a lot in moving from school to university.

So What’s Changed?

 To be honest, not a huge amount, but also a fair bit, if that makes any sense. If you want a super rigorous version of what I’m about to lay out, then check out my post from last year on how to do 5/6 hours a day of studying without burning out. This year, my post is going to be a lot less instructional and more what I’m realistically doing, because for definite I’m not working as intensely as I did last year, mostly because my first year university exams, although they are harder, are not as important as my A-Levels were, which determined whether or not I could get into Cambridge in the first place.

What a Typical Couple of Days Studying Looks Like This Year

 There is a lot more variation for me day-to-day this year, partly because I have other commitments, and partly because I’m taking more time this holiday to recover from a Cambridge term, which is much more full-on and intense than a school term (8 weeks might not sound like a lot but when you’re doing 12+ weeks’ worth of work in that time it’s quite full on!).

 Normally, it takes me a day to fully process one or two lectures, so the pace is quite slow-going. I probably could have helped myself by writing up my lecture notes neatly during the term, but given my other commitments I just didn’t do that. Which is fine. At the moment I will review all the content in the lecture, writing up neat handwritten notes of all the content, as well as writing a summary with all the necessary details into my big subject cheat sheet (but more on that in a later post as that’s a new addition to my studying).

 I’ll normally get up around 8 or 9, and start working at 9 or 10, and that will take me though until lunchtime, where I’ll have a break of about an hour, and then get back to work. Around mid-afternoon, I will take a break either by watching something or by getting out and exercising, not so much because I want to but because in order to stay in the first crew for my college’s rowing team, I need to get my fitness up, as my place isn’t guaranteed from term to term, and in the final term of the year the stakes get raised a bit.

Why Does It Look Like I’m Not Studying As Hard?

 To be honest, although these exams matter a lot less than last year, I am actually working just as hard, but not in the same way. I like to think I’m working smarter, and giving myself a little bit more time to review and fully absorb the content. Once term begins again, I’m lucky in that I actually don’t have any more content left to learn, and I’ll be surrounded by the resources I need to really kick my revision up a gear, which I will absolutely be doing, using a lot of the same techniques as I did last year, such as relying on past essay questions.

 This change in itself is a proof to those of you who are also studying for exams that are coming up soon that revision techniques vary from person to person and even yeat to year for the same person. It’s super important to remember that your studying technique does not have to be the same as anyone else’s (although you can absolutely draw inspiration from other people), and that you need to set yourself up for your best results, and although there’s a bit of experimentation involved, it’s ok to experiment and figure out what’s best for you.

You got this.

mikrokosmos:

Handel – Organ Concerto in Bb Major, op.7 no.1 (1761)

While he is more known for his opera music, Handel has some wonderful orchestra and keyboard works that are full of life and lean on the “humanist” side of the Baroque era [if we are to contrast him with the sacred aura of Bach’s works]. The organ concertos were written to be played like intermezzos during his oratorios and operas. This concerto is unique in that the opening two movements act like a single chaconne, and everything flows without interruption. Later, the chaconne passage returns, giving this work a “four movements in one” feeling. It opens with large chords, a call and response between organ and strings. These chords set up the chaconne in gorgeous ways. First, a simple revision focusing on thirds. Then, with the organ taking the center stage, we get a segment of variations in English division style, the same device he uses in his popular “The Harmonious Blacksmith”. Next the variations take after an earlier passacaglia Handel wrote for his harpsichord suite in g minor. Eventually we transition back into the major, and a little organ cadenza carries us into the second movement which continues the chaconne at a slightly slower pace. Throughout, the soloist and strings are in dialogue, seamlessly weaving together these variations over such a simple chord progression, the work calls to mind Handel’s abilities as an improvisor. Eventually we get a very grandiose restatement of the opening. And just like that, without pause, we go into the slow movement, this time in the minor key. It is more austere than the music from before, and a surprising contrast. The texture is thin, the music is subdued, and we walk in this darkness for a while. But the solemn interruption doesn’t last long, we then shift into a sunny bourrée. It has a kind of childish rhythm to it, like you’re faux marching along in the back yard with friends playing soldier. It’s a charming end to a fun concerto. This one is my favorite of the Handel organ concertos because the opening is full of so much energy, and it’s partially grand but it isn’t pompous. Another work to add to my spring playlist.

Movements:

1. Andante –

2. Andante – 

3. Largo, e piano

4. Bourrée

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