A Wednesday... and an hour to go until my weekly lesson.   Needed some motivation... and this is what did it for me today    I wish I could play this good...

It's Friday again...  and I looked for something to get the body moving.... This girl can play    But even better, as I read some of her story...  she has gone on to medical school and is about to become a doctor.   She still plays, and is known to play at benefit concerts that help pay for scholarships in Jamaica where she is from.  

(edit:  added below)

Jessica is the type of person who motivates people in life as well as in music.   

Here's the text from a article in the Miami Gardens Observer:

Jessica Yap is an unassuming violinist with compelling presence.  She is a national gem in her native island, Jamaica, since captivating audiences at the early age of 3 years old when she began performing publicly.

At the age of 5 years, Jessica became the youngest in the Caribbean to gain a distinction in Grade 5 theory examinations with the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music in London, England. She has maintained distinctions for violin in all grades. At age 13, Jessica achieved a diploma in violin performance (dip, ABRSM). She was awarded a scholarship to attend University of Indiana for the summer of 2006 during which she studied with renowned teachers Mimi Zweig and Carol Cole. Jessica is the recipient of Most Outstanding Performer for 3 consecutive years in the Music Teacher's Festival held in Jamaica biennially. She was also a finalist in Florida's Music Festival at age 9. Though classically trained, Jessica has opened her repertoire to encompass all genres of music including reggae, jazz and R&B.

Among her many appearances are performances at international events such as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, the Miss Jamaica Universe Pageant, performances with the New England Orchestra and shows in Toronto, Washington D.C., and Florida.

Jessica is a medical student at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, where she is the recipient of UWI’s most prestigious Open Scholarship.  Since then, Jessica has established the Jessica Yap Pass It On Scholarship to fund deserving university students whom she believes will be able to help other university student when they are able to “Pass it on.”  This year’s scholarship was awarded to Rouja Shirley, a first year medical student.

Jessica is a member of the Board of Directors of “Angels of Love Jamaica”, a charitable foundation that benefits the disadvantaged and underprivileged children of Jamaica that are critically ill

Friday's seem to come up on us so fast....

Watching video's motivates me to learn new things, listen to styles of music I might not otherwise, and simply enjoy life... 

It's only Tuesday and seems like it's been a long week already...   but thinking of a day at the beach on Friday.   So what's better than some violin music with water in the background to motivate me to practice and get through the rest of the week