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Emily Grossman

Eureka!

November 15, 2005 at 10:36 AM

I don't usually make public announcements concerning my personal progress on the violin. It probably strikes most people as boring, and quite honestly, most progressions in my studies are minute and gradual. However, tonight I need to proclaim a discovery that to me is about as amazing as a lunar module landing.

Eureka, I discovered... detache!

Wait, no. I discovered... how to make a straight bow stroke.

This isn't as glorious sounding as I wanted it to be. Really, words can't do justice to the thing that came out of my violin. It had something to do with a long focused effort with a perfectly straight bow in the upper half, even relaxed bow pressure, and just the right sounding point. I started slowly and spent an hour or two on a scale.

As I moved that bow back and forth, an amazing sound began to emit from my violin. The precisely placed pitches caught the neighboring strings and provoked them into a collaborated rejoicing. Back and forth went the bow, and the sound billowed and rolled like a gong. Like bells resounding. Like a perfectly rubbed crystal wine glass. It glowed and rang until my ears hurt. Up and down the scale I went for hours, unable to let go of this glorious sound that opened my violin up like cleansed sinuses.

How can I play any other way after today? How can I allow another dull, unfinished note to stand in any of my pieces? I'm spoiled for good. I will just have to go back through my entire repertoire and work this sound into everything.

Glory, my ears are still ringing.

From Karin Lin
Posted on November 15, 2005 at 9:17 PM
Congratulations! I think your words describe your joy quite well. :)
From Laurie Niles
Posted on November 16, 2005 at 12:25 AM
It makes me think of ballet dancers. It must be absolute torture getting into some of those positions, with years upon years of only partial success. Then, one day, when it flows just the right way, the grace of the movement takes over, and a hundred little refinements become one beautiful gesture. There's no going back!
From Danny Arnette
Posted on November 17, 2005 at 2:59 AM
Can anyone help me get the fingerings to Paganinni's "Moto Perpetuo?"
Thanks!

Danny
DArne16246@aol.com
919 394-0740

From Emily Grossman
Posted on November 17, 2005 at 3:14 AM
Umm...

No.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on November 17, 2005 at 3:15 AM
(But the discussion board is just one click to the right.)

:)

From Sander Marcus
Posted on November 21, 2005 at 12:20 AM
Hi, Emily: Congrats. That's great. There is NOTHING like gaining real mastery is something that is really very hard to do.

Your friend, Sandy Marcus

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