Comments

Sorry, I should have said "Many Clothespins". Six is a safe number.

Also, I bet more people would have put $$$ in your case if you had left the four year old clinging to your leg!

Way to go Karen. You look relaxed and as though busking is soooo easy :) I put my music in plastic sheet protectors to give it some stability too. hey Karen..
I was wondering do you think it is ok to go busking w/ music? Because my mom wants me to memorize my music. Actually, Anne recommended the plastic sheet protectors too, and I didn't get that far. That probably would have helped.

I wasn't quite ready to go music-less, and I don't think that was so bad in terms of audience interactions. I still could make eye contact with people and talk to them when I wanted to. And I think for my first time out there I just needed the music as a security blanket. (And you can see my son the little leg clinger sitting off to the left in the corner there).

But given the logistics of the clothespins etc., I do think having the music memorized is good goal, so Sara, if you think you can do it and it's not too much effort, go for it!

Sarah, I think with or without the music, but memorizing it would be great--I agree with your mom. I personally have become too dependent on music--a new experience for me--to help with the dynamics, bowing, and little reminders I scribble.

So, I'm thinking the best solution would be wait until you have enough repertoire so that your earlier pieces become ok candidates to play--light Bach--etc... But if you would rather play with the music, that's up to you. Talk more with your mom about it--and maybe your teacher.

Karen, so what all did you play? I played:

Planxty Fanny Powers (from Fiddling for Viola)

Hail Columbia (from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook, arranged for viola by yours truly. It was July 5th and I wanted to play something patriotic.)

Sonatina by James Hook (from Solos for Young Violists)

Bach Cello Suite #1 (arranged for viola, Schirmer edition with the yellow cover, of course): Prelude, Allemande, Courante. With all the repeats.

Boston Fancy (American Folk song from Solos for the viola player)

The Belles of South Boston, Cincinnati Hornpipe, and Harvest Home (from Fiddling for viola)--Go Karen!

When Johnny Comes Marching Home (from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook again arranged for viola by yours truly)

Carolan's "Farewell to Music" (from Fiddling for viola)

Shenandoah (from Solos for the viola player)

And then all the Bach, the Hook, Johnny, and Shenandoah again.

I really like the Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook, it has a lot of Americana in it. I bought it on eBay last year when I was reading Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prarie to my daughter. I played her a few of the pieces played by Pa on his fiddle in those books.

According to the songbook, "Hail Columbia," which I didn't really know before, was one of the most popular patriotic songs in the 19th century.

Woo hoo! Congrats on the busking! I forgot to mention in my article on the subject that if a player does use a music stand I suggest they bring clips for the music. The best clips I've seen, which also look better than clothes clips, and work very well are 4" (enourmous) brass paper clips you can find at most office supply stores.
All the best in your music making!
rhiannon I think if Pavarotti & Meat Loaf can perform in front of Princess Diana with the music on a stand in front of them, then it's perfectly fine for you to do so at the market. LOL. Great link. Thanks. Karen, you look and sound like you're having fun. I'd love to try busking, but I haven't yet. My plan would be to play light, happy things, such as jigs, reels, and songs, which I could do without music. For classical music, I use the Classical Fakebook. It is a great resource with about 600 well loved melodies. I have a core set that I use for weddings and parties. I'm encouraged to try it myself after reading your blog. Thanks for sharing your experience, Karen! It makes me want to try busking. :) I used to do a fair amount of Celtic fiddling, but I've been shamefully neglecting it lately because of more "important" things (i.e. my classical music). Its so much fun though, I really ought to brush up some tunes. Both you and your viola look very pretty. You'll be playing the Walton and Bartok in no time! There's no such song as Coming back to Sorrento. He lives in Sorrento and he was trying to pick you up. Congratulations! You are my inspiration. For the first time, I just walked out on my balcony and played to the world (my poor neighbor, to be more accurate) this morning after reading your blog. Someday I’ll go farther. Very very cool!