August 2009

Multi-tasking..........not a gift for all women!

August 12, 2009 15:32

“Can you not feel the music?” says my teacher. Well, no, not really. I’m too busy trying to focus on the notes, intonation, phrasing, dynamics, posture, stance, feet (who thinks of their feet whilst playing???), breathing, right arm – lift a little bit on the beginning of that first passage but then let the weight bear down throughout the next 2, don’t grip the bow, left arm – loose, flexible fingers, not too fast though. AND I consider myself a neophyte at this instrument. I can’t imagine the millions of other things you need to think of when you reach professional playing.

The question comes up almost every lesson though and I do understand she is trying to help me but sometimes I just want to break my violin in half when she says that because I try very hard (well, I think I do) to remember all those things listed above as well as the hundred other things I haven’t listed and the new technique I’m trying to learn. Regardless of how frustrating that is for me (and I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for her to listen to me play) I realize I focus too much on the structure of my music – on what I can see and getting all of it (or trying to) perfect therefore leaving those listening with a feeling of………….emptiness??? or incomplete??? I’m trying to think of the word for it is all.

I know what she is saying – I’ve listened to music where the feeling just isn’t there and yet the music itself is perfect. It doesn’t sound right, afterall, music is a form of self expression.

Does it ever get easier – I mean after this inchoate stage, does it come naturally? Well, I hope so. For now though, no violin breaking. I’ll just add it to my list of things to remember.

Cheers

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August 2009

Multi-tasking..........not a gift for all women!

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