Fernando Almeida

Learning something new

May 2, 2010 01:23

I had forgotten how hard it is to learn something new, I guess. As I said in my last post, I'm now starting the Nardini E minor concerto.

It's been a long while since I learnt something really new. When I first quit the violin, about 6 years ago, I had played the Vivaldi A minor concerto and a few of his sonatas. In the last few years, everytime I wanted to start practicing again or at least wanted to pick up the violin in order not to forget everything, I usually went through the Vivaldi A minor.

Three months ago I decided to start having classes again and so I did. First piece? Yes, the Vivaldi. It was good to remember it, though, because I think it helped me remember many aspects of violin playing and I also think that now I'm playing it better than any other time I played it.

Along with it, I was and am learning some etudes that are not that hard, mainly focused on (the first five) positions and (not that hard) shifting. I guess I'm used to that after those years, even having not played for a while, and so I don't find these etudes that hard - I know I'll find hard ones in the future, though.

Anyway, the Nardini is harder than that for me. It's a new piece, one that I really didn't know before starting to learn it (which doesn't help). It has constant shifts, and, most importantly, it has to sound good (I mean, there's no room for mistakes). When I look at the score it looks very easy, though. I know it's not a hard piece, but I think I still have to get to know it better, to understand it.. It's taking me out of my comfortable place, which I know is really good.

I just really didn't remember how that felt.

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Fernando Almeida

Learning something new

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