March 2006

Found Jed's Brother!

March 31, 2006 20:26

Jed, my violon made by JB Clopton of Elgin/Bastrop, TX in 1902 is number 22. I've tracked down number 20, which is made in a more traditional style (not russian).

And it has a little history. It was owned by JF Nash the first town Marshall of Bastrop who played in the Bastrop Orcherstra. Addtionally, Mr. Nash was an owner of a stage coach company and involved in the McDade Gun Fight.

The Label says "Made Expressly for JF Nash", and when we took the finger board off to reset it. It has Nash written under it in pencil.

Glorai Cothern, his grand daughter sold me the violin, which has some varnish damage on the top. It came with an old case with spring loaded clasps, rusted tins that has gut strings and horse hair in them.

Brian Duckworth is putting it back in shape for me.

Nice piece of history it will look nice on the wall with the others.

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Won a Russian Style Violin on E-Bay

March 31, 2006 20:22

I find myself attracted to Russian style Violins with no overhang:

I just won this one on E-bay. I'm interested to see how it sounds.

It will be a good companion to "Jed" my JB Clopton Violin:

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NEW Violin!

March 31, 2006 20:17

Got a new violin last week from Violins Etc... The shop is nice and people are incredible. I traded in my L.F. Wiley Violin for full credit and got a Max Schaeffer. They had 4 there and I played them all and had the person working there play them too. The wife and I listened too them all and loved one in particular.

It's a Guarneri copy with a rustic varnish with some wrinkles under the bridge from putting the bridge on too soon. Great sound and very responsive! I love it.

On the downside it has a Fiddler's low cut bridge and I'm smacking strings unintentionally. I'm going to get a traditional bridge cut for it next week.

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Lesson 2

March 31, 2006 20:14

Lesson 2 went well, almost had a scheduling incident, had to go to Houston and proactively called to let them know I might not make it. Low and behold there someone in there when I came in and we started 10 minutes late.

The teacher was very nice about it and seems committed, so I'll just not say when I won't make it and hold the slot.

Lesson went well, worked on Etude, I don't quite have it down yet, but we did a sort of copy cat excercise where he played and I tried to copy with out reading the music. I enjoyed it and it seemed to force me to use my ear and my memory.

I've decided to learn the mechanics of the pieces from reading and then to memorize them. I've started memorizing Etude and Ashokan Farwell.

I'm starting Minuet as well I'll probably match it with House of the Rising Sun AKA Rising Sun Blues...

An intersting thought to pair up Classical pieces with more modern songs. I'm sure it's been done before.

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The new teacher! Lesson 1.

March 31, 2006 20:11

Met up with my new teacher two weeks ago. He seems like an interesting guy. He studied in India.

He had me play something and after I struggled through Ashokan Farewell, he quickly determined that I was towards the end of Suzuki Book 1 and started me on excercise 12 "Etude".

I started researching the Suzuki Method and find it quite intriguing. I like the idea of a few pieces of "real music" a few tone excercises and a few finger excercises or atleast that's how I'd describe it.

I've placed songs for book one and two on CD and listen them the on my way two and from work 30 - 45 min each way and in my office. I'm definately absorbing the tunes by Osmosis.

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Back in the Saddle

March 31, 2006 20:07

So it's almost been a year that I've been playing. I tend to do practice heavily for a few months and then back off for a few months.

In the past lessons have been problematic because of my work schedule and I can't seem to get music teachers to understand the concept of a retainer. I'm okay with paying for their time, even if I don't have a lesson, but if I pay for every monday at 6:30, I expect them to be available Monday at 6:30. Even if I can only come 2 Monday's a month (especially since I pay full rate). Twice now, I've had teachers who get nervous if I'm not there or try to let someone else use the slot, which prompts me not to want to tell them that I might not make it, which would be rude.

So I stayed away from teachers for a few months and worked the ABC's of the violin by myself for a while, basicly a month on month off.

I injured my knee and was facing the possiblity of surgery which prompted me to stop most physical activity. Which then prompted me to return to the violin.

Got my calluses back and am rocking.

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More entries: April 2006 • April 2005