October 2007

V.com weekend vote: what kind of music stand is currently in your studio?

October 26, 2007 11:34

It's just a tool of the trade, but one's choice of music stand can affect a violinist's quality of life, not to mention have some feng shui implications.

For the longest time, I had a collapsible metal music stand. This is a great, lightweight choice for the mobile college student, but frankly, those things are pretty cheesy. They collapse under the weight of a thick folder, they get bent. Even after years of owning the same stand, the act of folding the stand and fitting it into its little carrying case can confound the owner and cause emotions similar to road rage.

As soon as I could rub a few pennies together, I bought myself what I thought was a nice wooden stand. But. It had these little knobs that you had to loosen to raise the stand, then tighten to keep it raised, it was really heavy to move. I lived in fear that one of my then-small children would knock it over on themselves and have to be rushed to the hospital. In short, it was a big pain in the neck.

So now I have a good ol' metal Manhasset with a little pencil shelf along the bottom. It holds the music, it goes up and down without a fuss, though the bottom part likes to come loose, causing the stand to teeter and sway.

Is there a perfect stand? The ones I like are the RAT stands at Disney Hall. Solid, elegant, functional...ahhh. My birthday is in February...;)

more at twiigs.com...

31 replies | Archive link

V.com weekend vote: is your significant other a musician or non-musician?

October 19, 2007 17:10

Are you married to your accompanist? Is the violist in your quartet your significant other?

Or are you romantically attached to an non-musician? Let's see!

more at twiigs.com...

14 replies | Archive link

V.com weekend vote: Did you start arco or pizzicato?

October 12, 2007 18:04

I wasn't even aware that some teachers taught this way, pizzicato before arco, until I discovered that the other teacher at the public school where I'm teaching has this approach.

This week, a Shenandoah University grad student, Erin Freund, put up a survey for string teachers on the topic. After I took the survey, I got to thinking, how many violinists started this way?

So I'm asking you! And while you're at it, if you are a teacher, help a grad student and take Erin's survey!

more at twiigs.com...

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V.com weekend vote: Where do you like playing in orchestra?

October 5, 2007 09:44

Whether you are in a professional orchestra, school orchestra or community orchestra, the issue comes up: first violin or second? First violins very often get the melody, and they get to play way up in the stratosphere. Second fiddle has the reputation of being easier, yet the counting and noodley accompaniment can be downright complex. Then there is the much-picked-on viola section. And if you are a cellist, we gave you an option, we want you to feel welcome.

And how about those hot dogs that want to wave the stick at the rest of us? Would you rather be playing, or conducting?

Let us know, and tell us why:

more at twiigs.com...

28 replies | Archive link

More entries: November 2007 • September 2007