Touching Music

November 21, 2007 at 2:40 AM

Every time my cello teacher plays his cello, I can feel the soundbox of mine vibrating in respond. The vibration is so significant that I can feel it just holding my cello at the neck. So in my previous lesson, I asked my teacher to play while I stand about 10 feet away holding my cello... it vibrated. 15 feet away, it still vibrated! It’s amazing!

I wonder now if when a whole bunch of cellos are played closely next to each other, it must have the same effect, only much greater. Imagine playing in the middle of the bunch, it must be quite an overwhelming experience!

I wish I’d get the same experience with the violin. I suppose that’s why some violinists insisted not to use shoulder rest, so to feel this vibration on the shoulder. Like deaf people who “listen” to sound through vibration, hearing people must also have the same ability, just that hearing people rely too much on the ears, the ability to “hear” through vibration hasn’t been explored.

Now, if only I have a much shorter neck!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on November 22, 2007 at 6:55 AM

My violin is very sensitive. When I'm sitting next to someone playing a different instrument, my violin "sings" (resonates) along. I can both hear it and feel it. My violin also has great sustain. When I play with an orchestra and we come to the end of the piece, my violin's last note lingers in the air after everyone else's is quiet.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on November 22, 2007 at 6:59 AM

PS. I have a very long neck.

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Touching Music

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