December 2008

Merry Christmas!

December 17, 2008 05:40

As time is getting VERY short in my house what with all the Christmas stuff and family, I thought I would just post my Christmas Card to you all now and wish each of you the BEST for the Holidays!

I didn't want time to get away from me and not post a little somethin' :)

-Jim

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My Violin May Need Work

December 13, 2008 18:25

Looks like my poor violin may need a bit of work.

I've been saying to my coach.teacher that my violin doesn't sound quite right to my ears. Regrettably she concurred saying it sounds a little nasally.

Off to the luthier it went this afternoon.
The luthier moved the sound peg saying it was WAY too tight and offered to take it for a day or to to "fiddle" (sorry) with it.

Her first thoughts we're the back and belly are a bit to thick but before any scraping and redefining the dimensions occurred, she wanted to fool around with the sound post first.

Dang...

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Squeaking with the Best of Them

December 12, 2008 05:29

After surviving the 60’s and playing blues for 40+ years, I find myself a whopping 9 weeks into learning violin.

Let’s see now –

Bow hand relaxed and in proper position – check

Tilt the wrist forward slightly - check

Draw the bow parallel to the bridge and somewhat midway between the bridge and finger board – check (kinda’)

Draw the bow at an even speed – SQUEAK!!! LOL!!

Actually, it’s not that bad. Well, maybe.

I’m immersed in Muller Rusch book about 2/3’s the way thru and Suzuki book two but just for the music printed.

I'm able to do some scales fairly well and quite a few arpeggios.

I (just) beginning to play well enough that my little Beagle no longer howls and my wife no longer peaks into my "conservatory" to see if everything is alright.

I also believe I’ve stumbled onto a teacher who fits my personality and not only speaks my language, but who’s patience is generously deep.

As an aside, I’ve found that having the proper teacher in music and other disciplines in life can make or break the student. It’s a piece of the learning process that tends to be ignored though probably shouldn’t be. Sorry for that bit pontification.

By the way, why is there a love/hate deal going on with the Suzuki method? When I tell some musicians about Suzuki it’s like I just besmirched their mother, others congratulate.

Oh well.

Do I still squeak? You bet but I’m really enjoying the learning process of this fine instrument.

I love doing first position Bach and Handel pieces as they sound like music meant for the instrument. After all, “Twinkle Twinkle” and other such standards of learning are fine, but a little repetitive in my opinion.

I’m learning SO much and actually learning to read music!

(We guitarists are NOTORIOUS for not being able to sight read.)

I’ve even attended some adult night courses at Juilliard (yup, they offer them!), such is my newly found fascination.

Move over Mssr. Shamam, I’m coming!

-Jim

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