Not Really Busking in Cupertino

May 6, 2007 at 4:56 AM

Well with all the talk about busking and playing violin in public, I decided to practice my violin next to my car while waiting for my daughter's piano lesson. Usually I just sit in the car and read books. But today, I had a Ladies event at my church right after the piano lesson where I agreed to play a piece.

We arrived at the piano lesson, on a tree-lined residential neighborhood. It was a typical Saturday morning, not many people were out, and the man next door was mowing his lawn and trimming his hedges. With that background noise, I figured no one would notice what I was up to. Indeed, no one was even within earshot. So I went ahead and started practicing my piece, Bach Partita #3 Gavotte en rondo. I was a little self-conscious at first until I realized that no one was listening, no one was around, except for a piano teacher who was walking to her car and smiled at me. So, after about 45 minutes of pieces, scales, doublestops, and my two Hungarian dances I'm working on (#2 and #5), I declared my busking experience a success, got my practice done for the day and decided to do this from now on. The only worry I had was that I was standing under a tree which usually has birds chirping in it and I don't want to find out what happens to varnish in case of bird accident. Luckily for me, I think my playing drove them away and all was well.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on May 6, 2007 at 5:25 AM

On I really nice day I will "plop" a chair and stand outside my house, on the deck and play. It is great when the weather is nice.

I have 7 birds in my house. As long as you wipe off bird "buisness" in the wet stage it won't hurt your instrument. That is what I get for putting my violin down to get a drink! lol

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on May 6, 2007 at 6:51 AM

That's cool, Clare! One day I'll try something like that too.

From Anne Horvath
Posted on May 6, 2007 at 2:40 PM

I have heard that it is lucky for a bird to share his business with you.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on May 7, 2007 at 4:03 AM

The best way to clear the birds out is walk up the the tree and start yelling "Go away!" at it.

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on May 7, 2007 at 6:27 AM

Here in Victoria, BC, my biggest thing is the seagulls. They hover over you whether you make noise or not, and they deliver their thing like spray paint. Every afternoon, I’ve got a few sit outside of my office window to enjoy the afternoon sun and will knock the window from time to time with their beaks from time to time hoping I’ll open them and feed them. Last month they were in making season and you can see them on the roof of house dancing. There were days some would be gathering outside of my window when I was practicing violin. They must be wondering what kind of seagull mating songs that I was making! Yes, seagulls will be the big threat for me if I were to busk here.

From Gabriel Kastelle
Posted on May 7, 2007 at 3:05 PM

If you're driving the birds away.... hmmm... I bet they'll come back and stay depending on how you play! I had almost regularly a great time where I lived for time, singing with loons out on a bay in a kayak-- when I sang, they stayed on surface longer and we got closer together. (Before seeing other comments, I'd imagined my focus on the birds would be uncommon... nope!)

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Not Really Busking in Cupertino

Subscribe

Laurie's Books