April 8, 2005 at 6:02 PM

Well, I've been vetting out the violin with everyone I know, and everyone loves the sound and it's quite playable. I took it to my luthier and he was very helpful in figuring out what it is -- unlabeled as it is, he immediately was able to tell me almost exactly what it is and where it came from, with even a guess at the maker! One day, when I'm retired, I'll devote myself to the art of making violins and maybe, just maybe I'll learn to recognize all the little things he sees in an instant. Maybe, before I die of old age! :)

So, out of curiousity, I put a set of Vision strings on it -- and lo and behold, it sounded exactly like the other violin I tried in the shop (which also had Vision strings). So, now I'm wondering if the reason I didn't like the other one was because of the strings, not the intrinsic properties of the instrument itself.

Luckily, my mom and dad are close and my mom is still very interested in my playing -- and so they're driving an hour to the shop and back to go borrow the other violin! (Thanks, Mom and Dad! You rock!) The owner was very gracious and even offered to put different strings on it so I could give it a fair try. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to buy one or the other (and it's not like she's got ten other people wanting to try these violins), so I don't feel like I'm taking too much advantage of her.

More updates as I try the two of them. :) No matter what, though, I've realized that I cannot go back to the violins I've been playing on for so long. Yesterday evening as I played on the Luthier's stage, Mom requested the "2nd Seitz" (I forget what number it is, but it's the 2nd in Suzuki book 4, which is her favorite) and she said that it was the best I'd ever played it. The dynamics came through, probably for the first time ever, simply because the violin really responds. It has tone even when soft, so I can actually do big dynamic changes without getting weak, scratchy pianissimos and crunched fortissimos.

If only I'd woken up 15 years ago! :)

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 9, 2005 at 7:01 AM

Patty, that sounds absolutely wonderful. The violin is making evident all that beautiful music you've had inside you for so many years.

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