It was interesting for sure.
For a start it was on Thursday evening because Mrs Sage is working the late shift and I have to collect Prince and Princess Sage on Friday. Fortunately Laura offered me the Thursday spot. That was good because my parents had Prince and the neighbour took Princess to her dance class.
I started by showing Laura my composition. She liked it. I had used plenty of what I had learned and had written it well. I have been playing and reading music for a while so I was confident I could write down the music accurately. She urged me to keep writing because (a) it is a good skill to have and (b) it will make learning new pieces easier. This was also an opportunity for Laura to teach me about sound dynamics. I remembered some of this from accordion days. It was good to review it again.
This week my playing was better. I tried hard to remember everything she had been teaching me. I think part of the problem is the shoulder rest. It is not supportive enough, so I feel like I need to hold it more with my jaw / chin and left hand. 'The Kettle Tune' was good enough to get a stamp (okay, no stamp, but Laura drew a smiling face) today.
I played some of the 'Slur And Stomp Song'. And this is where Laura told me about harmonics. If I play a string and ever-so-lightly touch it in the right spot, I make a sound that is known as a harmonic. The place I have to touch is far along the neck of the violin toward my shoulder. It was actually pretty cool. So the song requires harmonics (with the fourth finger) as well as stomping. Who doesn't like a good stomp, eh?
And there is a new song. I can't play the first line. I see flats and naturals so I will be learning more things soon. The remaining two lines contain harmonics again but no stomps.
I look forward to composing some more. It was good fun. Learning the violin has been a wonderful experience so far
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