Violin Lesson #38

I wonder when I should stop counting my lessons...

There were two violin moments this week: one high, one low.

The low moment was missing out on Lindsey Stirling tickets. You don't know who she is? I'll forgive you if click the link and check her out. She is a very talented entertainer who plays the violin. With dub step. And dancing. And costumes (and she's cute). I only hope she comes back to Australia soon, with more notice, and at a bigger venue than Brisbane Powerhouse. Somewhere like QPAC would be great. When I did ring to check if her show was sold out, the lovely lady at the box office confirmed it, and implied her show was very popular and sold quickly. I was almost ready to go to the Powerhouse and play out the front with a sign that said "Will play and pay for Lndsey Stirling ticket". Next time I'll go for sure.

The high moment was playing on the primary school oval with Patience when I took my children out on Sunday afternoon. It felt different playing outside, and it certainly sounded a little different to me. But it was great fun. There were people around but none seemed to pay too much attention, which was fine. Part way through playing Ode To Joy I saw this young child had come close to me to listen. When I finished we said hello to each other. Then he said "I know that. That's ''Ode To Joy''". Then he want back to his father and brother and walked off. Firstly I thought it was cool that he took the time to stop (and was allowed to by his father). Secondly I thought it was cooler that he knew Ode To Joy, and cooler still that he called it by that name instead of "that Beethoven song" or something else. So Laura has given me the skills and the confidence to be able to learn some music and to play it well. Thank-you. Incidentally, this is the first piece of classical music I have learned to play since I started learning =)

I started practice with the G Major scale. I can play it okay, and apparently better down than up, but my fingering still needs work. Laura showed me an exercise to strengthen my second (aka middle) finger so hopefully next week it will be even better. This week I also played the arpeggios for the three scales I have learned so far. Laura  mentioned again the importance of scales. They are almost necessary to make progress with violin studies. Scales (and arpeggios and other exercises) often have the stigma of being boring or dreary. I find that I enjoy them and they can be somewhat soothing or meditative. Laura says scales are great for getting into the right head-space before playing a show. And even someone like Heifetz would play scales and arpeggios every day.

I went through Shark Attack again. It went pretty well while not being sticker-worthy just yet. It's the very last part that is causing me grief. The rest of it actually sounded pretty good. I didn't get time to play Barrier Reef, which is good because I don't think I am quite ready with that yet. I don't know what it is. It feels like it is missing something and I am not sure what. I think I want it to have a light ethereal touch and it's just not happening the way I want it to. Perhaps I need to slow it down (it's already a slow song) and work through it some more.

After this came a new piece. It's a Laura Thomson song called The Fiddler Man, and it is exactly what it sounds like - fiddle playing. Apparently when playing a fiddle you can really go for it and have fun. It is a chance to channel some anger too, so look out! It sounds like a lot of fun and I look forward to learning it.

Then I only had time for Space Station. Laura was ready to give it a sticker if I could play it through okay. But just like the Wallabies in a Bledisloe Cup match I crumbled under pressure. No sticker for me today, which is a little annoying because this was sounding pretty good during the week. Alas it will have to wait until the next lesson.

For this week I have a number of pieces to play (five that are in various stages) so there won't be any lack of something to do :)

Also, Laura is playing in Marimba Galaxy on September 4th. Come along. It will be fun. I plan to take my princess and Chris (my photographer) unless his partner Kylie has their baby. "Legions Will Rise" should be awesome.