Violin lesson #96

This week's lesson was almost, almost I say, over-shadowed by another exciting event. Lindsey Stirling is coming to Australia! She is playing at the Tivoli Theater on February 20 next year. Not only did the Sage get two tickets for the show, he also ordered a meet-and-greet upgrade. This includes:
* meeting and greeting Lindsey
* a signed poster
* a VIP laminate
* question and answer session (I promise not to propose marriage to her)
* watching the sound check

Needless to say I can't wait to see her and the show.

The lesson was supposed to be on Wednesday because the Sage Princess was graduating from primary school on Tuesday. When I turned up another young lady was having her lesson. After that Sirisha had her turn. Her songs for the recital are sounding great. When I thought it was my turn young Andre turned up. He is really good and fast-tracking his violin studies for entry to high-school. It was at this time we realised Laura had double-booked. I didn't mind coming back on Thursday in the least. I sat in on *two* lessons and learned things from both of them.

When I arrived on Thursday there was a young lad going through his recital piece. After watching him go through his paces it was my turn. I started with Jumping Jelly Beans. In whatever time I had for practice I focused quite a bit on this piece. I finally practiced it with a metronome at 140 (the minimum suggested speed) and I was pleasantly surprised to realise this was a little slower than what I had been practicing. I was able to play the piece through accurately about half a dozen times. When I played this for Laura it sounded really good, even if it was not at top speed. Even the quick string change from A to D in the first part of the piece worked well. Laura was particularly happy about that. It showed I had worked hard to overcome a small section. It is across the space of two notes, and at this speed it is less than a second - only Laura and I will know how much effort it took to get that part just right [and anyone else reading this of course]. Laura said she did not currently have access to the piano accompaniment for this but improvised with the violin. I was impressed. After I played through I received a sticker for my efforts.

When I asked Laura if she would play something I half-expected her to say Monti's Czardas or something. I think my mother would almost pee her pants if she heard Laura playing that because it is a piece she now recognizes and likes. Laura said she would most likely improvise something with Dave - her boyfriend (and a very good music teacher in his own right). Laura said they will often take time in the evening to improvise things with Dave playing piano and Laura playing violin. As much as I like playing existing works, I would also love to learn to improvise, and it pleases me that Laura does this fairly regularly because it means it is something I can learn later.

We ran through the Telemann minuet as well. There were a couple of places Laura wanted me to pay special attention to this week. I need to start off strongly (though we agreed if a piece was to have a single strong point it would be best at the end). The start of the second section also needs to be as bold and strong as possible. And there is part towards the end, before the last pedal notes, where I need to get loud quickly. She demonstrated this to the young lady (not Sirisha, the other one) from Wednesday. And speaking of endings... Laura mentioned a student of the incomparable Jascha Heifetz told Laura about "last notes". Laura told us the bow should never just trail off on its own. It's okay, but it is much better to be in full control of the bow right to the end and to finish off the last note deliberately in the way you wish to finish it.

Last time I expressed my desire to prepare for the ABRSM Grade Two violin exam. To that end I ordered the ABRSM Grade Two violin book from Vivace Music store. Until then Laura walked me through one of the three songs I want to play for the exam - Londonderry Air - which goes something like this. Call it what you will it is a beautiful piece. Laura says it can be played by a student or a professional violinist as part of an encore. Of course the professional would add more layers to it than the student but it would sound beautiful in both cases. I can't wait.

I was Laura's final student lesson for the year. I'd make a comment about saving the best for last but I don't think that's necessary =)