Last week Laura asked me to write out the G Major scales in the way I had to play them. I didn't get around to doing that, but, I did write out an arrangement of Onward Christian Soldiers. Why? Let me explain...
I think I have written before about Tom. He is a kind gentleman, older than me, who is in the Salvation Army. He collects at the South Brisbane train station most Fridays. He also plays a brass instrument (a horn of some kind which I am embarrassed right now to say I can't identify). Last Friday he was playing his horn as he was collecting. And he was playing Onward Christian Soldiers. Now, I know that song though it was different to the version he played. So I asked Laura if she would help me to learn his version of I provided the sheet music. I found it on 8notes.com but had to transpose it to a key signature I know how to play.I did this on my noteflight account. Yeah, a computer nerd like me writes his music online. It's how I roll.
To the lesson... we were back in the original studios at #17 Browning Street. Sirisha went first this week, and she played splendidly.
Then it was my turn. I started with Farewell To Skye. The first thing I had to do was fan out the fingers on my left hand. I have spoken before about my larger than average fingers (well, wider than average I suppose is more accurate). Sirisha, and of course Laura, have a good spread with their fingers. And apparently I do to when I remember to spread them out. While on the subject of my left hand, my thumb is unusual. How unusual? Laura says I am the only person she knows who can't turn his thumb around to place the front pad on the neck of the violin. If I do that, I can't get proper finger positions. If I use correct finger positions it is the side of my thumb that rests against the violin. I have tried to use the front of my thumb but I just can't manage it. I wonder if years from now when I am dead whether someone will dissect my hand to find out why this is so...
My intonation was better this week *phew* so it was only that one week where it was off. My rhythm for this piece is not quite correct so that's something to work on for next week. And again I had trouble with first and second finger close together on the E-string. Will this be the case with the viola? Time will tell.
After this Laura helped me with Onward Christian Soldiers. I knew the tune and had practiced it a fair bit in the key I had selected (G-Major). I mostly wanted some tips from Laura on how to play.We ran through it a few times and she made some notes. On the last pass through Laura accompanied me, but did not play what I played. She played a counterpoint (or harmony, I am not sure which). I knew the piece well enough to be able to play it with one part of my brain while I listened to what Laura was doing. It sounded so cool. Yes, at times like this I wish I recorded my lessons. These moments cone along once in a while and I know they will stay with me for a while but I would also love to share them.
Finally was Londonderry Air. This was an improvement over last week, especially when I used - come on, say it with me ... MORE BOW. I think Laura said last time, and repeated again this week, that the bow is where the expression comes from. Vibrato is a nice effect when used correctly, but it's only a small part of the feeling that can be put into the music. If the bow work is not there then vibrato will not matter so much. I think I was getting the hang of it towards the end. I have improved on how much bow I use and when, but there's still a little way to go. Laura told us this was one of the pieces she played in a nursing home recently and she milked it for all it was worth. Now when a professional musician tells you that, you *know* it had to be good. So good in fact that people were crying (in a good way) and residents who don't normally get up did so. Music is wonderful. 'nuff said.
All in all I feel I had a good lesson. And afterwards Sirisha told me she could feel her baby moving around as she sat and watched my lesson. I told her Uncle Szechuan would love to play for Sirisha Junior (or Anand Junior, or something else) one day. Yes, music is wonderful.
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