Baby Got Back

[wlotus]

Volusia has saddlebags (hips)!





We took Volusia out on the highway today for about 60 miles. It was wonderful to have saddlebags to carry the chain and cover, so we wouldn't have to run them upstairs before leaving on our ride. And I happily put my purse into the saddlebags, instead of wearing it draped across my chest for the ride. The bags fit the bike's style very well. We're quite pleased.

Next up, a windshield!

At the start of our ride we stopped at Sam Ash, where I picked up both a shoulder rest for my violin and a job application. I'll walk my application over there tomorrow and see what comes of it.

The shoulder rest is a godsend! For my entire musical life, I have not been comfortable holding the violin. I could never understand how anyone could put the violin on their shoulder without it sagging; mine always sagged, and no amount of clamping (cramping) down with my chin would keep the violin in place. I snapped the shoulder rest on this afternoon, and presto: no more violin sagging! No more cramping fingers trying to hold the violin with the same fingers I need to play the notes! No more sagging wrist in an attempt to keep the instrument in place! My grasp is entirely comfortable and natural, as if by magic. Who knew all it would take was $10?

Since I am rusty with the finger placement, I've taped the first, third, and fourth finger positions on the fingerboard. This week I intend to play a little every day to begin building my finger strength back up. It helps that I'll be at home alone; I can work on playing with confidence without having an audience, too. :-) But T says I don't sound bad; I practiced the first eight measures of Canon in D, and she likes it.

Comments

[acoustics1220.livejournal.com]

Have you always played without a shoulder rest?????

(this is INSANE TO ME)

I knew one kid, back in junior high when I started, that didn't use a shoulder rest til a few years after he'd already learned how to play by ear. Suzuki style, once in school - our orchestra teacher required him to wear one (by principal). He had a type of scuff mark on his neck, and below his jawline, for where he used to apply pressure on the chin rest and body while playing. He had excellent posture, and played well - but he was the only one I met that did fine without a shoulder rest.

You should record yourself!! I wanna hear :D

(you do know I teach piano and violin, right??)

A Little Backstory

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I started playing in fourth grade, as part of my elementary school's free music program. That was back in 1978. I was never told about shoulder rests in all of my years of playing with groups. No one ever showed me how to properly hold the bow or the violin; I am learning from photos and YouTube videos. Other than buying my instrument and driving me to and from a youth orchestra program after I won a music scholarship at the end of eight grade, my family did not invest any money into my musical training. As a result, I am very much in the dark about most matters of handling the instrument, and I never, ever learned how to properly play in the higher positions. I have a reasonable amount of natural talent, which is how I won the music scholarship, but I'm stuck at an elementary (maybe middle school) level. This is why when my family would not get me private instruction to help me progress, and when my mother would not allow me to withdraw from the orchestra program (in which I was struggling desperately to not quite keep up with kids younger than me), I swore I would put the instrument down after I aged out of the orchestra and would ONLY pick it up when I was good and ready to do so. It's been 22 years, and now I am finally ready.

No recordings until I stop sounding like I am skinning my cat. :-)

If you lived near and I could afford it, I'd take lessons from you!

Re: A Little Backstory

[acoustics1220.livejournal.com]

:) I'd totally teach you. And I'd give you a discount ;)
♥

If you have questions and think I could help, message me anytime!

Re: A Little Backstory

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I'm curious how you went from starting to play in junior high to teaching violin. I like knowing the progression of people's skills.

I LOVE that icon. Mind if I copy it?

Re: A Little Backstory

[acoustics1220.livejournal.com]

Of course I don't! Just credit the maker. I have all my icons labeled on my userpics page (when the info is provided).

Now as to my teaching...

I have been playing piano since age 4. Off and on from then I continued taking lessons and just playing to my hearts content. Once junior high began I immediately started up with violin and had quite a knack for it. So since 11 yrs old, I played, all the way through high school - with much success. I continue to play both instruments, but it is very clear that I love my violin dearly. Piano I could do without, but violin is my passion.

I was formally trained as a piano/violin teacher under the direction of an entrepeneur-business woman that I grew to know from previous piano run-ins (you know how certain business circles are). So she started her own business, I started taking violin lessons there, and then when I turned 15 she brought me in and trained me to prepare me for teaching once I turned 16. And that was it, after 2 years of teaching through her I decided to teach privately so I could control my hours, and my students. And I get all the money :)

Feel free to ask about this or that if you like :)

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

gorgeous!