I Love Fall!

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

Getting better...

We actually didn't learn anything new yesterday in our violin lessons, but all the review was very helpful! I have never been a "practice at home" kind of person (just ask my parents...they were always on my case about practicing piano and oboe when I was younger), so it was good for me to actually keep working on the things we learned while in class. But, since my violin is a rental, I need to take advantage of the time that I have it and play at home, too! Not sure how Norman will feel about that.

I did feel like a real violin player yesterday because we were continuing to bow, and on different strings! And we learned how to move from string to string silently (ok I lied, we did learn something new). B really is a great teacher. I feel like I am forming correct habits right from the start. I am enjoying myself a lot. But I always get so sore (my shoulders and neck get such a workout), so I'd better start playing more!

3 More Notes and a Bow

After much anticipation, and a request from my faithful reader (you know who you are), I am here with an update on Violin Lesson #2 :o) I was almost late, because I miscalculated the time it took to get there (and my co-worker was telling me a story as I was packing up to leave...I do love stories!), but I slipped in just as the teacher (I'll call her "B") was walking around tuning everyone's violins. After that, we went right into some warm-ups and we plucked our way through our first accompaniment (as B played along with her Violin and Bow). Then...drum roll...it was time for the finger calluses. By that I mean you have to press down hard on those strings to change notes! I had little lines at the tips of my fingers on my left hand by the end of class. No pain, no gain. I was starting to feel impatient (hey, I have played piano for 23 years...I know the notes, just show me how to play them on the violin!), but remembered that learning correctly and being patient is key to my experience (can you tell I was never good at "group work" in school?).

I was starting to get nervous, as the clock neared 7:00 (the end of the lesson) and we still had yet to take out the bow. Then, the moment came. She told us to get out the pencils she had given us last week to practice our "bow hold." I knew what was coming. After a quick lesson on what was what on the bow, and where to hold it (along with B going around to each person to see that they were holding it correctly...again, lessons in patience AND violin), we got to make our first sound. It was beautiful. Except that I was going cross-eyed looking at the bow on the strings and couldn't tell which string I was "bow-ing." I wonder if all violin players have that problem? I totally thought I was bowing a different string than I was...maybe I'll just have to close one eye while I play...haha.

By the time 7:00 rolled around, I felt confident that I took enough away from the lesson to practice at home. Oh, and with the notes we now know (7 total!), I can play Hot Cross Buns. Who could ask for anything more?

I am TOTALLY a violin player now

Well, sorta. I started violin lessons yesterday with the OKC Philharmonic “Be the Orchestra” program. I've wanted to play the violin since I was about 4, so I am really excited to finally be learning! We haven’t even gotten the bow out yet, but I can sure pluck strings with the best of ‘em. Only 4 notes (the notes where you don’t have to push down any strings), but I’m sure I can make a beautiful song out of those 4 notes!

I think Norman will enjoy my at-home practicing immensely. Especially once we start using the bow (next week!) and I am squeeking out note after note. He howls when I play the piano (actually, I prefer to call it “singing,” thank you) so I know he will enjoy accompanying me on the violin as well.

Stay tuned for next week’s recap of “the first lesson with the bow”…insert music of frightening anticipation here…