Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A Violin


Today was all about deer meat here but since I mentioned the violin on facebook, I will save the deer meat post for tomorrow. I should have some finished jerky to photograph but then anyway.

When I was a child in 4th grade, for one year, I took violin lessons in school. Our school had their own violins and trumpets so my brother and I were able to play without having to buy an instrument (he played trumpet).  I can't say that I was all that good at it. I never did understand how to read notes. Our teacher must have explained it to us but all I remember is that she took us step by step through the first selection that we were to play. She told us the string and how many fingers and apparently we were supposed to just know the notes after that. I never did.
However, all these years I have wanted to play the violin again. To see one, anywhere, made me long for it but I never could afford one...until now. Not because I have so much money now but because there are cheap violins on eBay now and that is what I got as an early Christmas gift.
It actually came in on my birthday Dec. 8th but I didn't get the tuner until several days afterwards and then I broke the fine tuner on the E string the first time I tried to tune it because they are just plain made cheaply. So Phil took it in to a music store in Augusta with him and they replace the tuners with nice metal ones.
I remember very little about how to play the violin. I know how to hold the bow and the violin properly but other than that I don't know a thing. I bought several books to help me get started. I practice every day and I love it. Oh, I'm terrible right now but I am slowly getting better and best of all I understand how to read the notes now.
For Christmas Phil gave me a nice stand and a very nice binder to hold the sheets of music. I don't know as I'll ever get really good at it but I truly enjoy it anyway.

12 comments:

  1. Becky, you have hidden depths. I look forward to being able to hear the results of this musical revival on YouTube!

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  2. It will come back to you, give it time. What a beautiful gift, enjoy!

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    1. No, I don't think it will come back. I just have to relearn completely.

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  3. That is great. I have played the guitar off and on for almost 60 years and regret that I didn't do more with it.

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  4. Don't give up but enjoy! I play piano and played brass back in high school. I learned to play the flute in my 50's and I am not great but play in a community band. More people should learn instruments if they would like to! Nancy

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  5. Good to keep stretching and learning!. I believe it is one of the keys to a happy life.

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  6. Good for you! What I like about the violin is that is can be played both as a conventional violin but also as a foot stomping fiddle! I hope you find some tutorials on YouTube.

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    1. I found some good tutorial and also have several books now to help. I can actually play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Camptown Races, so far, lol.

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  7. It takes special talent to learn the violin! You, my friend have such a talent! Hopefully, you'll be stomping your foot along before much longer! Blessings from Bama!

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  8. I gotta tell ya, I tried the violin a few years back out in the BUSH and it drove me nuts listening to myself. So, I traded it for some moose meat,LOL.

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