A year ago this week I posted a blog about my first fiddle lesson.
About six months ago, I stopped taking lessons due to concerns with my fingers. Later, I went to physiotherapy. It helped somewhat.
In May, my physiotherapist thought I should pick up the fiddle again. I did and apart from our June trip to BC and a couple of weeks off for convalescing from my recent surgery have kept at it pretty faithfully since then.
Yesterday, I spent a happy hour with my violin teacher. She gave me some mechanical tips: "Lower the shoulder; drop your bowing arm; take shorter strokes; and, relax." It's easier to say those things than do them, but I'll try hard. She also gave me a lot of tips in playing some of the songs I've been practising: "Cut these notes (ie shorten them); slur these; and, hit the first beat harder in this song."
Maybe she was just being nice, but she didn't tell me that I was wasting my time. The thing is that I have fun with the fiddle, and that's pretty important. At this point, it fills a need or at least a want in some sort of way.
You don't have to be especially good at things to enjoy them, and you shouldn't have so much pride that you don't try things for fear that you won't excel. Heck fire! If most of us only did things we excelled at, few of us would do much at all.
I loved this post! I'm glad you'll continue to play the fiddle--I like listening to you play.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see you and Cuppa!
That's it! Now I am going to take dancing lessons!
ReplyDeleteYou, as you very often do, ring the gong of truth again.
Thank you.
Yes, that may be true, but I still refuse to take singing lessons. :)
ReplyDeleteI tried once when I was little and I was worried about not sounding good so I practiced in our shed.
One day my Aunt stopped over to visit and upon hearing the ruckus in the shed, came running back to check on me because she thought I was screaming in pain - I sounded that bad.
So can we expect you at the Fiddle and Step Dance Festival next year in Sturgeon Falls? I am sure you will find a workshop on fingering some of those fancy runs.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Enjoyment is good! Pride and stress are bad!
ReplyDeleteRight on!
ReplyDeleteYou need to post a video of your fiddling! I'd love to hear it!
ReplyDeleteYour last remark is right on. Very happy to hear that you are back to playing your fiddle. Do we get to see a video and listen to you play?
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration... and I'm trying to end this sentence with some clever name for you - fiddleboy? fiddledrop?
ReplyDeleteThis post, especially, hits home for me. I don't know how many opportunities I missed out on along the way because I felt I may not be "good at it".
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you've picked up the fiddle again, and the advice given to you by your teacher shows that she really does care about you and your progress, and that, for me makes all the difference in my learning process.
Have you entertained Smudge with your playing yet??
ReplyDeleteAgree with you completely. Things should be done for fun.. not because they have some ultimate goal. :)
ReplyDeletePeace,
~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com
The last sentence says it all! ec
ReplyDeleteI had wondered if you were still "fiddling". I know what you mean about the fingers. I have arthritis in my left hand and have a real hard time splaying the fingers in order to play the dulcimer...but it's still fun. Some of the inspiration for my trying that came from you !
ReplyDeleteWow, that post was a year ago? Time goes back so fast. Glad you could get back to fiddlin'. And "heck fire" lol
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased to hear that you are back to fiddlin'. Life is too short to not do the things we enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are right about that. It's taken me a long time to realize that things are worth trying even if you are not going to excel at them--you just might enjoy it and that is enough. I was brought up with a father that imparted the idea that if you weren't going to be a concert pianist, you might as well not take piano lessons. I'm glad you are enjoying "fiddling around"!
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