I’m playing louder lately.  I’ve been trying to bow more confidently, and to produce decisive strokes.  It’s causing my tone to improve, and it’s helping me sound better overall, for sure.

But it is louder.

Now, we’ve lived in this condo for over 10 years, and it’s been quite quiet the whole time.  I added my beginner violin soundtrack a little over a year ago – people have noticed but they’ve been pleasant about it.

About six months ago, however, our neighbors’ dog died – you know, their ancient, sedate, lovely, quiet dog that never noticed anything or anyone.

But now they have a new young lovely little thing I’ll call Yippee.  Yippee doesn’t like it when one of the two of the neighbors leaves.  The dog barks and screams, and the human left behind has to deal with it.  It is taxing on the human.  He inevitably yells at Yippee, at various levels of grace depending on the day, but it doesn’t seem to help much.  Eventually he, too, leaves, and Yippee wails and cries for a good while.

So I have competition in the loud department – the raucous happens earlier in the morning than my playing, and I think it’s probably a little less welcome by most than is my musical intrusion.

I’m feeling basically OK about trying to be loud.

Thanks for reading.

Ryan