My father-in-law and brother-in-law have been visiting from Virginia this week, and last night I had the opportunity to play my violin for them for a bit.  It was my second little recital ever, the first being back at Christmastime.  It was a treat to get to play my instrument for my father-in-law.  Faithful readers know my instrument used to be his – he gave me his 1926 Roth when I began playing back at the end of 2013. As I played last night, I asked him if he felt his old instrument calling to him.  He was quite accomplished on the violin back in high school but hasn’t touched it since college.

I daresay last night’s performance went better than the one in Wichita at Christmastime.  One factor is that I’ve now been playing the violin for about 50% more total time than I had at Christmastime, so that obviously has a lot to do with it.  The other is that for my parent’s house concert I was playing with my sister for the first time ever – she played the piano for me.  We did not practice beforehand, and I was a newbie at having an accompanist!

Last night’s little recital was a blast – I think playing for others really helps me up my game.  The other day the exterminators came through in the middle of my lesson (they come through quarterly, almost always in the middle of my lesson) and they again asked me to play a little ditty for them.  Unlike last time, this time I did it.

Thanks for reading.

Ryan