Author Archives: Ryan Libel
Opinions – Everybody’s Got ‘Em
Teacher made a comment in my lesson last week about the fact that I seem to like all the songs she brings my way via the Suzuki series. Indeed it’s true – where violin music is concerned at this stage of my playing I seem to have relatively undeveloped tastes as it pertains to what […]
Two Young Men
Stefan Jackiw Roman Kim Over the long weekend I spent a lot of time listening to violin music, and I came across a couple more prodigies that I’m happy […]
The Wind and Musette
I’m slowly trying out these Book Two songs with the accompaniment tracks that came with the book. My first foray into playing with accompaniment was Book One’s Gavotte, and with that piece I had to find the accompaniment online; I don’t have the Book One CD. I’m still happy to be working on Gavotte daily […]
The Last Rose of Summer
It’s Labor Day weekend already, and yesterday I discovered a phenomenal new piece of music, coincidentally titled The Last Rose of Summer. I suppose I had heard of the old Irish folk tune, but I had not heard of the composition for violin, written by Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst in the mid 1800s as the finale […]
Handel’s Flute Sonata in G Major
A Bourree is a dance, similar to a Gavotte. Suzuki Book Two includes a song called Bourree by Handel, and sources it to “Flute Sonata, Opus 1 No. 5.” That struck me as odd because I already know that Handel is one of those composers who has his own numbering system, like Bach – generally […]
Bourree on Repeat
If Dr. Suzuki insisted on something besides practice practice practice, it was listen listen listen. I did not take that to heart in Book One; I never had the CD that demos the songs. But Book Two arrived with a CD, so I’ve been playing catch-up on the aural channel. I’ve created an iTunes playlist […]
Opening Details
I arrived a few minutes early for a breakfast yesterday, pushing on the restaurant door even though a prominently affixed “Closed” sign remained unflipped. As I stepped in I was told to sit anywhere, so I picked a table and took a seat, the first patron in the place – Mondays and neighborhood spots don’t […]
Fiddler on the Roof
Last night Michael and I went with a friend to a production of Fiddler on the Roof, put on by Light Opera Works in Evanston. Teacher is in the orchestra for the show – she got us a deal on tickets – so the excursion had the distinction of being the first time I’ve ever […]
Taking My Time
As a rule, when I play for Teacher it’s not my best. Something about her standing there causes my fingers to fail. I see it in my own karate and in my students too – it’s even worse if you pay a compliment – a calamity is guaranteed to ensue. Of course when I play […]
Catalogs and Needs
I have everything I need to play the violin. Back when I started this project I wrote a couple of posts about violin stuff and, while there’s a lot of it, I’ve got it covered. But that doesn’t stop me from looking. My purchase of Suzuki Book Two has apparently landed me on the mailing list of […]
Ryan Libel 