Category Practice Notes
Playing in G Major, Part II
This new song is really something. As I indicated in Part I, I’m playing it in G major, which takes only one sharp, so on the A string I play C natural, “low second finger.” At the moment C natural is anything but natural. I’ve only been training first position for a few months, if […]
Kagami Biraki and Spaghetti Arms
I don’t normally experience playing the violin as an upper body workout, but yesterday was a high holiday. Kagami Biraki is traditionally the end of the new year period in Japanese cultures, and many martial arts descended from Japanese cultures incorporate the celebration into their new year calendars too. For my karate community, it’s a […]
The Right Stuff
I like the stuff of productivity – as a kid it started with an affinity for office supply catalogs and school supplies. I have a fascination with all the stuff that comes along with anything worthwhile that we humans do. People who sew, for example, need a lot of stuff – a machine, a box […]
Beethoven and Practicing Twice
On maybe four occasions now, I’ve had two practice sessions in one day. Yesterday was one – I played in the morning for a little over an hour, then late in the afternoon for about an hour. These things happen on lazy days off; it’s such a luxury to be able to devote so much […]
My New Violin, Part II
I am on Cloud 9, having retrieved my new violin, a 1926 Roth Strad., from the shop late this morning. I was already completely taken with the instrument’s appearance, but most of the minor cosmetic blemishes were evened out at the shop and it’s even more beautiful now. It’s got new strings, a new bridge, […]
When the Going Gets Tough
Yesterday as I practiced I struggled to be in tune. It was so bad I stopped half way into the session to see if the instrument was out of tune. It was not, so I had nothing to pin it on save my own fingers. Some days are harder than others! I experience the same thing while […]
Oh Holy Night
Well after writing that post about Christmas Music the other day I couldn’t get Oh Holy Night out of my head. I practiced my usual repertoire for over an hour in the morning yesterday, but upon returning from the grocery story in the afternoon I became obsessed with picking out the holiday tune on the […]
Lament, Excitement
My work life is crazy busy right now; it always is at the end of the year. Sadly this past week, I found that too many twelve hour days can be incompatible with other pursuits. For the first time since I brought it home, I went two days without playing the violin. I don’t want […]
YouTube Is No Teacher
YouTube has never really been my thing. I have seen my share, of course, as a passionate, 21st century consumer of information, but I prefer reading – in fact I will often skip a news story if it’s only available on video. But since I started playing the violin, I’ve started watching YouTube videos about […]
Soji
About five minutes into my karate practice yesterday, I realized I needed to sweep the floor; little bits of who knows what were accumulating on my feet – it was dirty and distracting. My karate tradition has given me the concept of Soji, which means cleaning, or maintenance, in Japanese. Like many Japanese concepts it’s […]
Ryan Libel 