learn to play the violin

Oct. 2, 2007
9:15 am

I can say that I can actually play my violin now. I can play it in a few keys, too. It has taken me less than a year, seven months actually.

I can pick up music that is beginner level and play it perfectly every time.

I can play some intermediate stuff perfectly, but it usually takes a few runs through it.

I would say that I can play the violin now. I’m not that good at it yet, but I have succeeded in teaching myself how to play. Now on to learning to play it better and better with harder stuff.

I can play Pachebele’s Canon almost perfectly. I know that’s not beginner stuff. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire, the first half is easy for me, too.

Last week and again today, it was lovely outside at the chapel. I had an hour to spend before church began, so last week I opened my violin case on the back of the car and practiced. This morning I put the case on the boxwood bushes where I could be in the shade.

I practiced hymns which I’d opened online and changed the key and printed them out from www.lds.org under gospel library, then music.

I don’t practice at home outside because the neighbors are professional fiddlers. They can hear whatever I play. Too embarassing, no matter how far from the house I am…the sound carries a long way around here!

une 26, 2007
10 pm

I did a lot today. I made myself sleep as long as possible, which wasn’t late at all.

Then I got more leaves from the plants outside and worked at giving the larvae some new leaves.

Daniel left without his calculator so I agonized over that since exam grades make a lot of difference.

Finally I left with a little to do list…deodorant for the boys, fix the violin string, return stuff to Canadian tire, pick up both boys, pick up Alida for her doctor’s appointment.

I went to get Daniel first. He was done his exam. We dropped off the violin, then went to see if Abey wanted to stay or come home. He had a talent show so he stayed. We picked up Alida and came home.

Willem helped me put the Air conditioner in the window so we can survive this heat.

I took a bath outside since it was so hot. I started to read Nicole Sullivan’s To Wake From Dreams and liked it. But it’s rated PG13, so I’ll have to skip some stuff, I’m sure.

I took Alida to town. We stopped at the thrift store for her, then I went to the library to return Eldest. I had to open the return box from the top somehow cos the book was too big to fit in.

We went to the Doctor’s office. I went across the road to the lumber store. I wanted to buy the porch set of four chairs, table and umbrella for $188, but I didn’t. they don’t have air conditioners.

I sat in the shade in the lane and waited for Alida. I kept falling asleep spell checking my journal entries. I felt bad because I hadn’t recorded so much of the last few days. The monarchs take all my time!

I took her home then went to Canadian tire and priced air conditioners. I went to home hardware and did the same thing. Then I went to the store and bought a box of ice cream sandwiches on sale and when to Wal-Mart and priced air conditioners.

I ate a lot of ice cream sandwiches, too.

I came back and told Willem to drop the boys off at the rapids while I did the larvae leaves again.

When I finished, I put on my wetsuit and went to the rapids to pick up the boys. They were playing with three others, king of the rock in the rapids.

We came home and Willem was reading the installation instructions.

I let him go back to work and took over that job.

It was wonderful to have a second small air-conditioner. They cost less than half as much for half the power of a bigger one.

I tried uploading my journal but kept falling asleep.

So I went to bed.

Friday, June 29, 2007
11:16 am

I give up. Searching and searching. It’s just wasting my time. I’ll practice my violin for awhile.

11:47 am

That was nice. Except my E string won’t tune high enough. I’m very worried about snapping it again. I can move my fingers to find the proper notes, but not the open note.

It sounded very nice. I opened Pachelbel’s canon midi file with Noteworthy composer, both of which I downloaded for free online.

It’s a different version. I played each of the four parts at different times; however, I’ve completely lost my practice touch with that piece. I could play it so fast before, but perhaps that’s just because I’m playing along with the laptop. It’s really good to do it this way, because I can easily see what the note’s supposed to be and what I’m playing wrong. Since there are no frets, moving the fingers on the strings chooses what the note is.

Thursday, June 14, 2007
3:11 pm

I’m lying in the hammock on top of the hill in the shade of the tree and the lilacs. It’s a lilac cove on the near hilltop. I like the breeze up here. It’s not hot like the yard as it’s not been in the sun all day since this morning early.

I’ve been reading my email. I played my violin. It’s FINALLY in tune. I just couldn’t get it to tune properly anymore.

It’s a really hot day. I still haven’t recovered from my kayaking trip yesterday. Being in town doing many errands today was also tiring!

Alida’s inside with Abey playing chess. Chance is also here now. I can hear Willem on the piano.

Abey didn’t go to school today and got up around 2 pm. He must have been quite tired from his wonderland trip.

I now know that I can busk in the Byward Market without a permit. So I will take my bike and violin and do that some time.

In the meantime, I’m practicing some of the pieces that I know. I really need to make a list of easy pieces that I can play anytime.

I wanted such a list when I was playing in the piney woods the other day.

Also, now that I’ve built this great shelter in the yard, I can practice out here without worrying about the sun bothering the violin.

Saturday, March 17, 2007
8:22 PM

I’ve been playing the violin with Daniel as he plays his clarinet. I can’t get the music to print out. Darn! I’d like to be able to print it out for him to do it in b flat and for me to do it in d major. But that’s not happening! Darn network!

Saturday, March 17, 2007
7:20 AM

The music playback isn’t working on my laptop now. I’m not sure why. Something to do with Media player, I think. It messes it up.

I’m rolling it back to the previous version. I didn’t know that was possible.

My playing of Bach Air on the G string sure didn’t sound very good without the music in the background. I wonder if it’ll sound any better to do Pachelbel’s Canon. I’m sure in a dream world thinking it sounds just lovely!

I’m in my nice kitchen. I wish I could get the music to play on my laptop now. Perhaps when I take this program off it’ll work better. I couldn’t find the options to stop it from being the default player, so removing it is my best bet.

Thursday, March 15, 2007
9:44 am

Willem and I have been listening to Bach’s Air on the G string on my laptop while we drive into Ottawa in the car. I’m not sure how you’re supposed to play it all on the G string when it’s all on the E string for my violin!

It’s lovely. I’ve been trying to learn the tune so the 32nd notes don’t surprise me.

I asked Willem what he thinks of my playing. He said I’m excellent. Then he qualified it and with my insistence, he spelled out what is good about the way I’m improving. I have to do that, so I’ll have something to give me confidence.

He said:
1. I am becoming better at hitting the right notes on the strings. I don’t as often hit flats or sharps.
2. I am playing faster
3. I am playing more difficult pieces.

This reflection of my violin playing progression is very helpful.

I am quite amazed at how well I can play Pachelbel’s Canon. I slowed it down to 50 again yesterday and played it through perfectly. I think, anyway.

I love pieces that have a long held note.

Willem said:
4. It becomes pleasanter to listen to all the time. Sometimes I just enjoy listening to it, when there are few wrong notes. Not when you’re starting a piece.

5. Pachelbel’s canon is coming along very nicely. That’s the one that I enjoy listening to sometimes.

6. It takes you awhile to get it right but you do.

7. It will be interesting to see if you go back to the older pieces you used to play and pick them up again and see how much easier it is to play them now and to see how much better you would do it.

8. I don’t remember exactly what you played, Aunt Rhody. That would be simple for you now.

I know when I hit the notes wrong. I know when they don’t sound right.

Willem thinks that the violin is much harder than the piano. Not for me. It’s a simple instrument to play.

I’ve also been learning to shake my fingers a bit to make a vibrato sound out of it.

It really warms my soul that Willem enjoys listening to my playing.

downloading midi files, a walk
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
11 am

I spent the morning sitting in my chair downloading midi files from a site with instrumental music from oldies. I opened up a few to try them out for playing with my violin.

It was quite interesting to do this. I hope to be able to play quite a few of these pieces some day.