Well, Xmas has come and gone. Back to work. I have been practising for my recital in January. I had a few days off over Xmas while down in Brighton and I felt rusty when I came back. Trying to get it all back under the fingers. I am working on vibrato - not for this recital but for the next. I am also starting to choose and practise the tunes for the next solo recital in May. Also working on intonation so playing the G minor scale quite a lot.
My hardanger developed a slight buzz at the end of last year. Not sure why. Its been so cold though that it might be unhappy. We have been trying to sort it. I have been playing it a lot over the holiday with the g string tuned up to A. This brings extra challenges. It's quite disconcerting. First the violin has a different resonance and you can't gauge when the the G on the D string is in tune as well. It doesn't have the same ring as when the G string is on G. Its also means I need to be careful not to hit it accidentally, as the chords are not the same. I have to change the fingering too. But the problems are worth the gains in the second tune (in my view).
The reel I am to play is still causing me endless problems. its very awkward. I have slipped back a bit on the Strathspey and am working to get the clarity back again. Holidays shouldn't be allowed.
On the bright side I have booked flights to go to the USA in the summer to study hardanger playing in Winconsin with the American Hardanger Association. After that I will be flying to Montreal to visit a school friend and then to go up to a Quebecan fiddling week. Quebecans not only play the fiddle but stamp rythmns at the same time. Its great. Looking forward to it already. And I hope to fit in some Scottish fiddling and a trip to St Kilda too! Might be overambitious...
My hardanger developed a slight buzz at the end of last year. Not sure why. Its been so cold though that it might be unhappy. We have been trying to sort it. I have been playing it a lot over the holiday with the g string tuned up to A. This brings extra challenges. It's quite disconcerting. First the violin has a different resonance and you can't gauge when the the G on the D string is in tune as well. It doesn't have the same ring as when the G string is on G. Its also means I need to be careful not to hit it accidentally, as the chords are not the same. I have to change the fingering too. But the problems are worth the gains in the second tune (in my view).
The reel I am to play is still causing me endless problems. its very awkward. I have slipped back a bit on the Strathspey and am working to get the clarity back again. Holidays shouldn't be allowed.
On the bright side I have booked flights to go to the USA in the summer to study hardanger playing in Winconsin with the American Hardanger Association. After that I will be flying to Montreal to visit a school friend and then to go up to a Quebecan fiddling week. Quebecans not only play the fiddle but stamp rythmns at the same time. Its great. Looking forward to it already. And I hope to fit in some Scottish fiddling and a trip to St Kilda too! Might be overambitious...
RSS Feed