Back to work

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...