Typing 101

After some soul searching, I have decided to really focus on the classical violin training which I am receiving from Keadron, rather than fiddling. I will still continue to play fiddle music as a treat, but will focus most of my practice time on mastering and internalizing the techniques of classical violin, particularly as they apply to good tone and accurate, clean bowing.

Too many years ago to mention, I was the only male in my high school typing class. At the beginning of the year, I could not imagine being able to type with any accuracy or speed. I did all of the drills meticulously, even though they were boring and repetitious. Lo and behold, at the end of the school year, I could type about 100wpm on an electric typewriter and to this day, I can touch-type at a fast pace with relatively few mistakes.

I liken this period of my instrument training to those seemingly endless hours of drills which taught me to type. Through constant practice, I intend to build the "muscle memory" necessary to make correct fingering and bowing a subconscious process.

Bridges and posts

I took my Sahla to Kapeller Violin on Tuesday. Greg, the resident luthier, did a sound post adjustment which increased the volume and improved the tone. He also replaced the bridge with a new Aubert, because the previous bridge did not sit flat.

Into the valley

At the fiddler's retreat over the weekend, I joined the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddler's Club. Elke Baker is the music director and was also my instructor during the retreat for Scottish and Cape Breton Fiddling.

During the year, the club meets one sunday per month and Elke teaches a few fiddle tunes, then passes out the sheet music to all attendees. Those members not in attendance receive the sheet music through the mail. I paid extra for all twelve back issues of their annual music book (a compilation of all music handed out during the year). Each book contains 60-80 tunes arranged for fiddle with guitar accompaniment, with sequential and alphabetical indices. Very nicely done and much appreciated. I might even try to attend some of the meetings, though that would mean clearing a late sunday afternoon docket of chess students sometimes.

Sound retreat!

Early on Saturday morning, I will drive to Harper's Ferry, WV for the Upper Potomac Fiddler's Retreat, held at the Hilltop House Hotel. I am not sure which class I will take. Following the day's class will be a contra dance and then sessions until the wee hours. I will stay over and return on Sunday morning, in time for my first student.

While there, I will probably join the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddler's Club, so that I can attend their instructional sessions when possible and have access to their music books, which are supposed to be very nice.

I will take my Sahla, since it is better suited to playing in a group (fine tuners, etc.).

Full circle

When we were teens, my brother Ray and I would sometimes sit with a guitar to sing ballads and folk songs together. I played and he sang, since I don't sing very well. Recently, we have begun doing this very thing again, except that now he is the guitarist and I sing...with my fiddle.

For the second time in the last month, we played together on Saturday night for a couple of hours. Here is a partial list of mostly Celtic tunes:

The Aran Boat Song
MacPherson's Rant
The Dark Island
Ashoken Farewell (I said 'mostly')
Scotland the Brave
The Skye Boat Song
Mountains of Loriel
Athole Highlanders
Captain Campbell

Anyway, we had a lot of fun and plan to continue to play together again every couple of weeks.

Changing of the guard

Well, I did it...went yesterday and plunked down some do$h for a bow and fiddle.

The Rudoulph Doetsch violin was traded in for a strad model made in 1892 by Nickolaus Sahla of Dresden. I was the first to see it in from a dealer and asked to play it. I tried it in the shop and took it to Keadron for her opinion. She confirmed my sense that the tone is much sweeter, rounder, and bigger than the Doetsch. I really liked the look, sound, and feel, so I took it home for a tryout and decided to upgrade. The dealer threw in a collapsible Kun shoulder rest because I am such a good customer.



The shop had to replace the button, which was slightly askew, and fix the bridge, which was not squarely cut. Everything looks good, but I had trouble keeping the instrument in tune last night. I will write that off to the new button settling in and will keep an eye on it.

My new bow is a Klaus Uebel pernambuco and silver, weighing 59 grams. Its finish, strangely enough, matches my new Sahla almost exactly. This bow is noticably more responsive and I am happy with it, for now.