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Mouse’s Cubby Hole
Mouse's meanderings about learning, playing, etc.
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (91 votes) 
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Mouse
October 9, 2021 - 7:53 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
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Ms Blog

I was able to practice again today. I am really feeling like I am improving. A long way to go, but finally have some forward momentum. I really like the Sattler Strad Chinrest and think that has helped because my violin is more secure and I am more comfortable.

My intonation seems to be improving. My bowing feels a little more like I am sure of myself, more confident. 

I played the violin 1 of White Christmas when I was done and had no issues doing it, but need to clean it up. I don’t know the speed we will be using, but I am getting the fingering and bowing.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
October 12, 2021 - 4:08 pm
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Ms Blog

Very short today. My practice/playing time went well today. The progress is slow, but I can tell that I am making it. 😁

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
November 7, 2021 - 1:09 pm
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Ms Blog, let me re-introduce myself. I am Mouse and a forever beginner on my violin! 

I am still not able to be diligent with my practice/playing time.

I will visit you a little more as my playing/practice time is longer.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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November 7, 2021 - 1:42 pm
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From Ms. Blog, "Glad you haven't forgotten me! Hopefully you'll be back soon with some progress to report!". laugh

The old curmudgeon!

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Mouse
November 7, 2021 - 2:18 pm
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I certainly hope I will be back soon. I do get them off the wall and "play" them, but I can't get serious. I still tense up when seriously practicing. I think that contributes to the issue. Plus, I have not found a position that I can do all the strings (the G and E strings are the issue) without my knee being bothered. That can't be dodged.

I was told, Monday, that it could be 6 mos to a yer before I can sit idle or a while and be able to get up easily with my "bionic" knee cooperating. I told my husband that I now have a bionic knee. 😂

This is interrupting my holiday card making time, too. I keep banging that bionic knee on the desk, let alone, can't sit very long. I think some people will get purchased crds. Wait, I think I have some from what I made last year because I changed up after I made some. Changed the design to a "Let It Snow" theme. I liked the other ones, too, so I might be able to not use any purchased cards. One good thing is, is that I made the envelopes for those cards from last yer when I made those cards, so I don't have to make those envelopes.

But, all in all, I would do it again, and other people have worse issues. I am just trying to work around my temporary issue. Not complaining. I pretty much joke about it here. My surgeon thinks its funny that I do that. I have been doing that since arriving at the hospital for the surgery. Silly questions and comments. 😁

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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November 7, 2021 - 2:23 pm
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Huh! Jaime Sommers didn't seem to need that much time! j/k Hope you get that knee obeying all your commands and needs quickly!

The old curmudgeon!

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Mouse
November 7, 2021 - 2:49 pm
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The surgeon said it “could be” 6 mos to a year, not that it will. I have more good times now. I just have no muscle to support it right now and am working on that. That is a slow process and I need it to support that knee. 

I was babying this knee for a couple years because I did not want to go into the hospital to have the surgery in the heat of COVID, and then have to go the PT office for 2 or more months (ended out 2 months) for PT in the heat of COVID. So, to keep it from getting injured or more worn out, until I could get it taken care of, I was very careful with it. Consequently, I lost muscle. But, I did not go to that hospital in the heat of the beginning of the COVID when nobody knew much about it and nobody was vaccinated. 👍

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
December 2, 2021 - 3:14 pm
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So, after a break, I am back! I have changed the title to cover my violin-viola-cello. Currently, I am doing cello.

I have decided to try the White Christmas Group Project. Considering there is a lot of C string, I am in big trouble 🥴. For some reason all my lessons dealt with the D and A string, quite a bit of G string and I recall one song that had a little open C string. We will see how this goes. I am figuring it out, though. 

My new viola has been shipped. I should get it next week sometime. 👏👏👏

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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December 3, 2021 - 12:44 am
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Looking forward to seeing and hearing your new viola!

The old curmudgeon!

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Mouse
December 3, 2021 - 7:31 am
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It is scheduled for delivery on Monday. It was Tuesday, then the delivery company updated to Wednesday. Now I received an email from the delivery company that said I should receive it on Monday. No hurry, but I like the update to Monday's delivery.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
December 3, 2021 - 4:43 pm
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Ms Blog,

I managed to do the Cello 3 part for the White Christmas group project and submit it this morning! Since it took me so long, about 13-14 or more takes, that was my playing time. It gave my fingers a workout.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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wtw
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December 4, 2021 - 7:14 am
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@Mouse Monday, that's soon :--) keep us updated!

If playing the cello C string is comparable to the viola C string… good luck (well, I'm thinking, cello might be worse). But it does get easier with practice…

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Mouse
December 4, 2021 - 8:01 am
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@wtw I did receive my confirmation email for my submission. I am set with the group project. i think I will keep doing this piece for my own benefit. it gives my C string use a workout, and using the click tracks forces me to pay attention to timing. I won’t have to wear my headset for the click tracks when I play it now, which will be a little easier. I play by myself and have a hard time paying attention to timing. Plus, not videoing it relieves my self-imposed pressure of knowing others will see and hear it. 

The problem that arises when forced to pay attention to timing is that my bowing goes out the window. I can multitask, but not with my instruments. 

This is a good piece for me to work on the C string and timing and bowing, Hey, a Trifecta! Thanks, @Fiddlerman!

I do find the C string harder on my cello than my viola to use the C string. I don’t know if it is the mechanics or because the string is thinner. I think the mechanics, more than the string itself, because it is also hard for me to angle the cello bow properly for that string, I have to spend more time on the C string.

A lot of people would search the web for videos in the C string, but they all confuse me. Plus, there seem to be a variety of ways to do all of this, or it seems that way, anyway. I am not a “watch the video” learner.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
December 4, 2021 - 12:57 pm
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Ms Blog

I did my cello this morning. I did the cello 3 for White Christmas and a song I could do a  little more easily. I did submit it already, but I am using this Cello 3 part for C string work, and will add the click track when I am more at ease with the C string. 

On this coming Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday (Fed Ex keeps changing their mind, but that is okay), I should get my new viola. I will add that to my cello time. I can’t wait to receive it.

I am getting my two student cellos that I don’t play much ready to donate to the school that I donated my other viola to. I have two bows selected to include with the cellos. One will get a semi hard case (meaning not a steel one) on wheels and the other will be a soft cello case. 

I am hoping to be able to call the school this upcoming week and make arrangements to being them in. Tis better they be played than just sitting in a case.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
December 5, 2021 - 3:34 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
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Ms Blog,

I couldn’t figure out why my right arm was so sore when bowing lately. It was really sore when I did my WC group project video. I went in to work on cards after doing my cello this morning. The bowing arm got sore really quick. 

When I went into my card room to make some bulk cards, it dawned on me. I was cranking my Spellbinder Platinum die cutter for a simple designed Christmas card I need 15 of, and about half way through I realized that is why my arm is sore, and has been for a while. I crank with that arm.

I made 25 Christmas cards earlier and then a shaker card for my older granddaughter. That is about the time I noticed my arm getting sore. Today I started a new card.  I have a die I was making 45 cuts with, running it through 45 times, cranking through cardstock 45 times. Unfortunately, that die did not cut a double layer of cardstock really well, so I couldn’t do 2 pieces of cardstock layered at a time. After I realized that is why my arm was too sore for bowing, I got out my electric Gemini Jr and did them with that. I prefer the hand crank. It is easier to make the sandwich with my Spellbinders Platinum, and there is something satisfying about hand cranking. Oh, well, they are all cut now. The rest of the cuts will be with my swing arm paper cutter. Easy peasy on the arm. 

I already made 25 of my more detailed card, and envelopes. I was going to use store-bought for the rest, but I can’t do it, LOL. I designed a much simpler design for the rest. It is smaller and will actually fit in my package of pre-made cards, eliminating the need to make envelopes. I actually like it and may use it next year for those 25 people who got my fancier this year.

I hope my arm gets better soon. My new viola is to arrive tomorrow. I want to do cello or viola in the morning and the other in the afternoon. 

Note to self - Remember to use the electric die cutter when making bulk cards. Geeze. My bowing would have been much better for the WC  video, notes not so much better, but the stiff armed bowing would not have been so stiff. 

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
December 6, 2021 - 4:30 pm
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Ms Blog,

I had a busy dy. My new viola arrived. It is beautiful. It is a Fiddlershop Soloist in amber. It has a lovely robust sound. Wow!

I also donated my two student cellos to the school district next to us. They really need these. 

I played my new viola today, I love it. I do need to out the tapes on and will get to that tomorrow. I also opted to pay extra for the Fiddlerman carbon weave bow, in brown. It is also gorgeous. I love the feel and weight of this bow!

Until next time.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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ELCBK
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December 7, 2021 - 12:00 am
Member Since: June 10, 2020
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@Mouse -

Congrats on your new Viola! 

I'm sure you'll enjoy it even more over time. 

What size did you get?

I have the brown CF Weave Violin bow... in anticipation of Christmas. (lol)

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SharonC
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December 7, 2021 - 6:43 am
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@Mouse Congrats on your new Viola!  The Soloist looks like a really nice instrument smile

Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.

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Mouse
December 7, 2021 - 8:40 am
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@ELCBK It is a 15 1/2"

@SharonC It is beautiful. We noticed the great sound immediately as I just played open strings. 

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Mouse
December 7, 2021 - 2:59 pm
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Ms Blog,

I am not sure I will get any time in today. Foolish me. 😂😂😂😂🥴🥴🥴

I needed to make some envelopes for some alternative quicky Holiday cards I designed and made, I sent out the more time consuming cards today.

I meant to only make the template to trace for that size envelope I needed for the card because I did not have one made for that size card. Instead, I sat there making the envelopes. I sat for too long. My playing will not be beneficial, probably hinder my progress. Therefore, I am forcing myself not to take my lovely new viola down. I bet I do later, anyway. 😇

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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