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.

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.

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 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. 👍

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.

@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.

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. 

@ELCBK It is a 15 1/2"

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