@JohnG you started page 9 of my blog. Sorry, no prize for starting a new page, 😂😂😂

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@JohnG 

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I was able to get some cello time this morning. It felt good. May not have sounded good, but it felt good, 😂😂😂😂. Yesterday, I tuned all my instruments.

I hope I can get some regular time in now. It took me a while to figure out where I left off. I just kind of winged it and started fresh with what I think I was doing.

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@ABitRusty, I have to bring Ol’ Michael G in for a checkup when I get around to it. It has been a couple years since I got him. I love this cello, so I want to make sure it stays fit. I might change out its wolf tone eliminator to a magnetic one. Not fond of the one on the string. Too hard to adjust and it has to be removed with every string change. 

I guess I should give it a work out while I wait to be able to bring him in. But, I would like to do a little viola tomorrow. Ah, I will do one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

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I did my cello this morning. I am hoping to do either violin or viola later. I spent the time on Berceuse by Schubert. I was working on my fingering and the softness and loudness. It went quite well.

I do find the 4th finger is an issue and it is not like an issue as when I began playing and had to get used to using it. I was able to use it before. It is just now thatnit is acting up and feels more like it just needs to be not used. So, I will most likely just work around it. One does what one must do.

I also used my Fiddlershop Carbon Fiber Weave bow. I really like this bow. I have two others that I like but this is kind of a mix between the two, so I will use this one and then practice playing this song with my other two bows after I smooth it out. Each bow gives a different sound. Because of that, each bow requires different pressure techniques to get the desired sound, so, good practice. I suspect that for a more experienced cellist, the different bows don't require so much change in playing/using.

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I have been thinking about music, crafts, other forms of art. I have noticed that, of the people I know who are "into" any of the above, they are interested in more than one form. Now, keep in mind, I know very few who fit this category, so this may not be the majority of people overall. Some were able to make up their minds and select one or two to hone in on. Others, like me, just have a general interest and are more into learning to find out about many of them, do as good as possible without those interests taking up the entire day, and for pure self-enjoyment, ie not playing for audiences, showing art in a museum or craft show, etc. 

Some have hands on instruction available, some have groups that get together, some have close (distance wise) friends who share that interest and they get together, some are more or less alone in their endeavor and figure it out in their own - or with Google's help 😁. Some have distant friends who share the interest and use email, etc to share their enjoyed art or craft. With me, my closest card making friends are not very nearby and we email. With my machine knitting, I know of nobody around here who does this and I belong to a usergroup and a paid machine knitting site (my best source for help and info). For my instruments, I am going solo, now, and use this forum.

I am one who has multiple interests. I always have, but growing up, I had nobody to help encourage those interests, and no resources to give them a try. Now, in my later years, I am able to pursue them on my own. Have I selected one and tried to gain expertise and have forgotten the other interests? No. I couldn't. I like variety. I like being able to select what of my interests that I want to work on, or play around with for the day. I know I will never achieve the quality or expertise I would have achieved had I started out in my younger years.

Does that matter to me? Nah. My interests are for my enjoyment. The road I am on with each of my interests is just as important as the interest. I enjoy trying to figure out new techniques for card making, how to use my knitting machine, how to play my violin, viola and cello. I have let a couple interests slide - oil/acrylic painting and watercolor. I still have an interest, but other things have been problematic with those. How to dispose of the toxic oils, etc. I decided it was not fun dealing with those.

There are days when I just want to have some time to do them all, which is impossible, and that creates a conundrum. Which ones will I work on? That is a nice conundrum to have. Which interest(s) to pursue for the day. 

As much as I love music, I have always loved listening to my 45's, 33 1/2's, and CD's (and still do), and now I love attempting to play my violin, viola and cello. But, I am a realistic. To have picked up a cello at the age I did, I had no expectation to play like someone who grew up playing a cello. The same for when I decided to try violin and viola. But, that does not bother me. I enjoy learning and playing them, and am pleased with what I have learned and been able to do so far.

My point? If you have an interest(s) in something(s), give it a try. Don't worry about what other people think. Do it for yourself. Do it for your enjoyment. If you have multiple interests, try those interests you are able to try. Having a variety of interests gives you change from day to day. If you get enjoyment from those arts, crafts, etc that you are doing, that is what is important.

Life is short, enjoy it as much as possible, search out your interests. Try what interests you. And, it does not matter what stage in your life you are at. 

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Nah, not deleting it, @ELCBK. People can post on my blog.

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