Hi,

I've just enjoyed a successful violin practice for an hour the best yet. I'm now becoming familiar using the Tascam recorder and amplifier; these are brilliant allowing me to play back my practice; just in this one hour I've improved; I've been playing with excess pressure on the strings making the notes sound fierce and harsh; the notes and previous practices sounded OK on just the violin but the amplifier gives a true feedback to work from.

What a difference being lighter on the strings makes; the notes are softer and more pleasant to listen to; I'm still very much a novice but it's surprised me today not only with the notes but string changes too these being rather too sudden and abrupt; I need to lighten up; without the recordings to play back I wouldn't have been aware of what my violin practicing sounded like to others.

The Tascam took a bit of getting used to but like anything new it's just a learning curve; now when I set the Tascam for record I can record a few minutes then after playing back through the amplifier I delete and simply start recording without having to create a new song each time which is what I was doing ending up with lots of short tracks; I've deleted the lot making it much easier just using a single song/track.

Out of curiosity I've just hooked the Tascam to the computer via the USB but everything looks empty and I can't find the practice session although I know its loaded; no problem it's part of the learning curve but I'm delighted to be recording and playing back at last; it's strange how much difference being able to play back makes; I'm making progress too reading violin music with the aid of the book and YouTube videos. It's warmer too this afternoon outside at 8C. Life is good.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks @stringy; yes it comes as a huge shock to hear playback for the first time; without playback and just practicing the violin on my own I wouldn't have known how rough it sounded but with playback I could very easily hear where improvement is needed.

The twin built in microphones on the Tascam are extremely sensitive picking up the slightest sound; just lightly touching a second string whilst playing really stands out through the Tascam/amplifier. our studio is small so the amplifier only needs a low setting otherwise it would lift the roof.

How do you playback from your Tascam @stringy; headphones; powered speaker or amplifier? At first I used the headphones but the amplifier is so much better and more convenient but at a cost and needing connections sorting out but worth it. The Tascam doesn't have an inbuilt speaker.

I had a go at copying from computer to Tascam "Lara's Theme" yesterday but as yet don't know if it was successful because it's perishingly cold in the studio this morning after an overnight frost outside and as I type the temperature outside is only 4C (39.2F). The Tascam I think will be a handy bit of kit as I gain more experience with music; looking ahead I'd like to add backing music to my violin playing in particular adding a balalaiika; the Tascam is 8 track so it can do lots of mixing but at the moment I'm only using the Tascam for recording my violin practices but I can dream ahead of things yet to come. By the time I knocked off yesterday "Lara's Theme" was already improving; I'm still only playing the first line though and have played ths many times but I'm still not happy with it so I'll stick with it; fingering and bowing are decent but spacing; note lengths and bow weight still need work; I've reached page #33 in Violinworks book 1 but I'm not running the videos yet; I'll read through the book first then start over incorporating the video's as instructed.

When I first started with violins I hadn't realized what a huge hole I'd dug for myself; but I've got a big shovel to fill the hole back in through lots of practicing.

I've been struggling holding the violin it sliding around with or without shoulder rest; because it's winter I'm wearing a shirt with collar and jumper without collar; each time I've pressed the violin to my neck it quickly slides down the collar so now I turn the shirt collar inside out  so the collar is under the shirt; I can be thick and slow to catch on whilst concentrating hard on other things.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks @stringy for the update and explanation. You sure like to travel and I hope all goes to plan for you. I've never been abroad or even on a plane and not had an holiday away from home for the last 45 years; Bron and I love our own bit of Yorkshire and are very content to remain local enjoying our respective hobbies; the furthest I've travelled from home for the last few years has only been 40 miles to visit Rufforth Auto Jumble near York first Saturday of each month weather permitting. Due to Covid even these trips have amounted to I think one trip during the last two years.

I've often said although I'm retired I can't spend lots of time on my hobbies; last night a storm came up the valley with very high wind. This morning I checked the roof was still on the bungalow and after dinner I decided to wander up our mountain of a back garden; I was looking for daffodils and crocus pushing through; I noticed a small piece of fresh pulpy timber which immediately made me suspicious near our willow tree; this took care of the afternoon tiring me out.

The storm last night had split one of the main tree trunks making it unsafe and I couldn't leave it because as I type another storm is hitting us this time the high wind is accompanied by rain so the front of our bunglow is getting pressure washed.

I put on my heavy outdoor clothes and spent the afternoon tiring myself out until it became too dark to carry on; I was running on empty anyway with hardly the strength to put the kit away; I'd used ropes and my 20" petrol chainsaw and big loppers to fell the damaged half of the tree; it's now mostly cut up but the brash needs shredding and the trunks need cutting into firewood logs for a neighbour; the tree is very mature at around 50 years old and around 40' tall; this willow is a "Crack willow" and lives up to its name; a huge crack/split had opened up.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org......ck-willow/

The right hand side of the tree was leaning precariously. It was an horrible heavy job working on my own wrapped up against the cold breeze and on the steep slope whilst watching where I placed my feet not wanting to trip or damage plants or shrubs; round two tomorrow if the weather eases; later this year assuming it ever warms up outside I think I'll remove the rest of this tree to save future problems. I've removed lots of our trees over the years two at 80' tall. I can never settle down and fully relax even in retirement.

This tree work is bad enough but our next door neighbours have to move out of their detached bungalow due to water damage which is going to take three weeks to repair.

I'll eventually get back to violin practice but I'm going to be rather tired for a while with aching bones.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

As usual short of time. I'd done the supermarket shopping and back home before 7:30 this morning hoping for a good start to the day but then I've been replying to emails from friends and now it's after 9:30 so I thought I'd update my blog.

On Wednesday with a clear day for getting into the studio two friends phoned me about an hour each which I always enjoy; then emails and mealtimes it was suddenly bedtime again with only half an hours violin practice. I'm not complaining in any way but being retired doesn't mean endless hours to do as I like. Two more days were fully occupoied by the storm damaged tree then afterwards I was too worn out to even lift the violin to my shoulder I ached so much.

I'm still practicing playing the violin over and over with the first song line of "Lara's Theme" I can't get it to sound like the recordings shown on YouTube but I think perhaps I need to understand "string crossing" I hope this is the term; I'm too abrupt changing from string to string making it sound harsh also I need to understand beat more; now having ideas as to the problems I can set about sorting them out; I'm actually making steady progress with each practice and checking against the electronic tuner I'm definitely improving also playing back recorded practices through the amplifier is helping.

Time now for a mug of tea then fingers crossed I can get into the studio.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks Andrew for your interesting reply and information introducing me to two more things I didn't know of; I've just browsed "Legato" and think this explains better than my initial thought of string crossing; I'll check the forum and YouTube for more details.

I've also been looking at "détaché" as seen here;

I'm always most grateful for any information or help I receive and I spend a lot of time studying it in order to improve my understanding of violins and violin music; when I first started with violins only a few months ago I hadn't a clue as to what a huge world violins is; I'm out of my depth as is any novice but I'm paddling like mad and enjoying the ballistic learning curve.

Further; I'll try out your suggestions regarding up/downbow techniques; I'm stretched in so many ways and am still struggling for time; there's always something needs doing to divert me from violins; silly things like yesterday Bron told me her bedside lamp was flickering so I changed the bulb; yes an easy enough job; just as we were going to bed last night I switched on the wall lights in the front room which plunged the bungalow into darkness; this meant a cold visit down to the workshop to reset the mcb; this morning Bron's bedside lamp is flickering again so this time I think it's out with the screwdivers to find the poor connection; just another small job but time consuming and ruins concentration.

A few years ago I upgraded the bungalow electrics installing a modern regulation 16 way metal clad consumer unit this being protected by dual RCD's and mcb's often when a light bulb expires it trips the mcb which is there for protection so it's doing its job. As I say simple little jobs but they never let up; supermarket shopping; two heavy days of tree work due to storm damage another day recovering because I was so worn out now electrics enjoying playing games; all the electrical circuits are fine but I find when one light bulb expires it's friends tend to join in. Anything and everything preventing me from spending time with my violins; I'll not give in though I'll ride all these problems through even though there's been a constant stream of them over the last 45 years with no end in sight.

Now I'd better sort the lamp out; I'm very keen when it comes to all aspects of safety.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

The wind is still coming up the valley and trying to flatten everything it's also cold but things have moved on a bit since my last post.

I've now taken out a years subscription to "The Strad" magazine so am looking forward to the first magazine to arrive I also have online access to it but I already spend too much time being a keyboard warrior; I want a change.

I'm indebted to @stringy for kindly recommending both The Strad magazine and also a book called "Gone" by Min Kym. The book is an absolutely brilliant read and in many ways my life mirrors Min's; no I'm not a violin prodigy but I remember the harshness of my childhood living at first without electricity in a cockroach infested cottage and like Min I too had severe asthma; in those days you survived asthma or died; my late mother would be up all night looking after me when I suffered a bad asthma attack whilst I lay on the sofa in front of a coal fire this was the only heating in the cottage; lighting was gas and only cold water laid on.

Asthma ruined a lot of my childhood depriving me of it; I detested sport at school and to this day detest all kinds of sport; having to play rugby or football with asthma isn't my idea of fun. Aged 15 I left school and went to work in a deep coal mine; once again I lost out enjoying still being young; I was now attending college one full day and two evenings studying mining engineering; the four days at the mine I started at 6am after a four mile cycle ride in all weather; unlike Min I did enjoy a bit of childhood and had friends.

Lik Min I also suffered a serious road traffic accident when a car hit my head on whilst I was riding a 750cc Norton Atlas motorcycle leaving me battered and bruised with a fractured right ankle and shattered left knee cap.

Reading this book now on page 80 it's made me think a bit of where I'm going; when I start a project I put everything into it more like an obssession and so it has become since I started with violins; it's only at the very end of last August I started with my first violin and now I have three violins but I also have violin wood I bought from Poland in readiness for warmer weather when I plan to make a violin from scratch.

Violin's have taken over my life and I'm starting to feel like Min when she realized violins had robbed her of her childhood; I lost a lot of my childhood so understand this but now in retirement I want to back off a bit and do as I intended to do and treat violin's as a wonderful hobby to last many years to come. I'm as keen as ever to learn to play a violin and to make a violin but I need to calm down and to enjoy other aspects of retirement like grafting felling big trees etc.

My wonderful wife Bron (Bronwyn) comes first and although we never have a holiday away from home I want to spoil Bron as much and as often as I can; we're getting older and I don't want to spend every minute playing or making a violin. I've spent the last 45 years working hard improving our home so now I want to ease back and enjoy what Bron and I have achieved.

Here I'm on my first BMW R75/5 750 cc motorcycle; I went into a lot of debt to buy this after I recovered from the road accident.

My late parents were property rich but cash poor; here's a picture showing my old school chum Alan aged about four; we were same age and shared childhood and schools together; I'm still in touch with Alan. What's interesting to me about this picture are the buildings in the background; the huge three story house shown just above his head is where I was born; the big building to the right was also my parents plus a number of cottages just out of shot. The big building to the right the colliery brass band used the upper floor for band practice. My late grand parents and uncle lived in the big house whilst six of us lived in a small cottage; we were absolutely poverty stricken and the rents from the properties didn't cover cost of repairs; my parents sold the lot and we moved into a brand new council house where I spent the next eleven years until we moved into a big home once again. We looked rich but in fact were very poor indeed.

I'll turn on the studio heating and enjoy a bit of time in there this afternoon.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks so much @Mouse for your friendly reply it's much appreciated.

Bron and I have shared everything from the moment we met and I feel I'm the lucky one because I love her to bits and never tire of her company. Bron's the kindest and most generous lady I've ever had the privilage to meet and she's not changed in any way even though we've had many outside problems from family and so called friends. We fully support each other in our many assorted hobbies; in spite of our dire weather I enjoyed a violin practice this morning but confess I could enjoy playing the violins a lot more in better weather conditions; these very long dark miserable winters drag anyones spirit down but the end of March we alter the clocks again giving an hour extended light in the afternoon and I'm delighted to see the daffodils getting ready to bloom.

Nice story about beating the motorcycle and I bet you still smile about it today; shame on Bob though he should have accepted defeat gracefully and treated you to the Boston Shake which I presume is a drink of some kind. If you still see Bob I bet you like to remind him.

Bron has ridden pillion behind me at over 100 mph but like you Bron was never fond of it and I stopped motorcycling shortly after we met and bought a car.

You might have heard of "Lawrence of Arabia" @mouse riding a Brough Superior motorcycle eventually only to die on one; here's a very rare picture of me dated about 1972 on a Brough Superior. Click picture to enlarge.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks @stringy I'm pleased you love your wife the way I love Bron and yes like you with your wife I'd give up anything to please Bron.

The "Gone" book is prooving a two hanky read it's brought tears to my eyes a number of times because I can relate to Min with struggles and problems in my own life.

Yes the Brough Superior is worth a few bob these days and can easily sell for over £100,000 this for the SS80 model I'm seen on but I've seen the Brough Superior SS100 sell for £350,000. Many years ago I actually sat on and had chance of buying an SS100 for £34 but couldn't really afford it; it doesn't bother me though because I've enjoyed many what are now classics both bikes and cars; I've owned a split screen VW camper and Austin Healey 100/4 both now worth a great deal of money but when I owned them I paid at the time what they were worth. There's more in life anyway and I'm content just being with Bron in own bit of Yorkshire.

I'm still struggling for time to play my violins; I put the heating on in the studio early this morning but as usual I've been diverted with a number of more pressing things to do; perhaps after dinner I'll eventually make it into the studio; now I'm awaiting a phone call from the water supplier regarding going on to a meter; we've just paid £860 for the year for water which is excessive just for the two of us.

If only the weather would improve it would cheer me up but more very high wind and heavy rain is forecast; never mind just battle on and keep warm.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks Emily @ELCBK I'm sorry to learn of your first husband being tradically killed in a car accident; you'll still miss him a great deal but have happy fond memories of him to look back upon.

Kevin too is having difficulties with his back problem and I bet he's fed up he can't ride a big motorcycle flat out at high speed any longer. I assembled some of the first Honda bikes to arrive in the UK these in sizes up to 250cc. I've not ridden a big Honda like a Gold Wing and I've never ridden an Harley either; my best friend once was treated by his family to a weeks hire of a big Harley; he had a BMW similar to my BMW. He didn't like the Harley at all saying it was agricultural like riding a bike fitted with a tractor engine; the flat twin BMW's really are smooth. What a shame Kevin can only dream of riding and owning a BMW K1600. Nice choice.

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk.....600gt.html

So Emily; you're a speed freak; there's nothing like a beautiful winding country road at the tight end of a throttle cable is there; here in Yorkshire we have lots of such country lanes but so many bikers get killed on them. I bought my first BMW 750cc way back in 1971 when it was the largest bike BMW made; a year later I traded it in; Tony the son of the BMW dealership owner and TT bike racer took it for a test ride and when he returned he said "That's the loosest BMW I've ever ridden" what a compliment but sadly Tony was still in a wheelchair paralized after a bad TT crash; I then bought my second BMW 750cc; shortly after the 900cc was introduced. Good luck to Kevin he sounds a great guy.

Our government not only killed our coal mines they set about killing industry too so now we are at the mercy of other countries for energy and like you in America our enery costs are going ballistic.

Back to the plot; I've mentioned many time my problems in getting time for violin practice;  it's only a short while ago we suffered two severe storms ending up with me grafting removing a large damaged section of a willow tree; two more severe storms are due from tomorrow and the other half of the willow tree still stands but I'm worried about it ending up over the fence in our neighbours garden. This afternoon in high wind I've been up the ladder adding ropes in order to give some support to the willow tree for when the storms hit; if the tree survives I'll remove it in springtime; it was dangerous up the ladder so I roped the top of the ladder to the tree for safety.

This work is dangerous but working on the steep slope in high wind isn't a way to a long life span; I've never grown up still being a kid climbing trees and I never want to grow out of this.

It's bitterly cold in the wind but now I'm back indoors enjoying a mug of tea I'm fine again ready for the next must do heavy job; it never changes living here and I still dream of a single peaceful warm calm day where I'm allowed to practice violin playing.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks Emily @ELCBK I've memorized the first two lines of Lara's song and can get the notes right against the electronic tuner but as you rightly say I now need to concentrate with timing etc but each time I practice I gain just a little bit more. Because of Covid I'm unable to enter my luthiers workshop we do business on his front step with heavy traffic passing by just behind me and it's usually perishingly cold; he did adjust my shoulder rest and it was fine I could let go of the violin but back home it was absolutely useless; when it was adjusted I was wrapped up like an Eskimo so back home in light clothing I have to start over; I've tried many positions until I just got fed up of trying; it's a pity I can't nail the violin to my shoulder to prevent it sliding; nothing changes; the high wind was so noisy this morning it was pointless trying to play the violin.

This afternoon as I type it's bucketing down with rain driven by the wind but this is normal for where we live in Yorkshire; nine months winter and three months bad weather each year.

Each time I settle down then I'm wanted elsewhere; I've been submitting meter readings for electricity and water this morning getting a soaking each time but I've spent a bit of time in the workshop tidying up which pleased me; I dislike my workshop being untidy but today at least it's warmer outside at 14C so not too cold in the workshop. I've still got the big tree job hanging over me and I want to make two rope pulleys for when I fell them; always something other than playing a violin to do.

Yes it would be a challenge for Kevin to load up a big motorcycle with grandkids; locally our council are causing mayhem introducing cycle lanes; I'd like to see a cyclist with five full bags of shopping on the bike pedalling up this valley side but then the people behind this probably have their own car parking spaces; a case of do as I say not do as I do.

I fully agree with you regarding bike size Emily; I passed my test on a 650cc BSA Golden Flash with double adult sidecare attached; aged 16 I had big singles then 650cc twins at 18 I had an Ariel Square Four 1,000cc solo bike which self destructed at 70 mph on one of our motorways the back cylinders on these were prone to overheating. We often hear Wasps being ridden at the bottom of the valley on the main road; lots of noise but little action.

I love the cat picture; thanks for adding it; it's time guns were replaced by violins then the world would be a much safer and happier place.

I managed to plant a dozen tuliip bulbs this morning between downpours; I don't think I need to water them.

Kind regards, Colin.