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The Old Guy Re-Entering the String World
A personal view of the start of a journey into music and the viola.
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (393 votes) 
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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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July 18, 2022 - 11:48 pm
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Half hour on violin playing Over the Hill and Through the Woods V1 and a half hour with the viola on Over the River VA1, VA1 an octave down, VA2, Wild Mountain Thyme, Dark Island, Down by the Sally Gardens, Star of County Down VA1 and VA2, and Gypsy Rover.

Violin definitely needs more work than the viola on Over the Hill, but that's to be expected.

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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July 19, 2022 - 11:13 pm
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Half an hour only tonight on the violin playing Gypsy Rover, Wild Mountain Thyme, Over the River, and Simple Gifts. Almost didn't play at all, but I'm not going to get better, if I don't keep at it.

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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July 20, 2022 - 10:27 pm
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And a half hour tonight on the viola playing Over the River VA1, VA1 octave down, VA2, Wild Mountain Thyme, Dark Island, Down by the Sally Gardens, Star of County Down VA1 and VA2, Gypsy Rover, and Simple Gifts.

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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July 24, 2022 - 9:10 pm
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I think this caregiving is getting me down. Missed two nights and only got in about 20 minutes last night and the same tonight. Both nights on the viola. If I can't get out of these doldrums, I'm going to have to send The Traveler on its way. I'm attempting to get a viola sea chanty to add to the party thread, but not progressing well at all.

Well, as Scarlett said, "... tomorrow is another day".

The old curmudgeon!

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Mark
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July 24, 2022 - 11:57 pm
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JohnG, 

Care giving is hard on the care giver!

Take care of your self, im a tad bit younger than you and it can still wear on your body, mind and spirit.

Well be praying for you both.

Mark

Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.

Albert Sammons

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stringy
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July 25, 2022 - 6:13 am
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Take ir easy John its not a race, its for pleasure,  being a carer is very hard, I looked after my mam for 12 years when she had dementia, nearly did for me, not so long ago that was, I am still recovering from it.

Look after yourself

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 26, 2022 - 2:05 pm
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So how do you like playing a violin from time to time instead of only your viola @JohnG?

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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JohnG
Greater Chicagoland
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July 26, 2022 - 2:17 pm
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@Fiddlerman - I'm enjoying it when I find the time and energy. It really is different than the viola, at least to me. It's not just the obvious finger spacing, tone, and pitch. It really feels different especially when playing faster pieces. It's hard to explain, but it seems lighter and more responsive. 

I just got a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface that I will be testing with both the violin and viola. I will be recording directly into a DAW using the Shure SM57 while recording both video and audio with my Android phone. I'll then put them together in my Corel Video Studio and be able to compare them directly, muting first one audio track and then the other. Should be fun and just may re-energize my playing of both instruments.

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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July 27, 2022 - 3:42 pm
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Finally, back to violin for 40 minutes today playing Down by the Sally Gardens, Gypsy Rover, Wild Mountain Thyme, Over the River, Star of County Down, and Simple Gifts. Felt good to play once again. It's been too long!

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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July 27, 2022 - 11:17 pm
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AND 20 minutes tonight with the viola on La danse de Mardi Gras, Wild Mountain Thyme, Dark Island, Blowin' In the Wind, Simple Gifts, and my entry for the "City or boat party".

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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July 28, 2022 - 5:34 pm
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An hour today, half hour on violin playing Star of the County Down and half an hour with the viola on my selection for the City or boat party.

The old curmudgeon!

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stringy
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July 29, 2022 - 10:27 am
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Cant wait to hear your contribution John, keep up the great work.

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JohnG
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July 29, 2022 - 9:20 pm
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@stringy - Thanks!

I only got in about 30 minutes tonight, all on the viola and the City or boat party. I think this will get recorded Monday or Tuesday. Saturday we're going to 2 nephews' graduation party and Sunday a grandson's birthday party.

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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July 30, 2022 - 12:55 pm
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Ditto. I really want to get that tune ready for the City or boat party!

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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August 1, 2022 - 10:58 pm
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Half an hour on the viola tonight practicing the City or boat party piece, and then 20 minutes on the violin (so it wouldn't feel neglected) playing Star of County Down, Wild Mountain Thyme, and Oh Shenandoah.

After the party for nephews' 2 graduations on Saturday, staying overnight at our son's and dil's house, then celebrating their youngest son's 7th birthday, we were beat when we got home Sunday night, so no practice yesterday!

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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August 2, 2022 - 10:06 pm
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Finally got my City or boat party entry recorded, The Wellerman. Not perfect, but fun to play. This has also been added to that party. Half hour tonight on the viola.

The old curmudgeon!

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JohnG
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August 3, 2022 - 8:11 pm
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And back to The Traveler for a half hour practice playing Gypsy Rover, Wild Mountain Thyme, Over the River, Down by the Sally Gardens, Oh Shenandoah, Scarborough Fair, and The Ash Grove V1.

Think I've decided on my next violin video piece being Down by the Sally Gardens. Who knows how long it will take, but I'm sure it won't be fast! lol

The old curmudgeon!

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stringy
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August 4, 2022 - 8:28 am
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Slow but sure John, that’s the way;)

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JohnG
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August 4, 2022 - 4:47 pm
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@stringy - Yeah, but I'm impatient and at my age, it's not easy to be patient.

Today was another half hour on The Traveler playing Gypsy Rover, Wild Mountain Thyme, Over the River, and mostly Down by the Sally Gardens. Gettin' there!

The old curmudgeon!

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 6, 2022 - 8:26 am
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JohnG said
@Fiddlerman - I'm enjoying it when I find the time and energy. It really is different than the viola, at least to me. It's not just the obvious finger spacing, tone, and pitch. It really feels different especially when playing faster pieces. It's hard to explain, but it seems lighter and more responsive.   

The violin is a faster responding instrument for sure.

There once was a violist that told everyone that he could play 16th notes. People were getting all excited but they didn't quite believe him. The violist said that he would prove it and he did. He proceeded to play one.

😁

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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