No practice yesterday because when I got home from an oncologist appointment and lab tests, my wife didn't believe that I was her husband and that I was her father-in-law! Another trip to the ER but they didn't find evidence of another stroke or any other medical problems. Will need to schedule an appointment with a neurologist next week. She seems to be better today and accepting me for who I am.

We attended a birthday party for two of our nephews and she handled it well with lots family, including our son's family, another nephew, our sister-in-law, and the mother's family. Had a really fun, chaotic day!

I took my viola and demonstrated it to their youngest daughter, but only played a little bit. Nothing earth shattering, but fun to do.

@ELCBK - Thanks. I can hope for better news, but the neurologist seen on Monday wants lab tests and mental acuity study done. Plus referred her to a vascular surgeon because of a 75% blockage in a carotid artery and moderate blockage in another. Good news is that after the party Saturday, she acknowledged that I'm her husband!

Forty-five minutes today. Forty minutes on the violin playing Gypsy Rover, Wild Mountain Thyme, Over the River, Down by the Sally Gardens, Oh Shenandoah, and Scarborough Fair. Concentrated on Down by the Sally Gardens.

On the viola, played Wild Mountain Thyme for the fun of it!

Another 20 minutes of practice. This time on the viola to work on a new tune for a party!

Whoo hoo, a whole hour total time today!

Another four days without practice but how I ended it was interesting! Had a video doctor visit this afternoon and we're supposed to sign on 20 minutes early. So, I signed on and got my viola so the time wouldn't be wasted. With only talking with three different people for about 4-5 minutes each over the period of an hour and twenty minutes, I got in an hour of practice playing about 15 tunes and some improv!

Another gap in practice and it showed. Got in 40 minutes tonight playing the violin - Gypsy Rover, Wild Mountain Thyme, Over the River, Down by the Sally Gardens, Oh Shenandoah, Scarborough Fair and 10 minutes on the viola a piece I will want to share in a party.

I watched the video that @ELCBK shared in a post, "Excellent simple fiddle bowing vid". It seemed to cause more problems than it helped. I'm thinking I'm going to have find a teacher for a limited number of lessons for hands on training and help me break bad habits/techniques.

First of all, apologies to @stringy for not crediting him properly on the "Excellent simple fiddle bowing vid" link.

@ELCBK - Thanks for the heads up and the comments about that video. Very helpful.

As to practice, I got in about 40 minutes on the viola last night on a new tune I hope to use in @Katie L's Beatles party. Although they didn't write it, it was on one of their albums, A Taste of Honey, probably best known as played by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. I found a version I transposed from B♭ to G and then down an octave and converted to alto clef. The ending didn't sound good to me, so I took the last three measures down an octave.

I hope to record it tomorrow or Friday. To that end, I got in an hour tonight on it plus a little improv on A Wayfaring Stranger and Amazing Grace.

Last night I finally worked up energy to play again. Been feeling a little under the weather and no energy. Docs seem to think it may be the chemo drug. But yesterday @ELCBK - posted about the TonalEnergy tuner app and it piqued my interest. Resurrected Maureen (my viola) to test it out AND to practice my Beatle tune. Ended up spending 45 minutes in practice on it. As I posted in the TonalEnergy thread, it seems to help me and I find the tuning itself is faster than with my Peterson Stroboclip tuner.