In the early 1960's I was really into music. Playing in the high school band, school dance band, folk singing and guitar playing. In our school bands back then we didn't have any strings so I spent my time trying to play all the brass instruments. After high school off to college to study engineering and left music behind (sadly)... oh I did play in ROTC drum and bugle corp.

Jump ahead nearly 40 years and my need for music peaked again. I wanted to play something and decided I'd either learn the clarinet or violin. I've always been fascinated by playing a string instrument that is missing its frets, so I decided to go with the violin. I picked up a couple of violins through the internet (one German copy and one stamped US NAVY inside) and in 1996 started lessons with a professional violinist in Dallas, TX. After a couple of years the teacher decided to quit teaching (cause-effect I don't know). So after 1997 I languished for a few years. Actually my wife and I were spending most of our time building our new house so didn't have a lot of spare time.

Well I languished until 2016 when I, now a retired engineer, had some time to clean off the violins and see I could still make some decent sounds. It's amazing how much a body can change in 20 years! Arthritis in my fingers have made it impossible to bend my left index finger completely so reaching the F-nat and B-flat on the E and A strings is tough. I am starting to be able to make some nice tones and if I can get my bowing under control it should get better. I'm going back through my Wohlfahrt etudes and Maza's. Pieces in the 3rd position and higher still make the cat look for a quieter room to lounge in.

I used to be (actually still am) a member of the snooty web forums, but I feel myself more comfortable browsing and viewing here on fiddlerman's. This is a great learning and sharing site.

Bob in Lone Oak, TX