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Barry, and everyone here is where I will try to keep my ramblings about my attempting to learn the fiddle.
Thanks for the directions.
gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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I've got this thread watched, and staying tuned (:
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Today was class and my bowing is better. I think some part due to the pad I have fastened to the back of my fiddle. I still have not got the song (Tennessee Waltz) down. Somewhere I have been starting it in G, so that was corrected.
I really have to practice more. Now that I have part of the fingering and bowing memorized, I will be listening to the example that Barry gave me the link for. I do not hear the song when I play it, sort of like I am disconnected, my teacher says I will learn to "feel" the song while playing it.
I have also been trying to practice fingering the G scale like Fiddlerman shows in his lessons as well. My biggest problem is practice time, I just do not have enough time for it, but I am making some time for it.
My right shoulder gave me fits for several days last week there are old surgeries on the right side and leaning my head to the left seems to pull the muscle there, holding the fiddle lower and using a pad that has helped.
So that is the update for now.
Thanks all, gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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Barry I think that I do not know the songs well enough to sing any thing. I have listened to songs all my life but to recite the lyrics to anything leaves me at a loss.
Today the earlier student was playing Jingle Bells and the Tennesee Waltz and I could recoginize them. When I started the song (is it called melody?) just was not in my head, maybe I was concentrating on the finger positions?
Some of the other things was the scales and long bowing strokes maintaing the speed and tone on each string and practicing the bow strokes from one string to another, for example a long down bow stroke on the D string and then a long up stroke on the E string without sounding the A string. That seems to be going ok.
Thanks gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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Sounds like you have a good start. Nice to be able to follow your progress. Just got back today and got your message. Happy that you are satisfied with the new bow. 
I knew that you would be.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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For almost two weeks I have not done anything, not even listened to a song.
I have a lesson tomorrow for which I am unprepared.
I have a mute on the fiddle and will practice some tonight.
I saw the Christmas Project on YouTube and I think it is great.
gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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We all go through that every once in a while Gordon. Good luck getting inspired tomorrow. Happy that you liked the Christmas project.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks Mr. Holstein and others, it has been a hectic couple of weeks.
I am not sure how it happened but the fiddle just sat there and has been looking at me, saying "I ain't going to do anything just sitting here".
I had to do something today and again tomorrow morning, my class is in the afternoon, I am a paying student, although a poor one.
I have not got the song memorized to where I can do it without looking at my notebook.
gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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It has been some time since I posted here, so an update is in order.
I have not made much progress but still holding on. I still have some (a lot) of trouble with my right shoulder, and the muscle on top is painful. I hold the bow in different positions so when the discomfort gets much then I shift the arm, but it does not help much. I know move the elbow to bow and raise the arm to change string. After a couple of minutes I stop. Still I continue onward, but slowly.
gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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Hey Gordon,
Welcome back 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Nice to see You're back, Gordon! =))
Doing something slowly is MUCH better than not to do it! 
"Water shapes the stone".. remember?
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Fiddlerman and Mad Wed, thank you for the kind words.
I did some practice last night, but not the bow.
Have you ever heard a fiddle picked? I do that when memorizing the notes.
Maybe some bowing later today.
Thank you for the encouragement, gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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While cruising in another thread I found where Fiddlerman had made this reply.
Pizzicato
But in the 5 chinrests to try thread, Dee said (please send pizzicato in place of Berber)
Fiddlerman said
I had to look that up, and found a long explamation of it.
I love the answer that Dee supplied. Thanks Dee and Fiddlerman.
PS: I bought a chinrest that is called a concert or something like that, it has a piece on the left and right of the tailpiece.
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
Hello Gordon, Yes, I think that funny misunderstanding is all straightened out now. I certainly hope you will continue your practice, though it must be difficult with the problem shoulder. When I began violin a couple years ago, I never realized how many muscles and joints it would affect! I'm really working on the right chinrest and shoulder rest for now.
Best wishes,
Dee
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Hello all, I just got back to South Carolina last night. My wife had a lot of things to take care of and her class reunion in West Virginia. We have spent a lot of time on the road since February, I do the driving.
I did not have any instrument with me or even any music, I hope next time there will be room for it in the car.
I did get to see Joe Dobbs (an Old Time Fiddler) in West Virginia.
I suspect I will be going again soon. I just wanted to let you know I am still around.
Gordon
It ain't gonna learn to play itself.
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Welcome back Gordon!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
Good to hear from you Gordon, and that you are safe after all your travels. Hope you are back with your fiddle soon.
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