Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.








Regulars

Well, the challenges of playing the violin just keep on rolling in!
Over the past several weeks, I had to contend with: nerves from my first performance, playing while something hilarious was taking place, extreme hot weather, bad strings & slipping pegs, violin gremlins that disturb me only when someone has a camera out AND, most importantly, myself as a novice fiddler!
Just when I thought things were getting easier, along comes this candlelight tour where I'll be playing a few songs! At first, I thought, this shouldn't be too bad! But, I didn't take one thing into account. The fact that I still occasionally look at my finger board to get my bearings!! Granted, I try to rely on sound and muscle memory as much as possible, but wow. Darkness makes a whole world of difference!
Anybody have any experience or advice for low light playing?? I'm hoping it's just an environmental thing where I'm just used to playing in well lit areas! LOL
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Members





Hmm.. Well, there's a few things you could do.
1.) Assuming your fingerboard is ebony and very smooth, rub the fingerboard down with a little glow-in-the-dark waterbased acrylic craft paint. It should peel right off the ebony later, since that stuff doesn't stick all that well anyway. And then you tell your cohorts that your violin caught a minor case of foxfire.
2.) mount a small candle on the scroll with some soft beeswax or similar material. Tell them you thought it would be a nice touch for the tour.
3.)Try to figure out how to make a pair of night-vision goggles look like "period" clothing.
Actually, for #3.. Don't worry about making them look "period", since nobody will see them anyway, since it will be dark.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

Regulars










Regulars



Regulars





Regulars


Regulars

DanielB said
1.) Assuming your fingerboard is ebony and very smooth, rub the fingerboard down with a little glow-in-the-dark waterbased acrylic craft paint. It should peel right off the ebony later, since that stuff doesn't stick all that well anyway. And then you tell your cohorts that your violin caught a minor case of foxfire.
I could do something like that and say it was lightning bug juice! 😀
TerryT said
Wait til the cannons fire!
That would only allow me a few milliseconds of play! ......wait....that's not a bad thing with my playing! LOL
I have a candle lantern with a mirrored backing that I'm going to use. But I need to find a way to have it level with at least my chest while standing.
I've been practicing at night with the lights off as well. It just that I mess up big time on some of the songs I love playing! I don't have a problem with some of the easier ones, but I want to play the ones I just learned so bad!!! (The Girl I Left Behind, Rosin The Beau & Yellow Rose of Texas)
Kevin M. said
You could try practicing in a closet like Terry but leave the light off.
I wish I had a closet that big for me!! If that were the case, I wouldn't here my neighbors or wife complaining about the "cats!"
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
Regulars



Regulars

Fiddlerman said
Practice with your eyes closed from time to time.
Oddly enough, I do that on a lot of the songs I have memorized. But I do peak every now and then! LOL I guess I'll just have to practice blindfolded!
dionysia said
I am envisioning some anglerfish style headgear for your candle lantern...or glow in the dark nail polish so you know where your fingers are
Ha!! I'd be the talk of the camp! I think my wife actually has some glow-in-the dark polish left over from Halloween! ......wait?!?! I know what I'm doing for Halloween!
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Regulars


Regulars

I do to! ......and then cheat when I lose my place! LOL
The funny thing is that I'm not looking to see where my fingers are. Most times, I'm looking to make sure I'm bowing in the same place!
I guess that's why I sound so horrible when I'm playing from sheet music! Once I memorize a part or song, it sounds so much better! LOL
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
Most Users Ever Online: 231
Currently Online: Gordon Shumway
42 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Top Posters:
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2673
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
DanielB: 2379
Kevin M.: 1969
damfino: 1889
cdennyb: 1814
TerryT: 1726
Ferret: 1575
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 2
Members: 18668
Moderators: 0
Admins: 6
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 58
Topics: 7552
Posts: 94688
Newest Members:
myraek16, franklinvo16, lynnevj2, julieew69, dorthysg4, elenark2Administrators: Fiddlerman: 13950, KindaScratchy: 1732, coolpinkone: 4168, BillyG: 2737, MrsFiddlerman: 0, Jimmie Bjorling: 0