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I had one of the most incredible experiences of my life this past Wednesday! I happened to be in NYC and due to circumstances, I got to play a real live Stradivarius violin!
I was going to write the details here but it's just too long, so you can check out my Blog describing my experience if you're interested.
http://www.theslipperrest.com/.....pper-blog/
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Thats pretty cool, ya never know what adventures you are going to have. Congrats and I didnt know you had a blog, a business in shoulder rests etc. How clueless am I.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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Nice piece of prose, Fred!
I enjoyed it enough that I made a point to read it aloud to my son. I don't often do that - and he doesn't often sit still long enough for me to do so - but we were too enraptured by the story not to see it through until the end.
Side note: are you ever going to consider making The Slipper in a size suitable for a Viola?
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What an amazing story Fred. I don't think I would be able to play it without having a heart attack.
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Thanks Robert, yeah, I started The Slipper as a business for my 19 yr old son who's in his first year of college; and it started RIGHT HERE on FM!
Keith! Thank you so much for that compliment! First that you'd take the time to read all the way through it; second, that you really enjoyed it; and third, that you found it enjoyable enough to read to your son! Seriously, quite a compliment!
Btw, The Slipper, in its current form will fit a very small viola. I've laid out a pattern for a 15.5" and it just seems too large and cumbersome to me. Granted, every viola rest looks cumbersome, but The Slipper in that size is even more so. But I will continue to look at it. I think if someone were willing to pay $150 for it, I would spend some real energy designing it; but I believe that's out of the price point for most people.
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Lmao Kevin; seriously, I had the same jitters! But if you ever get the opportunity,,, take it, then have your heart attack, lol.
King
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What a teriffic tale told, Fred. I can only imagine your nervousness as you suddenly closed your eyes and positioned yourself in Carnegie Hall, playing solo "The Tennessee Waltz" before hundred's. That must have been such a feeling for you.
My only thought's on this are: If the guy has so much stuff in the store and three "Strad's", would you concider him a "hoarder" ?... LOL
My other thought about walking into his odor filled locked vault is, did you tell him that bag's of charcoal hung on the wall's will get rid of the smell ?
<<< Fred, playing a Strad, how nervous he looks.
Wonderfull story, Freddieboy.
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Beautiful story!
deserves a toast==> 
lol
I can't imagine the sound coming from near the way that you described! must have been wonderful! I hope one day to have such an opportunity!
BTW completely agree on Alessandra Ambrosio!
One more reason for me to like my country more!
And contemporary art exhibit developed by James Turrell must have been another great experience!
I'm very happy for you!
Again, great tale!
"The first and best victory is to conquer self."
Plato.
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Thanks Ken; so goddamn funny about the charcoal, haaaaaaaaa; fortunately it was a good smell; didn't smell like some drunk just vomited in the corner! And "S" isn't a hoarder at all, it's a music store in the heart of Manhattan and anyone you've ever heard of brings their violin there for repair or sale or purchase. It's a very cool place.
Olavo! Glad you understand my appreciation for Allesandra; seriously one spectacular creature your countrymen (errrrr, and women) created, lmao.
Yeah, I could spew about the significance to the human race by Turrell for days; his is a spectacular mind.
Thanks all for your appreciation and comments!
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Well it's my turn today to meet my heroes. I'm off to the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. I'm hoping Ian Miller, Captain Canada, will be there again this year.
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You're gonna have a GREAT day then Kevin! Hey, can you post a couple of pics of these heros?
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Great story Fred. I can imagine how you probably didn't want to give it up right? I've played on a couple of Strads and a couple of Guarneri's and it always feels special. There are enormous differences between them too. Our orchestra in Malmo (my former orchestra) owns a Strad and that one is not the greatest. You really have to work hard to get a sound from that one even though it is valued at 3,000,000 dollars. Maybe more today.
Happy you got the experience. Also happy that "The Slipper" is going so well for you already.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Pierre, I actually didn't cling to the Strad because I was so nervous about playing it, lol.
Thanks Pierre (re. The Slipper); as of yesterday, we've sold 102 Slippers; we're running now at a revenue rate of about $4000/month (and increasing each month); we have a 1/4 pg ad in the Strad October "2012 Accessories Ed" on pg. 25, Strings has done FB promos for two months, Strings has done a 1/2 pg "Product Highlight" in the November issue on pg. 71, and Strad is naming it "Product of the Month" in their November issue.
It's been a flurry of business, so much so that I've hired two more woodworkers to make them. And to think,,,, it all started with an idea (from me), and prompting and help from you (Pierre) and some of my other FM family members!!!
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Can I say I know the designer of the slipper?
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LMAO Kevin!!! You know it brother,,, but you've got to refer to me as King of the Universe, haaaaaaaaa!
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I enjoyed reading your blog, Fred. What a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience! For most of us, it's a never-in-- lifetime experience. You gave a great account. I felt like I was right there with you.
I've never considered what song I would play if someone handed me a Strad. I'm afraid that I'd launch into something silly like Twinkle (because I'd be too nervous to play anything more difficult).
Now that I'm giving it some thought, I think that I'd do Ode to Joy since it's fairly easy and would be appropriate, not only as a classical piece, but also because I'd be joyful to be playing a Strad.
Congratulations!
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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"""Strad is naming it "Product of the Month" in their November issue."""
DUDE!!!!! Do you have any idea what that will do for your business. Get ready for some MAJOR sales.....
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I think playing twinkle on a strad has a certain charm about it!
Why not...
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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A 2-in-1 story, written wonderfully well. How I wish to kiss the hand(s) that held a 'strad'. Thank you for sharing it with us, Fred.
If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it ..(William Shakespeare in Twelfth Night)
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Thank you Diane, I appreciate the kind words; glad you enjoyed it. You know that "Ode to Joy" is almost what first popped off immediately, but I'd been working on "The Tennessee Waltz" for weeks before and that's what popped off instead, lol.
Pierre, I hope so, I'm starting to build inventory with these new guys working, so we'll be ready (fingers crossed); hey, you want to buy a great little shoulder rest company, lmao!
Thank you Suresh, so glad you enjoyed it! Btw, my hands are NOT kiss-worthy, lol.
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