Just finished up the first week of fiddlin'...

The good news is, I've graduated from sounding like a bag full of cats being slammed against the wall to the sound of stepping on a few cat's tails. So, I'm making progress.

One thing I had forgotten was just how difficult playing an instrument is. Not necessarily the violin...in many ways it's reputation as the 'most difficult' instrument is unfounded (in others it lives up to its hype). It can be played and each practice sessions does pay dividends. But it's playing instruments to actually produce music that I've found to be the most difficult part so far! Not only is it about getting the instrument to make the notes you want (see cat note above) - those notes have to be in tune, at the right rhythm, and at the right volume to really make music.

Maybe I was too young when I picked up the sax in elementary school...or maybe I just didn't practice enough to ever know how it was supposed to be...but I had forgotten just how much goes into actually making music.

In many ways, this first week has left me much more encouraged to continue. I'm hoping I can post something in the next several weeks for critique...I'm doing this the truly self-taught approach so I'll need the feedback.

I really enjoy this site though...great folks on here and I love the camaraderie that seems to exist especially within the projects and what not. Can't wait to contribute.