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I'm improving my delivery of a solo arrangement of Schubert's "Valse Noble No. 3"; it's the first piece in which I shift positions and although simple, I have found it challenging. I hope to prepare a guitar accompaniment to reinforce the waltz beat and give me a pleasant click (well, bass and strum) track.
I'm also working through Massanet's "Meditation" from Thais. It sounds a bit lifeless because I haven't developed my vibrato yet (but I'm exercising that).
My violin time has been diluted a little of late by reintroduction of callouses to my left fingertips (yes, the dreaded fretted things); playing Jimmy Page and Ralph Vaughan Williams in the same day gives a wide perspective (cf "The Rover" / "Linden Lea").
What are you all working on at the moment?
Peter
"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less" - William of Ockham
"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great
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Peter said
I'm also working through Massanet's "Meditation" from Thais. It sounds a bit lifeless because I haven't developed my vibrato yet (but I'm exercising that).What are you all working on at the moment?
The Meditation is grade 7.
What are we working on? That's about the fifth thread asking that, lol!
Andrew
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possum up a gum stump, huntin' the buffalo, and booth.
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Gordon Shumway said
The Meditation is grade 7.
What are we working on? That's about the fifth thread asking that, lol!
That may explain why I fail to bring it to life! Still, I'm sure there's no harm in trying (I'm still very ungraded).
I started this thread because I was inspired by the cellists' "What are..." thread, responded after your reply to the same (and then pulled out) and started here.
Peter
"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less" - William of Ockham
"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great
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GregW said
possum up a gum stump, huntin' the buffalo, and booth.
Foot tappin' just thinking about it.
I've recently got my left hand around "The Rising of the Lark"; a Welsh traditional tune. I forever fouled-up a particular string change, but I've worked it out now. 
Peter
"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less" - William of Ockham
"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great
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Thats a very cool tune. on the list
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Also working on Meditation (as part of my 'vibrato' saga - it's a good one for practising it), and slowly working up the 2nd Violin part of the Bach Double concerto (1st movement only up to now) which is coming along a lot better than the Massenet.
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The Meditation is by far and away the most ambitious piece I've looked at so far; Andrew notes that it's ABRSM Grade 7, but it's so seductive. I frankly don't mind playing it before I can vibrate; it will encourage me to work on that too. It's works like this which prevent me from drifting into a mindset where the violin is just a tool for making backing tracks for the guitar: it's become my primary instrument.
I have a little pile of pieces waiting for me to turn my attention to them. A pile of yet unread books is called a 'tsundoku'; I wonder if there's a Japanese name for a pile of unplayed sheet music?
Peter
"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less" - William of Ockham
"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great
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I've been mucking about wasting the day on 3 or 4 desultory Kreutzers and Grappelli's Flonville.
Andrew
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Right now? Dust 
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Gordon Shumway said
I've been mucking about wasting the day on 3 or 4 desultory Kreutzers and Grappelli's Flonville.
I certainly didn't waste my morning; I played fluidly and I could casually check over my vital points (relaxation, bow angles & sound point, lightness of grip, shifting speed & timing et al. It probably sounded rather poor, though 
Then I went on to make a Hall-effect pickup for an experimental Keef-tuned four string guitar-shaped object. Tomorrow that will get its magnets, and thus its soul.
Peter
"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less" - William of Ockham
"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great
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Hi Peter -
Schubert's "Valse Noble (op77?) #3" is very beautiful with a guitar accompaniment. Hmm... "Meditation" for vibrato - good choice. Like "The Rising of the Lark", too. If it helps - I got rid of my callouses by practicing with a thin, woven nylon glove for a while.
Jim Dunleavy - Great, lively piece!
I'm kind of depressed lately because I've decided to go back to square one and start over with my vibrato (when I thought I was really doing well). I've found I'm going to have to practice vibrato only in scales for quite a while. It's been far too easy to fall back into bad habits playing many of my favorite slower tunes. Now is the only time I wish I had 4 strings instead of 5. Anyway, the Fiddlerman Vibrato tutorials are great and I have enough to play without vibrato for now (to get my music fix).
Last month I learned Bocherini's Passacalle (Fiddlerman Tune a Week #37) but I need my vibrato fixed before I'll be happy with this. "Brenda Stubbert's Strathspey" has been fun. I'm still trying different combinations of "Fear a Bhata", Duncan Chisholm's "The House in Rose Valley" and "The Airy Plover of the Heath" (Bonnie Rideout).
I've started to explore what the fiddler in "Witches Wrath" (the Bridge City Sinners) is doing & I won't be able to rest until I can duplicate it (at least I get the harmonic on the E string). The other night I learned "The Old Copperplate" - very fun tune ( GregW played). Still trying to keep fresh/perfect my older pieces, too - some I still need to learn improve/variations & double stops.
GregW - what double stops do you play in "The Old Copperplate"?
Btw, sounds like you're having fun with double stops on everything!
- Emily
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Emily @ELCBK glad you liked it..double stops werent planned. happy accidents I guess.
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Too much to mention. I have come to the realization that I need to organize better.
My stand is piled up with all kinds of stuff.
Most recently I have been putting Irish Jigs and Reels into music software and adding the bow strokes in notation so I can learn the "right " way to do it. Prior to this I wasn't doing it correctly.
If anyone wants the .pdfs I have a few completed I'll share.
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GregW - 
Geez, I was all excited I wouldn't have to figure out double stops at least this tune! Oh well, appears there's double stops in those other three you're working on!
But, no more new pieces for me (lol) - still have to fig out some double stops for "Lonesome Moonlight Waltz", "Emma's Waltz" (Sarah Comer), Raggle Taggle Gypsy, etc...
starise - (lol) my organization just consists of a pocket notebook with the titles as I learn them... haven't even thought of entering in my phone - yet. I'm sure I'll be interested in what pdf's you've got - down the road. Right now I can't handle the thought of any extra "organizing".
- Emily
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On my stand right now? Just Flesch scales, Sevcik, and Kreutzer. These are taking up the vast majority of my practice time right now. My practice time is very limited and I probably shouldn't even be practicing as much as I am. Injuries have prevented me from practicing regularly for more than two years now.
Also working on: Bach Cello Suite No. 3 (viola transcription), Walton viola concerto.
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Gordon Shumway - Thank you!
I finally took a moment to check out Grappelli - he's amazing! After hearing him jam with other string artists, I've come away feeling it's sacrilegious to allow a piano anywhere near him. I foresee a potential addiction to Gypsy Jazz in my near future, but I'm really starting to form a neg opinion about piano accompaniment (for violin) in general...
AndrewH - 
I'm much more acquainted with Bach's Cello Suite #1 - #3 seems pretty grueling. Walton's Viola Concerto is a very nice contemporary piece - some of that score looks like a nightmare! Hat's off to you for pursuing both of those!
I really hope you can take the time to let yourself heal. I used to push through pain to the point I was prescribed opiods (dealing with chronic pain many years). I can tell you a horror story that's hard to believe, one I wouldn't wish anyone to experience, so take care.
- Emily
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I’m currently revisiting Bach Double, 1st violin (first played the 2nd violin, three movements, 2 years ago). Much better 2nd time around. Also looking at Tom Morley’s Irish Trad Tunes book.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Ray Charles' Georgia and Harlem Nocturne.
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Mr Yikes - 
I think the electric violin was made for Jazz - "Georgia on my Mind". ...or were you talking "Sweet Georgia Brown"?
I had to look up "Harlem Nocturne" because I wasn't familiar with that title, but I sure recognized the tune! "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" TV series, and the film "Tango & Cash"!
Cool...
- Emily
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