My start is really convoluded. My father was gifted and played several instruments. He is Juliard alumni from the 60's and favored the violin, organ and accordian. My heritage is Eastern European and the violin (lost in a fire in the early 80's) was a hand down to my father from 4 generations of players and was Polish in its make. I am from a large family and never had any musical drawing. Now, In my late 40's, my daughter plays the fiddle (3 years) and recently started with classical violin. On my birthday 5 months ago, she asked me to pick hers up and showed me the 4 open strings. The second the bow glided across the "D", the vibration into my shoulder and hand just spoke to me on a level I can't explain. I took it off my shoulder and just looked at it. She asked what was wrong, and I had no words to say. I played the open D several bow strokes then did all 4 opens. It seemed to just call me. Sounds wierd and strange, but I have no other explaination.

We shared her Eastman violin for about 2 months, then I purchased my own as I was running into her practice times. I purchased mine without any knowledge at all of what I was doing, but ened up getting lucky on quality and cost. I now go up and down with practice times as work gets in the way, but I end up with 2 or 3 sessions from 30 minutes to 2 hours each.

I often wonder if it is a waste of time. I will not be able to play "great performances" and really there is no group for other then children in my area that I know of. I asked at the local music store and it is all hard rock type high school/younger college groups, or smaller and younger childrens groups. I do have a slight disablity on my left hand. My middle, index and ring fingers were damaged years ago and I don't have full feeling or mobility in them. I have a REALLY hard time getting my middle finger to "place" and a miserable time trying to hit a B flat on the A string or a F on the E string. I just am not able to flex to hit them. I modify my hold slightly and exagerate a bent wrist that forces my fingers back on the string. I don't have full control on string pressure, so I sort of do it by hearing what it sounds like and fixing placement on the fly. Its not a great way to play, but it does seem to get the job done on notes of 1/8 or longer .. usually. Vibrato, at this point, might not be obtainable, but I still work on it.  With my hand problem, my age, work and all, it just seems hard to keep really focussed on playing.  Like all things I have learned in life, keep moving forward and especially when things seem hard. They usually pay off in the end. So, I try and keep upbeat and continue placing one shoe in front of the previous, even if its just millimeters or seemingly no advancement at a time.

*** If Mr. Perlman can play with tree trunk fingers, I certainly should be able to play with my hand problems.