Fashionandfiddle said
@starise 

Don't give up, one persons opinion is just that - one opinion. The world has some people who want to put others down instead of being kind and encouraging, I have had that experience on another online violin platform (not this lovely forum).  You have come so far with your playing already. Don't doubt yourself.

 

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves" - Sir Edmund Hillary

  

Well I can only guess which it was and I don't really need to know but it sounds an awfully lot like another place I once went and was actually kicked off from for posting a picture I thought was funny. I digress.

Since then I have attempted to go back, rejoin ( talk about eating humble pie) and they see my web location and won't let me back in. I wanted to be able to ask a question. Not make any trouble. FWIW I was on there for a few years with zero issue. Someone just decided I was out for good. To be honest I probably didn't fit there anyways.

I was on another paid lesson site with a pretty good teacher, but I didn't like the lack of connectivity to the student. When learning through zoom there are things I am convinced a teacher can't see or pick up on....and they are only as concerned as the next payment. Not that she didn't try to be concerned with my individual playing issues. I believe she made the best attempts to help me she could make given that these were payed remote lessons. My take on it is Zoom lessons are better than nothing and they can potentially help, but not as good as a real in person teacher and the reason I commuted another 20 miles each week after a long day at work to be with my last teacher. 

I was watching a documentary on drumming and drummers last night. The reason I mention it is because a long time drummer commented that the drumming community was very accessible and down to earth. I though to myself what a contrast this is when comparing "violinists". Let's just say that with the exception of Fiddlerman who is one of the best people out there who play both as a player and as a human being, and a few folks on this forum many of whom have commented, my experiences have been tipped in the wrong direction. Fiddlerman is the kind of person I feel I could go fishing with( or anything else) and we would get on just fine. If he picks up a violin though I'm just going to listen lol.

UPDATE- I  was pulled back out of my slump. I agreed to play for a church event but the material pushes my limits. It's the tune " God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with " The Star Of Munster" added to the song. The composer used Star Of Munster as filler between the verses.

After I accepted we were told the mid week practice was cancelled so we will be practicing it the morning of the event about an hour before we go on. Needless to say I am a little nervous that our trial run will be so late.

We'll see. I have been going over and over it. I'm the only fiddle and I can't predict what the other musicians will be doing. OTOH This seems sudden. On the other, I have been practicing for this for over 7 tears. If I look at it that way it helps.

-Tim

Thanks BillyG and Emily for comments on my site and encouragement. The reason you don't hear much violin ion my site is because I still am not happy with the recording quality. Seems effortless when fiddlerman does it.

 The score calls for 112bpm which I can play. The guide recording seems much faster top me. Here is what I'm supposed to play. Any and all suggestions welcome.

I'll report when it's over how it all went. We stream the video so I could theoretically play it back. I'm a glutton for punishment.

Thanks to all who commented here since I dropped in the last time. I hope all are well.

 Mark, Very much appreciated. let's me know I'm not alone. I appreciate the comments by all on the music I made.

The violin is working out great ABitRusty.

Unfortunately the broadcast video feed barely picked up my violin. I will still post the recording. Maybe you can make some of it out.

Thanks for the invite to the Christmas party Emily. 

I was up most of the night with a stomach issue so I didn't go into work. A few hours later I felt better. Maybe what I really need is retirement. The reason I bring this up is I had time to make a few violin videos. One track wonders lol. No second passes.

Since the broadcast didn't pick up my part very well I decided to record myself playing the song Star Of Munster at a more typical tempo, then I sped it up to the tempo they wanted me to play it. I think the song looses some luster at a faster speed. I also played a song called The Sailor's Bonnet.

This was a learning experience for me in playing on a church WT. I think I'll do better next time. The violin was louder in the live setting than it will be here. I think it can be difficult to fit the violin into these contexts. I was really playing to probably my limits on speed for it. My old teacher would have said I needed to dig the bow in more. A tough thing to do and play faster. 

If the time stamp doesn't come up go to about 28:30 on the video. This is where the song begins. Of all the instruments mine seems to be the least heard. Wrong mic? Too far away? Not sure.

https://youtu.be/0uH68ZFlf-o