Playing the violin has been a torturous, difficult process. I began playing at the age of 10 and I never enjoyed playing the violin as much as I loved playing the piano. On the piano, I could really express myself and it sounded good all the time. On a violin you have to find the note. Intonation is crucial and it can sound so sour if you are just a bit off. So, that was always difficult for me. Then, making a beautiful tone is very difficult on a violin. On a piano, you get what you get, but on a violin you have to create the tone quality by how you draw the bow, how much pressure you put on the bow and what kind of vibrato you will have. So, it's been one long struggle and, as much as I love playing in an orchestra, the violin itself has always been a challenge for me.
However, last Sunday, during the rehearsal for the Brahms Requiem, I began to notice how beautiful my violin was sounding! It was really the first time in my life that I felt this way! I was smiling, riding on a wave, and thinking, "Oh, how lovely my violin sounds today!" I was so happy! I hope this will continue. It has taken many years of practicing and effort to get to this point!!
6 comments:
It may not happen next time because you will be waiting for it to happen; not letting your body take over.
BUT once it happens it will happen again. You may need to help it by always preparing the exact same way before playing; sort of like baseball players that don'r shave and wear dirty caps etc.
Haha, Michael! Thanks so much for your comment. Let's see -- hmm, I was wearing my all-black concert outfit. I will say that I practiced very hard for that concert. I knew the music well and I loved the music. I sure hope it happens again! (Dirty caps -- hahaha! Baseball players are so superstitious)
Actually, during our last quartet rehearsal there were moments when I liked my sound! Maybe I have reached a new level of playing!! After all this time?!?!
Joe Louis once said:
"To be World Champion means boxing your best on Tuesday at 8 p.m."
[I don't think that is an exact quote but close.]
The fight is to learn how to get these moments by just by showing up. By picking up you violin you're in the zone.
Michael, this is very wise and extremely encouraging!
so when is the concert you are rehearsing for?
Thanks for asking. We performed the Brahms Requiem and a Mozart Piano Concerto on February 10.
Now we are rehearsing Mahler's Fifth Symphony and Berg's Violin Concerto for a performance on April 6.
Meanwhile, my string quartet played at a memorial service on Sunday for a gentleman who was almost 100 years old and a great music lover for years and years.
There's always something! (Except in the summer . . . very dull then.)
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