Cat Gut and Horse Hair

Today means the first day back to fiddle lessons  after a six week absence.

 Six weeks means a lot in terms of practice or lack thereof for a fiddle player.

For one thing the little tabs of calluses that have formed on the tips of the left hand have softened.  Another sign is that the tuning of the  fiddle more than likely is all out of whack...I have seen for instance the E string make the sound of a D and vice versa :(.

  It takes careful turning and gentle twisting of pegs and screws to get everything sounding close to what the electronic tuner indicates as correct.   Rosin has to  be applied , chin rest attached, music stand adjusted,  lesson sheet music set up, and the dog put outside (saves on the howl factor).
It is only after all the above has been carefully addressed that it is noticed that all the little stars, arrows, circles, and exclamation marks the instructor has so carefully written on the sheet of music to guide one  as to where to place one's fingers, how fast the beat is,  and  where to repeat or rest, at the last long forgotten lesson in December now means absolutely nothing. 

Nothing..zilch...zero.

 You are at a loss and ask yourself , "What the#$%@#$ does THAT mean?" Heart beats rises, frustration level heats up, and the possibility that something will be flying through the air increases accordingly.
 Happily at least there are some scales to practice.

My violin instructor is the quintessential music teacher.  Besides his person being very neat and clean, he is highly organized, soft spoken, prompt, methodical, and very diplomatic.  He has, I presume, what is referred to as 'perfect pitch'.He looks at a piece of music and can hear it in his head even if he hasn't heard it played before.  He can tell you with his back turned,  while you are playing,  if your fingers are too high/ low/ or not on the string.

To have the patience and skill to guide people with kindness and encouragement while they literally hack away at a piece of  music, a piece that often he has written or adapted himself with his students in mind, without  raising his voice, fiddle, or hand in any threatening manner , takes a type of  moral strength of character that perhaps is only found in the words to the music which he teaches. For example, the words to  Four Hand Scotch Reel,  Irish Washerwoman, Bottle of Brandy,  and of course the never to be forgotten, Geese in the Bog, no doubt all contain descriptions of persons of high moral and ethical standards.

Whatever the case, the man is incredibly polite and generous with his comments of encouragement after you have played a piece.  His "That was very good.  Now I can write 'almost, almost' done beside the piece." or " What an interesting interpretation.", and "Very nice..next time we can concentrate on this, and this and this, and perhaps this."; and, of course, " I truly have nothing to comment on. We will look at it again at the next lesson."

   Yes, these words go a long way towards determined practice for next time  around, as long as one doesn't think of them too too often and too too carefully.