Violin; raw novice.

Hi Colin
Yes soon get the marigolds planted, then there's the cosmos and more Snapdragons, before then I've got to weed the place before I can plant them, but that's all the joys of gardening.

Good that you've done your hedges that's one more to tick off your list.
The birds like to leave presents to thank us for feeding them.

Hubby did the shopping yesterday and Saturday he goes to 2 supermarkets.

Enjoy your violin and balaclava practice
Have a good day
Logan.

 

Hi,

I was rudely awakened at 3:45 this morning with rain pounding down on the roof just above my head; it sure came down which was a disappointment because it could have waited until I did the shopping this morning then it could have given me a good soaking; I was back home from the supermarket by 7:30; everything outside was awash again the street lined with puddles; it's nice to have everything normal.

It feels very strange indeed not having must do jobs hanging over me; free at last to finally enjoy a bit of retirement; it's 21 years since I retired from active conflict and perhaps now I'll get into the studio to enjoy my instruments; I still want to make a violin from scratch but with a slight change of plan; I think I'll practice making a balalaika first these look a bit easier and I can play around with less expensive wood; I have the wood ready for making a violin it cost £110 from Poland so before jumping in I think it wise to have a practice run first.

I can now concentrate on learning to play the violin and balalaika which I'm eagerly looking forward to; there's so much to learn and I don't think I'll ever be bored; everything I do is controlled by time; as I become older the days become shorter; I get out of bed and blink then go back to bed; another day flies by.

I've played around briefly with the balalaika and playing it isn't as easy as it looks to be whilst watching others play a balalaika; it's a strange shape to hold/support; the strings hurt my fingers; I'm totally ignorant at the moment regarding balalaikas but I wonder if the strings on mine need replacing; the outer strings sound sharp enough these being an E and A string but the middle E string sounds quite flat; a 3 string balalaika like mine has two E and one A string; the standard strings are steel but the E strings I believe can by bought as nylon but as I say I'm a raw novice; I'm a member of a stringed instrument forum but I think there is little about balalaikas on the forum; no doubt there will be a forum I can join for more information.

I hope I'm not boring anyone after all this is a gardening forum but all my many hobbies are intertwined overlapping each other in some way. I'd like to play my instruments through the powered monitors and using the new Rode NT1-A microphone so a bit of research now looking at "interfaces" with phantom 48V power; forums will help with information which should quickly get me up and running.

I'd just posted this then saw your message Logan; thanks for your good wishes; I hope rain isn't spoiling anything for you today; we've got heavy rain forecast over the next few days so nothing to trouble us it being normal.

Isn't it strange how weeds seed themselves and grow faster than anything else; I did quite a bit of weeding yesterday simply dragging them out especially cleavers before they seed; things I plant and want to grow take their time but the recent potentillas I put in are already in bloom and are establishing well; I hope the heavy rain last night hasn't flattened the meadows; last year the wind and rain destroyed the top meadow whilst it was in full bloom; I was so disgusted after the many hours work I put in I strimmed the lot; the bad weather here interferes with my life.

I do the supermarket shopping Monday and Friday each week arriving very early with a wish list for each of the three supermarkets and go round like a missile knowing where everything is; I do my best to help Bron with chores I also do the dishes and ironing.

Have a good day Logan; I hope it remains dry whilst you walk your babies otherwise it's wet paws cleaning.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

How typical of my bad luck; spend 35 years grafting on our bungalow and in the gardens then finally get up to date yesterday; I enjoyed two violin practices this morning about two hours in total and was going to enjoy more this afternoon.

I've just been removing the debris from our front garden left over yesterday from trimming bushes; two expensive cars cruised past and turned around at the head of the cul de sac to park up next door; our immediate neighbours have been working flat out getting things ready for a jubilee party and yes the party has just started; timing as usual when I want to do something I really like trips me up; I'll not practice in the studio this afternoon because I don't want to spoil the party but I'll practice this evening all being well if the party ends.

The top meadow has survived the heavy rain last night much to my delight; the meadow is starting to look nice once again.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Good that you got all your work list done, it's a shame that you couldn't do any practicing today. Perhaps your fingers have got to get used to playing the balaclava, good luck with making one.


Hubby does the shopping on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and like you he goes as soon as they open.

We didn't get wet today but i thought that i was, i was out with Berry, the dark cloud was coming over and i felt some spots of rain but it didn't come to anything and that's good because i didn't have my jacket.

That's a relief for you about your meadow.
Have a good day
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; I hope you too have a good day.



I keep mentioning our dire weather today nothing changes; I'd happily loan you my own personal black cloud Logan but it might prove a bit too much to handle. I usually like a forecast such as this because it could prove to be a nice day.

Cold; wet; miserable and dark; June 5th and central heating switched on also heating on in the studio; it's time this global warming paid us a visit.

I like your "Balaclava" Logan very funny; I'm looking forward to the new balalaika strings arriving from the Ukraine but they'll be quite a while yet at least they'll be genuine.

Your hubby sounds very much like me Logan; get into the stores and out as quickly as possible as soon as the stores open; we've still got lots of Covid all around us but few wear face masks although Bron and I always wear our face masks whilst out in public meeting people; we don't want Covid and we don't want to pass Covid on either; just being responsible.

If you lived in Yorkshire you wouldn't need to think about wearing your coat whilst out walking your babies; your coat would be permanent; I wear my heavy "site" coat most of the year.

Yes it was a relief to see the meadow still OK but there's time yet to see it destroyed by the weather.

The studio should have warmed up so I'll wander in and enjoy playing with my instruments; I'm now making more violin progress learning four notes at a time from Lara's Theme; eventually I'll play the whole score.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin

That's auto correct spelling thing and didn't check it.

Yes it's been raining here and it's going to be all day.
We've got the fire on but the heating doesn't come on now.

Thanks about hubby, he's been going to the supermarkets early for years. When they started opening on a Sunday he began to like it so he kept going that early.

That's great news about your violin practice.
Have a good day
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; I hope your day goes well.


BBC weather forecasters just get dafter by the day; above is our forecast which obviously is a huge joke; where's the rain? It's raining as I type and another wet miserrable black hole.

Bron and I never visit stores at weekends because we like to go round in peace not be carried around. I find Monday & Friday mornings suit me best both very early then I can get in and out as quickly as possible as I've done this morning.

I like to hear of other husbands who fully support and respect their wife; good on your hubby.

I'm on another forum where I've just asked if it's possible to use my Tascam Pocket Studio to play my violin through my amplifiers without having to record first; I have a Rode mic which is powered from the Tascam on 48V phantom power also a pair of amplified monitors and a guitar amplifier; I'd like a set up similar to Karolina's where I can play my violin or balalaika using the Rode mic and amplify; I don't need to do this but I'm curious and like to try new things;



Yesterday was another wash out but I did manage to learn another four notes of Lara's Theme and today I'll learn another four notes; if I keep doing this eventually I'll achieve my dream of playing Lara's Theme on my violin.


Printing blanks.
Here I'm converting Lara's Theme original score to my own way of learning; I copy every single note from one line of the song at a time usually about ten notes then I give each note a number placing the number and add them to my own score; the vertical lines represent the four violin strings the horizontal lines for the notes on each string; it works a treat for me; playing a violin by numbers I've dreamt up never having seen this done before.


G D A E represent the violin strings; the letters marked on each string is the note to play for this line of the song it starts with #1 on the G string note D; I could also use open string D to give the same note. I can't yet read violin music but I can change the rules to suit me and by doing this I'm on my way learning to play Lara's Theme which really pleases me rather than struggling so much I'd lose interest and give up as three of my friends have done finding playing a violin far too difficult.

The score shown is the song line; "Some where a hill blossoms in green and gold" Very on topic at last?


I compare each note from the original Lara's Theme score against this note chart; it then gives me the correct note to which I assign a number; it takes time but also I'm learning to read music too whilst copying the notes.

Whilst learning something new I don't always follow set rules if I can't understand the rules I'll experment and change the rules into something I can understand; it's too easy to quit and walk away; violin's are the hardest string instrument to play so I accept it's going to take me a long time but I'll not give up.

Mug of tea time then I'll learn four more notes.

Here's an update on the top meadow;


Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Yes they can be so wrong about the weather.

Thanks about hubby, we try to support each other the best that we can.
You and Bron are the same.

That's great how you've turned the music score around to fit in how you can learn it and that's the best way to learn a tune by doing a few notes at a time.

Your meadow is doing well.

I've planted all of the marigolds around the path on Saturday and got some left over, have to see where to put them.
Have a good evening.
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan. I hope your day is going well.

After 35 years continuous work around our bungalow and gardens I thought at last studio here I come and it's well overdue.

I can dream on though; yesterday the rain finally quit so I dashed out and up the step ladders again this time clearing the gutters; the birds had been throwing dirty wet debris around making a mess on our paving flags and patio also they love to bomb the handrails and car so handrails and car just another job as well. After nothing but dire weather for so long I did think about taking a picture of the sun to hang on our front room wall. Sunny periods and 17C today; WOW we're not used to such heat.

Yes the meadow is coming along nicely Logan I just hope it survives unlike last year when it was flattened by rain and wind.

You'll be pleased to have completed your marigold planting and the one's left over could head over to your friend Marion.

I enjoyed a violin practice this morning but this afternoon we had an appointment so have just returned home but I'll head into the studio shortly but firstly I'll have a look up our mountain because it's rare to see it dry.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks my day went well, did a lot of gardening, weeded a patch of ground and then planted some cosmo. I might give some to my friend Marion if I can't find a place for them.

You're always finding things to do and hope that you can get some violin practice in soon.
Have a good evening
Logan.

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan I hope your evening is as nice as ours is just now but rain on its way again.

You're getting stuck into your gardening and it should look a picture once everything your planting bursts into bloom and be a credit to you.

Yes free at last to spend time in the studio so now I'm making a bit of progress with my violins. I can now play this;

Somewhere my love there will be songs to sing

Although the snow covers the hope of spring

Somewhere a hill blossoms in green and gold.

I've not found it to be easy but I've gone over and over just learning about four notes at a time; eventually I'll play the whole song.

Time now to settle with Bron watching a YouTube movie befire bedtime.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks about my gardening and yes it will look great and got to get everything in this month.

Your doing well with your violin practice and it won't be easy but i know that you'll stay with it until you learn it.
Have a good evening
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks Logan; I hope you have a super day today and if it pours with rain you can dodge it again.

If your weather is similar to our weather you'll not need a watering can or hose pipe and your plants will go ballistic now they're in; good luck with them.

I'm finding violins to be addictive; thanks for your encouragement it's much appreciated; violins are definitely difficult to play;



Absolutely amazing especially when with fierce concentration it's taken me so long to play a few lines of Lara's Theme and Twinkle twinkle little star but I wonder how many solo violinists fell huge trees and do other manual work like painting huts and creating a meadow. Yes I'll stick with it because I like violins so much and also I'm looking forward to learning to play my balalaika; it's better than being bored.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi Colin
Thanks about the weather, I won't be needing to water for a few days if it doesn't rain again and i'll have a super day out in the garden again planting more cosmos but nearly come to an end.

It will take time to learn the violin quicker when you've got used to it.
Thanks for the video she was amazing.
No they wouldn't have felled trees like you because they practice all the time, but when you have more time you will be able to do it faster.

Have a good day
Logan

 

Hi,

Thanks for your good wishes Logan; I hope your day has gone well and you'll be pleased not having to water..

You've certainly been putting effort into your planting but it will be worth it shortly when you see everything burst into bloom.

Yes the yound lady in the video was truly outstanding; I can only aspire to play like her but I keep practicing. I've been amazed just now in the studio; when I first started with violins Bron generously bought me the brand new Hidersine Vivente but shortly after I also bought a "Rainbow" violin it being in metalic green; it was only £25 complete with very rough case and bow needing new hair also two strings were missing; I just bought it to play around with.

I bought a set of Hidersine strings and restringed the Rainbow but it was absolute rubbish having very little voice indeed; it's been sulking in its case for quite a while but out of interest I've just enjoyed a session experimenting with it. It sounded dead flat so I tightened all four strings and using my new carbon fiber bow this Rainbow violin is brilliant with plenty of projection; it's easier to play than my greatly more expensive German violin so I'm delighted; something's gone right for a change and I'll now play it more often together with the Hidersine and German violins; I also briefly played around with the balalaika just making noises but nothing more; I've bought a set of three strings for the balalaika from the Ukraine but they could take up to another month to arrive; these new strings are 2 x nylon and 1 x steel; once I've restrung it then I can get serious about learning to play it.

All these new toys to play with but not enough time in the day.

Kind regards, Colin.