Practice Yeilds Progress

My fiddle teacher instructed me to video tape some of my at home practice sessions. This is so that I can have a chance to review my technique and posture while not distracted by trying to get notes on key and in tempo. It also gives me a chance to really listen to my playing and recognize errors in tempo and dynamics.

For the most part this is a hugely humbling experience. I will practice a song and think I have it down - until I go to video tape myself. Then my fingers and bow can't seem to get in sync and nothing goes right. It definitely reminds me that I have so far to go to reach the playing ability I aspire to.

I did however manage to capture one video where my fingers seem to co-operate and I even manage to play through some really difficult (for me) sections! I was so proud of myself and the fact that I actually got the good one on camera, that I thought I would share it with you. The song is a traditional fiddle tune called Redwing.

 

You will see that when I play I have almost no control of my facial expressions. Even though in my head I think I am smiling and enjoying myself the camera shows me I have a very serious face of concentration. In the above video I think I smirk once while playing- this is the point when I realized that things were going good and I was going to nail this one.


So it is definitely not perfect but I am certainly making progress. I continue to enjoy my fiddle lessons and am making the most of my opportunities to learn. Lately I have become a bit of a broken record about encouraging people to take music lessons if they are interested. Seriously I know so many young-adults who say they wished they could play an instrument.

What is stopping you?!?!?

You are not dead yet! Get out there, pick up a fiddle, cello, guitar, banjo, clarinet or kazoo and learn to play a tune! Better yet sign up for lessons with a local teacher. Sure you probably won't become some famous musician, make money off of your art, or even perform in front of many people. There will be squeaks and squawks and you might have to start with something more basic than Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. But there is no pressure to be great- Just enjoy music for what it is, have fun, and participate!

What My Life Sounds Like Lately

I have been spending a lot of my free time practicing my fiddle lately and having so much fun! If you were a fly on the wall of my apartment tonight here is a sampling of the songs you would hear in varying degrees of proficiency.

Started out with some classical music- good for practicing technique and challenging. I had a song running through my head and spent about 1/2 and hour trying to figure out what it was. Turns out it was Henry Purcell's Rondeau from Abdelazer. Fortunately I was able to find some sheet music for the song online (written for flute but hurray for playing a C+ instrument again!!) The song sounds beautiful as a violin solo. The notes are surprisingly easy to get but I need to work on my tone a lot to sound this good.

 Non-classical music fans might remember it from the dance scene in Pride and Prejudice.

And then some other dancing tunes. I have been enjoying learning some traditional fiddle standards. Maybe someday I will be providing music at a square dance near you!

Most of the recordings I got off Youtube were by Don Messer- a truly fantastic fiddle player! The last one (Red Wing) is actually close to the speed I play it at- lots of fun!!! Enjoy!

Team Lift

Recently I bought a kitchen cart for my kitchen. I had seen one in a local store for a reasonable price and  had been considering the purchase for awhile. A lack of counter space and cupboard space finally sent me back to the store. I purchased the item and the nice people at the store helped me put the large heavy package into my vehicle. I then drove home eager to assemble my new purchase. It wasn't until I was sitting in the parking lot of my apartment that I realized something. I live on the second floor. There is no elevator in my building. And that package is heavy!

No problem I thought. I am a strong independent woman. I can get this package up and into my apartment. No problem.

After a little grunting, ingenuity, and a precarious balancing of said package on a railing while I attempted for a third time to open the door to my floor, I finally got the package into my apartment.

I then opened it and began to separate the pieces to assemble.
Being a wise person I looked to the instructions. I am not a complete fool, to avoid frustration always read the instructions.
The first instruction: "Two people are required to assemble this item"

Okay.... So maybe not all the instructions are important right??

I proceeded to assemble the cart. Several hours later I was successful! The cart was assembled. The shelves held together. I had counter space. Hurray!!

I began to pick up the garbage and packaging. It was then that I noticed a sign on the cardboard box:

 

"Pfft!" I thought. I am a strong independent woman. Look I got it here and up 2 flights of stairs all by myself. I assembled the cart without any hollering or yelling (just some music: Bastille, and a pumpkin spice latte.) My confidence soared. "Who needs a team?!?" I thought, "I am woman, hear me roar!" I joked as I put away my screwdriver a.k.a. butter-knife .

The next morning I woke up to bruises on my arms and sore shoulders. Later that afternoon I found that the shelf of my new cart kept collapsing. Who needs a team? I DO!

Perhaps I was able to complete things on my own, but I ended up sore and bruised in the process. I sense of independence is good, but I am not an island. 

Last week I was preparing my Sunday School lesson for my class. We were talking about the importance of Christian community. Their memory verse was 

Ecclesiastes 4:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Hmmm.... looks like this is a lesson I haven't quite learned yet. 

P.S. The collapsing shelf was later fixed with sticky tack. It works excellent now. 

What else do you expect from a girl who uses a butter knife as a screwdriver?!? 

For all you music lovers here is some Bastille for your listening enjoyment:

 

Summer is here and so am I

So it's been a while.... In case you were worried, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. (But seriously next time if you are worried about that drop me a message or something just in case.)

I have been busy working, worrying, living, baking, creating, skiing, running, moving, listening to music, making music,and an assortment of other activities. Circumstances as they are my original 2 month contract (Jan-Feb) has been extended repeatedly. Often with only a couple days notice before its expected end date. The month-by-month tension wasn't awesome, and the way I dealt with it (blissful ignorance and denial) wasn't the healthiest either. Finally I have the relative security of a 4 month contract but had the urgent need to find a place to stay yet again. I can't express how grateful I am to my church family here. When I express a need they repeatedly do whatever they can to fill it including inviting me into their homes, directing me towards available housing, and providing me with a bed.

Work has settled into a comfortable, if a little tedious, routine. I never expected to be working full-time in a chemistry lab. Initially it was exciting and challenging as I learned new lab protocols, but eventually this settled down into a regular rhythm to the point that I occasionally feel like just another piece of lab equipment. I have found setting goals and keeping track of my "personal bests" in regards to lab production to be effective in keeping me engaged in my work and constantly striving to do my best.

As an added challenge I have been focusing my energies and talents on some of my hobbies. I really enjoyed baking this winter especially fresh bread. I decided to stop buying store bought bread and make all of my bread myself. Which I found relaxing and enjoyable. I even developed my own recipe for a braided apple cream cheese streusel which is delicious and looks impressive to boot. I also started work on a painting for some dear friends and continued working on a painting I started earlier this fall. In addition I received a coupon for a discount on some music lessons; so I decided to get some more instruction on the violin (or fiddle.) Progress is slow but I would say I now am closer to using the violin as a musical instrument as opposed to an instrument of torture.

My music addiction is in full swing and I have enjoyed discovering some new bands as well as enjoying some old favourites. It is possible that I have been purchasing new music at too fast of a rate- you need to live with a CD for awhile to fully absorb and enjoy it. I think I need to go back and savour some CD's I had purchased awhile ago but haven't listened to that much lately. But there is so much good and interesting music out there and so little time! That and the website Noisetrade keeps me fuelled with constant new suggestions and the opportunity to legally download the music cheaply or for free. Their suggestions are consistently top notch! Recent finds include Jenny and Tyler, Josh Garrels, and Ivan & Alyosha. I have included some Youtube clips for your listening pleasure.

Until next time Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbeZwvB8BiE   - some reason can't link the actual video but this will take you to the page on YouTube for a song called Be Your Man by Ivan & Alyosha. Definitely check it out the video is a delight to the eyes and to the ears. It is a ton of fun and an excellent summery sounding song! Kick up your heels and dance!!!

Jenny and Tyler were the soundtrack to my winter Jan-Mar. They are an awesome husband and wife duo. I chose to link a few videos of theirs. I listened to their album Open Your Doors a lot this winter- it had a good mix of music both worship and music that ministered to my melancholy. Their music makes me want to make music too. Their song See the Conqueror was my song for lent- I recently found it is also in my church's hymnal but with a different tune. I like their version better and might try it out with the praise team at my church if I get the chance.

  

Finally the soft sweet and incredible sounds of Josh Garrels. I had downloaded his album Love War and the Sea In between last year sometime but didn't get around to really living with the music until recently. I am consistently astounded by what he does with his voice!! Pilot Me sings to me of the Pacific Northwest and why I want to go back to British Columbia and the Gulf islands. Sailor's Waltz and I'll Fly Away are just fantastic and make me want to go practice my fiddle. Which I think I will just go and do right now.

  

It's Snowing!

It's Snowing!

And that leaves me with an inexplicable desire to skip around the kitchen table singing jingle bells! (I used to do that!!) When I was a little kid I truly believed that singing Christmas songs/playing Christmas music would make it snow more. Since winter is my favourite season I can't wait for mountains of snow so I can take my snowshoes and x-country skis out of hibernation!

In the meantime enjoy these links to some Christmas music. The Youtube video is for the delightful pop song "Peppermint Winter" by Owl City. The second Youtube video is just for my older sister, one of her favourite Christmas songs.  For those who don't like pop music so much follow this link to a collection of Sufjan Steven's Christmas music. There you can find such delightful songs as "What Child is this Anyway" and "That was the worst Christmas Ever" alongside such Christmas classics as "O Come O Come Immanuel" and "Once in Royal David's City." His sound is unique so if you are unfamiliar with it just check it out!

Or send me a link to your favourite Christmas music so I can enjoy!

What have I been doing Lately??

Sometimes people who haven't seen me in awhile ask me what I have been up to. Often I can't really think of anything on the spot so I don't have much of an answer other than "being unemployed." This isn't all I do, I just frequently forget what all I have been busy with. So this blog post shall serve as evidence that I do in fact do things. 

Yesterday I had a blanket bee and ended up sewing a bunch of blankets.

Newly restrung violin!!

Today I bought strings for my violin to replace the ones that had broken. I learned how to restring a violin all by myself and managed to even tune it (somewhat) with the aid of an electronic tuner. Hurray for Youtube instructional videos! without which I would still be hopelessly lost and dealing with a broken violin. Now the air in our house is filled with the "sweet" sounds of a violinist who hasn't had any instruction, or practice since the age of 5 or 6. I sense alot of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in my future.

In other news I have been painting! I am working on a top secret painting commissioned by my younger sister and a few other paintings that have popped into my head. 

inspiration sketch for next painting

 The other day I went down to the beach. Fortunately I thought ahead and brought my raingear and warm clothes. The wind was howling and the waves were crashing. I walked out along the rocks and spent some time playing on the swings but soon was a little chilled and had to head for the warmth of my car. Summer clearly is gone and with it any chance of doing more kayaking this year. After experiencing a taste of winter in Calgary my snowshoes, skis, and me are anxiously anticipating that marvellous white stuff falling from the sky. (although it will probably be a few more months before any significant accumulation here.)

 So that is some of the things I have been up to lately. I'll leave you with some youtube videos of my favourite songs at the moment. The first one is by a band called Rend Collective Experiment. They are a worship band from Ireland and several of their songs currently top my favourites list.  The next song is by NeedtoBreathe. I just bought their CD and have been enjoying it immensely hope you do to!

Moonbow?- A Beautiful Sight

There was a beautiful rainbow coloured ring surrounding the moon tonight. I noticed it when I came home from skating. I tried to take some photos but alas my photography skills leave much to be desired. The lack of a camera that is good in low light conditions and lack of tripod may also have had something to do with it.

This pic I found on Google images best represents what I saw, Lovely!

My favourite photo of the night wasn't a total loss. It doesn't do my night sky justice but I kinda find it  reminiscent of an impressionist painting.

Upon further review I was surprised to find one of my pictures did at least hint of the rainbow colours that were visible in the night sky. Hah! who need a fancy camera or tripod now! A steady hand and a vehicle side mirror will do in a pinch.



I really shouldn't call it a moonbow. A quick wikipedia search told me the technical term is a 22° halo or moonring. Follow the links if you want more info but the accompanying articles are a little sparse.

Interestingly enough folklore says that it is a sign of a coming winter storm and that if I counted the stars within the ring that would be the number of days before the impending storm. With the kind of winter we have been having one can only wish. Whether or not that is true time will only tell but for some reason all this talk of moons has Cat Steven's "Moonshadow" stuck in my head. This song always reminds me of a funny university memory. I had a friend who wanted to start a band. She thought this would be an excellent song to add to our repertoire which also included Amazing Grace. She played the ukelele and had found a violinist, pianist and vocalist, she wanted me to be the star clarinetist and figured we should call ourselves Death Tongue. Clearly we were destined for greatness.

Hope you enjoy the following YouTube link and your own moongazing.

p.s. I looked at a bunch of youtube vids for this song and though the sound quality isn't as good as some of the other ones I loved this clip for the fantastic 70's attire!

Advent Peace???

I can now say with (almost) certainty- “I’ll be home for Christmas!” both Kuiper Christmas and actual Christmas, barring any unforeseen circumstances of course. It will involve lots of driving, and hoping for good weather but I will be there. Hurray!

I have been really worried about the long drive by myself, especially if the weather turns nasty- I have to drive through several snowbelt regions. To top it all off I had some recent issues with my car that had me rather anxious. But the weather report looks clear enough and my car was given a clean bill of health so now I am looking forward to good food, good fun and family!

 Christmas is always an interesting time of year; so full of magic, and wonder, and excitement, and also so stressful in many ways. As people gather with their families to celebrate there is also the rush of shopping, and stress of preparing meals, and interesting family dynamics that emerge amongst family members that haven’t seen each other in awhile.

In my advent posts I haven’t been so good at following the traditional advent format (Peace, Hope, Joy, Love) but this post is about advent peace. Peace is sometimes hard to find at Christmas. Stores are busier, we are busier, and it is all too easy to forget about Peace. I frequently remember as a child my mother declaring that the only Christmas present she wanted was for us children to just get along for once. We hear about peace in Christmas songs, and read about peace in stories and on Christmas cards. But something about that version of peace is too syrupy sweet and unrealistic. It sounds nice in stories but in reality I think it might be a bit fake.

  

I remember one year I spent a lot of time and effort to cultivate that Christmas card-type “peace” in my family. I thought it meant evenings spent around a beautifully decorated tree, or advent wreath, singing songs, reading stories etc. My intentions were noble but the reality was much less idyllic. Siblings were grouchy, Christmas tree lights got tangled, and eyes strained trying to read stories by candlelight. The result brought a whole new meaning to when Jesus said he came, “ to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law…” (Matthew 10:35)

There is no magical formula for Christmas peace. But I have a feeling it might involve a bit of smiling through family photo shoots and settling for Chinese food instead of turkey. Today I bring you the song “Just for Now” by Imogen Heap. I love the way she captures both sides of the holiday experience. Enjoy!

Since Advent is also the time of anxious waiting for the (second) coming of Christ we can also anticipate the Peace that will come. For anyone who has read Revelations it is clear that kind of peace wouldn’t fit on a Christmas card either- plagues, wars, bloodshed, tears and violence abound but at the end there is a city, and a river and a tree whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, and there will no longer be any curse, and the Spirit and the Bride say “Come!”