Cultivating Wonder

Stradavari's Genius

It's been awhile since I've posted much of anything... We'll chalk that up to the fact that my second worksample is due on Wednesday.  Needless to say one needs a break once in awhile from the endless thoughts about electricity and magnetism.

For me one those breaks recently took the form of reading "Stradavari's Genius" by Tony Faber.  My new passion for the violin (or in my case the fiddle... they are really the same but the folks say that the difference is if you play an instrument where beer is served it's a fiddle) brought me to this book.  I was hoping for a beautiful coffee table book with players and instruments from all around the world... which doesn't exist.  Fortunately this was peeking out from the shelves.  It tells the story of four fiddles and one cello built by Antonio Stradavari, the man believed to be the worlds best violin maker.  As far as anyone can say nobody has ever built as beautiful a sounding instrument and his secrets went with him when he died in the 1700's.  I loved that this had enough data (the specifics of instruments) and story (the history of the hands that played them) that I could get into both.  It can be difficult for me to read technical data without story and 'get into it'.  I also find it frustrating that there aren't enough stories such as this!

All-in-all a great and enjoyable read, especially if you have a new obsession with the fiddle.

First Recital!

Today I had my very first fiddle recital.  I played "Irish Washerwoman", which I practiced relentlessly considering during these last few weeks I've been pounding away at graduate school work... quite literally.  Its been grueling.

The recital went quite well and my parents were very cute.  I kept hearing stories from my mom...  Mom:  "My daughter has her first violin recital this week."  Mom's friends:  "Oh really, how old is she?"  Mom: "She's 27."  Mom's friends: "Oh, huh."  It was nice seeing everyone else give it a shot and to have someone with a guitar there to back me up, although I didn't really get to hear it because I was concentrating.

Unfortunately I feel the first hints of being sick, and I think I'm running a fever now.  Ack!

Celtic Fiddle Festival

Last week I sent a message to all my family members about the Celtic Fiddle Festival.  I was soliciting a date for the concert (being as it's been a long while since I had a real date - but we won't go into that).  It turns out that all five of them (my mom, dad, brother, sister, and sister's beau) said yes and came.  This is the second year that Molly and I have gone and it is wildly fun.  Seeing this concert was one of the large contributers to me finally getting around to actually learning how to play, though, I didn't know it at the time.  This year I noticed much more about the individuality of each player, how they used their respective bows, fingering, posture, style... I was relieved to hear that the music wasn't "perfect" and that some things I might judge myself on as being "mistakes" are just a part of the style and to be expected and loved.  I am going to learn to love my mistakes.  It's my mantra of the week.  Needless to say it was awesome and I brought five dates!

Getting Out to Music

Last night I had one of my favorite couples, Crystal and Joe, over to dinner and out to a show.

I spent a large part of the afternoon putting my little apartment together and concocting a wonderful Thai curry dish with the help of recipes and some already concocted sauce mix.  In the last 5 months my apartment has become a home and not just habitation.  Two years in the same home, my own home to myself, and it has become a reflection of me.  A beautiful reflection.

We then went out to see a wonderful sleepy country/folk band called Hem at the Doug Fir.  I realized several things, being as I am out of practice on going to concerts.  1) Arrive early to get seats.  If 1 doesn't work 2) arrive late to save tired feet.  3) Bring a water bottle and lots of patience.

Hem was stunning.  The Doug Fir is an amazing venue and it's smoke free which makes my little heart go pitter-patter.  I heard a rumor that even the pillows in the hotel are log shaped.

My New Friend

Last week I bought a metronome.  Marilee (my instructor) advised me to get one and I did.  I then spent a week staring at it, occasionally turning it on, and generally having train wrecks when I attempted to get my fiddle to talk to the metronome.  Lets say they didn't hit it off at first.  We decided to go back to square one.

I've been doing things like playing open strings on the beat, two notes per beat, three notes per beat, and mixing it up a bit.  This practice has me just standing there tapping my foot in the pattern I want before attempting to introduce my wiley cheap fiberglass bow to the instrument.

It all started to click yesterday.  I'm learning "Turkey in the Straw."  I have been learning it for weeks, but it still needs incredible work.  Last night my metronome, fiddle and I started to groove.  It was an incredibly meditative experience and before I knew it I looked up and an hour had gone by.  Incredible.  I look forward to more fun with my new friend.

Humans are Curious Creatures

The past couple of nights I've been checking out the Portland scene of Old Time Music.  It started by taking a class on Wednesday night, which led to a list of jam parties in Portland (I had no idea what exactly a jam party was, but I get the gist now) and a concert last night.

People are strange things.  I've never seen so many pairs of Carhart overalls, long beards, layered skirts with hand-knit legwarmers, wool flannel shirts, striped caps, and wooden clogs in my life...  In the middle of Portland proper.  I felt like an invisible alien.  There are many subcultures in this city and they often feel isolating and cliquey.  Wearing my odd assortment of ancient Danskos, Gap Jeans, some cotton sweater I got at Meier and Frank, down vest, and REI bicycle bag I felt totally "uncool".  Immediately the teenage thoughts of "I have to look like them" crept in and then I thought again.  Why would I want to change who I am to fit in with a subculture of people I don't even know?

I collect things from all over the place and must admit that I don't really subscribe to any store or designer as long as it is a) comfortable, b) layerable, c) some kind of natural fiber, d) hopefully somewhat eco-concious, e) on sale, f) of good quality, g) goes with stuff I own, or h) looks good on me.  This means that I shop at places like Goodwill, The Gap, Nordtrom, Meier and Frank, Old Navy, all the organic clothing stores, Buffalo Exchange, Fred Meyer, and REI.  I also love handmade things but can't usually afford them (though I splurge occasionally).  I don't think it's any less expensive to pull off an "old time" look, and probably more time consuming.

I'm very excited to be learning the fiddle, and I love getting as close as possible to any type of folk music.  I am who I am, and I don't want to change that person for entrance into a clique of people I don't know... so for now I'll hover on the outside.

Help! I'm Lost!

I've been learning to play my fiddle for over a month now and part of me would like to get out of my little apartment and interact with other musicians.  I saw a posting for a group class for fiddlers on Artichoke Music so I tthough I'd give it a try.

Boy was I lost!  I could pick up a couple of short phrases here and there, but my little brain was overwhelmed.  It's a complicated thing this fiddling stuff and when you add complicated bowing in with complicated fingering and changing keys all at once I sunk.  So, when I got completely lost I just sat back and listened.

The music was beautiful.  Every time I hear fiddle music my love of stringed instruments and folk music is renewed.  I'm really glad I'm learning the fiddle, and I have a long way to go, which is AOK.

Being a Beginner

There is a new sound eminating from the belly of my apartment.  It's loud and squawky.  At this point I'm not altogether too happy with the sound, but I'm a beginner again, or always, depending on how I think about it.  There's some danger in having as many varied interests as I do... its hard to settle on anything for very long...  I'm planning on keeping this one for as long as possible.

Yesterday I took my first fiddle lesson.  This year, due to graduate school, has been intensely literary and my usual creative outlets of journaling or art haven't been satisfying.  I've been fascinated with fiddle music and it dawned on my that I'm not too old to learn!  I always want to be learning and luckily I always will be.

However, today I am visiting the music store to purchase a small rubber implement for my violin called a mute.  I figured that the neighbors might appreciate the purchase, at least until I get significantly better.