lesson 45

Stop.. rewind.. play..

There is a bigger picture to keep in mind.. i’m told everything is on track..

Scales
G Major – I position – 2 octaves
C# Major - III position starting with 2nd finger – 2 octaves

Maestro assures me, ‘The assault on His fine musical ears’* also known as K9 as played by me, for it is this bad.. (*mind you these are my words not His) is really not that bad!
He no longer has to imagine the sound of this piece for it now bears some semblance to how it should sound, instead of the indistinguishable blur of notes it was when i played it initially – this gives me some hope.

It is suggested i record myself once a week so notable improvements can be perceived by me this will provide some positive encouragement.

Also rather than push through the sections we have covered it is suggested to take the notes grouped in each slur and practice these separately with a break between – excellent.

As for my fingers and hand cramping, this is all very normal for these muscles have never moved in this way before are now being exercised and developed.

We review Primavera and add a few more bars to the practice session.
Note the definition of 'mordent' in the top image as given by Maestro.. i had to beg him for he was reluctant to write it in pencil above the musical notation, as it made me laugh so.. for a good deal of humour is required for learning the violin, so i'm told.

List A No 1. AMBE Second Grade, Cantabile (Jean Baptiste) Charles Dancla (1817 - 1907) edited Samuel Applebaum , was requested and as i had not practiced this for a long time stood there shocked.
To my surprise it wasn’t nearly as difficult as i imagined.
Running commentary in my head as i play – ‘gee, the Kreutzer is doing its job’.
My finger flexibility, reach and strength particularly with the 4th was very much noted by me.
I am asked to start infusing some musicality within this piece.. phrasing, dynamics, expression, sensitivity, in other words looking at making it artistically expressive.. most importantly of all - breathe!

_________________
donna con il violino blu

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 44

A call for help via sms..

Today i had thoughts about cancelling tomorrows lesson, as my brain has turned to mush and i am not making sense of anything that was covered last week.

I've reached info overload and my fingers just aren’t working.. they cramp and are hurting for all the tension i am carrying in them whilst trying to make the notes for the K9 and K13.
I will also confess that through my frustration, from not feeling the tips of my fingers anymore, i actually cut out with cuticle scissors the calluses i have from all the practice.. so now i also have pain in the pads of my fingers where the calluses used to be!
Have no pity for this is self inflicted!

It was far from an ideal week regarding practice, and only few in my circle would know that my health and emotional state this week hampered my efforts in spending and dedicating the adequate time i feel to sounding the violin.
Despite this added challenge i do believe i have tried my best.

So the s.o.s sms went out to you know who, who then called and reassured me that all will be fine..

I know that missing lesson tomorrow will only compound matters with not grasping what was covered last week.. and really i am desperate to have a lesson reviewing everything over again.
It’s frustrating because i know i am giving this my all.

i am quite depressed over it
i am told this is normal - not the cutting out of calluses part though, for this was not mentioned in conversation but perhaps tomorrow will have to fess up!
i hope that tomorrow brings some clarity.

Thank you so much Vov for calling and setting my mind to rest, see you tomorrow.

_________________
donna con il violino blu

ps.. apologies if i have grossed anyone out for i am usually quite refined.

 

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

my embrace will keep you safe

series of self portraits
in sepia with text overlay


photo taken
11 April, 2010

All photo portraits of donna con il violino blu are self taken
utilizing remote shutter controls and tripod where necessary.

Photography sustains my creative expression together with writing and painting when energy permits.
They are part of my artistic journey.

Sharing a great deal of myself here through different mediums under this thread of music
 is also a journey which i will weave into this fabric that ultimately forms me and it will stand as a record.
Some time ago i wrote the words below which i guess best describes why i am at times driven..
__________

These images along with my artworks

are some of the many strands woven together

 that make up the cloth of my life so far.

Sometimes these strands are knotted, frayed and come undone,

some are like silken threads which glint in the sun.

i am not a writer..

i am not a photographer..

i am simply being me

i do not know how to be another.

perugina

_________

'my embrace will keep you safe' words & photography © 2010 patricia vannucci
creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

this photograph was featured in
The Woman Photographer Group
Redbubble
27/04/2010

lesson 44

I’m told to breathe, for it is VERY early days..

Developing muscles that have never moved in this way, hence the Kreutzer études will provide some training to hone this fine motor skill in my left hand so that it will become nibble-fingered and therefore fluent in playing.

Much like how physical exercise trains the body, the Kreutzer if my understanding is correct, is a fitness exercise for fingers and hand.
Start slow and build up gradually is the advice.

Unlike the K2, numbers K13 and K9 posses a new level of complexity with regard to finger movement.
I should not expect to make giant leaps forward and herein lays the frustration.

I’m somewhat like a toddler learning to develop a new skill in body to eventually become upwardly mobile. This toddler in violin, is trapped however in the mind of an already developed and demanding adult wanting and expecting to move fast forward – it seems this is an exercise in patience also.

In speaking with fellow beginner Sergio concerning progress, as we are older beginning students.. we are both discouraged at the moment for differing reasons, however this common underlying theme, one of wanting to perceive significant advancement, improvement and steps forward in learning violin is frustrating.
In support, i stressed to him that each time you pick up the instrument you make progress, however little it may be, be assured it is a step forward.. i’d best remind myself of this also.

Each time i face the music (ha!), i’m reminded of how poor i am at reading it.
Suggestions are made that i start looking at musical notation and saying/verbalising out loud the notes on the page. Relying on my hearing for the melody per se is not going to help me long term rather i should use this as a corrective tool to adjust pitch.
Naming notes ad alta voce as i play the scales, using the terms flat, sharp and natural will reinforce notes and scale structure also.
As painful as it is to admit - i know this and it is all wonderful advice thanks to Maestro adding here that i do trust in what he says.

We make a start on the long term project - Vivaldi Spring. I do like this method of approaching it in sections, the idea being to piece it together in its entirety when the time comes.

Also.. Maestro finally discovers my blog!
He tells me that perhaps he should not sit back in his chair and cross his legs to listen to me play for he reads it makes me anxious!
Not all of what transpires during lesson will be written here, but the majority of it will be. So if you are reading this now (ahem..) be warned.. hehe

The day before last during the practice of K9, i broke down and cried.. for my 3rd & 4th fingers would not move.. they cramped.. the sound was muffled.. not on pitch.. my mind set was negative but i still persisted.

I’m glad i've managed to write about lesson 44 today, i look upon this as a positive, for there has been much negative in recent days.

________________
donna con il violino blu

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

lacrimosa

tearful

aka

lotta

struggle

watercolour on
hand torn arches paper
300 gsm cp fine

17×38 cm
______

sometimes we can only speak through music

HERE

'lacrimosa'
perugina art © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 44

What was it that i wrote in the side bar of this blog..?

I believe it went something like this...

"...it will be recorded here.. good, bad, struggle, triumph, laughter, tears.. with or without inspiration etc.."

No talk of lesson here tonight.. rather i feel i struggle alone at present..

Perhaps after i collect myself, my thoughts, my emotions.. i will be able to write a little more in the next few days.

Nothing to do with lesson specifically and the work, for i enjoy lessons, and know without the hard work dedicating time to this, gains will not be made. I look forward to inching my way towards making a decent sound one day on the violin.. i at least owe it to the beautiful instrument(s) i have in my possession.. and also the faith that one person particularly has placed in me to have passed on his personal violin into my care..

Yes.. it will be recorded here..

and tonight

because i feel this loneliness

my shortcomings re music

and other human failings are being amplified

i feel i'm in an emotional trough

i feel i struggle alone

_____________
donna con il violino blu

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

______________________

my blue violin my heart

i have you here
in my keep
you will never be harmed
rest assured
you will never be alone
this you can trust
you will always remain close
for you are
my heart

my blue violin
has also found me
shhh..
i love you

__
written
14 April, 2010

____________
donna con il violino blu
series of b&w self portraits
with colour focal
photo taken
11 April, 2010

'my blue violin my heart' words & photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 43

harmonic minor scales.. Kreutzer continues.. and a major project..

Lessons forge ahead being an hour in length.

I have been waiting with patience and eagerness to jump into the minor scales which Maestro describes as the ‘dark side’ – oh goody!
I am naturally drawn and pulled toward this sound of music in minor keys and love the emotion they can convey/carry.
So today i experienced playing A Harmonic Minor 2 octaves.

Kreutzer 2 was performed senza musica – without the sheet music (much to his amazement) as i have committed it to memory for all the practice i have done.
Maestro was pretty pleased with my progress despite it being somewhat of a nervous performance for i am still very anxious to play before him.. especially when he sits back in his chair and crosses his legs to listen.
I stressed that i have worked very hard on this to which he replied – ‘it shows’! Mind you, it still sounds a bit like a car crash particularly towards the end with string crossings at this fast tempo and believe me.. it is far from being perfect, he seems pleased however and is happy to have it settle - for he reassures me it will, as i gain confidence and experience.
To my surprise he tells me that my position shifts are fine, what i am struggling with are the notes in first position and i should take care with these.. it’s that dreaded short fourth finger combined ‘death grip’ – merda!

So now we embark on Kreutzer 9 and 13.. i’m keen and he knows this and is therefore pushing forward.

No 9 will reinforce long bows (as we have been practicing with scales) and finger strengthening particularly the 3rd and 4th fingers.

No 13 was kindly demonstrated by him and although difficult, it sounds Heavenly and i want to learn to play this pronto – so exciting!

As lesson concluded Maestro printed up some music sheets being very mysterious about what he was giving me.. saying this would be our long term project.. and although getting the sheets today i am not to try anything (he knows me well) as he will be tackling it in sections with me.
As the printer spat out the 8 pages i had to wait for the last page to be printed when the title of this ‘project’ was finally made known..

La Primavera – Spring
Il Cimento dell’ Armonia e dell’ Inventione – Concerto I
Antonio Vivaldi

I feel so encouraged.. and i am very willing at present to put in the hard work required to realise this dream to play the violin.

_______________
donna con il violino blu

donna con il violino blu

series of b&w self portraits

with colour focal
photo taken
11 April, 2010
__

creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu

lady with the blue violin

series of self portraits with the blue violin

___________

this violin is not a concert violin
it does not have a fancy name or title
it is not prestigious
it does not posses a virtuous voice
but it still has
a heart
and within its body
its heart just wants to be loved

________

il violino blu
is somewhat like me

photo taken
11 April, 2010

__

creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

voce dal cielo in alto

voice from heaven above

series of self portraits
in sepia

___
violin

copy of Stradivarius 'Soil' 1714
an antique violin made by Italian luthier
Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (1644-1737).
by
Scott Cao & S.C.Guan
Artistic Series Handmade Instrument
Xw Qai Wu

formerly owned by
Vov Dylan


photo taken
25 February, 2010
photo location
Sunset Beach, Soldiers Point NSWcreative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

lesson 42

My programme regarding violin..

is one where Maestro is trying to expose me to as much as possible within the whole picture of what it is to play the violin.
Then we will come back and tune, tune, tune and fine tune.

I remember asking him from the very beginning to adopt this ‘fast track’ approach with me and he feels that now he has come to know me, this is the best way, as i already come to violin with some very basic musical knowledge.. and i stress BASIC particularly with reading music.

I would rather work out a piece by ear than to labour over reading notes – for it is indeed this.. labouring!

Today i confessed that when i first looked at all the notes crammed together on the page of the Kreutzer 2.. it looked like gibberish, and somehow my brain blocks out the musical notation and refuses to make sense of it.
I do wish to be able to read music as easily as i read writing on a page, and to have that same instant recognition would be quite something i imagine. This however has always been a struggle for me as a child learning the piano and even today and something i fear i will not be able to master.

Anyway.. we touched on this sore topic, (my inability to read music) which i term ‘the wall’, and Maestro can read my face when this area of music is broached, and senses greatly that i have issues with this and therefore states he tries to keep the theoritical side of things to a bare minimum, for he knows i want to enjoy my experience with learning the violin and do not want it to be a repeat performance of the distaster that it was to learn the piano. It seems however there is no avoiding it now .. this is then followed closely by another term i often use for relieving frustration.. merda!Past negative experiences with learning music as a child has done much to discourage me in understanding music structure and theory, obviously i will have to muster much determination to breakthrough this ‘wall’ if i am to fully enjoy the playing/journey in mastering this instrument.

Today there was more work on the K 2 to iron out the kinks, particularly the last remaining bars, as well as sharing in the excitement of Maestro’s new bow.. a copy of a Sartory – he handed me the stick so i could have a test drive while i played the K 2.
Even as a beginner i could feel how beautifully balanced this bow was from frog to tip and how light it was in my hand.
I later sms’d him saying that i was suffering Bow Envy… to which he replied that somewhere out there is a bow waiting for me and that he will help me find one when i say “let’s get one”.

The Kreutzer 2 will now be practiced until the ears of those within range bleed.. i offer to them my sincere apologies… not!

Maestro has asked me to bring in Kreutzer 9 – for we will start working on this next week.
As always i ask him to demonstrate so i can prepare for what is ahead. Getting him to do this can be a struggle.. in plain terms i state, it’s my money and you will do as i ask… he pretends to look shocked – ha!

Seriously.. i so value and appreciate the time he takes in sharing and expressing his passion for what he does, it is infectious and lessons always run overtime as we chat about all things violin!

_____________________

I searched some images of bows and came across this one with the Fleur-de-Lys on the frog which i thought very beautiful.

I have always been drawn to this symbol, perhaps i should consider looking into a bow like this.

Maestro also suggested that my playing style, from what he can tell would perhaps have me more suited to a French style bow.

Well this is all food for thought.. for now anyway.

Violin Bow

Berg Bows

Tourte-Viorin model in ebony with gold Fleur-de-Lys inlay and ornate gold button

weighing 61.3 grams.

______________

This bow was commissioned by Chyn-Jen Liou of Taipei, Taiwan.

Mr. Liou has performed with several U.S. and Taiwan orchestras for over 20 years.
This is the second Berg bow purchased by this valued artist.

___________________

donna con il violino blu

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci

without you

donna con il violino blu
lady with the blue violin
series of self portraits
in sepia

_____
violin

copy of Stradivarius 'Soil' 1714
an antique violin made by Italian luthier
Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (1644-1737).
by
Scott Cao & S.C.Guan
Artistic Series Handmade Instrument
Xw Qai Wu

formerly owned by
Vov Dylan


photo taken
25 February, 2010
photo location
Sunset Beach, Soldiers Point NSW
__

creative direction patricia vannucci
perugina photography © 2010 patricia vannucci

donna con il violino blu © 2010 patricia vannucci