Posted by fiddlepogo on Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The new strings have inspired more practice. Last night I took the fiddle out to the historic mansion in the middle of town. Someone was on their cell near the Visitor's Center overhang where I normally play, so I parks my rear on edge of the mansion's porch.
It was near 4:00 pm, and I wasn't busking, but just trying to (in the words of an old Joni Mitchell song my girlfriend when I was 18 made me listen to) "play real good for free". Three people seemed to particularly enjoy it, and I invited two of them to the jams at the cafe I host or participate in.
And the fiddle seemed to do particularly well.
This morning I had an unusual morning gig at 11:00. I normally don't do morning gigs, because I don't really wake up till about 1:00 PM!!! But I got out the fiddle before I left, and warmed up on Seneca Square Dance and Turkey in the Straw... and the fiddling portion of the gig went well, better than usual.
Maybe partly because I was in an upbeat mood for a change, even though I wasn't thoroughly awake!!! Seems like a lighter mood results in lighter bowing... at least it feels that way.
I modified my mic stand setup... I had been using a gooseneck for the top mic, but the long goosenecks throw the stand too far out of balance, and the short gooseneck didn't extend as far as the guitar level mic mount, forcing me to lean forward.
I needed a short boom, but the only ones I saw were expensive. Finally a tripod stand with a small boom showed up on sale for about $20, and I snagged it.... MUCH BETTER!!!
Much more accurate adjustment possibilities, and it doesn't CREAK when I adjust it!
Another thing I've noticed. The carbon fiber LaSalle bow I bought some time ago has someone gotten seasoned, so it doesn't now require nearly as much rosin... more and more, I find myself forgetting to rosin, because it's feeling just fine without it. That wasn't the case when it was new.
The new K. Holtz is reminding me of that... I like the feel, but boy does it crave rosin!!!
It may seem silly, but on the way to the mansion, stopping to do banking and at a cafe, I felt conspicuous walking with a violin case. And I REALLY don't want to be mistaken for a violinist. Just a thing I have! Of course, a 58 year old with a student violin case doesn't really look like the violinist stereotype (they usually have expensive looking rectangular cases), but just to make sure, I bought some stick-on letters to label one side of the case:
"This is a fiddle!!!"
And I'm going to look for some different letters, bigger ones to just say
"Fiddler" on the other side.
I almost put "Old Time Music" on the other side, but I'd already used up both "D"s for "Fiddle"!!!
2 comments on “Fiddling more and enjoying it... MORE!!!”
Cyndy Says:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 @7:11:04 PM
When I carry my case I'm often asked, "Is that a violin?" and I'm quick to reply (proudly, I might add), "No. It's a fiddle!" The funny times are when I hear moms and kids talking about my "guitar." LOVE your stick-on-letters idea.
tsaimichael Says:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 @9:23:27 PM
Great story. Keep on fiddling!
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
