Me and my violin were like married couples .
The husband doesn’t really understand everything the wife says and the wife doesn’t understand the husband. All that binds them together is the love , care and effort they put into the relationship.
My relationship with the violin was no different. I am madly in love with my violin and seems like I will always be. This was the driving force that led me to keep pursuing music.
Over the past 15years I have had 6+ instructors teaching me the same thing over and over again, each one in their own style.
Several times my relationship with my violin fell apart due to various reasons. But all I knew at the end of it was to go back to it. To love it more.
In my perseverance, I have learnt from several of my mistakes and realised that it is not just about remembering the notes.
Here are a few things that I learnt from my mistakes.
The first time my teacher told me that I need to sing.
I was scandalised !!! What is she thinking !!!
I know I am not as melodious as a nightingale , nor do I have a sweet voice like the cuckoo bird. But as it dawned on me later on, we are not just playing the notes on the violin. It is the song. To be able to play the song as beautifully as it was composed, you need to know the song.
What better way than to learn to sign. The sweetness or lack of the same in your voice doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you remember the right song in the right way.
Don’t shy away from singing.
Violin is surely one of the most difficult instruments to play . I am saying one of the most since everything starts difficult. You just need to conquer it.
Don’t stop playing if it doesn’t sound right at the moment. All you need is a little practice.
If the sound still bothers you and you feel embarrassed about others over hearing your practice sessions and making fun of you – buy a mute and place it on the bride before you start.
No one will be able to hear the wailings now.
Remembering the notes of each song will help you play all the different speeds easily.
Having difficulty remembering them, there is a shortcut to it. Look at your book and play a couple of times. You will surely start to remember the notes without reference soon enough.
Practice sure makes a (wo)man perfect.
If you are learning Carnatic music like I am , it sure helps to remember the arohanam and avarohanam of each of the ragas.
This will help you achieve the right tone for your geetham. You will never wonder if it is Shuddha Rishabam, Chatushruti Rishabam and Shatshruti Rishabam or if this shuddha nishadam, kaishiki nishadam or kakali nishadam.
You will know it cause you know the scale.
Love your violin and it will surely love you back. And don’t ever give up on your violin.
Thank you for reading.
In case you liked the article, you may want to check out a few violin care tips here .
Blabbering Me 