Recorder Boogie

Today during recorder rehearsal, we played a blues piece that everyone enjoyed, so when I came home, I wondered if any of the 3 jazz pieces I'd written for string orchestra would translate to recorder group.  I looked at my Hershey Bar Rag and Sneakin' Around, but there were parts that I knew would not work.  Then I looked at my Low 1 Boogie, and I thought it might just do the trick.  After transferring the parts over  and seeing where the parts were too high or low and adjusting a few other details, I sent it off to the Village Pipers.

I changed the name to just Boogie since low 1 refers to a finger position for strings - in this case a Bb.

We'll see if this one works, and then I might be tempted to write and arrange other music for this group.

The Teaching of Action in String Playing

Upon the recommendation of Wendy, my friend who is being trained in the Alexander Method, I purchased the Paul Rolland DVD of teaching string players.  I started watching it today, and I see where it is a wealth of information.  My buddy, Pat, will unearth her manual that accompanies the video, and I will have a new arsenal of information for beginning my string students in October.  I am excited!

Trying Tenor

I've played a few times this summer with the Village Pipers, and today we pulled out a piece of music that didn't have a soprano part, so Sandy loaned me her tenor which has the same fingerings as the soprano.  So, while I could read the music, I had a hard time knowing just where my fingers were since they were not only stretched out farther, but there are also these extra things which fit over the holes for certain fingers for ease of playing, but I was just not used to it.

However, it was fun to play, and if one magically appeared at my house, I would probably spend some time with it.....

Alexander Technique Again

Today I had a private lesson with Wendy using the Alexander Technique with two purposes.  First, I wanted to learn ways to help students begin learning how to hold their instrument the right way from the get-go.  Secondly, I wanted help with my own viola playing.  An hour is not nearly long enough, and yet, that's still so much information to try to remember.

Next Gospel Arrangement

Today I finished Ain't Got Time to Die for string quartet. I'm not sure what I'm going to work on next - a string quartet with recorders, something for elementary string orchestra, an arrangement, something original?

Time for Arranging

With the slow summer schedule, I've had time to arrange more music.  Our string quartet is playing for church in August, and that gives me a good excuse to continue working on my gospel songs.  This week I finished Angel Band and have started on Ain't Got Time To Die.  Soon I will have a critical mass of such arrangements, and perhaps it will be time for me to see if they can be published - as quartets as well as trios.

Celtic Bowing

Since I have been working on Celtic tunes on the violin, I think I have some of the ornamentation down.  I've learned to flick my left-hand fingertips quickly to get the desired sound.  Now I am watching lots of videos on youtube to try to get the bowing style down.  The faster stuff seems to be in the upper half of the bow.  Now if only I could play as fast as some of those fiddlers!