To Rent or to Buy

Many students ask this question when they are first starting out, and continue to ask it throughout their playing.  The answer is simple, yet different for every student.

When renting an instrument, you pay a monthly fee for use of an instrument.  Included in your use, however, is care of the instrument.  If you break a string, need your bow rehaired, drop your instrument and break your bridge, or even run it over with your car, the dealer will usually repair or replace the instrument for free.

Renting is especially sensible for young students who are constantly growing.  If you buy an instrument, you have to buy a new instrument, and sell your old one, every time your student outgrows their instrument, which can be frequently.  If you rent, all that is needed is a quick trip into the dealer, who will size the student, and switch your instrument for one of an appropriate size.  Sometimes, this will cause a monthly fee to change, but not by more than a couple dollars.

If you are a beginner, there is no real need for a very expensive violin until you gain more experience.  However, after a few months to a couple years, a better instrument will be needed.  If you are renting, this exchange is easy.  You visit the dealer, tell them you want a better violin, and they may let you try a couple to make sure you like the one you end up with, then they do the exchange of instruments.  Again, your monthly fee may be affected, but not by much.  If you own your instrument and decide to upgrade, you have to buy a new instrument, and sell your old one.

The final benefit of renting comes when it is time to buy an instrument.  Most dealers will allow part or all of the monthly rent you have paid to go toward purchasing a new (or used) instrument from them.  And this could be the instrument you're renting, or one of a higher quality.  So you're not just "throwing money away" when you are renting.

All that being said, owning your own instrument has its perks, too, especially for the advanced player.  If allows you to get repairs done where you want them, you can choose the strings that are put on the instrument, and once you have paid off the instrument, you have only maintenance to pay for.

I recommend my beginners to start by renting an instrument, and after a little while to buy an instrument of a better quality.  When buying an instrument, you should always play it to make sure you like it.  It's going to be your instrument, and only you can decide if you'll actually enjoy playing it.  This is why I recommend beginners to start with renting, but the decision is yours to make.

A New Tip from Strings

I subscribe to Strings, which is an AWESOME magazine about stringed instruments, how to play them, buy them, repair them, and more.  In fact, I'm still working on reading the first issue I got, and I have another after that to read!  However, with my subscription, I get regular emails from them, and sometimes they have some really good information in them.

Here is a link to a nice article on orchestra etiquette.  While I've been playing in orchestras for years, rehearsal etiquette is rather automatic for me.  So to all of you who have not had years of orchestra experience, here's some tips.

In addition to what the article says, I'd like to mention a few more points:

1)  Hats and sunglasses off during rehearsal.  It's not only rude and disrespectful, but it doesn't let the conductor see your eyes, which he or she needs occasionally.

2)   Always arrive at least 15 minutes early.  This gives you the opportunity to get your instrument and music out, set up your stand, make sure you have a pencil ready, get tuned, and start warming up.  You can use the time before rehearsal starts to work on a tricky passage here or there, which is that much less practicing you have to do at home.

3)   Plan to attend EVERY rehearsal.  Every member of an orchestra, no matter what their part or seat, is vital for the entire group.  Nothing is worse then having to rehearse passages several times over the course of several weeks because not everyone shows up.  So show respect to your conductor, your fellow musicians, and most importantly to yourself, and attend every rehearsal.

Now that you know some basic orchestra etiquette, it's time to start thinking about what orchestra you'd like to play in!  The Tacoma Youth Symphony Association has auditions in August, with rehearsals starting in September.  The Plateau Community Orchestra (in Enumclaw) will be starting again in the Fall, as will our own studio orchestra, the South Hill Chamber Orchestra.

Happy Playing!

A Startling Discovery

Today I had an unexpected break, and I've been needing to pick up a theory book for a student.  So I headed over to Ted Brown Music to kill some time and pick up the book.  I also love looking around music stores - there's some great ideas, great feel of the place, and who doesn't love music?

However, I received a bit of a shock when I walked in.  The Ted Brown store in Tacoma has had a Pepper's Music in the back of their store.  I have to admit, I love Pepper's.  I can browse their music for hours - they're as good as a book store.  I love looking around their orchestra music section for new ideas for the South Hill Chamber Orchestra, browsing the violin/viola/cello music, both fun music and different method books, and looking at different quartet music.  Music stores are great fun, and I can spend as many hours in them as I can in a book store.

So imagine my shock when I walked in to Ted Brown, and found no Pepper's!  I talked to an employee, and they said that on Saturday Pepper's moved to a location in Kent.  Rest assured, though, the Tacoma Ted Brown is starting to get music, and they're getting more every day.

Enjoy!
Ashley

Alternate String Instruments

I started playing violin when I was 7, and violin was always my instrument.  I started playing a wind instrument in middle school because my school didn't offer an orchestra, but that was always a side thing.  When people asked me what musical instrument I played, the answer was always "violin".  I never had any interest in anything else.

Now that I'm teaching, I've had requests to teach viola.  I warned them that I was really a violinist, but the two instruments were similar enough that I should be able to teach them something.  And WOW, what a COOL instrument!  Totally undervalued.  The first time I ever played a viola, it was to tune my first viola student's instrument.  And that C string can VIBRATE!  I could feel the instrument vibrating under my chin!  I've tried to do that with my violin, and there's just no comparison.

So now, a few viola students later, I have finally bought my very first viola.  And I have to say, I'm enjoying it immensely.  Some of my old favorites on violin are even cooler on viola.  Such a deep, rich sound, and so much sound!  I can produce a lot more volume on my brand new viola than I can on my old, very nice violin.

I've recently gotten several requests for cello lessons.  I sadly informed them that I had never played the cello, and really didn't know the first thing about it.  Did I know of any cello teachers?  I looked.  Everywhere.  And made a startling discovery:  I can't find a single cello teacher in the Puyallup area.  I've even looked into bringing in another teacher into the studio specifically to teach the cello, but there is not one to be found.

So, I bought a cello.  Watched a bunch of online videos, including one very helpful one for violin players converting.  Bought the Suzuki books and tapes, and started to realize, hey, this is great!  This big instrument (which, I have to admit, is a HUGE pain to lug around!) seems a bit more intuitive to learn than the violin, and has a really nice sound.

The moral of the story:  if you haven't ever tried another instrument, maybe you should.  You might be surprised at what you discover - a whole world of possibilities.

Happy Playing!

Practice Tip #1: The hardest part about practicing . . .

. . . is getting out your instrument!  For most people, once they have their instrument out, practicing is easy.  It's getting that instrument out.  So set aside a time that works for you, that you will play every day.  Maybe it's before or after dinner, immediately after you get home from school, first thing in the morning.  If you have chores you have to do daily, maybe play after you're done with your chores.  But this is a great daily habit to build!

Once you get your instrument out, reward yourself for it.  Play something fun, that you enjoy playing, before working on the hard stuff.  Not only is it a good warm up for you, but it will make it easier to get your instrument out the next day.  Then, buckle down to the hard stuff.  Scales, etudes, shifting and double stop exercises, and sight reading are often the hardest to get done because they challenge our brain and our patience.  Next, pick apart the hard parts of your current solo and orchestra pieces.

Finally, reward yourself for getting all the hard stuff done by having fun!  Play through your solo or orchestra parts, review old pieces that are easy and fun to play, and most importantly, play music you enjoy.  That's why we all play music - for fun.  All the hard stuff we work on makes us better players, which in turn makes music more enjoyable for us, but in the end, it's about enjoying your music.  So whatever kind of music you like best, make sure to play some of that on a regular basis.

Happy Practicing!

Summer Concerts

While there generally aren't many classical concerts during the summer season, there are some. Tacoma Community College's Symphony Orchestra performs every year in the beginning of August. This years' performance will be Saturday, August 7th at 11am. The plans are to hold it outside on campus, but last year it was so hot we played in the auditorium. But in any case, it's a great opportunity to see a FREE (yes, I said FREE), great symphony orchestra perform some classics. Bring your family, even your young children, a picnic lunch, and enjoy Tchaikovsky's 2nd Symphony this year.

In addition, there's TONS of outdoor festivals, often complete with a wide variety of music. Take advantage of these opportunities! Go, hear and see some great music, and let it inspire you in your own music-making.