Two years ago, my boyfriend took me to see the Seattle Symphony perform Vivaldi's Four Seasons for my birthday. I still rave about it. It was an amazing experience that was inspirational, motivating, captivating . . . you get the idea. Part of the reason it was so cool was because as a violinist, I've played most of the violin parts in it. Solo parts, first violin parts, second violin parts, for all three movements of all four pieces. So it was like getting a lesson or master class.
Watching other people perform can be a great learning experience. You can see and hear different ways of playing and performing, see different techniques in action, and experience someone else's interpretation of a piece. So when you go home afterward, you can try some of these and see how you like them for your playing.
Attending performances is also very motivating. After seeing the Seattle Symphony, I went home with renewed motivation to practice. Two months later, I even managed to get myself a lesson with a local professional violinist in the hopes of auditioning for a professional orchestra. Talk about inspiration! I still draw on my experience at that performance to give myself a motivational boost when I'm feeling uninspired.
The more performances you experience, the more experiences you have to draw on for your own playing. In college, I got to see the Juliard String Quartet perform. I called home to my violin teachers, excitedly telling them about how those old men jumped out of their seats! They were pretty tickled, considering they'd spent my high school years yelling at my orchestra to move together. That was the first time I had been able to really see it in action, and man did it work!
So as you can see, attending a performance can also reinforce something you've been trying to learn in a lesson or orchestra rehearsal. It's the little details, that all added up, make a really fine performance. Being able to see and experience this live is priceless.
I encourage everyone to attend as many performances as they can. We are blessed to live in such a musically active area, and have tons of performance options. I have listed websites of the groups I know about to get you started in your search for your next performance, but I'd also like to invite you to try a free performance. I play with Tacoma Community College's Symphony Orchestra, and would love to see you in the audience! Performances are usually Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm.
Seattle Symphony
Tacoma Symphony Orchestra
Auburn Symphony Orchestra
Northwest Sinfonietta
Rainier Symphony
Federal Way Symphony
Seattle Baroque Orchestra
Orchestra Seattle Chamber Singers (orchestra with choral group)
Olympia Symphony Orchestra
Northwest Symphony Orchestra
Tacoma Philharmonic
Bellevue Philharmonic
Tacoma Youth Symphony Association
Tacoma Opera
Happy Playing!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Travel Tips
Going to Grandma's house for the holidays? Are you taking your instrument? You know she'd love to hear you play. Well, here's some travel tips to make sure your instrument has as enjoyable a trip as you do.
If you're traveling by bus, train, or car, you only need to do the following:
1) Pack your instrument carefully. Your case should be able to withstand the weight of other bags and boxes on top of it, but you don't want your instrument to be knocked around. So place it in a secure location, where it won't get jostled so much.
2) Pack your instrument so it's accessible. Leaving an instrument in the car is not a good idea. So you want it to be easily accessible, so you can take it out if you stop at a hotel for the night. Don't put it on the bottom if you'll be stopping overnight without completely unpacking the car.
3) Keep track of your instrument at all times. This sounds like a no-brainer, but instruments are expensive and it bears repeating. Don't leave your instrument unattended. If traveling by bus or train, insist it goes with you, rather than the rest of your luggage.
4) Keep track of the weather. As I discussed in my last post, the weather can have adverse effects on your instrument. So try to keep it as stable as you can. Don't leave it in the cold, and make sure you have something to control the humidity inside your case. If you're traveling somewhere that has a dry winter from the Pacific NW, your instrument won't be happy in the drier environment.
5) As soon as possible, take your instrument out and inspect it. Check your bridge; it should be almost straight up and down. Look for cracks or open seams. If you're not sure what to look for, ask your teacher before you go. Finally, tune your instrument if you can. It may take a couple days for your instrument to adjust to the new environment, and during that time it will require frequent tuning.
If you're traveling by plane, you'll need to do all of the above, as well as:
6) Before boarding the plane, take your instrument out and look it over. Then tune each string down about a quarter step. If you loosen the strings too much, your bridge and soundpost could fall over. So just about a quarter step; if you're not sure how to do this, make sure you ask your teacher.
7) Insist that your instrument is a carry-on bag. Don't let them put it in as checked baggage. This may mean that it's your only carry-on, but it's necessary. Your instrument may not survive if you put it in checked baggage, despite your best precautions.
You know how your ears pop when you fly? That's because the pressure is changing, which is why you have to loosen your strings before you board. And you're in the pressure-controlled cabin; the change is much, much worse in the baggage cabin.
8) In between flights, take your instrument out and check it over. Check your bridge and soundpost, look for cracks and open seams, and check the tuning. It should still be about a quarter step flat.
9) After you arrive at your destination, take your instrument out again and recheck it. Now is the time to retune it, too. It may take a couple days for your instrument to adjust, so tune before each time you play, even if you wouldn't ordinarily. Also look over your instrument daily for your entire trip. You want to make sure seams or old cracks don't open up.
Don't let this list scare you out of taking your instrument with you. Grandma and Grandpa would really love to hear you play, and the precautions when traveling are really not much more than your daily precautions with your instrument. So pack along some fun music you can play for your family, and enjoy your trip!
Happy Playing!
If you're traveling by bus, train, or car, you only need to do the following:
1) Pack your instrument carefully. Your case should be able to withstand the weight of other bags and boxes on top of it, but you don't want your instrument to be knocked around. So place it in a secure location, where it won't get jostled so much.
2) Pack your instrument so it's accessible. Leaving an instrument in the car is not a good idea. So you want it to be easily accessible, so you can take it out if you stop at a hotel for the night. Don't put it on the bottom if you'll be stopping overnight without completely unpacking the car.
3) Keep track of your instrument at all times. This sounds like a no-brainer, but instruments are expensive and it bears repeating. Don't leave your instrument unattended. If traveling by bus or train, insist it goes with you, rather than the rest of your luggage.
4) Keep track of the weather. As I discussed in my last post, the weather can have adverse effects on your instrument. So try to keep it as stable as you can. Don't leave it in the cold, and make sure you have something to control the humidity inside your case. If you're traveling somewhere that has a dry winter from the Pacific NW, your instrument won't be happy in the drier environment.
5) As soon as possible, take your instrument out and inspect it. Check your bridge; it should be almost straight up and down. Look for cracks or open seams. If you're not sure what to look for, ask your teacher before you go. Finally, tune your instrument if you can. It may take a couple days for your instrument to adjust to the new environment, and during that time it will require frequent tuning.
If you're traveling by plane, you'll need to do all of the above, as well as:
6) Before boarding the plane, take your instrument out and look it over. Then tune each string down about a quarter step. If you loosen the strings too much, your bridge and soundpost could fall over. So just about a quarter step; if you're not sure how to do this, make sure you ask your teacher.
7) Insist that your instrument is a carry-on bag. Don't let them put it in as checked baggage. This may mean that it's your only carry-on, but it's necessary. Your instrument may not survive if you put it in checked baggage, despite your best precautions.
You know how your ears pop when you fly? That's because the pressure is changing, which is why you have to loosen your strings before you board. And you're in the pressure-controlled cabin; the change is much, much worse in the baggage cabin.
8) In between flights, take your instrument out and check it over. Check your bridge and soundpost, look for cracks and open seams, and check the tuning. It should still be about a quarter step flat.
9) After you arrive at your destination, take your instrument out again and recheck it. Now is the time to retune it, too. It may take a couple days for your instrument to adjust, so tune before each time you play, even if you wouldn't ordinarily. Also look over your instrument daily for your entire trip. You want to make sure seams or old cracks don't open up.
Don't let this list scare you out of taking your instrument with you. Grandma and Grandpa would really love to hear you play, and the precautions when traveling are really not much more than your daily precautions with your instrument. So pack along some fun music you can play for your family, and enjoy your trip!
Happy Playing!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Weatherizing Your Instrument
Weatherize an instrument? You bet. Your instrument isn't just a box with a few strings, it's a living being. Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but the weather does affect it. Your instrument is made of wood. Wood responds to changes in humidity, temperature, and even air pressure. This is why your instrument will usually go out of tune every time the weather changes.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we're blessed. We have mild winters, we're relatively humid year round, and even our summers aren't that hot. Perfect stringed instrument climate. However, there are some precautions you should take.
1) Most important is daily maintenance. Every day, before you start playing, check your instrument over. Check the bridge. Does it seem to be in the correct spot? If you look at your instrument from the side, your bridge should lean back ever so slightly. If it's leaning one way or another dramatically, contact your teacher or your luthier ASAP! It can break, but needs to be adjusted by someone who knows what they're doing.
Check for cracks or open seams. Is your fingerboard securely glued on? Not only does the wood respond to changes in weather, the glue does too.
Does your instrument look right? By checking it every day, you'll get used to what is normal and what's not. Then you'll be able to bring any problems to your luthier before they're big problems.
2) Humidity. If you are going to be moving your instrument around a lot, it might be worth it to get a humidity regulator for your case. They're available at most stringed instrument supply stores.
3) Temperature. NEVER leave your instrument in the car! Not only does the chance of theft skyrocket (and most companies don't insure instruments in your car), but changes in temperature can severely damage your instrument. Try to keep it relatively stable, around 60-70F (what most humans are comfortable in) is usually great.
Like I said, winter care for our instruments is pretty easy here in the NW. But a little preventive care can go a long way to extending the life of your instrument. Stay tuned next time for travel tips!
Happy Playing!
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we're blessed. We have mild winters, we're relatively humid year round, and even our summers aren't that hot. Perfect stringed instrument climate. However, there are some precautions you should take.
1) Most important is daily maintenance. Every day, before you start playing, check your instrument over. Check the bridge. Does it seem to be in the correct spot? If you look at your instrument from the side, your bridge should lean back ever so slightly. If it's leaning one way or another dramatically, contact your teacher or your luthier ASAP! It can break, but needs to be adjusted by someone who knows what they're doing.
Check for cracks or open seams. Is your fingerboard securely glued on? Not only does the wood respond to changes in weather, the glue does too.
Does your instrument look right? By checking it every day, you'll get used to what is normal and what's not. Then you'll be able to bring any problems to your luthier before they're big problems.
2) Humidity. If you are going to be moving your instrument around a lot, it might be worth it to get a humidity regulator for your case. They're available at most stringed instrument supply stores.
3) Temperature. NEVER leave your instrument in the car! Not only does the chance of theft skyrocket (and most companies don't insure instruments in your car), but changes in temperature can severely damage your instrument. Try to keep it relatively stable, around 60-70F (what most humans are comfortable in) is usually great.
Like I said, winter care for our instruments is pretty easy here in the NW. But a little preventive care can go a long way to extending the life of your instrument. Stay tuned next time for travel tips!
Happy Playing!
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