The VIOLIN

I am a composer, and this week, I decided to pick up my violin and play again. I sound awful right now as I work my way through a review of my Suzuki Violin Book I ... but who cares? I am enjoying the heck out of it anyway. There is something that feels so wonderful about the way I stand with the instrument and how I feel it nestled under my chin , and that feels really good...or how when I pull the bow across the strings and I actually create a beautiful tone ... it's just so satisfying....



When I was growing up, I started with the cello. I had originally wanted to play the violin, but the orchestra teacher and my mother talked me into trying the cello, (and I loved that too) but I didn't stay long enough with it ... and regretted that ... but now have had the opportunity to try my hand at learning a stringed instrument again.



About ten years ago, when my divorce started, I started on an amazing journey in my life --part of that journey was to get my music education certification. I was already an accomplished pianist and vocalist, but I decided to do a Post-Bacc Music Education Certification at Nazareth College here in Rochester, New York so that I could teach in the schools.



During that process, I discovered amazing things about myself as an artist/musician because by the time I reached my 40th birthday, I had learned to play (not very well) every instrument of an orchestra. As a result, I learned to love every instrument in an orchestra and I have so much love and respect for every player who plays and loves his/her instrument.


The violin and flute were two of the instruments I loved to play during the music certification process, and I bought a very beautiful violin-- a Silvestre ... french ... with a lovely bow. I also bought a silver Emerson flute that my daughter plays now

Anyway ... My life got very busy after certification, and the violin sat in its case for too many years ... I hate to count them ... So this week I am taking it out again--and I will practice.

And I am commiting to this for the next two years because,. as a composer, I have decided to write/compose a piece for every instrument in an orchestra.

It will be a two-year project, but by the end of the two years, I will play the violin well and I will be able to write a symphony that "hopefully" every instrument in the orchestra will want to play. My dream will be to have it performed on my 50th birthday, May 11, 2012

The thought excites me!