July 22, 2004
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Finally Fulfilling This New Year's Resolution - It's been on my mind for so long that I always wanted to learn to play the violin. I grew up in a family that always nurtured music in my life. I grew up with a piano in my home, I played the clarinet, French horn and trumpet, I was awarded a scholarship in junior high to go to a summer music camp in the mountains above Los Angeles, and I was the drum major in my high school marching band but I never was allowed to learn the violin in my youth. That and the drums. Why? Because I have a funny mom. She thought I would get a double chin playing the violin and I would poke my older brother in the eye with a drum stick (the latter was quite possible.) Well, as an adult, I never learned to play (that and the guitar), although I tried without success, because I'm left-handed and there's nothing more discouraging than to learn to play an instrument that feels weird and un-natural holding it. Paul McCartney is a fine example of overcoming this obstacle. Well, thanks to the internet era, and now thanks to Ebay, I'm now the proud owner of a left-handed violin (c'mon fedex! - gimme gimme gimme!) Now, the next fun part is to find an instructor. Craigslist has garnered some results so I think I'll find one there unless I find other avenues.
Comments (4)
have fun with it! i played violin when i was in school, and of course now i wish i had more time to pick it up again. does a left-handed instrument have the strings in reverse order or is just the chin rest on the other side?
The strings are reversed as well. I can't imagine any difficulty in being instructed because it would be like looking in a mirror. I love the internet! Check this out! I can actually tune my violin with my computer!
ahh... now that's the kind of inspiration i need to open the case! seems like it should be pretty much the same then if they're reversed since the reach for the strings and bowing angle is the same. let me know when you're ready to jam
The San Francisco Community Music Center has some great classes - and you can sign up for private lessons, too.
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