Coming In From The Cold

I don’t know about where you are, but the temps are getting pretty cool out here in Appalachia.

This morning I did a silly thing. Tuesday is trash and recycling day in our neighborhood and I got up early to beat the pick-up. Everything was going fine ‘til I tried to come back in the back door. Locked.

Every door was locked and I didn’t have a key. Tania and Clara were still snoring away and I couldn’t roust them with the doorbell. It was 25 degrees outside and I had only thrown on a very light jacket.

Well, I decided my best bet was to take a brisk walk around the neighbor to stay warm. 15 minutes later I was back and still no one up to open a door.

At that point I remembered a door on the 2nd floor that we don’t keep locked. Out came a ladder and in I went.

Twenty minutes later I began practicing. My hands were still cold as ice. When you find yourself in that state warm up slowly. I first played some slow, 2 octave scales with a full tone and relaxed vibrato. After 5 minutes or so I went to 2 octave scales on one string with arpeggios, a good way to get up and down the fingerboard quickly.

Gradually I intensified my vibrato to where I like it.

Just remember, as winter takes hold you need to allow more time to warm up. As you get moving, up the energy level until the inner fire is blazing. THAT’s the way to do it.

Now one more thing. I had some wonderful responses to my request for testimonials. Thank you all VERY much.

One stands out. Not because of what it says about me but because of what it says about the author’s character. Here’s a little excerpt.

‘As a young child, growing up in the early thirties, I fell in love with a Hungarian gypsy violinist’s playing when he performed in Calgary. My parents later purchased a John Juzek violin for me, and I think I was a good student of my English violin teacher. But like all good things that have to end, my playing ended because of the economic environment we were in. I put the violin away, hoping to get back at it sometime in the future.

The future was a long time coming. I semi retired, but I’m not about to become an old man and play old man games, like golf. I needed something that would keep my mind challenged.

I will never be a concert violinist, but I do hope that my playing will improve from a Jehudi Wanabee to something better. I can actually gauge my playing from the reaction of my wife. When it is bad, she will escape to the TV room. Lately she has not been doing this.

If there is any inspiration you can get out of this e mail, please use any part of it for you see my only desire is to let old people know that old is just an adjective which never needs to apply to life. If Milstein was still playing at the age of 79, there is a goal for me to aspire to. Again, many thanks,’
Andy Olah

Well, Andy, you’ve certainly made my day. And I’m certain a good many people reading this will feel the same. We wish you a wonderful adventure!

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. Speaking of adventures, we’ve had people call in and ask if they can bring orchestral excerpts to the masterclass. By all means. The point is to get you playing the heck out of the violin. Schumann #2 Scherzo, Mozart #39…bring it on!