Going Through With It
After a lot of reflection and a lot or research, I'm going ahead with picking up the violin.
I did a lot of checking on the web and found a few Suzuki music schools. Then I found a place in Lafayette called the Rocky Mountain Center for the Musical Arts. They looked promising and convienient.
I searched the web for sheet music. Explored youtube to see what people were doing with electric violins. I searched the web for businesses that dealt with electric violins, etc, etc, etc.
On Monday I finally sucked up the courage and called the RMCMA and spoke to a lady in their office. They had an instructor with openings in her schedule that would fit mine but she wasn't sure how the instructor would feel about teaching someone solely on an electric violin. She gave me the instructor's name and phone. I called her this morning. She was thrilled with the idea. I got the impression that she's a real believer in music, no matter the form. Just so long as you're interested and willing to learn. In our discussion I got the impression that she'd be willing to work with me where I'm at musically and be flexible in our approach.
After talking to the instructor, I called the RMCMA back and put myself on the schedule for Saturday morning lessons.
Then I checked the web some more for electric violins. I'd pretty much narrowed my search down to a Yamaha SV-120. It's a moderately priced violin designed to be played primarily using headphones. I checked several sites for prices, etc. I ended up going with electricviolinshop.com. The prices were about the same regardless of where I purchased it. Electricviolinhsop got the nod because they take the time to properly set up the instrument before shipping it to you. I didn't order it online, I called. The gentleman I talked with was very helpful and very understanding. He listened to what I had to say and what I wanted to do then helped me put together a package containing the violin, bow, case, amplifier, and cable that would meet my needs. He even went so far as to try a few different amps with the violin and gave me some feed back on how they sounded.
At this point in my life I feel as if something is pent up inside me. Last week I refered to stress, but I don't think that's really it. It's an emotion but it's not anger or frustration or any of those other so-called "negative" emotions.
Anyway, enough of that.
DV&JV are here and staying with us. The family picnic went fine, mostly because J&J didn't show. My mom came too. DJ and I were tired afterwards so we went home. DV&JV went over to an aunts for more visitation time.
Monday I met my mom at a watch shop in Boulder and picked up my inheritance from my grand parents, my great grandfather's pocket watch. It's a cool timepiece and I'm honored to have it. It's got to be at least 150 years old. I met DJ and the V's for lunch in Louisville and got the hear a bunch of family history from one of DJ & DV's uncles. After lunch we went to the fair so DJ could show DV her birthday present. DJ got Judge's Choice on it! DV was stunned to find out it was hers. She's really going to enjoy it.
Tuesday we went to Estes Park for the day and took the dogs. The dogs did pretty well and really seemed to enjoy the outing. DJ&DV did a bunch of shopping while watched the dogs. It was a beautiful day until around 2PM when it started raining.
I did a lot of checking on the web and found a few Suzuki music schools. Then I found a place in Lafayette called the Rocky Mountain Center for the Musical Arts. They looked promising and convienient.
I searched the web for sheet music. Explored youtube to see what people were doing with electric violins. I searched the web for businesses that dealt with electric violins, etc, etc, etc.
On Monday I finally sucked up the courage and called the RMCMA and spoke to a lady in their office. They had an instructor with openings in her schedule that would fit mine but she wasn't sure how the instructor would feel about teaching someone solely on an electric violin. She gave me the instructor's name and phone. I called her this morning. She was thrilled with the idea. I got the impression that she's a real believer in music, no matter the form. Just so long as you're interested and willing to learn. In our discussion I got the impression that she'd be willing to work with me where I'm at musically and be flexible in our approach.
After talking to the instructor, I called the RMCMA back and put myself on the schedule for Saturday morning lessons.
Then I checked the web some more for electric violins. I'd pretty much narrowed my search down to a Yamaha SV-120. It's a moderately priced violin designed to be played primarily using headphones. I checked several sites for prices, etc. I ended up going with electricviolinshop.com. The prices were about the same regardless of where I purchased it. Electricviolinhsop got the nod because they take the time to properly set up the instrument before shipping it to you. I didn't order it online, I called. The gentleman I talked with was very helpful and very understanding. He listened to what I had to say and what I wanted to do then helped me put together a package containing the violin, bow, case, amplifier, and cable that would meet my needs. He even went so far as to try a few different amps with the violin and gave me some feed back on how they sounded.
At this point in my life I feel as if something is pent up inside me. Last week I refered to stress, but I don't think that's really it. It's an emotion but it's not anger or frustration or any of those other so-called "negative" emotions.
Anyway, enough of that.
DV&JV are here and staying with us. The family picnic went fine, mostly because J&J didn't show. My mom came too. DJ and I were tired afterwards so we went home. DV&JV went over to an aunts for more visitation time.
Monday I met my mom at a watch shop in Boulder and picked up my inheritance from my grand parents, my great grandfather's pocket watch. It's a cool timepiece and I'm honored to have it. It's got to be at least 150 years old. I met DJ and the V's for lunch in Louisville and got the hear a bunch of family history from one of DJ & DV's uncles. After lunch we went to the fair so DJ could show DV her birthday present. DJ got Judge's Choice on it! DV was stunned to find out it was hers. She's really going to enjoy it.
Tuesday we went to Estes Park for the day and took the dogs. The dogs did pretty well and really seemed to enjoy the outing. DJ&DV did a bunch of shopping while watched the dogs. It was a beautiful day until around 2PM when it started raining.