In keeping with my 2011 goal of "finding my creative genius" I bought a groupon for music lessons at the Hollywood Academy of Music. After months of procrastinating I finally set up my first lesson for today. Many things had to be considered, did I want to try to rekindle my love for the piano, the violin, or was I going to entertain fantasies of becoming a vocal Diva! I finally after much self deliberation and some advice from the very nice man who helped answer all my questions, decided on the violin. Since I at least have one that I can practice on. Although I'd kill to have a piano in the apartment, but Sosuke might kill me if I attempted that one.
I was a bit nervous for my first violin lesson in fifteen years. Not to mention due to crossing the path of three (yes three!) different schools letting out on my way to my appointment I was running late! Curse you school busses! I was relieved to easily find free parking on the street next to the school. Once parked I had to figure out the multitude of signs for the building which requires you to walk through an archway and then wind your way around and up a staircase to the second floor.
Once inside I was warmly greeted by my new teacher Christina, who led me to where our lesson was going to take place. If I had to describe my lesson studio in one word "intimate" would probably be it. There was only enough room for my instructor, our two violins, and one small shelf. I'm really not sure we could have fit anything else in there at all!
Since it has been so long I requested that she treat me as though I was learning for the first time so we started with the basics. How to hold the bow properly, how to place the bow on the strings, where your fingers go on the strings and after a few attempts at open strings and some simple scales I was feeling a bit bolder. So we progressed onto playing.....wait for it.... Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. A classic, even if just by childhood standards.
My favorite part of the lesson was when on the third time through (third times a charm right?) Christina joined me harmonizing the notes I was playing. It gave me a little thrill, and made me wish I had some violin playing friends to play with on my own time.
She concluded my lesson with suggesting that I find some music that I would like to work towards. Something to inspire me to work hard and improve faster. I'm going to have to think on that one. Should I go classical or main stream? Any suggestions?
