dragging myself to post

[jazzfish]

Mm. Seems like the grey is starting to get to me. I feel uninspired in general, and I don't have work to blame it on this year. I am just Not At All Interested in finding xmas presents, or posting to LJ/DW, or doing much of anything except possibly curling up in the bath with a book.

---

Viola proceeds, better than I'd been afraid and also terribly. My fingers are slow and tend to land in the wrong places on the strings, and frequently on more than one string at a time. This isn't a problem yet but will be eventually. More worrying is that I have no idea how vibrato will possibly work.

Also, I'm learning to read alto clef. This is causing me fits because the strings and notes for viola are the same as on the cello (an octave up, but whatever, that's 'the same' for my purposes), and alto clef is a whole step (again, plus an octave) higher than bass clef. Which means I see a note on the centre line, and think "D, no, wait, C." Repeat for all notes. My sightreading is for shit. This might be a problem except that, as above, I can't get my fingers into place fast enough to sightread anyway.

It's exceptionally frustrating because I *know* I can do better than this. I'm just not there yet.

I had hopes that I would sound not-terrible by the end of 2016. It's possible that I may be able to sound not-terrible by the end of 2015, though I still won't be as proficient as I'd like. Ha. I doubt I'll ever be as proficient as I'd like.

Comments

[kittenchan.livejournal.com]

Alto clef can be challenging. I tend to read treble clef, so for me it's one half step up (B.. no, C!!) I don't know if this would help you at all, but what I've done in the past is written in the letter name of the note just above it for the first 3 or 4 measures of a piece. It personally helped to have a little reminder right when I was starting. Good luck learning a new instrument! I'm excited for you.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

::HUGS:: Once the grey starts, it's difficult to fight, isn't it? Posting is a good start in fighting it, though, and if you post, we can offer more ::HUGS:: and encouragement, yes?

Wow, alto clef. I didn't even know there was such a thing. I am familiar only with treble and bass.

I think it's awesome you're learning a new instrument. I think of going back to instruments I once played sometimes, but I fear I'm too old.