Hey Diddle Diddle, Little Bean and the Fiddle
A New Instrument Enters Our Lives
Justin at the music shop is telling me all about violins. I’m nodding, but really have no idea. I have at least a basic understanding of guitars and pianos. But violins… ?
I’m here because Little Bean’s music tastes and interests are expanding at an unexpected pace. Along with piano and chorus, she’s decided she also want to take Orchestra at school, specifically violin. That’s fine. We went over some basics - practicing, taking care of the instrument which is an entirely different beast than the piano, making sure she (and we) can manage all the commitments.
It seems to all check out.
Next step was to figure out how to get a violin. A friend of hers gave her a nice hand-me-down and my wife found another on marketplace for free. The first was a quarter size, the second an adult size. Both had issues with strings, tuning, a raggedy bow.
That’s where Justin came in.
“Ok,” he began slowly, “the regular sized one needs a lot of work. Strings, crack right here. We could fix it but I’m not sure it would be less than the cost of buying a whole new one.”
“The other?” I asked.
“Practically good to go. Tune it up, shave the bow a little bit. Get her some resin. It’ll be fine, though she’ll grow out of it soon enough, but fine for starters.”
Total cost getting the quarter size up to speed: $18. Kid now has a violin ready to go when she begins lessons next week.
As for the beat up adult violin?
“Your wife a gardener?” Justin asked.
“She is.”
“Then this violin would make a beautiful birdhouse.”
Funny guy that Justin. Though knowing my wife, he’s right!
Awww…brings back memories. Four of my girls took Suzuki violin lessons at school and were in the orchestra. They can still pick up a violin today and make nice sounds! Have lots of fun with it, Uma!
Here's to even more musical adventures!