Learning the Violoncello
Posted in musing on Mar 11th, 2010
In karate-do, or the way of the open hand, you start with kihon, or basics. These basic techniques are combined into short two or three-move combinations called wazas. Kata is a ritualized form that combines basics and or wazas into longer routines.
The style of karate-do that I learned has 12 basics, things like front-snap kick [...]
For the first time since I started cello in early November I am going to miss a day of practice. Actually several days as we will be traveling. I find that I am of two minds about a break like this.
One the one hand I will miss playing. I don’t view my daily session as [...]
Posted in musing on Dec 16th, 2009
As infants we all learned our native language through imitation – we heard our parents and older siblings speaking over and over again and we learned to imitate their sounds by ourselves. Word definitions, language semantics, and overall syntax happen after the individual has learned to vocalize on their own.
Suzuki Shin’ichi developed the so-called Suzuki [...]
Posted in musing on Nov 23rd, 2009
Perhaps not surprisingly the hardest part about starting any new endeavor is finding someone to show you the way. While there may be some pursuits that lend themselves to self-education, taking up the study of a musical instrument is not such a pursuit.
Through my own experience as a student of the marital arts, and later [...]