I DID IT!!!!!

Subject: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Hawker
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 09:06 PM

On the 13th December 2004 at the age of 43, I took my violin grade 1 exam after taking up the instrument 8 weeks before. I did it to keep my 10 year old daughter company whilst she practised and to learn to play the violin I inherited from my granfather. We both passed, naturally Amber got a higher mark than me, but she has been having lessons for considerably longer.
Never let age be a barrier!
Cheers,
Lucy

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: s6k
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 09:06 PM

well done!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 09:13 PM

Good for you!! Age cannot wither...anyone who won't be withered!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: mike_in_st_c
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 09:30 PM

Congrats! I to after 40 years of wanting to take guitar lessons, have begun the process at age 49. What can I say? It's never to late to work the grey cells. My hats off to you Hawker, well done indeed! Mike

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: freightdawg
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 09:39 PM

Congrats, me human friend...I wag my tail in enthusiastic applause to your great accomplishment.

May your bow never grow slack nor your rosin grow stale.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 11:23 PM

Good for you! Only 8 weeks??? Whoa.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 11:47 PM

Most child psycologists - would not chear (but rather booooooo) - on your new-year's ackomplisment - an adult fullfilling child's play (especially as a foe/advesary/mentor) is not healthy for the adult and particularly for the child.

Sincerely,

Garoryle

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Amos
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 11:49 PM

Garg:

Yer nuts, too, man.

A

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 11:50 PM

Good for you Hawker.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Pauline L
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 12:04 AM

Bravo! I'm a violin teacher, and a lot of my students are adult beginners. They all say that they're so glad that they're doing this. Have fun!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Peace
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 12:06 AM

Hawker, that is wonderful. I hope you are very proud of yourself--as you have every right to be.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Auggie
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 12:39 AM

That's really impressive Hawker.
I wish I would have done that at 43. I might be at least half way good by now.
Congrats

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Bert
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 02:34 AM

Way to go.

Hey Amos, Has Garg GOT any nuts? ;-)

Sorry Garg ol' buddy, I couldn't resist that one.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:09 AM

Damn good job we don't have many professional psycologists here then (amateurs we have aplenty!).

I learned to ride a motorbike (properly and legally this time round) a couple of years ago.. it was an amazing feeling, so I can fully appreciate your reaction.

Good for you.. now go and do your practice!

LTS

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 05:58 AM

You can do anything you want to do. Well done! I've been thinking of learning an instrument properly, never having done so before...you've encouraged me. The only problem I have now is...what instrument?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 06:10 AM

congratulations

I dips me lid to anyone who can play an instrument, especially someone who starts as an adult.

sandra (proud aunt of 8-year old multi-instrumentalist, whose violin playing is still cat strangling, according to her father, who like his sister cannot play any instrument)

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 08:02 AM

Oh well done to you both!!! Though you're such a good musician that I'm hardly surprised at all!!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: fat B****rd
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 12:16 PM

Well Done You!! I'm going to read your news again and wait for my own lethargy to go away. fB

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Cats
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 02:30 PM

I know she did it... I've seen the report!!!! By the way, she's also a dab hand at musical crackers!! Well done, Lucy.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Morticia
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:18 PM

Good for you, Lucy......a musician as well as that amazing voice of yours, what riches!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: ranger1
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:22 PM

Congrats! Gives me encouragement for myself.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Eye Lander
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:34 PM

OOOOOO Lucy, You clever girl you.
I wish I had someone to teach me the concertina.

Jillie

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Mooh
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:40 PM

As a beginner fiddler myself...CONGRATULATIONS! Hope you both take delight in this!

(Ignore Gargoyle, he must be off his meds, witness how he spelled his name.)


Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 04:08 PM

Excellent - well done

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Hawker
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 04:49 PM

Aww thanks,
I have to say though, the exam was an ordeal rather than an experience, but I am glad I did it. Busy practising for grade 2 now - they sent the entry form with the certificate!!!!!! I have to say, I practis for at least an hour a day, and then play for pleasure whenever I can - cooking the tea, etc. it does drive my husband mad, he bought me a violin mute for Christmas, so he can hear the TV! I have tried to persuade him to buy me an electric one, you can wear ear plugs with those, so only I can hear it!!!!! I could play more then!
Liz, I took my bike test just after I had my first daughter, 13 years ago, I felt fantastic - well done you. I rode a 1948 Douglas for a few years, and loved it, but my arthritis in my knees has put an end to this!
Gargoyle, I love you! child psychologists! Pah! Amber LOVED the competition and was elated that she beat me - please tell me you are not one of those who wants non-competitive sports at schools.......well, lets be honest.......whats the bloody point of competing? Life is one big competition, I am always setting myself challenges, they are not necessarily pitted against others, but it sure as hell is great when you beat that challenge - and it makes my life more interesting!
Cheers and go do it, stop thinking one day I will........
Oh abnd Cats, the food was excellent last night, thanks. Your cheese and crackers were just that, and immense fun!
Lucy

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From:
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 05:09 PM

Congratulations!!! Gives hope to some of us other members older than yourself.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From:
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 05:10 PM

In case anyone is wondering, it's myself I'm talking about. Had birthday 51 a few months ago.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 10:37 PM

That is GREAT stuff - So many people say to me "I wish I could play an Instrument" and then go Negative when I say "Pick one out and learn
to play then !"
And all the time YOU are learning its encouraging your little girl to
keep it up - And we need more youngsters playing all the time !!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Teresa
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 11:46 PM

Congrats, Hawker. :)

One of my favorite quotes was from jack Benny, I believe. In a skit on his radio show, he was asked if he could play the violin and he said, "I don't know; I never tried." :)

Teresa

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: AggieD
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 12:09 PM

Good for you Hawker, well done.

Other half & I have just reached the big 50, he has taken up riding a 125 scooter, with the aim of going on to something bigger & better when he passes his bike test & I have just joined a choir to enjoy singing & am soon to start singing lessons & I've also taken up the English concertina.

IMHO life isn't worth living unless you have challenges, we're too long dead.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: vectis
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 12:29 PM

Mucho congratulations lucy. If you're practicing for so long every day it's no wonder you are destined to be a star.
See you in June all being well.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 12:40 PM

Well done you, Hawker. I gave up the violin when I was seven years old and everybody else in the class was streaking ahead because they could already read music. Then took up guitar in my teens and failed to follow through on learning that. However, later in life picked up a concertina then a melodeon and just stuck with it. Now, years later, have spent many wonderful years both leading a ceilidh band and playing solo.

Will you be going ahead with the whistle playing also? - under the baton of that other violin player from Cornish Songwriters? Will the group whistle playing feature in one of their future shows?

Congratulations to Amber also, tell her that both Jack and Zack think she's done really well.

Pauline

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 03:24 PM

Well done Lucy and Amber!

Hope to see you in Unsung Heroes at the Manor Pavilion in August, if not before.

Kitty

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Dipsodeb
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 05:23 PM

Way to go Lucy congratulations!! That was a brave thing to do 8 weeks i'm impressed.
Give my regards to everyone and a happy new year to you all. We will be coming to Bideford in the next couple of weeks may see you at the Bideford session.

~Debs~x

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Hawker
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 06:37 PM

Give us a ring when you're up Debs and we'll arrange a sesh somewhere!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 07:06 PM

Well done Lucy! Getting through exams/tests is always a strain, my hats off to you.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Col K
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 05:37 PM

Well done Lucy and of course Amber.
No stopping you now, keep on going up the grades.
Love Col

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Kaleea
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:37 PM

In the 30some years I've been teaching Music, some of my most fun students were beyond Social Security age. The oldest one I can recall was 86 when he took Mountain Dulcimer lessons.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Pauline L
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 09:50 PM

For those of us who aren't familiar with the violin grade 1 exam, please tell us what it involves. Then we'll be even more impressed.

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Schantieman
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:56 PM

My nearly-9-year-old daughter has just inherited the family fiddle. (Her grandfather played and her two cousins have also learned on it. She's learned the names of the strings and more-or-less where to put her fingers. Then, of course, it starts getting difficult - and she gives up.

Now, obviously, we have to get her a teacher (I have NO idea!) but how do we get round the prob of her giving up so easily? This happened with the recordr a coule of years ago too.

Steve

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Bassic
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 03:05 PM

This should be the one that Hawker did I think

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Hawker
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 03:46 PM

Absolutely, Bassic, That's the one, and it really isn't that impressive, but its the start of a long climb, and it is awesome trying to play perfectly for a complete stranger who sits and writes notes whilst you play, on what he thinks about your playing. I also have discovered a new world of music. The little black dots on lines were just pretty patterns 'till a couple of months ago now I am able to see how a tune goes, though sometimes I have a little trouble with the timing, especially in 6/8 and strange rhythms! but I am getting there and so is Amber. I am also trying to play a bit by ear, but keep getting my earrings caught in the strings!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Bassic
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 06:58 PM

You have actually inspired me to have a go myself for a grade exam on the violin again......I gave up when I was 11 having got to grade 2 standard to concentrate on the Cello.............35 years later I started to play fiddle again and am loving it....and I guess I have got past grade 2 standard by now so it will be interesting to see where I have got to. Just got to work out what all those notes on the Trebble Clef are after 35 years of reading Bass clef exclusively!!!

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Hawker
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 01:09 PM

Best of luck Bassic, let us know how you get on. I was delighted to see that on the criteria for the singing exam (voice), part of the marks are apportioned to the singing of an unaccompanied traditional song! I expected it to be operatic arias and things but was pleasantly surprised that the choice of songs in categories A, B and C included traditional songs too. Well Done them! anyone ever done a singing exam? I would imagine that your mouth goes dry and your voice box seizes up! Mine does every time I sing in public!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: KathWestra
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 01:26 PM

You did all this in eight WEEKS??!!!!???!!!!!!!!
I'm incredibly impressed. You'd have to practice all the time to do all this in such a short period of time. Congragulations, Lucy and Amber. Wow!
Kathy

Subject: RE: I DID IT!!!!!
From: Pauline L
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 03:51 PM

That is really very impressive, especially because you did it all in 8 weeks! Did you practice for two hours a day and have lessons every other day? Wow! I'm *very* impressed.

I looked at the test and had a couple of quick thoughts. First, I can't get my violin students to practice scales and arpeggios. I believe it would be helpful for both classical violinists and folk fiddlers. Second, I don't like the requirement for singing something. I absolutely can not carry a tune with my voice, but I can do it easily with my fingers on my fiddle. In fact, that's why, at the age of 10 or 12, I decided to stick with learning to play the violin.

Super congratulations to you!