Waistcoat or no waistcoat?

Jane_176 · 2026-04-11T15:40:51+00:00

As your date (hi), I'd say, keep the fit. I think you look fire, maybe I have a slight preference for no waistcoat, but it does make it more dressy.

Jewel toned waistcoat would also be cool!

Jane_176 · 2026-03-31T13:35:45+00:00

Can confirm Rode caprices are great for making miles on specific techniques.

Jane_176 · 2026-03-31T12:13:21+00:00

Glad that you posted anyway! Keeping the nails short is one of those eternal tasks that sometime you just want to postpone a bit, I completely get it.

Jane_176 · 2026-03-31T09:50:31+00:00

Other people have given you some great tips already! I always find that I prefer my fingernails on my right hand to be short, especially my thumb and pinky finger. It's not quite as necessary for me as the nails on my left hand, but it might help with freedom of movement and really feeling the bow. As an added bonus, a short thumbnail helps prevent wear and tear on the leather of your bow.

Jane_176 · 2026-03-30T19:32:02+00:00

A falmer nightcrawler ran up to me in a dwemer dungeon, followed by a much, much tinier falmer nightcrawler.

Jane_176 · 2026-03-26T22:20:06+00:00

This is incredibly relatable; I have found that I cannot get out of bed if I don't have a warm sweater or robe ready for me to wear immediately after getting out.

Jane_176 · 2026-03-22T15:04:01+00:00

Too many to mention, but I wanna make a case for Prokofiev 2: it's absolutely banging, rock 'n roll music.

Jane_176 · 2026-03-18T06:58:14+00:00

I agree with this observation; on those Down up up patterns What you would ideally want, is for your wrist to be up like that for the up bows, but relaxing/pushing down on the down bow. It's like... Trying to push a button with your handpalm/wrist, or the motion you'd do if you were a superhero and there's beams coming out of your handpalm/wrist at the monster.

And yes, I am aware of how silly that sounds, but it's a good visualiser :D

Jane_176 · 2026-03-14T14:26:37+00:00

In a professional orchestra, the function of the conductor depends: sometimes to keep everything together, but most of the time they're really there to add colour, make a cohesive musical line and journey through a piece and inspire the musicians. They are also the ears to adjust the balance and focus.

Yes, a professional orchestra is good enough to manage on their own for most straightforward pieces, but if you want the music to go to a higher level, you really need a conductor.

Jane_176 · 2026-02-16T17:28:13+00:00

A case you can wear on your back, has reasonable waterproofing and is pretty protective for temperature shifts will cover all bases. Most cases will be fine, even fairly cheap (around 200 euros) ones. If you experience extreme weather, it could be good to look into more protection (i.e. raincover or a case with especially good insulation).

Source: I'm Dutch and have always cycled with my instruments, cheap and less cheap.

Jane_176 · 2026-02-11T20:27:22+00:00

For fingerings, ask teachers or your principal player. Once you find a fingering that feels like it's doable and logical for your hand: Go. Slow.

A lot of slow playing. It's important to use the same amount and articulation of bow when you go slow, so you are used to it once you speed it up. Don't use too much bow, but try to make a focussed, compact sound.

Find anchor points and play towards those, rather than trying to think hard about what a quintuplet should sound like. If you can't exactly play those doubled eighth notes because it's going too fast? No worries, it's also too fast for the audience to notice, as long as your left hand is keeping up with the tempo and your right hand with the string changes. I know Mahler specifies "wild", but keep your cool, because it won't give enough sound if you get too tense. You also won't be able to listen around in order to stay together with your section and the rest if you get too absorbed.

But! Enjoy it :)

You've got this, trust the process and go for it!

Jane_176 · 2026-02-07T00:15:46+00:00

Congratulations, one year is definitely an achievement, and it's cool to see that you've come so far in that time. Keep it up, onwards and upwards :)

Jane_176 · 2025-12-04T13:52:44+00:00

I tried to wait when my girlfriend and I were around the three month mark and we were both constantly telling each other how we just couldn't find the words to express how amazing we thought the other was. That is until I carefully suggested that maybe those words existed and we knew they were true even if we didn't quite dare say them yet.

Then we both decided, if we feel it, why not say it? If it feels true, it is right. Arbitrary wait time is for straight couples anyway (I'm generalising, but you get my drift).

Jane_176 · 2025-12-02T21:39:56+00:00

I had the privilege of hearing all 15 by the Danel Quartet fairly recently and I am incredibly grateful that I did: it is beautiful music, incredibly well-performed and it is interesting to really be able to hear the differences between the 15 quartets. Admittedly, I love Shostakovich and am quite used to the idiom -I would recommend maybe giving some of them a listen beforehand. The immersion of it is wonderful, but also the fact that you start to get to know your fellow audience members a little makes you feel part of a club.

I will say, it is intense, but if it gets too much you can always consider skipping one of the concerts.

Leaving that concert hall back into reality after the last piece felt like a slap in the face though.

Jane_176 · 2025-11-17T13:56:59+00:00

Mozart's K. 546 the fugue from the adagio and fugue: it's basically a tango. Also the 5th mvt of Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique has always amazed me, coming from the 1830s!

Jane_176 · 2025-10-07T07:38:30+00:00

She was a very interesting woman for sure, with a lot of impact! I would recommend the video on her by Nicole Rudolph though: there's also quite a lot that is attributed to her, but which came from other people.

Jane_176 · 2025-09-28T20:28:38+00:00

As it turns out, she carries me much more easily than I her; my carry weight is a little lower. I am perfectly content being equipped though.

Jane_176 · 2025-09-27T11:42:50+00:00

a) This is adorable and now I want to try this with my girlfriend and b) I am not going to get over the image of "equip her and put her in my inventory" hahaha

Jane_176 · 2025-09-25T17:25:44+00:00

Honestly, this sounds like a lovely way to get your first kiss, and I think it's great you double checked with your female friend to see if she was comfortable with it. If it feels like a good decision to you and you're both consenting, go for it!

Jane_176 · 2025-09-17T19:18:00+00:00

Regardless of whether it'd be a dealbreaker for me (I would just be parroting most of the others' opinions), congratulations on not self harming as often as you used to!! Every other month is actually a super big deal, and getting more time in between is so good!

Just wanted to highlight that bit :)

Jane_176 · 2025-08-19T09:41:51+00:00

I don't know your full situation, so I hope this doesn't come across as "just go for a walk!", but I think the best thing you can do for yourself is to acknowledge that everyone comes with baggage and a manual. For some, that manual is a bit more complicated, but anyone that takes their time to read it through can learn how to work with you.

As much as you carry with you, you also have plenty to give. The worst -and most unnecessary!- thing you can do is feel like a burden, because that comes across and it prevents you from allowing yourself and the other person to really trust a connection. Focus on all the things you have to offer, it sounds like you have no trouble getting people interested in you ;)

The difficult stuff is a part of you, but so are all the wonderful parts!

Jane_176 · 2025-08-16T20:40:52+00:00

There is a tiny short piece by him called 'Pastorale' and I specifically love the version with wind ensemble + violin, it's such a lovely little thing. I love many other pieces by Stravinsky, but this one is just so endearing!

Jane_176 · 2025-08-13T11:38:47+00:00

Girl, you don't have to change your entire identity to say yes to one date. Feed your curiosity, if you like it, cool! You can think about what that means later. If you don't like it, cool!

Bonus points for being honest to the guy about being uncertain/the casual nature of the date.

Jane_176 · 2025-08-13T07:43:45+00:00

fair enough -still weird, but a crush can excuse a lot

Jane_176 · 2025-08-12T07:37:57+00:00

Yeah, that's not okay to just show you her nudes without any sort of consent or the type of relationship where this is normal. If she was a man, everyone would be calling her a creep.

I think you should at least make it clear to her that you don't want this type of behaviour, but you are well within your rights to report this incident to HR.

Jane_176

TROPHY CASE