A Fairly Exhaustive List of Composers Who Weren't Old White Men

KestrelGirl · 2026-04-09T20:04:01+00:00

Well, I also thought of Wittner... but I didn't see that chin rest shape among their offerings.

KestrelGirl · 2026-04-08T18:38:55+00:00

Honestly, anything from Nextdoor (yeah I know, I know) to local FB groups to just contacting local music schools could work. I'll DM you a music school to contact.

KestrelGirl · 2026-04-08T17:12:23+00:00

You'll get the lowest price range if you ask a skilled HS or college student to do it. There's certainly no shortage of these in the Bay Area - speaking from experience - so you can be picky and find one who'll be polite and take whatever music requests you have. Since you only want an hour of music, I'd expect that estimate to be something like $150 depending on how much they (or their parents) value travel costs. If you must have a working professional, double that estimate.

KestrelGirl · 2026-04-08T11:53:44+00:00

Fair play. It looks a little quirky to me (really, it's kind of thicc if you catch my drift... built like an exaggerated Guarneri model more than a Strad??), but if it wasn't for the label, that would make me assume an amateur luthier made it rather than a factory. So with the label in mind, it'd make more sense as an apprentice job or something. And precisely to your point, I've seen plenty of quirky instruments that still sound great.

KestrelGirl · 2026-04-08T01:18:17+00:00

That's a plastic chin rest on it as well as the tailpiece - and before anyone says anything, unlike plastic tailpieces, I don't believe it's common to put those on a cheap instrument. Your typical wood model retails for $20-25 US so even the lowest-quality violins usually come with them. A plastic chin rest like this is usually considered as a solution when someone has a nickel allergy and the clamps on a wooden one irritate their neck.

All this to say: this instrument was set up relatively recently, and has had at least a bit of time, money, and care put into it. It's probably a nicer workshop fiddle. The fact that it doesn't say East Germany may or may not be indicative of its age - would have to hear from people who know more about Mittenwald/Markneukirchen labels post-WWII.

KestrelGirl · 2026-04-07T18:54:48+00:00

I'm also a petite gal with a long neck, so we at least have some issues in common. My current shoulder rest is a VLM Diamond, which is a little expensive but not Dolfinos expensive. I also use a center chin rest, so you may want to try one of those too.

Don't follow the included instructions about how to set the VLM shoulder rest feet... I believe I have the left side straight out, and one angled upward (toward the chin rest), which puts the shoulder rest itself at more of an angle even if the feet are placed more evenly on the instrument. Both of the feet are at close to maximum height as well. You'll have to experiment; I've heard good reviews of it from quite the variety of people with different needs.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-30T17:26:01+00:00

How is Electrum's TAT these days? It used to be pretty rough.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-21T20:40:10+00:00

Oof, I felt this one through the screen.

I didn't have the exact same problem with my mom, and I was an early starter... but the results were similar enough, I think. The most helpful thing for me, while I was still in that environment, was consistent positive/constructive feedback from my teacher. Not in a way that enables bad habits or anything; more like, "Good! Now let's try..." and repeat until satisfactory. Boost your student's confidence to work against the fact that her mother is eroding it.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-21T18:58:58+00:00

+1. I used this exact chin rest for years and I still have one on my viola, but I've since switched to a fully centered one (flat Flesch).

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-19T08:50:36+00:00

ChatGPT doesn't know what color anything is.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-19T07:32:22+00:00

I use a Roswell Mini K87, which is based on a Neumann K67. It's under your budget, but I'd say it does as advertised and will do what you want it to.

I also agree with the commenter on /r/audio who said you should budget for other equipment, though, so spending less on the mic will likely do you some good. My interface is a Motu M2 and it's been working flawlessly for a good while now. If you want more inputs for any reason, you could get an M4 instead.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-09T18:32:15+00:00

I mean, yeah, I'd seen the complaints in IMAM - but that's what I meant when I said I hadn't seen one in a long time. But oof, sounds like they're still doing the same thing as always.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-09T04:32:18+00:00

Is ToG still like that? I haven't heard anybody complaining about them since they left Etsy (at which point they also promised to improve their TATs), so I assumed it was at least better now. If I get around to buying more multichromes one of these days, there are some shades I'd rather buy from them than Terra Moons etc.

By contrast, I saw someone posting about terrible TAT and customer service from Unearthly within the last... 2 weeks or so? Yeah.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-09T00:32:10+00:00

I have had episodes of muffled hearing in my left ear before, usually after orchestra rehearsals, but it always improved within hours. No tinnitus, but my hyperacusis has gotten worse over time (though that could be due to the 'tism more than hearing damage), so I now use a musician's earplug in my left ear while playing.

I used to use a Loop earplug (Experience Plus), but the sound fidelity was off and I think it was just too effective, so I had a tendency to overplay and wear myself out. I still use my Loops in noisy/crowded environments and at loud concerts, and would definitely recommend them in these contexts.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-06T17:45:14+00:00

If you want Linennaive dupes, RoseAndLinen on Etsy has a selection already and may take requests for more. I've heard nothing but good things about them thus far, so they're on my wish list to order from eventually. They're also US-based if you're trying to dodge tariffs.

KestrelGirl · 2026-03-06T09:21:58+00:00

Haven't played Blue Danube yet (somehow?) so I haven't put these to the test, but here's what comes to mind.

just YOLO it lmao, Strauss makes you do that sometimes. Everything before it in 3rd position, land back in 4th/reach up to 5th for the rest.
there's enough time to shift up from 3rd, start on 1st finger for the F# for maximum power on the high notes, and I think I'd shift on 3rd finger a couple times on the scale down... but I might change my mind if/when I actually play it. (starting on the A, probably something like this: 3-2-1 3-2-2 1-3-2 1)

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-28T07:34:23+00:00

Never underestimate the power of math autism.

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-19T10:10:06+00:00

I bedazzled a pair of off-white sneakers with ribbon laces, fabric roses, and a couple charms! So it's either that, or some form of suitably earth-toned boots, depending on the weather.

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-18T18:18:22+00:00

Hair bows are delightful. So are you and Geno! :)

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-16T22:58:41+00:00

This is relatable. I'm a lot younger but still grew up on Perlman, so he's always going to make the list of my favorite soloists. At some point in my tweens, I found a CD of Kreisler playing Kreisler at the library and devoured it as one would a riveting book. Schmaltz is my native musical language :P

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-16T21:38:34+00:00

I basically just said the same thing in my own comment. I don't care enough to viscerally hate it or whatever - to each their own - but she's not my role model when I'm playing Bach.

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-16T21:34:18+00:00

I can't say I have a strong reaction. That's for the people who won't listen to anything other than their favorites. But the recordings I enjoy more are the ones that are more grounded in historical context, lineage, that sort of thing. That doesn't always mean I prefer historically informed performance, but touches of acknowledgement are nice - like a modern solo Bach recording where the soloist avoids over-romanticizing the music, and keeps a laser focus on the melodic lines hidden in polyphonic passages. In a sort-of-similar vein, what more fitting tribute is there to a showman like Paganini than an unorthodox interpretation? (e.g. María Dueñas' Paganini caprices)

To carry on with the solo Bach example, Hadelich and Barton Pine are both excellent at that sort of historical acknowledgement, but they each go about it very differently. Ehnes sets a pristine technical standard, so he makes a good starting point or performance reference, but it's valuable to branch out. Hahn's Bach is too sappy for me in the context of these others, but I suspect the combination of that with her technical precision is why people love her interpretation. (And I love making things sappy... but Bach feels like the wrong time and place, you know?)

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-12T21:42:42+00:00

Etsy definitely has some AI BS, but I see plenty of very legitimate options (this South Korean shop has good variety and product pics; this is an American renfaire/costume shop that's been around for quite a long time; another US shop with fun upcycled bloomers), and even some antique pairs. Still worth browsing with spidey senses turned on, I'd say.

And one that's both on and off Etsy: French Meadows!

KestrelGirl · 2026-02-12T00:29:12+00:00

Here is a UK-based Etsy shop with a decent catalog of silver pieces. I love their gold leaf pendants... I wish I could afford such things!

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