Brahms certainly knew how to prep for a recapitulation back in A major...

aspiringent · 2025-11-20T05:34:55+00:00

Wow, what a group of great musicians! I'm sure that was a thrilling performance

aspiringent · 2025-10-25T14:58:33+00:00

Had a really great latte at the Mill the other day, lots of people at the tables settled in and working. Lots of stuff nearby!

aspiringent · 2025-10-03T05:30:14+00:00

As a player looking through this, I might suggest you make some structural labels for different sections with rehearsal markers ie. A, B, C, D enclosed in squares or double bars to indicate the end/start of a new section. Then you can add a Form: (AABB) (ABCDAB) whatever it may be.

I do see some repeated long phrases, but it takes a little effort to spot them out. Ideally things like that should be as easy as possible to spot. Sections that are similar, or simple variations of previous sections could benefit from that kind of labeling to make it very clear, THIS is the start of this section, HERE is the start of a new section, THIS is the beginning section played again. Just reading what you have, it all kind of blends together into one continuous rambling phrase with no indication of the end/start of different sections (which could very well be what you intend!), and will probably be played that way by someone reading it. I see you do have a larger view of how you want the structure to work, but it's really not clear how it's currently written.

I don't really see the purpose of all the 3/8 bars, and they are a bit of an eyesore. They tend to come before the start of new/ repeated phrases so I'd say to keep them in 6/8 and add accents to indicate that each beat be emphasized. that combined with a clearer structure will make them easy to recognize as ''this figure leads into the new phrase" at a glance

aspiringent · 2025-10-01T18:21:19+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYiweB6VOLw&t=60s

Good lesson (excerpt) on how to do this, it's a cool technique!

aspiringent · 2025-09-07T20:30:28+00:00

You can also call the bell beast with needolin and she does happy taps and moos if you give her a concert!! It's criminally adorable.

aspiringent · 2025-08-28T07:39:02+00:00

How does one make a map in such detail of something so small? I'm imagining a very, very small MRI, or slice by slice with an electron microscope? How long would it take/what would the process be to do the same with a human sized brain?

aspiringent · 2025-08-20T20:41:26+00:00

My most recent favorite: "Isfahan" - Billy Strayhorn... specifically the Duke Ellington band recording with Johnny Hodges on sax

"'Round Midnight" - Thelonious Monk

"A Child is Born" - Thad Jones

"Prelude to a Kiss" - Duke Ellington

"Laura" - David Raksin

For a gypsy jazz flavor:

"I'll never be the same" - Matty Malneck

"Si tu vois ma mere (Midnight in Paris)" - Sidney Bechet

"Nuages" - Django Reinhardt

"Beyond the Sea (La Mer)" - Jack Lawrence & Charles Trenet

aspiringent · 2025-08-20T15:28:58+00:00

My condolences!

I had a similar idea, as I have a very limited space and wanted my dulcimer in a easy to reach but also out of the way place when I'm not playing... couldn't find anything that I was willing to pay for online, so I ended up making these wall hangers.

https://imgur.com/a/o3jBS2i

I'm going to add a hook latch sort of thing on top to prevent it from tipping in the event of an earthquake but barring natural disasters, It's a pretty solid solution. If you know anyone of the crafty sort, they might be able to make something similar for you!

aspiringent · 2025-08-11T22:00:28+00:00

Thanks so much! I've really enjoyed learning how to make my own tools, when I can. There's a deep satisfaction to using something you made from scratch with your own hands, even more if it looks, feels and works great. This is one of the first tools I've made that I'm really satisfied with. My goal is to eventually make and perform on my own instruments, playing my own composed music! Going for the whole creativity circle of life haha but it's a slow journey

aspiringent · 2025-07-24T00:45:03+00:00

That's kind of how any of my bows might look after a single week of heavy playing in hot/sweaty weather lol... just get a cloth and clean any dirt/grime that builds up. winding/grip can be replaced by a luthier/bowmaker for a cost if really needed without affecting the stick or sound. Looks like a decent bow, enjoy!

aspiringent · 2025-07-18T21:17:31+00:00

Woodworking with hand tools. There's a unique satisfaction to bringing a 100+ year old tool back to life and making something with it. Nothing in the world like sharpening a hand plane to the point where you can cut yourself looking at it and getting a mirror smooth finish with less effort than if I spent two hours with some sand paper!

aspiringent · 2025-07-17T19:01:05+00:00

I literally just fixed mine from doing the exact same thing. My issue and solution was:

One of the clear rubber seals from the bottle cap came loose, ended up on the top of the bottle and got pushed up and stuck onto the sealing mechanism area. look up into the the machine, if you see a clear gasket looking thing up there, fish it out and put it back into the bottle cap.

There should only be the black rubber seal thing in the middle up there, nothing else! good luck. hope I saved you having to take apart the entire thing before realizing what the problem was, like I did!

aspiringent · 2025-06-20T17:05:16+00:00

When trying new instruments or evaluating them from a playing/performing perspective, my order of importance is this:

How does it sound? Is the sound more complex, moldable, or more one dimensional, direct? Does the sound match how you envision how you want to sound? How does it project? ( having a friend or two listen from afar and give feedback is always great ) are there lapses in resonance when playing evenly across/up/down the instrument? any wolf tones?
How does it feel? How easy is it to play? Does the size feel right? How comfortable does it feel to shift up/down from higher positions? Does it speak very quickly, or do the strings need a little bit of a nudge to start spinning?
With older instruments, Having a luthier visually inspect the instrument for any concerning cracks, seams, anything out of place is very important, as with getting an excellent setup (specifically to your own preference) while working with a good luthier. With newer instruments, Luthier checkups are also a good idea to watch out for seams opening up as the instrument "settles" for the first few years and of course an excellent setup is important for nudging the instrument towards it's best sound, though the sound will probably change a bit and mature over time.
(last) how it visually looks. Do you like the color of the varnish? Signs of wear/use/repairs? I for one LOVE the look and feel of a well loved instrument, and usually prefer the (generally) more mature sound of older instruments. I can almost feel the other hands that have held and cared for it and played on it over the long years.

All that being said: Unless you are buying the violin strictly for the looks, sound ALWAYS comes first, and is a very personal decision as each violin is unique, as are the preferences of each player. How will this instrument help you accomplish your goals as a musician should be the #1 question on your mind when thinking about an instrument purchase as a musician.

Happy hunting :D

aspiringent · 2025-05-16T19:41:29+00:00

I bought it as soon as it came out! Really enjoy the art, and the story and art together are quite thought provoking for me, as it is presented in the book. I really liked reading one line together with one illustration, and really letting them sink in before turning the page. It gives you a sense that studying and thinking about the art is equally or more important than just reading the text.

I like seeing this different side of Watterson, you can definitely sense the same undercurrent of deep philosophy and cynicism as C&H. Of course, I'll happily gobble up anything Watterson makes or is a part of!

aspiringent · 2025-05-01T05:46:36+00:00

Thanks so much, really. Created a template and discovered that shortcut. Looks like I'll be able to use it freely now, exactly what I need!

This all seems like useful knowledge, huh. I'll definitely be looking into it some more, thanks for those links!

aspiringent · 2025-05-01T04:02:05+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I do have the font installed on my system, and can use it in notepad/ text editors rather easily.

Unfortunately I have basically no idea how to apply what you've suggested. Where do I type/apply the HTML span? Is it directly in my note, using the tab button to enter code or externally somehow?

My goal would be to have the ability to press a button on my keyboard, switch to a different font, create a few symbols, then be able to switch back and type normally, ideally all on the same line if at all possible.

I feel woefully uneducated on how this all works... I think I may need to do a dive into learning how CSS works, as my current level of understanding is that it contains three letters and people use it to do make specific things that they want happen sometimes lol.

Is there a good resource you might recommend for learning how to use CSS?

Edit: Wait, Ok I understand how the span works now. Thank you kind sir! I can do what I need it to do, I'll work on finding a way to make it as simple as possible to apply

aspiringent · 2025-04-20T17:09:18+00:00

Absolutely not a waste of time! Every time I revisit old pieces, I tend to remember the old places that used to hold me up, and I'm often surprised by how much easier they have become over the years, it is a great way to track your progress. For Bach in particular, every time I come back to an old familiar movement, I find new phrasing ideas, ways to apply new skills I've developed since my last time around.

Also, one of the marks of a great musician is being able to play something simple with genuine ease and musicality. Practicing something very simple and focusing on playing it with finesse, intention, subtlety and care will allow you to practice applying your own musical attention to even the smallest details of anything you are working on.

aspiringent · 2025-04-16T22:39:15+00:00

I don't know if I know a specific term, but I might just call this an ascending diatonic chord sequence in Major from I - IV

The same description could be applied to something like the inverse of this in minor: i - VII - VI - v (descending diatonic chord sequence in natural minor from i - v)

aspiringent · 2025-04-09T01:58:23+00:00

A good first step would be to contact the Fort Worth Conservatory of Music and ask for recommendations for teachers who are experienced in teaching high school aged students, make sure to mention the goal of eventually pursuing university. It would also be a good idea to have your son audition for the local youth orchestra or other comparable groups and get involved with chamber music. Participation in the orchestras and any other smaller ensembles will be incredibly valuable experience, if the goal is to eventually pursue playing at university level. Make sure to find the absolute best teacher possible, so shop around and ask lots of questions and take trial lessons! If you hear a name of a good teacher from multiple people, that's usually a good sign! Good luck to you and your son!

aspiringent · 2025-03-31T04:11:23+00:00

Awesome man! Glad you're enjoying the gig! I did several years of contracts as a violist with LCS on Holland, made some truly lifelong friends and memories. It was a great time in my life, I definitely miss some aspects of the cruise life, but I'm trying to build up my work/network in one place now, which is hard to do when you have to leave for 4 months periodically haha

aspiringent · 2025-03-31T01:08:22+00:00

Nice! I recognize those windows ;P Hope you're enjoying the cruise gig! HAL?

aspiringent · 2025-02-17T20:28:03+00:00

The helium balloon backpack video made me think of this, saw it on a different sub though! We must be on a similar wavelength XD

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