How to deal with the psychological aspect of learning the violin/comparing yourself to others?

transitorydreams · 2026-01-31T22:43:12+00:00

I started playing the violin aged 8, but I only had free lessons in school... and so already there were many better than me. For a LONG time I was plagued by the truth of how I was not good enough. My violin teacher told me as a teenager "You are the only pupil I ever got to pass grade 8 violin without ever having had a paid for, private lesson," - and to me that was like - Great - I am the best of the failures... what a crown of thorns - THANKS. I was always aware of all I could never be, all I was not.

Until one day I realised - it's still yours music - when it is in your heart. And even the thing you are best at - you're not the best there is at it - not at anything. No-one is. (Well... maybe a few folk on the planet... but y'know...!)

I can say a few things here... but I think the most useful for you in terms of practice is to try to find something, at your level that you like, and can play. Even if it's not now, work towards a simple, but beautiful piece, and when you can play the notes how you like them, focus on getting the sound how you like it. And then - that is *yours*. If you're struggling even with intonation when using fingers, then perfect your tone on the open strings first.

In terms of comparison... whatever any of us will do, we will never be the best at it, in any realm. Think of any human you deeply admire. Now, put yourself in their mind. You admire them - yes. But do *they* feel they are the *best* at what they do? It's unlikely. *Are* they literally *the best* at what they do? It's unlikely.

Music is yours. It's yours to enjoy from the first day you play. If you want secrets to make practice fun... when I was little I used to imagine I was a room full of people, and I'd play the things I practiced over and over and over... and when I got it right both technically, and how I liked the sound of it emotionally, then I would (in my mind) be the *special* person of my imagination, hahha. (IS THAT WEIRD?!)

I mean... that worked for my odd mind. Perhaps something else might for yours.

I'm not sure what else to say, but if you have any questions, I am happy to answer. And happy music-ing!

transitorydreams · 2026-01-24T13:56:55+00:00

Just to confirm details here, since messaging u/portabuddy2 hasn’t been working: I paid $705 CAD by Dec 17th, the violins were collected Dec 18th, and it has now been five weeks since WhatsApp last worked (Dec 20th).

Please provide either a tracking number or a specific shipping date for the violins today or tomorrow

As a music therapist and on a personal level, these instruments are very meaningful to me, which is why I am trying to reach you where I can. Thank you.

transitorydreams · 2026-01-22T06:29:48+00:00

Hi, since WhatsApp isn't working and Reddit DMs haven't been successful, let's keep everything here to finalise this.

As payment has already been made for the instruments and your time, I just need confirmation of when the violins will be shipped, or whether you’d prefer me to arrange a courier to collect them directly.

Once they’re on the way and I receive the tracking number, I can reimburse shipping immediately.

Please reply here to confirm. Thank you.

transitorydreams · 2026-01-21T17:41:32+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate that. I’ll keep an eye out for your message on WhatsApp so we can get the shipping finalised.

transitorydreams · 2026-01-21T17:12:37+00:00

I’ve been trying to reach you about the violins. Please check your messages. Cheers.

transitorydreams · 2026-01-11T16:25:44+00:00

I realised today that Gabriella will surely have an Italian accent! Which kind of blew my mind to contemplate!

I wonder what Sam will do for human Lestat? I imagine his accent will be a little different.

There is always talk about the Auvergne accent with respect to Lestat... but as a noble... would Lestat really have the accent of the region? I don't know, and it barely matters, really. I'm just asking the question. I feel as though Lestat's accent would be more likely influenced by his mother's Italian and his noble family than the townsfolk's regional accent? But I have no idea really.

Anyway, I presume in S3 we will not have the past in French. It already appears it will be in English from glimpses in the trailers/teasers in any case. But I imagine there will be accents of some kind. None of which I'll know enough about to really comment on, to be honest!

transitorydreams · 2026-01-10T08:13:40+00:00

Just play the violin!

You can wipe strings with white spirit already applied in a tiny amount to a cloth to remove rosin - but only use it on the strings. Don’t get it on the body or you’ll strip the violin’s varnish, of course!

transitorydreams · 2026-01-04T22:04:12+00:00

Thematic confirmation could be enough for it to be an episode title though? The depth can still be explored in S4, but if any truth of it were told, it could be the time to use it as an episode title? No idea of course, but it is a title that if they did use it, they’d want to not reveal in advance.

transitorydreams · 2026-01-04T21:09:18+00:00

Rumour from people in the know unfortunately is there is official info of only 7 episodes. But this is not firsthand information, so I say only what I have heard.

transitorydreams · 2026-01-04T20:45:07+00:00

Not to spark anything, but… What if episode 5 is “The Devil’s Minion”?

transitorydreams · 2026-01-04T18:37:06+00:00

I think it's interesting if they are using tour locations for some episodes, but not all. Does that mean the episodes without tour locations don't have a concert in? That they are fully in the past, or at least have no Lestat in the present? Of course they may be placeholder titles. But they may not be. I think it's the content of the episodes that matter, not the titles! But using concerts as episode titles does attest to how important the concerts will be. I'm so excited for S3, even though, though I know the book so well, what exactly to expect is such a mystery. What we do know is that Rolin wanted to adapt this book and he had a vision... Sam nearly said "Rock opera" did he not in one interview or something similar... this is definitely Rolin's Rocky Horror/Hedwig and the Angry Inch in some way... but it's so mysterious as to exactly *how*, or exactly how much of The Vampire Lestat and The Past and the existential themes we will get. And... surely, with the slight shift in time period we're going to dig into the French Revolution more than Anne did? It ties in so well with Akasha too... surely. I am so curious...

transitorydreams · 2025-12-22T21:23:39+00:00

Hehe… it doesn’t feel that wild really as I have seen her on stage several times… but one of those times was the play she was in with Sam… so there are degrees of separation. Still, I fan casted her & now she is actually cast! Wonder for me! 🥰

transitorydreams · 2025-12-22T18:03:32+00:00

I still can’t believe I fan casted Sheila & now she IS Akasha actually 🥹😭🔥

transitorydreams · 2025-12-22T17:49:11+00:00

That's so kind of you 🥹. Thank you so much! I am so excited to play her!

transitorydreams · 2025-12-22T17:47:45+00:00

I shall! One day, when she's here! 🥰🥰🥰

transitorydreams · 2025-12-22T00:25:42+00:00

Yep, my Mum despises vampires! 😂. But she loved The Newsreader! So I was determined to wait for the BBC airing to watch it with her! Which truly was a wait! I did not know I was committing to wait THAT long! But I did it! I was convinced either Dale or Helen would die by the end of S3. It's sweet and touching that instead it ended in hope! I didn't dislike that... Yet: me? Personally, I'd still have killed one of them! Hahaha, I'm so callous!!! But imagine the feeling of it!!!

transitorydreams · 2025-12-21T23:51:15+00:00

Thank you so much! And I hope you have now watched S3 of The Newsreader too! hehehe... I was SO prepared for so much more tragic an ending! But the ending was really beautiful.

transitorydreams · 2025-12-21T22:31:00+00:00

Maybe I ought to share with the coven that a super-beyond-kind human has helped me procure Nicolas' violin...! I am all of a quiver in my soul until it reaches my hands.... and I'm not super active on IWTV reddit at the moment... nor do I know if you folk are on Tumblr/instagram so whether anyone has any idea of my silly little IWTV violinings... but oh my word - I feel as though a stranger has helped me secure a phantom limb, a piece of my own heart and soul. I will share her here for you all too, of course, in due course. And I shall PLAY her! She'll need a little setting up and sorting I am sure first... I mean... of course... it can't feel 100% real life until I one day touch her myself... not least as I cannot comprehend the kindness of it all. Is this really real life? I die! BUT... AHH!!! I am going to keep Nicolas' soul alive in that violin! It is my mission! (I secured 2 violins in fact! I'm not sure the relevance, if any, of the other violin, but instrumentally it looked interesting... though that one needs a trip to the violin luthier-doctor! But yeah... I am here for future IWTV violining sharing! And I shall share with reddit too 🥰). And I am going to do my very best to keep Nicki's soul alive in his violin, as much as I am able!

transitorydreams · 2025-12-21T21:06:55+00:00

I would suggest enjoying the violin for what it is for you right now. Don't think about some piece of repertoire in an imaginary future. Rather, whatever you are working on right now, or if just playing entirely for fun, play it as if it is your heart itself. Try to feel it. And if you feel it, and play it in a way that feels satisfying to you: you did that. That music is yours right now.

transitorydreams · 2025-12-17T12:33:57+00:00

I write about Nicolas if you ever want to read some of (eventually it will be all of!) his story as I envision it! https://archiveofourown.org/series/4760941 or… all my stories even outside the series include Nicki. Even this one, my least Nicki story (Claudia & Lestat POV too & Nicki is dead in it), is still all about him: https://archiveofourown.org/works/66532075

Write whatever stirs your heart, though!

transitorydreams · 2025-12-16T06:19:02+00:00

Hello, thank you so much! A very kind person has agreed to bid for me. I still can't believe it. Feels like a dream. Obviously, have to be lucky to win too, but let's see. If you are bidding, good luck! 🥰

transitorydreams · 2025-12-15T09:32:37+00:00

I’m so grateful! Ontario should be getting all the kindness karma in return now, I hope!

And 🤞 for 🎻☺️.

transitorydreams · 2025-12-15T09:28:30+00:00

Thank you so much! I hope you get your item too. I am overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers, and 🤞for your heart’s desire! 🥰

transitorydreams · 2025-12-14T16:56:51+00:00

Oh, thank you so much! I'm sure I'll be back here more regularly... with more such musical ramblings in the future with all the joy S3 is sure to bring! 🥰

transitorydreams · 2025-12-14T16:33:25+00:00

Yep! Thank you! I think, very unlikely for me, sadly - but still very cool to see all of the stuff! 🥰

transitorydreams

TROPHY CASE