Ruminations of an ex-Oregonian

The piano tuner is here right now. I think I have pretty good ears and am surely able to hear little subtle musical things that most people can’t. But this guy is making adjustments and I can’t tell what he’s hearing that I’m not. Of course, I am not a piano tuner, and don’t even pretend to know how to do it. I know, that’s why he makes the big bucks.

A friend of mine, Paul, came over on Tuesday morning and we talked about arranging a song from the Children’s Songbook (used in my church) for the choir.  After discussing it for a while, we came out to the computer and tried some things.  I have Finale 2006, a real good music notation program.  I also have the Personal Orchestra disk, which provides sounds so good that it is nearly impossible to tell the instruments aren’t real.  We just used the Steinway piano sound for messing around.  Paul was real impressed with what could be done.  I need to spend some time getting it set up properly for the choir and organ, but it should work out real well. 

So yesterday, I got to thinking, what if this song was arranged for a small string ensemble?  2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, and 1 bass.   I spent an hour doing it and it sounds pretty good!  I wonder if there are enough people in the ward who play stringed instruments to make up a string ensemble?  Might be worth looking at once I get better at the bass.

I’ve decided to try something new.  Actually, I decided last week.  I think it would be fun and interesting to learn to play the string bass.  I’ve thought about it for several years and finally have gotten around to doing something about it.  I found one at the music store to rent and signed up with an instructor who is highly recommended.  I had my first lesson last week and have my second today.  So far, it has been going well, except that I am having trouble getting the fingers on my left hand to hold their positions well.  The first finger needs to be spread from the other three fingers in a V shape, and I am having problems holding it.  I suppose it will take some time.  Also have a little problem with my hand cramping, but it’s starting to get better. 

I found out a person I have become friends with here, Paul, plays violin.  He knows a couple of other violinists in the ward, and possibly someone who plays cello.  After a few months, when I get better at playing the bass, it might be fun to try and get people together and form a small string orchestra. 

Since I have music notation software (fun, fun if you are into writing or arranging music), I can make arrangements of church hymns or whatever else and we could use some of them for musical numbers in church.  Well, that’s in the future.  For now, I’m going to take my lessons and see what I can do.