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| The Reluctant Expert |
Although you may feel as though you’re not very good at
something, others may feel differently…
I was recently approached by a fellow violinist:
Violinist: “You are a bit of an expert on the violin aren’t
you?”
Me: “Me? No. No, definitely not.”
Violinist: “Oh, I think you are.”
Me: “No, really I’m not.”
Violinist: “Do you mind if I ask for your expert opinion
on how to play this piece?”
Me: “I’ll try to help if I can.”
Violinist: “Great, thank you so much. Right, this bit
here. I find it hard to get the right note using my forth finger and you’re not
supposed to use an open string are you?”
Me: “I think the open string would be best.”
Violinist: “No! you’re not supposed to.”
Me: “Well sometimes it’s best not to. It depends on the
music. This bit here is forte and it’s a lively piece so you’d get a nice
bright tone with the open string. The forth finger would sound more muted.”
Violinist: “You see, I didn’t know that. You are
definitely an expert. Right this bit here. You don’t mind if I pick your brains
do you?”
Me: “No, go on.”
Violinist: “Right. This bit here. I need to use my third
finger on the E string and then my third finger on the A string straight after.
It’s just too fast and I can’t do it that quickly. It’s impossible to lift my
finger up and down at that speed. How would you do it?”
Me: “Well, I would probably roll it across to the other
string.”
Violinist: “Roll it across? Show me.”
I showed him what I meant and he tried to do the same.
Violinist: “No! You see. That’s no good. I can’t do it!”
Me: “I think it’s because you might be gripping the neck
too tightly.”
Violinist: “No. It’s because I’m not an expert like you.”
Me: “Really, I’m not.”
Violinist: “Yes you ARE!”
Me: “You could put your third finger between the strings.”
Violinist: “No, it will get stuck. Look.”
Me: “Hmm, you don’t have to wedge it between the strings
like that. Just place it gently across the top of both strings.”
Violinist: “Gently?”
Me: “Yes, gently but firmly.”
Violinist: “Like this? Wow!! It works!! That is
brilliant! OK right. Now this bit. Now I KNOW you’ll know the answer to this.
Are you sure you don’t mind me pestering you?”
Me: “No. Not at all. Go on.”
Violinist: “Right, where is it? Ah yes. Here. Would you
play that in third position?”
Me: “Erm. No. Probably not. You can play all that in
first position.”
Violinist: “Really? You would play that all in first
position? No. I don’t think that’s right. Surely the objective is to minimise
the amount of string crossings.”
Me: “Well, maybe. Can you play it in third and then get
back quickly enough?”
Violinist: “No. Well I CAN do it at home but it’s harder
here at full speed and it’s out of tune when I shift back.”
Me: “And you can do it quickly enough all in first
position?”
Violinist: “Yes, but I have to minimise string crossings
don’t I?”
Me: “That would be ideal I suppose, but really, when you’re
playing with everyone else, it’s all about survival isn’t it?”
Violinist: “Survival?”
Me: “Yes, survival. Getting through it in the best way
you can under the conditions you’re under, even if it’s not the perfect and
most elegant way.”
Violinist: “Like life?”
Me: “Yes, like life. Exactly.”
Violinist: “Thank you, you’ve been really helpful. It’s great
to talk to an expert on these things.”
Me: “But… That’s ok. You’re welcome.”
“Try to help others. Consult their weaknesses, relieve
their maladies; strive to raise them up, and by so doing you will most
effectually raise yourself up also.” ~Joseph Barber Lightfoot~
