Some people think that we can’t learn as we age – you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. But we humans are different, we can continue learning our whole life.
Last week I played the viola d’amore for a St John Passion. For the uninitiated its a violin/viola with 6 or 7 strings, with as many sympathetic strings underneath. Depending on how you tune the sympathetics will depend how the instrument creates a shimmering halo of sound as you play. Traditionally the scroll is carved with a blindfolded cherub, although mine doesn’t have that. Just as well as the extra weight so far away makes it a little heavier.
There are no rules for how you tune anything. You can tune it however you like. Which allows you to experiment outside the usual rules for violin or viola playing. Over the years I’ve experimented with many different ways.
The strings are closer together, and the bridge angled differently to either violin or viola so bowing becomes a little trickier. And as each string has a different interval between them, you have to focus at a whole different level.
For much repertoire, as a professional musician we know what we’re doing. We have created (hopefully good) habits around technique – the “how” of what we do. We don’t need to think about every tiny detail in the way that we do when we’re learning. But add something different into the mix, and we can’t think about what’s for dinner whilst doing the basics anymore.
It’s one of the reasons I like to play the d’amore. To play successfully I can only be focused on it. Not my dinner, not what’s going on in the world, just focusing inwards to what I’m doing with both hands and the instrument. And of course, the music going on around me. No time for memories or future concerns or worries, just the bow on the string in the moment.
A bit like a Feldenkrais lesson. By moving in unusual ways and patterns, and moving your attention to different areas of yourself, your brain network that swirls about has to quiet down. Mostly that works, 90% of the time I walk around after a Feldenkrais lesson with more grounded, more centred. I’m calmer, which is both created and reflected reinforced by a change of tonus in my body.
Transform how you move, feel and live 