At the weekend, I played the violin. For the first time since, I suppose, about 2002. It's shameful that I've neglected it so much. Throughout my teenage years, I rose at 6.30am and practised that damn thing for an hour and a half before school. I had school orchestra on Mondays, a lesson on Tuesdays, chamber music on Wednesdays, county orchestra on Fridays, local orchestra on Saturdays.
I carried on when I was at university and early in my working life, albeit with much less intensity. Where did it all go, this commitment? (Answer: mostly to the Guardian).
Anyway, after lengthy bullying from my flatmate (who is clearly insane, as she will now have to put up with me practising), I picked it up again. It was bad, very bad... but also rather lovely, as I hacked through Bach Partitas (the easy ones), and tried some Berio duets with a friend. (I really can't sightread any more; it was bad enough when I had to do it all the time).
I'm aware that the world has moved on somewhat since 2002. Deciding to pick up the fiddle again was helped by a friend telling me about a good place to buy strings online. And when I discovered my tuning fork had disappeared, I was delighted to find a virtual one on the internet.
I'd be very grateful if anyone could suggest any other sites that might be useful? For buying sheet music, for instance? Or for finding solace among fellow rusty amateur adult musicians? And could anyone suggest anything I could play with my flatmate, who's a classical guitarist. And - last question - does anyone know any good, and not too wildly difficult, violin/viola duos (excepting the obvious Mozart ones)?
