Faith Onsinyo's Page

Moin, Faith,

in fact, my lessons on violin stopped at the end of my school in 1989 (after 7 years) - so that is almost 20 years past already ;-)
I started with the "Doflein" system, later learned with "Kreutzer" etudes to be able to play in various classic ensembles from string quartet to our school's symphonic orchestra, on my peak I was lucky to be the concertmaster for the last year - which in fact does not let a light shine on me, but on the minor skills of the other players there at that time (all those kids who did not really wanted to be there, but attended the orchestra on behalf of their parents...), for I never was good at playing techniques but had a stronger interest in interpretation ;-)

But with school ending my violin got abandoned rather quickly due to a lack of time to attend orchestras, to a decreasing playing technique from a lack of lessons and practicing time - and it was simply replaced after all - for I had more fun and success with my voice and with arranging and recording my own music ideas.

Anyway, if you want to play the violin, please ask yourself where and in which part of music you will be doing it.
There are always several appoaches to music, and each individual has his own appraoch how to get into the music. The one will learn by playing technical etudes, the second by practicing (almost) directly famous works, and the third from a mixture of both. In the end, I consider the violin to be one of the hardest to teach yourself without a teacher, where other instruments like guitar or even singing can be more suitable for autodicdactical practicing. And - if you have a teacher - he will give you rules or options what to learn.

Or you won't play it for classical music, but for folk fiddling or jazz - so that is something rather different in style and interpretation. So they will have their own books and systems how to learn it. Or you simply invent you own and unique style and music....

Half a year ago,. I was asked to dig out my violin again, to do a solo in our gospel project. Now that is rather hard to try and fit my classical technique into gospel jazz, for solos of a sax player are very different to it. I'm still not sure if quality suffices, but at least some people claim to like it.

What will be your approach towards it?

:-) Carsten (-:

Moin, Faith,

thank you for response. So you encountered a socialistic approach to equality? Many socialistic systems still enhance the arts and provided means for the artists to put their skills into action.

In our eastern parts of Germany, the former "GDR" before the reunification, this had been quite visible. Although the economical and political systems were bound for equality, they provided affordable resources for sports and arts, e.g. my aunt who lived there sent me loads of scores for my violin that would have been very expensive in Western Germany.

But I also note that in some socialistic systems, like China, cultural exchange with other nations is limited to a "controllable" amount.

Where are you actually located?

:-) Carsten (-:

Moin, Faith,

I truly hope we will soon be able to join musical forces together.

Sorry I don't understand your "they do not allow technology in school" statement. Why is this? Is it religious reasons, or a "keep it to the roots" attitude?

:-) Carsten (-:

Moin, Faith,

that really sounds great and promising!

Please forgive me if I tend to ask too many questions, but do you
p) have a chance to get your voice / recorder / drums / piano / fiddle [..] into an mp3
q) have plans to try and make your interpretation of any of our Sawubona songs?
r) trouble or questions in realizing p) and q) ?

Do you?

:-) Carsten (-:

Moin, Faith,

thank you for your response.

Since I read,
that surely you are
on your way to be surprisingly
producing art
for planet wide reach and reputation,
I kindly ask
if there be some artistic intentions
also on the field of music :-)

Are there?

:-) Carsten (-:

(:--))) thanks Faith!!! - I feel your poem is very honest -- It's not "play with nice words" - it's like to hear your soul talking.

Dieter

Karibu 2 Sawubona, i like your poem.

Hopes and Dreams,
Never die.
A Tear shed,
Is never futile.
The past second,
Determines the future second.
GOD is never asleep or away,
HE awaits to see what you can do yourself.
And a PRAYER ALWAYS,
Makes a GREAT CHANGE.
Your Hopes and Dreams,
Will sprout, grow and succeed.

have a nice time.

Hello, Faith,

congratulations for your poem. To me it sounds very authentic - no hideout behind oh-so-pretty-words disguising a real state of mind. I guess most artists (no matter of what profession) will find motives of struggle and rejection in your poem they also have encountered - yet, I guess, there are many possible contexts (be it social, political, personal etc.) where it is even harder to be an artist - blocked in what he/she is really wanting to do in life. At least that is the story your lines are telling me. Did I get it right?

With respect, Carsten