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kjb
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 Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:15 am Post subject: |
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our level of income can change the way you think about things though,
such as to some a 1,000 dollar item is a throw away, and to others its unobtainable.
I am guilty of this in violin making, not so much of throwing away, ( i don't throw anything away) but being able to buy a nice chisel now, where as 30 years ago I would try to make one out of a file . But I really appreciate the new gouge I just got!
I feel lucky that I had no "extra" money for a long time, I learned to do so many things out of necessity " mother of invention" that I would not have if I had the money and it certainly changed the way I look at the world.
I probably would have not started making if I had the money to buy a good sounding one.
I have seen lots of examples where money is a curse, and lack of it a blessing. You tend to be more amiable when you need other people than when you don't need anyone, you can just blow people off, but when you need them you think more of compromise and how your behavior affects others, just my observation. |
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Chet Bishop
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Joined: 23 Mar 2007
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:53 am Post subject: |
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Yep... many of my tools are homemade, and I made my first instrument because a viola for my son cost so much for a poor-quality instrument.
But, is there a way to help in Paraguay, or is this all just academic?
I'll bet they could at least use decent strings, right?
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ctviolin
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Location: Roswell
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| kjb wrote: | our level of income can change the way you think about things though,
such as to some a 1,000 dollar item is a throw away, and to others its unobtainable.
I am guilty of this in violin making, not so much of throwing away, ( i don't throw anything away) but being able to buy a nice chisel now, where as 30 years ago I would try to make one out of a file . But I really appreciate the new gouge I just got!
I feel lucky that I had no "extra" money for a long time, I learned to do so many things out of necessity " mother of invention" that I would not have if I had the money and it certainly changed the way I look at the world.
I probably would have not started making if I had the money to buy a good sounding one.
I have seen lots of examples where money is a curse, and lack of it a blessing. You tend to be more amiable when you need other people than when you don't need anyone, you can just blow people off, but when you need them you think more of compromise and how your behavior affects others, just my observation. |
This is EXTREMELY interesting to me, kjb.
I have almost exactly the opposite type of circumstances happen to me in my working life - but learned essentially the same thing(s) you have.
After an unfortunately (some may think) rather poor childhood - I was young and energetic when I started working, and had a great career (which, I'll admit also - I had to work virtually unceasingly to arrive there - but, so what?, it's what I wanted. ) in the Graphic Arts field - which put me in a pay category that was (Ok, I'll admit - it) absurdly, stupidly, high...
Then, shortly after becoming well established as a Graphic Artist (in the Southern California area) the bottom dropped out of my health (Poly cystic Kidney Disease - a genetic thing) and I became unemployed and virtually unemployable. (dialysis 3x a week - & many ect.'s)
Which is when I chose to start making & repairing violins for a living - which I could do from an unused bedroom in my home.
Luckily, I had met a violin maker when I was about... oh, ninteen or twenty years old, and had made my first one then - while taking lessons elsewhere about HOW to play the darned thing.
Neither of which things I chose as my field of employment.
But, I felt lucky to have picked up the skills (violin making & playing) to fall back on - which is exactly what I did...
Which is why I often tell younger people that you may well not be able to choose exactly WHAT IT IS that you do for a living (entirely) but, it (what you do) may well choose you.
Of course, they always give me that "knowing look of doubt" that young people reserve for older people who don't really know anything about anything...
Started out with "nothing" ended up with "nothing" - but gained a world of happiness and satisfaction in the process. (yeah, right, ok...)
Ok, end of story - I'll shut up now.
Still, I very much appreciate your post, kjb -
I'll bet that if we met - we could easily go through a couple cups of coffee (or perhaps a Guinness Extra Stout or two if it's summer) - telling each other painful (tee hee!) stories about life. ("Oh yeah, what about this ________ ! "
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Last edited by ctviolin on Wed May 15, 2013 9:05 am; edited 3 times in total |
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| ctviolin wrote: |
Still, I very much appreciate your post, kjb -
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Wait a minute.
Aren't we supposed to be talking about "violin junk"?
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kjb
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:06 am Post subject: |
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yes ct perhaps we will,
I hope to make a trip out west next summer if at all possible! Might even bring some of my own beer!
I was not comparing my situation to what is going in southern America. .
I have been privileged to live in this country through its most wealthy and highest middle class situation in history. I would be glad to donate what I could if there was a way that it would get to the people who need it. |
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| kjb wrote: | yes ct perhaps we will,
I hope to make a trip out west next summer if at all possible! Might even bring some of my own beer!
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Yeah... DO IT ! (if possible)
If you can possibly make it, I'll have my son bring some of his own homemade (Very often, unbelievably good) beer(s) also.
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 8:41 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm,
how to put this, how to put this...?
Well - I'll just simply go ahead and say it as I see it.
To me, it looks like these kids (and adults) are having a sufficiently good time, making things work, from within their own world, from within their own culture, and from within their own economy, environment, etc.
In fact, what I feel I see, is that this is an entire thing they can do, by themselves, and FOR themselves, very creatively, without our (well, usually good natured, but VERY OFTEN mostly unwanted) charity.
They will, I will assume, continue to push and be srong and creative enough to overcome anything, or any continuing "shortage" of things they may "need" - period.
They will come out eventually right where they want to be - by themselves and by their own efforts.
Yes - I would hesitate to try to deal with such a situation as this, as shown above in another county, as a "charity" situation... that I would feel that I should personally attempt to handle... I'm not seeing a cry for charity here - I'm seeing a creative process, living and well. Started by a drive and a love for music...
Sending old or worthless (to us) parts isn't a bad idea, as, I believe that such gifts would immediately be used for even better things to come - but "better things to come" is virtually GUARENTEED anyway by the mentality and unbelieveable constructive creativity seen (& shown) by these people.
Need our help? Naw!
- why, just look around in your own neighborhood today, and realize that there STILL is as much there - right here at home - in "spoiled rich America" (yeah right!), that needs doing.
Get your own house in order first, might be another goal I might consideration worth purseuing.
These particular people seem to be doing it, or, "getting their house in order", just fine by themselves.
Hey - just sayin.... probably we won't be offended as much if such help as this comes from inside our own home, from our own "brothers and sisters".
Just thinking out loud.
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Last edited by ctviolin on Sun May 19, 2013 1:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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I guess that what I'm saying is, for me, violin posts (and discussions) often have more to say, and a much greater scope, than, Oh, say...
"what direction should the grain go on this piece?"
I know, I know,
that's very often how trouble starts on other sites. Correct?
Well, I'm trusting on the membership here to simply comment their own point(s) of view - without becomming brutially troubled and vociferious (in other words NASTY) that someone might have a different opinion than their own about the subject - ANY SUBJECT.
- or, I must say, Mgmt. is PERFECTLY welcome to step right in and tell me (or anyone) that this isn't what we're here for... or, just to hit the delete button.
Either way - ok with me. All I really know is that I post exactly what I want or feel here, and try to keep it all within civil, and/or polite limits. And - that I enjoy the atmosphere here very much.
Seemingly it allows for my Grande Boca. Damn! Unbelieveable!
any comments? (about the subject atter, I mean)
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johngia
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| Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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Keep talking, Craig.
Violins are more than just wood. They contain part of the maker, so, talking about the violin makers is still talking about violins.
I've enjoyed our conversations now for over 10 years,
Keep talking, Craig. |
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ctviolin
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Location: Roswell
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| Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| johngia wrote: | Keep talking, Craig.
Violins are more than just wood. They contain part of the maker, so, talking about the violin makers is still talking about violins.
I've enjoyed our conversations now for over 10 years,
Keep talking, Craig. |
Thanks John - so have I...
Ok - talk it will be. More of my incessant Boca Grande. (don't say I didn't warn anyone ahead of time though...)
ct
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fjodor
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| Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe this is out of the scope for the discussion, but I saw an interesting TV program some weeks ago with a similar theme. This was about professional instrument makers making instruments for a pro orchestra out of trash.
Scrapheap orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J10x3MoydyA
It's also possible to make some cool instrument innovations with small means. I'm thinking for example about the Xaphoon (or pocket sax)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xaphoon |
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| fjodor wrote: | Maybe this is out of the scope for the discussion, but I saw an interesting TV program some weeks ago with a similar theme. This was about professional instrument makers making instruments for a pro orchestra out of trash.
Scrapheap orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J10x3MoydyA
It's also possible to make some cool instrument innovations with small means. I'm thinking for example about the Xaphoon (or pocket sax)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xaphoon |
Outside of the the scope (?)
I don't think so.
Though the "drive" may come from different places, and at different times, with radically different reasons (between the _______ (insert any name here) and the British citizens... for example)
the fact seems to remain a given, that people generally (rich, poor, or any combo thereof) will always strive for both great finess, in instrument building, & great creativity and invention - simply to make music possible.
There seems to be two distinctly (roughly speaking) different basic drives at work here. (of course, any combination of the two, also)
For many people, the desire to build instruments and create or obtain the tools for making them (etc.) is there in great force - and for some, the desire to play or compose the music itself, with virtually ANYTHING, is there in great force also.
This IS the scope of what we choose to do.
Thanks for posting this, fjodor.
ct
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kjb
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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yes I think you have said that very well ct,
my sister did the peace corps in the 60's in africa. dirt floor economy, very simple , she said that music that they could make with just percussion, drums and other things , was simply amazing far beyond the kind of ****** that is on the radio now the most expensive setups possible.
( a bit off topic, but when she was going somwhere on a bus they ran over this huge snake , they skinned it ate it and gave the skin to her, I have it now its about 14' long. so they make do with what they have. |
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Mat Roop
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Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 911
Location: Wyoming Ontario
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| kjb wrote: | yes I think you have said that very well ct,
my sister did the peace corps in the 60's in africa. dirt floor economy, very simple , she said that music that they could make with just percussion, drums and other things , was simply amazing far beyond the kind of ****** that is on the radio now the most expensive setups possible.
( a bit off topic, but when she was going somwhere on a bus they ran over this huge snake , they skinned it ate it and gave the skin to her, I have it now its about 14' long. so they make do with what they have. |
Do you know the species? Are you using that skin for the "ultimate" in Thumbgrips?
Cheers, Mat |
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| kjb wrote: | yes I think you have said that very well ct,
my sister did the peace corps in the 60's in africa. dirt floor economy, very simple , she said that music that they could make with just percussion, drums and other things , was simply amazing far beyond the kind of ****** that is on the radio now the most expensive setups possible.
( a bit off topic, but when she was going somewhere on a bus they ran over this huge snake , they skinned it ate it and gave the skin to her, I have it now its about 14' long. so they make do with what they have. |
Pretty cool for sis.
Yeah, I must agree fully in principal about her realization - the facts are there for anyone who cares to look hard enough for them.
I've heard several different native musics live - in various situations - through the years, and have come to realize that "musical taste" can easily rise high, once you understand or accept that different cultures have easily an equally evolved ear, equally as evolved, and as high (higher perhaps, even) an understanding, with regard for what they produce themselves as music, and it's "foreign" subtleties and complexities are there (for us) for the taking.
I crave new, different, and complex cultural musics, that eventually I can grasp the gist of and include in my mental bank of things of interest.
For me, it's a continuing challenge and an adventure.
Yes, the truly creative minds are even there in rap too, (of course) if you'd care to wade through the garbage – just like they (great and creative minds) are virtually everywhere else if you listen close enough (in my opinion only, of course) you'll find them.
You've got to force yourself to listen through much, though, I find, but the number of great, new and adventurous musical finds and directions, is almost staggeringly present
ct
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