A lot happened in my musical life in 1967 which probably explains why being 14 was such a good time for me. Nothing was allowed to get in my way when I was focused on music.
When I started learning the violin the school provided me with an instrument and the County paid for my lessons which was all well and good except that the violin I had was awful. The tone was flat and lifeless and the instrument itself had no character, it looked mass produced, it was. I didn’t care too much at first but as I progressed I realised that I really wanted a violin that could “sing”. The problem was finding one I could afford.
A few weeks after the organ recital that same teacher called me back at the end of a theory lesson and asked if I’d be interested in buying her violin which she didn’t play anymore. I asked her how much, not ready to build my hopes up yet and she said £60 but I had to get my violin teacher to look at it first to agree that it was a fair price. In 1967 £60 was a lot of money especially for a 14 year old but now something my mother had many years before suddenly made sense.
All my relatives lived hundreds of miles away and since I was 5 they’d always sent money or postal orders in my birthday cards. For Christmas they sent money to Mum so she could buy presents from them. All that money had gone into a Post Office savings account which Mum had opened just after my 5th birthday and when I’d asked her why she’d said that it was in case I needed to buy something really special when I was bigger. Well I was bigger now and there wasn’t anything more special than a really good violin so it was agreed, she’d bring the instrument in on Thursday morning so I could take it with me to my next lesson.
Thursday came and I went to collect the violin and had to open the case for a look, it was beautiful! The scroll was lovely, the ƒ holes were just right and the colours had that deep antique look instead of the bright varnished blandness of the school one, I wanted this thing so badly!
When I got to my violin lesson I handed the case over and disconsolately picked up my other one to start playing, I hated it now and didn’t really want to touch it anymore but it had to be done. I got one snapped “concentrate” when my attention strayed to what she was doing with a pair of pliers and I thoroughly deserved it, that woman above all my teachers knew what I was capable of and would accept nothing less than my best. The bell rang for end of period but I knew better than to stop, her students only ever made that mistake once if they were wise, but after a couple of minutes she stopped me and I stood in the proper rest position waiting on her verdict. I was going to be late for physics but damn it this was important!
One of the sound posts was down, which was what the pliers were about, it needed a new e string peg and a new bridge on top of that the bow needed re-hairing and it’s sterling silver mount needed attention but yes it was worth all of £60 and if I had any sense and was serious about playing I’d buy it. The work on the bow and a new peg were going to cost about £15 but she’d supply and fit the bridge for free because she’d do that for my school instrument anyway.
The instrument went back to its owner for the time being, all I had to do was convince my parents to let me spend my own money on the most important thing ever. You know what the answer was but I’ll tell you more later.
Love
I loved the post until the end. I was so into the story, the rush of the new instrument. The thrill of it. Then the last few lines, and my heart jumped and tears came to my eyes. I am afraid if it was my home it would have been a no starter. You who have such talent wouldn’t even been listen to as your wants or needs. Not by my mother who could be supportive when she had a chance (even though she had no idea as to how really in the harsh world she lived in) but my step father ( with no education and no interest in learning, much less arts, or for me anything ) who would not even pretended to listen.
I want your parents to agree, even with conditions if necessary. I want you to have that violin. I want to have your spirit soar as you pull the bow over the strings and stroke the wooden instrument. I hope that is the case.
Today I thrill I getting new electronic equipment. I have learned a lesson on reverse though. I am careful in asking what I want, as Ron knowing how many times I went with out will buy me anything I get excited over, even if it is not needed or we should wait.
I am really into this whole part of your life. I will check in tomorrow and hope for the best.
listening to the music you made in my mind,
Scottie
Scottie
I am so sorry to leave you dangling like that, I just really couldn’t write any more just then but that was because of the real world intruding. Just bear in mind that 14 was a good time for me so don’t despair just yet. It breaks my heart when I hear something like that because music shouldn’t be just for the lucky few it’s one of the things that I believe belongs to everyone.
Thanks for your kind words
Love
Mac
Oh so treated like a half-grown-up at fourteen. And how, in our good times, we loved it! But how difficult if could be sometimes when were being expected to act all so grown-up and all we wanted to do was to regress and have our mummy sort it out for us!
You don’t half tell a good tale!
That’s because it’s all true, I never could write fiction