FORMAL VIOLIN LESSONS BEGIN
Walter L. Elden, P.E. (Ret)
My real formal lessons began the summer before I was to begin the 6th
grade. I was given a
violin, a case and a music stand, I remembe, from a source I do not
remember. My younger brother, Guy,
and I were enrolled in music, he for clarinet and I for violin, with a
family who, at their home, would teach all the instruments. We would
meet several times a week in the afternoons, practice outside under the
trees, and from time to time all assembled inside to play as an
ensemble, or small orchestra. That was like going to a summer music
camp. This helped prepare me well for when I entered Junior High, and I
adjusted to a school orchestra with little trouble.
Playing Violin in an Ensemble
I met others my age
who continued to play and improve as they/we
advanced through the grades in school. Later, my mother saw to it that
my brother and I continued studying our instruments, by providing us
with private lessons. As our family was at that time what you could
class as being a "poor" one, she saw to it that we continued with our
lessons. This continued all through Junior and Senior High school.
Here
I am graduating from the 6th grade in this photo.
My
6th Grade Graduation Class from Pinewood Elementary, 1944
(That's me, on your far right, front row, in all white)
Harry James, His Orchestra
and Music Over the Radio
During World War II, at home we acquired 78 rpm recordings of the
latest hits of the day, in particular music played by Harry James and
his trumpet and orchestra. My brothers, sister and I would listen to
that kind of music all the time. We also enjoyed popular music that was
played over the radio. My older brother had learned to play the trumpet
and my sister sang. We continued to collect 78 rpm recorded music of
all kinds and we'd play them over and over again.
