It has been under my bed gathering dust for years. Close to two decades. The black case layered with dust, the nylon strap long replaced with a length of twine that defies time and physics with its tenuous hold on the dingy vessel. When released, three silver buckles flip up to reveal worn rust-brown velvet cradling two items inside: my old violin and my bow.
I played through elementary school but fell off when orchestra practice meant getting to school early in junior high and high school. Nonetheless, I kept a few prized music books and dragged them and it along with me through life, across the years, three states, and then overseas, playing only occasionally.
For my birthday last year, my husband had it completely refurbished. New wood polish, new strings, a bridge, tuning keys, chin rest, rosin, and a new bow. The boss case is a cool lime green now and the fiddle rests there in great comfort and style, wholly protected, and deserving of the upgrade.
My new pitch pipe came in the mail just the other day. With it I can tune the violin accurately enough to get on with playing. Familiar tunes run through my head like old friends: Minuets of assorted numbers, Etude, Gavotte. Like companions I haven’t seen in ages, they are rustier and more compromised than I expected, but of great comfort, and I appreciate their surrounding me with familiarity and memories of many hours spent together – sharing time.
Even though I didn’t play all that much, I kept it near me wherever I went – that violin. It seems strange to have done that – dragged it around like I did – but when I think about why, I think I know. Music has always been a better part of me, so my unwillingness to leave it behind seems fitting.
It was right to keep it close all these years.
That old violin.
Just Sifting 
I love this. I still keep my old flute around from my elementary /middle school days. It’s amazing how an inanimate object can feel like such an intimate friend.
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I agree! Thank you for letting me know. I wonder if you still play your flute???
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I love this piece. My daughter’s violin was a hand me down from her cousin. Not long ago, my daughter lovingly re-gifted it to her cousin’s daughter. While the old violin has done it’s time under beds, it is glad to be in the hands of a learner!
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Wow! Thank you for sharing your version of my story, too. I am also happy to learn that under the bed is an okay place!
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i still have my Upright String Bass from college. I haven’t played it in probably 15 years, but it leans up against the wall next to the piano. I have contemplated selling it, but I am not sure if I am really ready. I wrote about it in a February blog post.
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That’s lovely that you still have your Stringed Bass. I can’t imagine that you’d ever regret holding on to it, but you might regret selling it. Our NYC radio station had an instrument drive a few years back, and we donated all of our grown childrens’ instruments to the drive to outfit inner-city children for their music programs. In doing so, I now think that perhaps I have inadvertently deprived them of the long term connection to an instrument as I have experienced. My consolation is that at least their instruments went to a good cause.
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Ode to Violin. I love this! You need to pick it up and play. That’s why it has been with you all these years.Thanks for sharing your memory walk.
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Now that I have my pitch pipe, I’m all set. Once the March blogs are over, my violin can be my new pursuit!
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You must play for us sometime! Now that I know about this, I have so much to ask you. You know how fond I am of music.
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