The Swan

[Cabbycabbage]

Your tone on the instrument sounds well, what size viola are you playing? I know size isn't everything! I have recently puchased a 17" instrument that I am learning to play, I have played classical guitar for about 5 years and have alway wanted to try a stringed instrument (one you play with a bow) the guitar and viola sound superb together especially given my predeliction for smooth singing melodies! You seem to enjoy playing, and appear to be touched by the music. Thats nice!

Best regds Cabby

[ViolaDaBraccio504]

not bad! but if you want it to sound like yo yo ma's then you have to get out of first position and start trying some new fingerings!

[mrsmops2]

Very nicely played, good expression.

[snotpokkit]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[TheBlackFlute]

my orchestra teacher played this for us at my violin lesson when I asked her to play something for me (Yeah, she teaches us violin on her viola) I though I'd look it up.

[Nikki0wwe]

Man I just started this on viola too! I used to play violin for 7 years but in January I switched to viola and man am I lovin it! :D

Your super talented and this video is really helping me to learn the song! I love your sound anywayz!

ROCK OUT MAN!

XxxxxX

[snotpokkit]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it, and I'm glad that you're enjoying the viola!

[TormentedByDemons]

It was really awesome playing with you. We should tour! XD

[snotpokkit]

At some point we should do a musical collab - I will try to write a guitar/viola piece, or perhaps we can work on it together in some way... game?

[SilverInsanity]

I don't play cello anymore (and I wasn't all that great anyways), but I think it needs a little bit more vibrato in some parts. It's really lovely, though.

[sqonk77]

thats ok im just lonley thats i never have any lucky anyway. please more videos of your playing its very sexy.

[sqonk77]

im sorry snotpokkit for asking. my bad.

[snotpokkit]

don't worry about it, I figure people ask each other to marry on youtube all the time as jokes :)

[sqonk77]

i love u. marry me.

[snotpokkit]

Well, as tempting as your gracious proposal is, I am already married.

[sqonk77]

im sorry. its just that your violin playing seduces me. thats all.

[violinmuse14]

She's playing the viola!

[alnusypinus]

Well. Yo Yo Ma plays cello, jeje, but i love this video.

[Elinitsam]

I play a fiddle Candy. Check me out too.

[urface890]

where did u find the sheet music? like it ried to pic it out but it didnt work so well lol

[snotpokkit]

Try someplace like sheetmusicplus (dot) com, sharmusic (dot) com, or southweststrings (dot) com. I think I found an arrangement on sheetmusicplus for viola (it's originally for cello) but got somebody's arrangement from sibleiusmusic (dot) com since I needed it right away and sibeliusmusic is a print-at-home setup.

[snotpokkit]

sibeliusmusic has stuff from living composers, including arrangements they've made, and anyone can upload so there's no guarantee that it's any good, but I didn't need the piano accompaniment, just the melody. You'll need to install a plugin to see the music, but I promise it's not going to hurt your computer :)

[anon2U224]

Bravo! *applause*

[snotpokkit]

Thanks!

[dmccoig]

That was fantastic!

I think you should go down to Galax, VA

Ok, maybe my taste is a little different, but still know good music when I hear it.

Thanks for posting

Dan

[snotpokkit]

Glad you liked it! Why Galax? I don't know anything about it.

[dmccoig]

Its part of the Crooked Road in Virginia, they have (I Believe) one of the largest fiddle conventions in the world.

I know that your playing a violin and they are playing a fiddle, but I am sure you would find it musically interesting.

[snotpokkit]

Fiddling is cool, but I can't do it :)

[Shmilli]

=)

You know what it means

[snotpokkit]

Thanks :)

[iiswansongii]

I just cannot seem to get my vibrato as nice as your's. My fingertips don't rock back and forth on the string as easily. It's a pretty melody. Melancholy.

[snotpokkit]

I've had three teachers pick apart and rework my vibrato to their liking... so I've had some practice :) I think you've told me before, but what instrument do you play?

[iiswansongii]

I told you before? Hehe...oops sorry :) Well, now you know how strongly I feel about NOT knowing how to do it :D I play the violin. I have a video on my channel of me playing called 'Solo Trio: Minuet 2'. I guess there isn't any advice you can give. I guess it's something I just have to keep practicing. I think my grip is just not loose enough to be able to rock my fingers back and forth on the strings :/

[Chivalryaintdead]

Cool, Belcanto had the same thoughts... I didn't know what the word was called, being never really trained formally in music.

[akomc]

nice...now where is my clarinet so we can duet :)

[snotpokkit]

viola and clarinet are a really nice combination, actually!

[akomc]

I haven't played the clarinet since 1990 so I'd sound horrible

[snotpokkit]

All the more reason to take it out again!

[inspectorjury]

Damn lady you can play. Fantastic.

[snotpokkit]

You're back!! I tried emailing you and commenting a few months ago - I sent you music. Did you ever get it?

Missing your videos!

[inspectorjury]

I have been very ill for awhile. I did indeed get the music I thought I had sent you a thank you note. I'm sorry if I didn't. I post mostly on Live Video now. You can find me there as inspectorjury....Dave

[snotpokkit]

Wow! you have a lot of stuff up there. I think you've probably mentioned it before. I didn't get a note, but that's okay. I hope you feel better soon - I won't ask questions til I've had a chance to watch some of your stuff, since you probably say things there :)

[GuruMN]

Depending on how you want the song to feel, you might want to either slow the tempo a little to see if it adds more feeling to the song, or make it a little more upbeat by speeding it up. I think I would try slowing it down first though as it seems that is the way it should be. Otherwise I ditto what belcantosoprano85 said.

[snotpokkit]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Yeah, it's supposed to be really slow, and that's when having a smooth line gets really hard. Practice practice practice!

[ArdieVerde]

Amazing! I love strings, bowed and/or plucked, even banjos.

[snotpokkit]

Banjos are really cool!  I'm glad you liked it.

[Blargaldalien]

I just hum along alot...

[brojoghost]

Viola Power! You know, I never was too fond of Viola Jokes... despite the fact that I am a cellist and a fiddler. The only Viola Joke that I really like is the one that makes them BETTER than a violin... "because they burn longer" :p Saint Saens is awesome

[snotpokkit]

hehe I'm glad you don't care that I stole your piece!

My favorite viola joke ever is "why do they call the viola bratsche in Germany? Because that's the sound it makes when you step on it!" hahahahahahhahahaha

[belcantosoprano85]

It needs more line....the phrases need more legato to pull them together..It has so many sustained parts...the line really has to flow. Make the phrases into rainbows. Chivalry is basically saying what I am. But the best word for it is line. ;) miss you. Beautiful piece.

[snotpokkit]

Thanks Diana! I think you're right. I couldn't really tell until I could listen to it. Now I just have to figure out HOW to fix that, lol. I suck at line right now.

[Blargaldalien]

Well,done,Candace!

his would be a fun thing to do live on Blogtv...

[snotpokkit]

hehe, if only I had enough people to guarantee that someone would watch. (Actually, I like being small, I get to know my subs better.)

[Blews4Blesus]

Well done, Candice! You rock the bow!

[snotpokkit]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it :)

[Chivalryaintdead]

I haven't ever heard the song, the way you play it is awesome, but thinking from a singers point of view, it seems the flow of the song isn't working. We call it the legato, of course there are no words with your version but I can almost hear how the song would sound if someone were singing it and it seems like there is alot of starts and stops. PErhaps that's how the song is supposed to sound though.

Try blending the notes a little more from one to the other, sort of like we do with vowels.

[snotpokkit]

Thanks Jason! I think you're right.

[UncieThulhu]

Sounds lovely to me, who's Yo-Yo Ma? ;) Kidding! Hope all is well with you.

[snotpokkit]

Thanks! I can't believe it's working, it took over an hour to upload and then it told me the video was "no longer available" :p

[UncieThulhu]

I am glad it is! You've got to love technology. :)

[Chivalryaintdead]

Hey I put some new pics of you up on Myspace Wes! The spotlight guy sent me some stuff.