For the first time this year(!) I finally resumed practicing the double-bass today. I had gotten so into doing research for my next book, that I had laid everything else aside other than church ministry responsibilities, for the past several months.
In the end, that decision was not wise, and my life has been rather out of balance. The research must retain priority, but not to the extreme point that it had.
Musically, what lies ahead? One cannot be inactive for months and not have it significantly impact things. It will probably take me several months to get back to recital level playing. Needless to say, I am very weak in terms of the needed muscle strength, from hands, arms, and upper body, to numerous other muscles. Fluidity is gone as well. As for the needed finger callouses…
What that mean is that I will have to start slowly: short practice sections, playing little more than scales to start, in order to regain the needed technique.
The important thing is that I have resumed.
More posts will follow as things progress.
The New Solo Double-Bass Strings
Dr. James W. Walraven
5/4/2026
Thankful for Today's Help
Dr. James W. Walraven
4/10/2026
Progress on the Double-Bass!
Dr. James W. Walraven
11/3/2025
Changes, Changes, Changes: Some Bad, Some Good
Dr. James W. Walraven
11/1/2025
Returning to the Double-Bass, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven
9/19/2025
A Thought Provoking Film, Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven
7/28/2025
A Thought Provoking Film, Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven
7/25/2025
A Thought Provoking Film, part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven
7/24/2025
A Thought-Provoking Film, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven
7/21/2025
On the Passing of Gary Karr: Some Sobering Thoughts
Dr. James W. Walraven
7/17/2025
Some Unexpteced Forthcoming Concerts
Dr. James W. Walraven
9/19/2024
Music Texts
Dr. James W. Walraven
4/3/2024
Hopes for Resuming Recitals
Dr. James W. Walraven
3/28/2024
An Unexpected Find
Dr. James W. Walraven
2/20/2024
A Tough Lesson
Dr. James W. Walraven
2/10/2024
W. A. Mozart, Joseph Haydn, and Freemasonry
Dr. James W. Walraven
1/26/2024
Musings on Future Musical Endeavors
Dr. James W. Walraven
1/13/2024
Music Recital December 8: Comments
Dr. James W. Walraven
12/11/2023
Music Recital December 8
Dr. James W. Walraven
12/7/2023
Progress!
Dr. James W. Walraven
9/3/2023
Recital Flow: Comments Appreciated
Dr. James W. Walraven
7/19/2023
Adding Double-Bass Repertoire
Dr. James Walraven
3/24/2023
Thoughts on Faure's "Elegy"
Dr. James W. Walraven
3/19/2023
Third Impressions: New Double-Bass
Dr. James W. Walraven
3/10/2023
Second Impressions: New Double-Bass
Dr. James W. Walraven
3/9/2023
First Impressions: New Double-Bass
Dr. James Walraven
2/22/2023
A New Blog Series, Part 2
Dr. James Walraven
2/11/2023
A New Blog Series, Part 1
Dr. James Walraven
2/9/2023
