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Dear Beth,

I think you have rescued me from a ‘slough of despond’!

A rudimentary beginning, now over fifty years ago, got me started on
the violin and for my 60th birthday I bought myself a really good
instrument and began again with enthusiasm.

I am most fortunate to live in a truly tranquil paradise in isolated
wooded hills to the south of Pisa in Italy’s Tuscany, where I have the
leisure and solitude to play for as many hours as I care to.

But a month ago a professional violinist visited me and I woefully
realized what a meager beginner I am still. I watched my pride and
confidence evaporate and I began to doubt that I would ever make the
kind of music my soul yearns for.

A teacher is not for me for many reasons and I wonder if you can
imagine the joy I feel this night (just one week after I have
successfully tethered my iPhone to my computer and, of a fashion, am
‘online’) to have discovered Violinlab.com and your vivacious
virtuosity! It takes an hour, at least, to down load 4 minutes of
video, but what a resource you bring me.

Stephen Briggs