TwoSet is Coming to Dallas!!

***ANNOUNCEMENT!!!***

TwoSet Violin Comedians are coming to Dallas March 18th at Irving Arts Center!

For classically trained violinists, the Australian duo TwoSet with Brett and Eddie is always a favorite. Their hilarious interpretations of various songs, pedagogical techniques, levels of music appreciation, etc. keep us laughing.

A few days ago I enjoyed seeing their serious side as they made a video involving a couple of one-armed violinists. In the video they show a lady playing absolutely beautifully with incredible tone, but surprisingly with a prosthetic arm. It is amazing to hear the smoothness of her bow changes in spite of her alternative method of playing. She looks so happy to have the opportunity to play.

TwoSet also shows a clip of a man playing using a stump arm, performing some of the hardest violin material ever written. They express their amazement at the extent to which people will go in order to keep their ability to play. It is worth asking, what is it that causes musicians to overcome great odds and challenges so that they can continue to play?

As TwoSet mentions in their post, some things can only be expressed through the musical medium. The violin incorporates both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, so it engages the analytical as well as the emotional parts of the brain. Classical music often follows specific forms, which resemble the hero path employed by authors when creating stories. In the Exposition, the hero sets off on a path to find new adventure. During the development he faces many obstacles that have to be overcome in order to win the prize. Lastly, in the Recapitulation, the hero returns to his place of origin, but he is forever changed by his experiences. When playing music, we are able to explore our own hero path and share our story with others. We can tell the story of overcoming hardship and beating the odds.

I agree with TwoSet that these musical geniuses in this video can inspire us to take advantage of the times when we can practice, and be grateful for every moment we get to play our instrument. For those of us who know what it is to have our instrument taken away from us for a time, due to injury or otherwise, we also experience the gift of music on a greater level when we get it back, because we don’t take it for granted.