Name:  Nora

Age:  7

Home State:  North Carolina

Interests:  Nora loves to play the violin.  She also enjoys reading and hunting for bugs outside.  Nora’s mom says she is a collector of all things.  Mostly things found in nature.  There are jars, baskets, boxes and piles of Nora’s collectables in every corner of the house.  These collections include, but are not limited to: acorn caps, birds nests, feathers, rusty metal, and all kinds of live and dead bugs.

IN NORA’S OWN WORDS

“Well, uhm…I started playing when I was 6 or so.  I wanted to play the violin because I really liked classical music…like cello, harp and piano and stuff.  But then I started liking fiddle tunes too, like “Dawning of the Day” and “Go Tell Aunt Rhody.”  At first I wanted to play the piano, but I thought the violin would be easier, and I thought it would be cool to like play in an orchestra type thing.”

“Anyway, when I was 6, I took lessons for a looooooong time, and now I am almost at the end of book one!  There are nine books.  It’s called the Suzuki method.  You start with a cardboard violin and learn how to like hold it and take care of it and stuff before you get a real violin.”

“The most exciting thing happened on St. Paddy’s Day!  My mom and dad’s friends have a band called “Moonlight Ale.”  We went to South Carolina, and I got to play two songs with them, “Dawning of the Day” and “Britches Full of Stitches.”  Now I’m an honorary member of the band, which I think means I can play with them sometimes…I don’t really know.  I never get nervous when I play in front of people, I just feel excited, and stuff.  I don’t know why.”

NORA SHOWS THE PARTS OF HER VIOLIN

STRINGS

BOW

BRIDGE

SCROLL

FINE TUNERS

TUNING PEGS

“When a person gets big and plays the violin, they are called a “Violinist” and that is what I want to be.  But I’m also interested in being a science teacher, because I like nature and bugs and stuff.  I like to catch caterpillars and put them in my habitat and set them free when they turn into butterflies. “I have a recital coming soon and am playing a song called, “Little Black Dog Waltz.”  Here is a video for you.”

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Nanny’s Note:  Thank you so much, Nora, for sharing your wonderful talent with us.  I love how beautiful you are in your lovely dress and bare feet, but are not afraid to hunt down and collect some bugs, dead or alive.  Go-Go-Girl-Power!  It’s amazing to me that you are not nervous at all to play in front of an audience.  Most people feel like they might just throw up their morning cereal.  I’m very impressed with you.  You are certainly the coolest Barefooted, Scientific, Violinist I have ever had the pleasure to meet.