Practice Bridge Notching

This is the third bridge notching job since graduation from North Bennet Street School in 2016. It took a whole week of anxiety to have the mind almost prepared. Don't ask what crazy things happened on the bridge in my dreams. Pretty bad. No matter how unprepared the mind is, when the time comes, the job has to be done.

last Christmas, Ernie got me a set of chisels made in Czech Republic with light weight ergonomic handles. With John Cameron's sharpening instruction memorized by heart, I set up a sharpening station right next to the piano. After every 5 to 6 notches, the chisel is sharpened. By the end of the day, my fingernails were filled with dried metal debris from sharpening. Just while writing this diary, I'm chewing the fingernails trying to form sentences. Most of the metal dust is possibly nourishing my body and mind now. Some finger tips are with minor cuts from trying out if the chisel was sharp...never learn...never. 

Every notch is crucial. It has to be wide and deep enough so no string will touch the side wall or the notched horizontal surface. Therefor, after every 5 or 6 notes, the original bridge top is being compared with the new notch. For a smooth chiseled surface, both hands are gripping the chisel firmly giving enough control. What is enough? At least the chisel does not go flying and hit the soundboard. Of course, for beginners like me, a thin piece of wood is placed where the chisel might hit. One notch at a time, six notches every sharpening. Over and over again. Two days later, the bridge looks almost like a bridge.  It looks almost...edible. Am I happy with the job? Yes, if not looking at it in detail. There is a tendency to refine each notch. Leave it alone before any damage is made trying to make it better, which is usually the case. Do better next time, a little better is fine. A little better each time.