Reviving The Bard’s Song

Posted on by Christina Diggles

Have you ever been excited, almost at the finish line of a project… only to realize that you did something wrong four steps back? When I ran into an issue with my animation last year, I’d like to say that I backtracked, cleaned up the mistake, and began again. In reality? I tabled the project… for months. First I was going to do it “in the next three months.” Then life began to hit, and a YouTube channel was the last thing on my mind. (Often when I *strategically* procrastinate, I forget to account for unexpected events. 😂 ) But this month? I’m happy to say that once I was ready to resume work on the animation, it went smoothly. Breathe, edit, animate.

The process was full of nostalgia – The Bard’s Song by Blind Guardian was actually my first cover released on Spotify! Although I was skeptical when the song was first introduced to me (I mean yes, it was fantasy, but fantasy… rock??), I’ve grown to love it, especially reworked in a more traditional fantasy style! A commenter last night expressed the vibe in the perfect way… a song to play while either dancing or sleeping.

Do You Hear the Waves Breaking in the West?

Posted on by Christina Diggles

I write this from a beautiful old house in Virginia, several days after posting my video. I am relaxed and drowsy, and nothing seems more attractive than drifting to sleep to the music of the crickets and frogs outside. Is it wise to leave the window open and breath the cool air when I’m still recovering from an allergy attack and ensuing sinus infection? When my voice is recovering from having been so silent that I could very literally hum nothing but silence? Wellllll… Fresh air is healthy, right?

Now, how did I get here? I’ve learned a few things that will help me in the future (as long as I come back to my own blog post to reference them):

  1. The first day back from a performance trip can be overwhelming. I can enjoy some extra coziness and focused work by planning a work day at the library.
  2. I should not sing on a damaged voice… really… My current solution is to begin including daily gentle vocal warmups into my routine as I rehabilitate my voice.
  3. I had a brilliant thought, but it has fled… so perhaps my third point should be that sleep is important? If you are reading this and need sleep, please go to bed. I will finish things up right now and sleep in solidarity with you.😅

Can’t See Fruit? Don’t Worry! Summer Will Bring Growth!

Posted on by Christina Diggles

These past few months I’ve been “spinning my wheels.” With my Dad recovering from two minor leg surgeries to protect him from further problems with blood clots, my family’s group hasn’t been traveling. I’ve been sitting at home. Helping my parents clean and declutter. Practicing violin and viola for multiple sessions almost every day. Studying alto clef. (😱) Trying to get my exercise routine back. Fitting in Library work days since this last animation project was too intense for my PC. Reading as I wait for my files to render. Waiting for Dad to be up and about enough that we can finish recording our Twentieth Anniversary album. Wondering why I can’t seem to cross a technique bridge with my vibrato. Working, trying, but feeling like I’m in the same place I was at the beginning of the month. Do you ever feel like that?

Maybe it’s time to make a list of the things you have accomplished! Here’s mine:

  • Three boxes of items to sell or donate
  • A (mostly) organized sewing shelf
  • A picked up bedroom (other than my desk)
  • The first movement of Elgar’s Serenade for Strings ready for my next lesson [on the viola!]
  • Most of the instrumental recording finished for our new CD
  • A dog watched for a week
  • Elderflower lemonade made
  • Beets, carrots, turnips, beans, Nasturtium flowers, beans, and a few melons in the ground and sprouting
  • Music learned for a wedding I’m playing at this afternoon
  • A new lyric video finished

That sounds a whole lot better, doesn’t it? And even if I don’t see the improvement I’d like in some areas yet, I know they will pay off in the future! So don’t lose heart – keep up those healthy habits, and keep pursuing those skills and dreams!

But before you run off, I’d love if you stopped by my new lyric video to like and comment (and maybe even subscribe if you’d like monthly releases!)

The second to last track of my CD is out! I guess I need to work on some new content…

Make the Hands Dance – The Challenge of Animating Musicians

Posted on by Christina Diggles

For almost as long as I’ve been a musician, I’ve noticed the sometimes quirky, sometimes laughable loops of hand and finger motion that you tend to see in cartoon players. Whether it’s a ukulele being put through the same three chords no matter what is played, or a flute with fingers hopping wildly, it seemed to be an easy way out.

While it certainly is easier, I have much more sympathy for the choice now. 😂 Ganneldor’s hands are about as accurate as they can be with a limited palate of hand positions, and no official concept of how his harp is tuned. It was a process, full of listening, rewinding, and adjusting. Calengil was much easier, having only to look adorable and engaged with the music.

Then came the map… but perhaps its best to let you watch that for yourself. 😉

Riding the Plains of Rohan

Posted on by Christina Diggles

This is the second video I’ve finished on the road, and I absolutely love how the animation came out! Between the lovely harp by Paige Marcelle from the CD cover (from which I carefully removed Ganneldor and colored in the gaps) the new comissioned hair by the.red.butterfly (on Instagram) for the animation, and the other licenced art I used, recolored, and carefully pieced together, this has been a wonderful trip through Rohan!

All that mobile editing and transfering between devices needed a stable cloud service (and file requesting for the comission work!). I was so excited to see that PCloud, who I’ve used for years with my business, offered me an affiliate status last night! So if you need some extra cloud storage, you can pick that up and support my work all in one! My favorite thing is that they offer a lifetime option instead of having one more monthly subscription.

A few other ways to support my work are to leave a tip or download the mp3s!