Violin Forum/Message Board

[Jack Rushing]

I have read or heard somewhere, that when a person starts playing
the violin, they have to build up new nerve paths or neurons, between
the brain and the violin as they progress. And the more they practice,
the quicker this happens. I suppose that could be true with any new activity,
but more so with the violin. Have you heard anything like this, or is this
just a tale? I started playing rather late in life, and I think my neuron
paths are being formed crooked.!!!

[Gizmo]

I think your information is correct except perhaps for learning curve being proportional to practice time. I would guess that most practice time goes to waste because the real problems are not conceptualized and addressed.
I like your post however being that it reinforces my prejudice that violin is 40% mental, 40% physical and 20% musical.
Your neurological paths are probably no more astray than the average amateur.
_________________
I NEVER PRACTICE. I'M NOT FAMOUS YET.

[jethro]

Hi Jack... I am in about the same boat as you ! I thought it would be good to learn to play so I could better understand what the advanced player looks for in a great violin to buy. I have been taking lessons for
about 4 months. Seems like EVERY time I pick it up and try to play it feels like my left hand has been transplanted . It seems to take about
15 - 20 minuites to get it to "remember " what it is trying to do.
I have an old broken index finger which doesn't behave on the fingerboard
and that fights me. I'm just getting where I can sight read slowly.
It seems like my tactile memory in my left hand is not perminent. About
1/3 of it I have to re-aquire every time. I have also noticed that my
learning goes in steps..... several flat ones with seemingly no improvement and then an up-step. I'm in my mid 40's and havn't played
anything since 8-th grade. I have to say Violin is much easier than
classical guitar. I THOUGHT i could play the fiddle when I first tried it.
It seems like I can pick up a tune much quicker my ear than by note, but
I have to learn to sight read for more searious pieces.
Just compareing my thoughts to yours !
I'm on my 2-nd and 3-rd violin build now.
Keep the shaving going ! T.

[Gizmo]

Jethro

It is normal to learn by steps even if it is not obvious to the learner. This simply confirms that the brain can continue to process information in the background while thinking about something different up front. So, one day you may suddenly be able to play something you couldn't play yesterday !!

This sounds like something for free but there are pitfalls. The steps eventually become steeper and of longer duration until there is that step that is just too large. (There is a lot of good music in between !!!).

It also may happen that one gets WORSE just before reaching the "jump" point !!

You are probably pretty much on track !
_________________
I NEVER PRACTICE. I'M NOT FAMOUS YET.

[Jack Rushing]

Thanks, Jethro and Gizmo. I also found out that those neurons are
especially stubborn, in the little finger.

[Amalia]

I'm trying to retrain my neurons (whatever that means) by changing how I "think" when I practice. For example, I might practice slowly, naming each note and the upcoming interval as I play. Then I might try it again naming (silently) the interval and make a deliberate effort to anticipate the sound of the upcoming interval. After some practice doing this, I have occasionally caught my fingers in the act of making those little fine-tuning adjustments BEFORE touching the string, not after. I am starting to wonder if this might be a secret to the good intonation that the pros all seem to have.

[Jack Rushing]

Amalia, That is a good idea. I am going to try it. Who knows, it might be
one of the secrets of the pro's intonation. They hear the note clearly in
their head before the brain directs the finger to the string. I don't know
about the time interval in between. Maybe, the more one practices, the
shorter the distance gets. You are right, in that a beginner hits the note
first, then trys to make an adjustment in the middle of the stream. I can
tell that this is going to be hard for me to grasp, the way that I have been
playing up to now. But I will try almost anything new, if it will help my
playing. Also, I will mention this to my music teacher next lesson, and see
what she thinks about it.
Thanks for your instructive reply.

[Amalia]

The naming of the notes and intervals, helps me to focus on the interval and seems to prepare my mind to follow those certain neuron paths. I can't name the interval unless I really know the notes and where my half steps are. Once I know my intervals, I don't really have to name them but I still have to "think" them, and the sound that goes with that interval.

In slow motion, I'm thinking: A to B, that's a whole step, I already played A, so B should sound like this and be right exactly here (as I place my finger down).

I've found that if I take the time to go slow and practice even a few lines this way, it seems to carry over into the rest of my practice and my intonation is better. My mind seems to know better, what I'm aiming at.

[Jack Rushing]

What you are saying is good. It reminded me of something I read
somewhere about Heifetz. He said: Tell your fingers what you want them
to do.!! He also said: I occasionally play a bad note, but I correct it
before anyone can hear it.

[Andres Sender]

The last few posts point to the power of visualization. If you have a clear concept in mind of what you are doing you have much greater control. For this reason the challenging process of mental practice without a violin is very powerful and effective.

There's an interesting little book out there called "How Muscles Learn", which is an application of information on muscle memory to learning to play the violin. It's an interesting read--apparently one can to a degree control the timing of when things settle into muscle memory, and thus impact the quality of the student's automated actions.