Violin Forum/Message Board

[Lemuel]

Yes,

Learning with others motivates and is always more fun. Were you thinking in a classroom setting or learning remotely with others like a chatroom?

[Ode to Tragedy]

I think real life would be good for me, since I'm rather reclusive so violin would be a good excuse to mingle I guess.

Or maybe a few lessons.

Do they do group lessons like they do say with martial arts?

Spose I'll have to check my city specifically but just wondered if there was some official name for them if such things exist to narrow it down.

[Lemuel]

Your local arts and/or music center would be able to tell you about any class or group instruction for stringed instruments. Check the music department of any college or university as well.

I'm glad you are thinking in this direction. It really helps to get exposure to as many people as possible in this field. I have found great players all having their unique way of playing music. It comes down to what comes natural for you (achieving balance and relaxation with minimum effort while playing).

I wish you much success.

[Ode to Tragedy]

Thanks; another query.

I reread your hand position thing with pics today.

I've also been watching some vids on it but I'm still not sure how my hand is supposed to be positioned but specifically where it's supposed to land. I think I get where it;s supposed to rest the neck in the notches of the V shape etc.

I mean following your pics I changed my position now to follow the pics but I'm not sure how my fingers are supposed to be landing on the strings- whilst still keeping this form.

Also another issue I have is I found in this position my wrist is actually wresting in the base of the neck to 'prop' up the violin. I presume I'm not supposed to be doing this but I found it rather awkward and unnatural feeling when I moved it away.

My arm feels really craned around in this position and my bicep seems to hurt after a minute or so like this atm whereas I didn't have that issue before.

On a positive I seem to be able to slur notes easier like this although was having a harder time slurring from A string to D string since it was stretching my arm unnaturally.

Am I supposed to move my hand around?

Actually do you have a camera? what would be really useful is just seeing you do the scales with the correct positioning then I can use it as reference cos I think it will get really complex to try and explain it over text alone.

I watched a video which said the fingers should land on the left side of the finger on the strings but it wasn't too clear to me what that meant.

Alternatively just tell me what the correct term for this would be so I can lookup youtube vids. I looked up 'fingering' but the vids I saw did not go into this except that one I saw. Haven't watched them all yet though.

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

I'll see if I can get my camera working to post pics.

No I don't use the shoulder rest but from looking at others and seeing how it is without, it seems like it would make a big diff. I've seen videos where they say that you should grab the violin and have it's weight held fully by the neck/shoulder. Now this is well and dandy with a shoulder rest from the looks of things (the particular person making the video was using a shoulder rest) however without I find it very unsteady and awkward to do simply due to the lack of surface area*.

*As an aside I was recently watching a 'street fiddler' play and noticed that he had the fiddle positioned with the right side of the instrument clutched by his head/shoulder rather than the standard left (still on the same side though).

So I think that is why my wrist is propping up some of the weight cos I've found I haven't been able to clutch the violin properly without a rest to hold it's full weight.

On an unrelated note I have become self conscious about playing now since my neighbor complained which has stifled my practice somewhat . So I'm going to get a heavy duty mute so I can play without worrying about this issue. I would like to be able to play several times a day when taking a break from my computer but the sound issue had been hindering me so that is something which I want to rectify ASAP. Is the sound much worse with the mute? regardless I am gonna use one cos it is better than not practicing/or practicing badly due to being too self conscious.

One more thing... are the different positions hard to learn? I'm sure it varies but I have been looking at several beginner to intermediate books of classical solos but the ones I've looked at seem to go to other positions. I am learning an intermediate book now- abc's book 2 (but all are in 1st position in it) so would those be much harder given that they are still intermediate- they say intermediate or grade 2/3.

I was looking through some books in my music shop today and the pieces seemed comprehensible enough -pretty much the same as the ABC's book- except for that a few of the notes crept above 1st position which is what put me off buying them. So if it's just for a few notes would it be much harder to learn these other positions? I'm thinking maybe I should start now since most of these pieces are moving into other positions and they say they are beginner-intermediate anyhow so I imagine they couldn't be too much more of a stretch.

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

Ok so I have fixed my printer so can print sheet music now...

I've been looking on those links you gave but I have trouble knowing what will be good ones for my tastes.

I can look and see if they look hard of course which gives me an idea and if they move above 1st position, though I'm tempted to venture past 1st now.

Any recommendations?

[Lemuel]

Hi Ode,

Are you talking about these links?

http://www.8notes.com/violin_sheet_music.asp
http://www.free-scores.com/free-sheet-music.php
http://www.theviolinsite.com/violin_music.html

In regard to positions, you'll be jumping must further ahead, if you can grasp the concept of sliding with your fingers into the next note (i.e. glissando), rather than the conventional way of learning shifting. In fact, most of the time, I don't know which position I am playing in.

I having trouble with my video software. I hoping to have some material for you soon.

[Ode to Tragedy]

Yes those links.

I thought glissando was thought 'inferior' to shifting without holding the hand on the strings since it makes a slight noise when you do that? that is what some fellow said in one of the videos anyway.

Well I only want to know the positions just to be able to teach myself.

I don't necessarily want to jump ahead before I'm ready but it is restrictive when I want to play a piece which is otherwise in 1st position except for a couple of notes which usually are high past 4th finger on the E string.

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

So is it as simple as each 'position' corresponds to just shifting your hand up one 'note's worth' for each corresponding position (I bet it isn't as simple as that since nothing seems to be that simple with violin )?

On another note: I bought a new camera today so once I figure how to work it I should get some videos of me playing up so that should help matters

[Lemuel]