December 2006

Bend your thumb!

December 12, 2006 16:32

Next time if I complain that my legato bowing is bouncing, remind me to bend my thumb!

This was taught so early in my violin learning years and after a while I total forgot about it, or abandoned it because I didn't trust that it serves any purpose. My teacher pointed me to do this again last week and yesterday when I practice, I made sure my thumb is always bent no matter what. The bow stopped bouncing instantly! I believe its function is to counter-pressure the other 4 fingers on top of the bow.

Another thing I gain by bending the thumb is the volume and tone quality. Suddenly the problem of lossing tone using a lighter bow is no longer an issue.

In addition, my bowing is more straighter for some reasons (parallel to the bridge). I have yet discover why. My sautille is so much better now, relaxed but in control.

Now I have to re-learn the functions of the other fingers and adjust them accordingly, particularly 1st finger (being aware how much pressure I'm using) and 4th finger (balance the bow when I'm at the lower part of the bow).

The "new" contact point in the thumb hurts a lot, probably not used to the bow and finger weight. Tips on how I can avoid this pain is much appreciated.

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I need to get a life

December 6, 2006 20:46

I just came back from a music store during lunch time. Bought Mozart concerto in G (currently borrowing from teacher), Eine Kleine Nachtmusik for violin & piano version (I think this is a must-know for all violinists), and the AMEB 2007 Syllabus (finally all my questions for the exam are answered!).

Then I stroll downstairs to the piano section. There are some very cool digital pianos from Yamaha, Kawai and Roland and would make a lovely Christmas present for myself, but I already have one (quite old now but still do the job) and just bought the cello. Maybe next year. Then I walked to the grand piano section sat down on a A$55,000 Kawai, played the opening of Rachmaninov’s Prelude in C# minor and WOW! Loved it so much! I wouldn’t dare play any further (not that I remember much of the piece anyway) or I’ll have to sell my soul to the devil for it. Just for comparison, I tried another Kawai grand at $14,000, very nice but a huge difference in the tone and key response. I miss playing the piano!

Cello lesson went well yesterday despite being lazy with the practice. Teacher said I was very quick in my learning, but I thought he should have expected more for someone that plays the violin and piano. Anyway, I was expecting to be assigned “Mary had a little lamb” or “Twinkle twinkle little star” from the book All For Strings, but was skipped to “Ode to Joy” and some bowing exercises. Carrying that “thing” to/from lesson is hell! Teacher said I should have chosen the piccolo instead. My chiropractor won’t be happy with what the cello is doing to my back.

The weather forecasted that it is going to be very hot (40 degree Celsius) and strong wind this weekend. Not something pleasant to hear when I will have to embark on my 5-hour journey to and back from my violin lesson on Saturday. There are bushfires in the northern region of Victoria and the weekend weather will make it a lot more serious. Already, US and NZ experts have been requested to assist. I’m glad my violin and cello are insured, not that I expect the fire to reach anywhere near where I live.

I can tell from my previous violin lesson that my teacher is getting a bit sick of Bach already. So I have been learning 1st movement of Mozart’s G major concerto and Rode 4th Carprice for the coming lesson. We both need a break from Bach really, despite my enormous love for his music.

I’m eager to see what music the orchestras are planning to perform next year. I miss playing in the orchestras despite having to cramp more practice time to my already very hectic schedules. I find that they don’t play enough baroque or classical music, but more of later periods, Beethoven, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, contemporaries. Perhaps Bach, Haydn and Mozart’s music have been played too often?

I’ll be on leave during the Christmas/New Year week, but I have absolutely no idea what to do with it (without having to spend more money on holiday trip) other than MORE PRACTICE! I need to get a life!

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December 2006

Bend your thumb!

I need to get a life

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