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After 6.5 years of taking violin lesson as an adult starter

From Reynard Hilman
Posted June 4, 2012 at 04:52 PM

I'm hoping I can play all (or maybe just my favorite) Bach solo work in the next 4 years :)

Any comments on this one? I know there were some intonation slips and I think I also need more vibrato when I can.

Standard disclaimers apply; I'm not a teacher; it's hard to tell some posture things because you're far away from the camera; I have not studied this piece; etc. Onward!

I have a different impression from Tom. I often feel and hear a tension when you play - a certain angularity to the sound. The chords often seem strained. They sound as if they're being pressed and pushed out rather than being released. It's very hard for me personally to tell what's causing this in a video, but more experienced teachers may be able to verbalize what I can't. One thing I see is that your bow elbow seems low and your hand seems to be applying pressure, instead of free easy weight resting from further up the arm. This might be causing some of the tension that I'm hearing. Do you ever have tension or injuries from playing? Are you feeling frustrated with your current instrument or bow? Did you tighten up for this performance in a public place?

I'd be very curious to hear you playing something like Scene de Ballet or a Mozart concerto or something along those lines - something with a lot of lyricism and singing lines. I'm guessing that your bow arm is your Achilles' heel. But this is true for 90% of us.

Congrats on posting! And I don't think it's unrealistic at all to expect you'll play much more Bach within the next four years! I'm working on the first Bach suite on viola and keep meaning to take a video, so feel free to lecture me about strained sounds and bow elbows once I get it up. ;)

The only major complaint that I have is that, frequently, you're crushing the sound (usually at the frog during chord executions).

It sounds like you're applying pressure with the hand and forcing the bow against the strings rather than utilizing the muscles in the arm and upper back and letting the weight fall naturally (1:12, 1:16, 1:36, 1:44 are such instances of the sound being crushed).

Otherwise a really fantastic job. Kudos.

@emily, you're completely right about tension, I don't have injuries that require medical attention but I guess it's bad enough to cause discomfort on my back and neck. Thanks for the tips, I'll try to lift my elbow more and use the arm weight. And you're also right about my bow arm being my weakest point, my teacher has been saying the same thing, I just still need to figure out how to improve it. By the way this was at a public place but there was nobody around (at least not when I started recording), so I wasn't as tense as during my recital. I think I'm developing a hobby to find a public place and just play, and make a recording. it's kinda fun that way :) I'm looking forward to giving you lecture on your video too, I hope I catch it when you post it here :)

thanks for the tips @vitalis, I'll really have to practice the chords individually again.

Aren't the acoustics GREAT in the lobby? I warmed up there once while waiting for the orchestra rehearsal room to be unlocked. Wanted to play there all day!! :)

Who are you studying with -- someone at the college? Judging from the comments about your video, it sounds like you've teamed up with a REALLY good teacher. Keep enjoying!!!

here is more on the Sauder concert hall

http://gcmusiccenter.org/the-basics/acoustics/principles-of-acoustic-design/

http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p692

thanks @marsha, I've been studying with Solomia Soroka for almost 4 years, before that I took lesson from the Community school of art. I feel so lucky to be able to study from her :)

also, a lot of Bach solo pieces are like that I guess. it's hard to make it sounds smooth and just right.

thanks Patty, I'm glad I can encourage other adult beginners too. I heard there is someone who started playing at 60, and was able to play Mendelssohn concerto by 80. so it's possible, and I hope I can do that sooner :)