New Instrument, New Troubles

April 28, 2010 at 11:21 AM

Yikes! I'm not sure what it is, but it is a massive leap up from my ALDI violin. It draws a very strong sound out and plays very resonant ... My teacher says its a very fine crafted instrument.

But its brought its own issues, is this always expected on a new instrument?

I can't seem to play in-tune at all for the life of me, even in first position - everything is just soo different; i don't know if its due to the change in instrument, or the way I hold it now; I am looking foward instead of turning my head; so its almost like I am playing with my eyes closed (Unless I look sharply to the left then I can see my hand)

With my short journey on the violin, I have become very sight-dependant (I have a good sense of depth perception which has helped me play in tune in the past) - but now I have to depend solely on my ears ... and I just feel lost.

I tried walking while closing my eyes on the foot-path and I couldn't last 10 steps, haha :)

I am even struggling with playing very slowly, I am just massively out of tune - it is beggining to become disheartening...

So I'm trying to figure it out, started playing C Major in 3rd; seems to be helping slightly - but I am always expecting progress in a short amount of time, I suppose give it a week or two yeah?

Perhaps I need to go through the basics again. I am also becoming hooked onto the chromatic tuner also ... I just took out the batteries and hid them :) Haha. I'm waiting for my MIDI Keyboard to arrive; I think my issue is I need ear training (Which I am lacking with)

Though see how it goes; Suppose I need to talk a walk in the park? I'm mostly afraid of what my teacher may do to me Hahaha.

I am confused though, I was playing in-tune a couple of weeks ago (and I knew when I was intune or out of tune), where did it go all of a sudden? I have been sick the past few days also ... I hope my intonation comes back soon! Or maybe I messed myself up without realising?

From Laurie Niles
Posted on April 28, 2010 at 9:54 PM

The good news is that you are hearing yourself better, in all likelihood. A better violin magnifies the good, but it also magnifies the bad! It will allow to correct yourself to a greater degree and eventually grow more as a player, after the initial frustration!

From Dimitri Adamou
Posted on April 30, 2010 at 10:09 PM

Thanks Laurie :)

I am starting to really really really really really... REALLY love this Instrument. It produces sound like I've never heard it before,

Though I am thinking of changing the Bridge, it is shaped kind of awkward; I might just use my previous Violin's bridge.The new Violin Bridge, the E and A ones are low (which I prefer), but the D and G are too high ...

Though I'm wondering if this is a good idea or not?

Also after pedanticly working with the MIDI Keyboard, my intonation is back on track with this instrument; I just need play slow for now :)

From Terez Mertes
Posted on April 30, 2010 at 10:29 PM

>I have been sick the past few days also.

I've heard this can really mess with a person's intonation.

But I think it's a matter of adapting to a big change. Be patient, and here's hoping a month from now the troubles are a thing of the past. And congrats on a new instrument!

From LUIS CLAUDIO MANFIO
Posted on May 1, 2010 at 11:19 AM

If you got a new factory made instrument (as it comes from the factory) it may need new strings, new bridge, new soundpost, perhaps new pegs and adjustments in the upper nut.

If the G and D strings are too high it may play havoc with your intonation because when you press them down too much the resulting note will be higher.

Don't change the bridge, bridges are carved to suit a particular violin and will not fit other violins. If

the bridge's feet are not cut properly they can "hurt" (make holes and imprints) the soft spruce of the belly.

Perhaps you could take it to a good luthier. Ciao!

www.manfio.com

From Dimitri Adamou
Posted on May 1, 2010 at 11:24 PM

I had a MASSIVE strike of good luck (I seem to be having a really good lucky streak recently)

So I changed my strings completely yesterday, I got 3 wound dominants for G D A and an Obligato E string (I do not like this string, I might get it replaced with a Wound Dominant) - but my sound post fell ... after hours of running around like a headless chook just trying to find someone to put up the sound post - I finally got a recommendation to see a Violin Maker - (His name is Les Laszlo Belanyi); so again after more headless chooking figuring out how to get there, I managed to get there in one piece.

My god, he replaced my bridge - and custom cut it for me (The previous bridge was really tall), fixed the sound post and was really nice about the whole thing he offered to charge only $20 (I gave him all I had in my wallet - which was just $40) ... I felt very lucky to meet him. My Violin Guardian Angel must of spoke with others on the matrix. I feel kind of tempted to make a website for him now.

We spoke for a fair bit ... there is soo much history that you do not know of... I always enjoy listening to peoples life histories; it just boggles your mind.

From Dimitri Adamou
Posted on May 1, 2010 at 11:47 PM

Oh haha I didn't mean to ignore you guys :) [I only saw the reply button haha]

Thanks Terez, yeah it is like learning the violin all over again, haha .. I think my intonation was a combination of several problems - sick (My ears were blocked), a slightly different sized instrument (Appr I'm on 7/8 now), and I wasn't patient enough to try test it out ... I got pretty much a new machine and tried to operate it like I did on the previous one :) I think given time things will cool down

Oh! Thank you Luis; what you said can only make sense - Yeah the Violin Maker I saw yesterday told me that my violin was Chinese Made (I think it still sounds fantastic and is atleast an upgrade for me :)) ~ It has been played on before however (Makes you wonder why changes weren't made before?)

Perhaps I will get the Pegs replaced in the future time, I applied peg paste so far (It is far more easier to tune now; I only have an E fine tuner)

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