November 2004

November 27, 2004 09:28

It's been another productive week of practice. I am still seeing improvement every day although now I am trying to concentrate on being "correct" rather than just getting through the pieces with a nice tone.

My lesson was quite amusing, firstly the tutor had invited his brother to come see and hear my violin. Ok it's a litte different, it's assymetrical and has rather stylised f holes (www.timsviolins.co.uk ) it may appear avant garde but the sound is fabulous. The bottom is really cello sounding and the top sings without screaching. This lad really knows what he is making !

My teacher is very impressed with the tone. His brother couldn't beleive the volume !!
I played pretty c**p for the teacher, always the way, I was concentrating too hard. Always play better at home when I feel freer to play a little.

Today I played the Sicilienne from the Bach Flute Sonate in Eb. 2 weeks ago I would never have dreamed I would be playing something like that, albeit badly. I was so glad I could finish it in one sitting. I went back to playing my grade 2 and 3 pieces and they seemed so much easier.
My biggest challenge this week is a simple down bow to a minim rest followed by another down bow. Try as I might I always get a sound on that second down bow.. I want it to be smooth as butter... Early days indeed :)
Don

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November 22, 2004 03:27

Great weekend of practice. I never dreamed to be picking things up so quickly.

The violinmasterclass.com site has been so helpful in giving me good basic excercises to practice. I enjoyed trying the beginner detaché lessons and the shifting through a scale on one string excercises at the weekend.

It's very handy having all my old flute music to hand. I had to dig out some of my old study books for some simple things to try. Was really helpful trying simple phrases playing legato, although I did run out of bow a few times. Lack of experience so far means that will have to be worked on.

My intonation has been remarkable, amazing how quickly your fingers learn the intervals. I think this is because I played the Guitar and Cello previously, it's kind of an innate sense of how the pitches shift. Vibrato is so, so hard though, I limit my self to playing a few minutes just very slow, high "wobble" :) vibrato on each string with each finger ( I am sure my neighbours are impressed ).

Next lesson on Wednesday.. I think he might be a little surprised teehee....

The Donsk

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November 19, 2004 03:24

First lesson last night. Seemed far too short, so much to ask, to see, to hear etc.

That the teacher loved my violin was obvious, from hearing him play it for 10 minutes and then loathing to hand it back. Have to say I was a little jealous, MOP-J in the hands of a complete stranger, violins are so fragile, so intense, so personal, I didn't breathe until he handed it back.

We went through holding the bow and the instrument. Noone has actually shown me this, bar the very kind Prof. Sassmannshaus on vm.com :) All in all I hadn't done a bad job, my bowing near the tip needed correcting as I took the easy route and was collapsing a little at the elbow, downward bowing toward my body, which apparently is very common as it is the path with the least resistance.. I mean.. who needs resistance? isn't it hard enough :)

Bless him (the teacher) he had out a little "your first violin" book. So we took a look. I was expecting to be on open strings for a while to be honest, but anyhow we worked through the book from front to back. Pretty decent job of the intonation (courtesy of MOP-J who just makes it so damn easy) although my bow changes were awful, funny they sound smooth at home. I put it down to first date nerves. I have a real thing with C and C#, just hearing them spot on, just seem to be the ones I need to slide into at the moment.

All in all it was a good start. I think the teacher is going to be a little soft with me. I guess it's not a bad thing with an adult student I guess, but I do want to get it right. Early days though.

Don
PS: I have had some nice emails from people on here, thank you, that I have inspired anyone is such an incredible compliment. We can do this together right :) :)

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November 16, 2004 15:26

OMG OMG OMG OMG !!!!!!!!

OK.... Like I played for 5 minutes and stopped cos I was afraid for the neighbours.

What was I thinking of. 2 weeks ago I had this fear, this total weird screwball notion that simply taking up the violin was a make or break thing.

I think it was actually the mid life crisis kicking in. Like if I failed at 40 that was it... i might as well pull the rug over my knees and give up.

What can I say.. I struggled for 2 weeks with a Stentor and managed a scale in tune. managed to sight read simple tunes.. managed a nice smooth bowing and nice changes. I was chuffed.. my attempt at vibrato was even lush.

Today I pick up MOP-J for the first time put bow to strings and Woah.... the sound is amazing. The VOLUME is incredible.. ooo my neighbours... couldn't believe that my bowing literally halfed to achieve the same tone NO ONE TELLS YOU THIS !!!!!! The instrument is gorgeous. I played a slow vibrato (vmasterclass.com beginner lesson kicking in) and I literally had tears in my eyes... the sound is awesome AND I MADE IT ! OMG OMG OMG.... I really thought this instrument was unattainable.. heaven knows why... WHY? SO many emotions... Happiness that I can make that sound.. Sadness that I wish I had done this earlier.. Anger almost.... as YOU are all musicians you will understand these emotions.. I only wish I could play the Brahms and pour it all out :) It will have to wait...

Watch this space

Don

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November 16, 2004 07:44

Geez.. how hard is this?... My new violin arrived (My own personal Jesus) and is sitting on my desk as I am at work. Cant wait to get home :)

Ok Ok... I finally plumped for buying a "new" violin as some of the older ones I tried really did not impress for their price tags eek. Like cos they are "old" and antique doesn't mean they sound good ! A £3000 violin I tried (Italian) sounded like a bucket, my Stentor is sharper crisper and more pleasing.

When I say new.. I mean it was hand made by extraordinary Luthier Tim Phillips in Wales.. ( www.timsviolins.co.uk ) Tim is better known for making professional instruments for fiddlers. This one escaped and will be tuned to the classics LOL. It is stunning, crazy wide flamed Maple back. Cant wait to hear it sing.

Tim has an incredible reputation here for producing an amazing rich tone, although his violins may appear unconventional they sound better than many so called fine violins of yesteryear.

My lesson has been postponed til Thursday so gives me two days to get comfy with MOP-J
Don

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November 14, 2004 11:40

Fantastic practice today. Intonation was really good and seemed easy.

My left hand really freed up today. Seemed to fall naturally into place. After a 15 minute warm up my reach was great, felt comfortable. Only coming down to the G string in an easy piece that I found I had slipped a little, which led to having to tense to hit that low A.

I felt so much more loose today that I tried the beginner vibrato lesson on Vmasterclass.com ok I am along way off being ready for this, but it was a huge mental leap for me. I had got into my head that vibrato was going to be beyond me. Just by trying this really slowly with each finger and achieving the effect I am now sure I will master it in good time.

Really glowing today, the improvement in 1 week is astounding. I know the hard times are ahead, my teacher will probably take me along way back this week but somehow I am not so scared of not being able to get where I want to be now. Great day.

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November 12, 2004 16:40

Well at home today so practiced tons.. Just short bursts of 20 minutes or so cos I ache. The new strings are so much better on this Stentor. Getting nice clean bowing and reasonable sound now. Intonation comes and goes a bit but I hit a nice few G's on the D string first time, which made me smile.

Strangely enough I actually get a buzz out of playing the standard issue Twinkle twinkle little star when i hear all clear notes (ie: not hitting other strings) and getting good intonation.

More importantly I have a first lesson with a local teacher that is actually the lead violinist with one of the major Symphony orchestras here... totally out of my league of course but I am hoping he will see me as a challenge.

Also the maker of my violin called to say it will be with me next Tuesday.. hoorah.. how many beginners have a violin made for them eh :) all will be revealed soon!

the Donsk

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November 10, 2004 04:59

Well a week with a borrowed Stentor Violin has give me some insight as to how hard this project is going to be.

After changing the awful strings for some T'Dominants I discovered the sound is still awful, although the E string is tons better, for some reason the D string is terrible and scratchy. I have been practicing long slow bowing, trying to maintain a nice steady tone.

My bow changes are pretty good (I think). Some early lessons on the cello when I was a kid paid off. Left hand is not so bad although stretching over for the G string is interesting... all the years playing the guitar is either helping or not, I am not sure which at this point. Heaven knows how you guys use vibrato, my arm and hand appear steadfast and un willing to flex. I guess I need to stretch over time.

Still haven't decided on a teacher yet... there are two or three locally but may have a lesson with two of them and then decide. First one next Wednesday.

Waiting in anticipation for my violin to arrive. Having been to see the Strad "Messiah" in Oxford, only a stones throw away I cant wait to get my own personal Jesus :) Can you imagine that poor violin (the Messiah) so much potential and yet it has never been played? Well I bet your life someone tuned it up once and had a go.. I mean.. wouldn't you !

Don

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