About Using Recordings for Practice

February 20, 2008 at 3:37 AM

As a new violinist i need to get my required musical selection into my head so I have been using a CD player to play back the recording. I enjoy listening to all violin music and this seems like a logical way to start out. Eventually I figure out the fingering, the bowing, phrasing and other dynamics of the piece and as I work my way through it I rely less and less on the recording.
My question to you (if anyone is reading this) is what is your feeling about practicing a duet with the second person absent and a recording played on a CD as a substitute? Here is the rub. What if that recording were to be slowed down while keeping the pitch just for practice? The prerecorded person is of course the more proficient of the two.
Should a duet always be practiced as a duet with both parties present?

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 20, 2008 at 4:24 AM

Greetings,
I play a lot of duets with y students at all levels. The basic approach is to learn both parts. You have to be able to sing both parts. Then you learn to play one part while singing the other aloud. Its irritating at first but becomes fun after a while. The ultimate stage is to hear the first violin part in your head corretcly while palyign the second and vice versa. This is the highest level of duet practice.
Cheers,
Buri

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 20, 2008 at 4:26 AM

Greetings,
I just noticed you are studying with William Wolcott, so what`s the problem?;)
Just do exactly what he tells you...
Cheers,
Buri

From Terez Mertes
Posted on February 22, 2008 at 3:33 AM

Buri, you're funny. I'm assuming that means it's OUR (v.com's) William she's taking from? Cool!

Kim, I shamelessly record the second voice of an assigned duet all the time. I love doing it - I love playing with myself (really, that didn't sound as bad in my head as it does on paper!) and as a beginner, I don't feel like it's some egregious breach of etiquette to not have a "live" voice right there. And I will further confess that I use the cheapest recording equipment possible. But you know what? It makes me feel the music, it makes me feel like I'm playing music. It's great. And as an adult beginner myself, that's really what I'm looking for. And my teacher supports it, as well.

Ah, but wait. You might be using a recording of someone else, perhaps like a Suzuki style CD? Frankly, it seems to me that the lesser of two evils would be what I'm doing - learn the second voice and record it. But, to answer your original question, it seems to me that whatever keeps an adult beginner's interest alive is a good thing.

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

About Using Recordings for Practice

Subscribe

Laurie's Books