August 2013

5 Exercises to Learn Vibrato on the Violin or Viola

August 29, 2013 09:20

Would you like to learn vibrato?

Just trying to imitate other violinists or violists is NOT the way to learn vibrato.

Watch this video with 5 little exercises that DO get you the results you like.

Is this useful to you? Please let me know in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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Can you Learn to Play on an Electric Violin, Viola or Cello?

August 25, 2013 10:05

In this video I answer a question from Valyncia. She writes...

"What do you think about electric violins for beginners? I am the one whose sound post fell down and its been in and out of the shop for 4 weeks now (waiting for someone who knows how to set the post)... I ask because the electric has no sound post (at least the ones I have looked at) - and can you recommend any electric violins for a budget of about 60 - 150. dollars (US)? I have found a few on E-Bay... Thank you...Danke vielmals..."

So... is it smart to start learning to play on an electric violin, viola or cello? Is it possible?

What are the differences in learning to play on an electric instrument and an acoustic instrument?

Should you buy a very cheap electric violin, viola or cello online? Where should you look out for?

Is this useful to you? Please let me know in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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Where to Start Practicing a New Piece of Music?

August 23, 2013 04:21

Do you think that if you just repeat a piece over and over again that magically you can play the piece?

No, that method is very boring, demotivating... and definitely not the fastest.

I will explain you my own version of the whole-parts-whole practicing strategy which is more fun, more variable and will get you results faster.

Is this useful to you? Please let me know in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

2 replies

What To To if the Soundpost of Your Violin Falls Down?

August 21, 2013 08:06

Why is your soundpost not glued into the violin? What is the function of the soundpost? What should you do when it falls down?

Watch this video to have the answers to these questions.

Is it useful to you? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

2 replies

Learn to Read Notes - Quick and Dirty!

August 18, 2013 07:00

Learning to read notes is NOT difficult and EVERYBODY can do this!

Don't let your inability of reading notes stop you from playing a musical instrument.

Watch this video to learn the basics of reading notes... quick and dirty!

Please let me know in the comments below if it's useful to you!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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Why does your violin suddenly sound out of tune when you are playing together?

August 16, 2013 06:14

You have practiced very hard on a piece and have had great results...

Then you start playing together with someone and suddenly your playing seems out of tune!

Do you recognize it?

In this video I explain the two main reasons why your violin playing can suddenly sound out of tune when you start playing together...

Of course I will also give you some tips how to solve this issue.

Now... I'd like to hear what you think and what your experiences are on this subject. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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What to do if you are too tensed to play the violin?

August 14, 2013 04:27

What if some unfortunate events happen and you are completely stressed out and too tensed to play the violin?

Everything you feel and everything that is going on inside you... will be made hearable if you pick up a violin.

This can be very confronting...

What if your hands are shaking?

What if there is just too much going on (and on) inside your head?

Remember in these times that music and playing the violin can be very healing for your mind and body.

I warmly recommend you to not neglect your violin practicing in those times. Keep playing and keep practicing... maybe in a different way than you are used to.

Watch my video for tips to use violin playing to heal and relax in difficult times.

I will also explain how the ancient Greeks used music to heal.

Please let me know if this is useful to you in the comments below.

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

2 replies

What if you use a lot of bow, but you still don't get the rich and warm tone you desire?

August 12, 2013 09:58

You want to make a nice full sound... so you use more bow... but it doesn't work.

If you are cooking a tasty dinner... than don't just use salt to make it tasty! To make a tasty dinner you should use several herbs and experiment with using them. (I know nothing about cooking, so it's a wild guess)

In this video I will discuss what you can change in your bowing to create rich and warm tone:

Season your tone with the following ingredients:

bow straight, not sloppy

use of bow hair (don't be afraid to use it all!)

weight of your arm (no pressure!)

speed and width of bowing

place of your bow on the string

Focus on one thing at a time and experiment a lot.

Please let me know what your experiences are in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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The Future of Holistic Violin Playing and Online Violin Learning with Heather Broadbent

August 10, 2013 00:39

In this episode of Violin Lounge TV I interview holistic violinist and online violin teacher Heather Broadbent.

See Heather's website Online Violin: www.onlineviolin.net

"WE are truly the instruments of instruments: the violin can be locked in the case and without us it's not getting played. WE really have to take care of US: our brain, our body and our instrument."

In this interview we talk about:

- The amazing effects of Skype learning and video training: You can have a breakthrough on something you are struggling with for years while having weekly real life lessons with a violin teacher.

- How Heather almost had to give up her career as a violinist due to a broken wrist, but it appeared to be a blessing in disguise and she became... a holistic violinist.

- The importance of a 'second opinion' on your violin play, because there are so many ways to learn something and you have to do it the way that resonates with you.

- Violinists shouldn't bang their heads against the wall if they can't master a certain skill... we talk about how to...

- Violin playing is hard enough as it is and our shared mission to make it easy, doable and accessible.

- We make a time capsule and talk about the future of Heather's Online Violin and Zlata's Violin Lounge within the context of violin playing and online violin learning. In this we predict an explosion of the violin through-out the world.

Now... we would like to hear from you! What do you think about the subjects discussed in the video? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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6 Tips to Improve the Tone on Your Violin

August 3, 2013 05:25

Hello Zlata. My name is Wendy. I’ve been playing violin for 19 months. Now I’m kind of lost because I don’t know what should I practice to improve the tone.
I think I didn't press the bow and my bowhold is relax too.
Overall I think I'm bowing right, I have watched many violin playing videos and I always pay attention to players posture.
If you have time to take a look at my video and give me some advices I’ll be really appreciated. Thank you again for being patient with a beginner like me.

Click here to see my previous video around tone improvement for beginners.

Click here to see Wendy’s video’s.

6 Tips to improve Wendy’s tone (and perhaps yours too)

Tip 1 Untighten your bow a little, so you can use the suspension system of your bow.

Tip 2 Your bow is pivoted, so you use just a little hair, use a little more hair to have a more full and rich sound

Tip 3 You bow at the upper half, perhaps you could bow more in the middle of the bow to have a more full sound

Tip 4 If you replace your strings, consider taking nylon or synthetic core strings. They will sound a bit warmer and more subtle. Also they will play more comfortable.

Tip 5 Your bow hold is relaxed and moves along the bow nicely, but you could try to make your fingers a bit more round and flexible.

Tip 6 Your right arm and shoulder seem to be a bit tensed. Try to relax your shoulder, so it goes down a bit. Make your arm heavy and bow from the weight of your arm, not the pressure. In this way you will have a more smooth bowing with more air.

I hope these tips will be useful to lots of violinists and violists!

It it useful for you? Please let me know in the comments below!

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

2 replies

How to Cross Strings without Noise

August 2, 2013 09:56

Dear violin teacher,
I would like to learn how to switch violin bow from string E to string D, and vice versa without generating any noise. Does the bow actually touch the string A during the transition? The skill is needed in playing Suzuki Violin Book 1 No.14 Bach Minuet 2.
Thanks you so much for your help!
Qi

How to cross strings without hearing them?

Also watch my previous video about crossing strings in general: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d60TLkStS0

Here's how to cross from the Ding to the Eing without the Aing making noise...

Tip 1: Make bowing and string crossing a separate movement.

Tip 2: If you use a bow stroke that leaves the string, your bow will be in the air when you cross the A string. You won't touch the A string. If you use a bow stroke that doesn't leave the string, than don't leave the string when crossing strings.

In this video I explain this exactly and will also advice you on practicing.

Love,

Zlata
Violinist and Skype violin teacher at Violin Lounge

PS: Do you have questions for me on violin or viola playing? Post a comment below or send an e-mail to info@violinlounge.com

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Are You an Expert Serving Violinists and/or Violists?

August 2, 2013 09:18

Until now I have made episodes of Violin Lounge TV answering questions from violinists and violists worldwide, but I would like to offer my viewers a lot more...