September 2013
Play Comfortably with Gelrest
September 30, 2013 09:31Comfortable playing = More practicing = Better results (and no pain or red mark from your violin)
Zlata likes to review products made by people who want to make violinists and violists more comfortable. Gelrest is one if those products. Zlata uses it herself for over a year and in this video she tells you what she thinks. Maybe the Gelrest can be useful to you too... Just watch the video to find out...
Go to the website of Gelrest!
Click here to buy your very own Gelrest!
What do you think about the Gelrest? Please let me know in the comments!
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
1 reply
Should You Use Arm, Wrist or Finger Vibrato? Or all of them?
September 27, 2013 01:49Are you confused by the three types of vibrato?
How can you pick between these three types and develop your very own vibrato style?
Watch this video and learn! ;)
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
6 Steps to Select Your Ideal Violin or Viola Chinrest and Play Comfortably
September 25, 2013 10:36Is you violin not optimally on your shoulder?
Do you have pain during of after practicing the violin or viola?
Do you sometimes doubt if you have the right chinrest?
In this video I will share with you 6 steps to select your ideal violin or viola chinrest and start playing comfortable...
You're having what I'm having? Would you like to have the same chinrest, Gelrest and shoulder rest that Zlata on the video has?
My chinrest is a Guarneri model ebony chinrest.
On the chinrest I've got a Gelrest to make it extra comfortable.
My shoulder rest is a Wolf Forte Secundo shoulder rest.
Select your ideal chinrest in 6 steps... you need to find out the following...
1) The right place of the chinrest under your chin or jaw
2) The right place of the chinrest on your violin or viola
3) The right shape of your chinrest
4) The right height of your chinrest
5) The right material of your chinrest
6) The right combination of chinrest and shoulder rest (or shoulder pad... or nothing...)
Happy comfortable violin and viola playing, peeps!
Is it useful to you? Please let me know in the comments!
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
Can it be Too Early to Start Learning Vibrato? Yes!
September 24, 2013 04:27It might be so tempting to start learning vibrato as soon as possible.
However... Did you know starting too early can ruin your technique?
Watch this video to find out what is a good moment to start learning vibrato.
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
5 Tips for Free Tuner iPhone Apps for Musicians
September 22, 2013 07:27You don't need to buy a separate tuner device when you use these free tuner apps on your iPhone... and you will always have your tuner with you!
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
What To Do if the Ball of Your Thumb Hurts While Playing Violin, Viola or Cello
September 21, 2013 06:49Does the ball of your thumb (thenar eminence muscle) hurts while or after playing violin, viola or cello?
Do you feel your hand cramps and your bowing becomes stiff?
Watch this video to learn how you can prevent this and play relaxed without pain.
Pain? No gain!
Was this episode of Violin Lounge TV 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
4 Tips on Bach's Gavotte and Rondeau
September 18, 2013 11:06
Hi Zlata, I enjoy your violin education clips on youtube. Will you please take a look at my playing and give me some critique? Thank you sincerely, Li Child
In this video I give Li (and you) 4 tips for playing Bach partitas and more specifically, the "Gavotte and Rondeau" from Johann Sebastian Bach's 3rd partita BWV 1006.
This is the video that Li sent:
This is the video of Gidon Kremer playing this piece. I mentioned his performance as a source of inspiration:
Is this useful for you? What are your experiences playing Bach partita's? Do you have some additional tips for Li? What is your favorite performance? 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
How to Unfold and Fold a Music Stand?
September 15, 2013 10:40Lots of people struggle with unfolding and folding their music stand, but they think asking about it is stupid... so I made a video about how to unfold and fold different types of music stands.
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
What is Position Play? Some Basics...
September 13, 2013 05:42
Violin Lounge TV Q&A about the basics of positions:
"Hello, Its me Valyncia McNeil with, yet another question. Since I am teaching myself to play the violin. I would like to know the meanings of 1st position, 2nd position and 3rd position. What does it look like on musical measures? and how does it apply when playing? Much thanks."
What are positions?
What are the advantages of position playing?
When can you learn to play in position?
How is position play notated in sheet music?
And a little viola joke about why violists don't like Kama Sutra...
Is it useful to you? Please let me know in the comments!
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
Handy and Free iPhone Apps for Musicians
September 12, 2013 09:22
Just some tips around iPhone apps that can come in handy for musicians. Please share in the comments below your favorite apps (iPhone or Android)!
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
What if You Can't Rotate Your Arm/Wrist/Hand Enough to Play Violin?
September 8, 2013 07:05
Violin Lounge TV Q&A about rotating your right arm, wrist and/or hand enough to play the violin or viola:
"Hey :)I am after my first month of learning and I occurred an issue I just can't rotate my left hand enough, even my violin teacher does not know how to solve that.
Would you like to see a pictures or video of my left hand while I am holding a violin?
I am really worried that I won't be able to play because of that."
Oooooh, it's a problem violinist struggle with on ALL levels (beginning to really advanced), lot's of teacher don't know how to solve it... while it's SO simple.
In this video I will share a simple exercise that will learn EVERYBODY to pivot their lower arm enough to easily play the violin... even with a nice round fourth finger.
Please share this with the world, because I don't want people to struggle if the solution is SO simple! (it hurts me deeply to see people struggling unnecessary)
Is it useful to you? Please let me know in the comments!
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
How to Make Your Bow Hold More Flexible and Bow Like a Pro?
September 6, 2013 04:47Violin Lounge TV Q&A about getting a more flexible bow hold:
Hi Ziata I was wondering if you have any advice for wrist and finger flexibility when playing with regards to bow hold as my fingers and wrist are relatively static when bowing. Thank you kind? regards Rajeeve New Zealand. P..S also any exercises you recommend. Thank you
Just if you didn't know: A bow hold is NOT rigid, it's flexible! You can better name it bow movement instead of bow hold.
So... how can you get a flexible bow hold and start bowing like pro?
Watch this video to find some tips I share with you.
Is this video useful for you? Please share your thoughts 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
How to Get a Strong Left Pinky for Violin Playing?
September 4, 2013 07:39
Violin Lounge TV Q&A about training your left pinky:
"What can I do to have a more flexible pinky?Exercises maybe to make it stronger, instead of just tapping it down repeatedly as a 4th finger while playing? When I tap it down, it's not flat but a rather rounder shape like it should be but it feels so weak!Actually applys to other fingers too, to make them more flexible but the pinky is yet the weakest of all :(I'm even thinking about buying a finger exerciser on the internet haha :)"
- Bianca
So... should you get that finger exerciser? Can that hurt?
How to get a stronger left pinky?
How to play in such a way that you don't feel that your left pinky is too weak?
Watch this video to see some strategies I share around how to train your left pinky and how you can burden your left pinky a little less playing the violin or viola.
Is it useful to you? Please let me know in the comments!
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
Some Help on a Tschaikovsky Violin Concerto Cadenza
September 1, 2013 08:29Violin Lounge TV Q&A about a cadenza of the Tschaikovsky Violin Concerto in D:
"Hello there Zlata! I am currently self-learning the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35. I'm having problems with the fingerings for the chords (double notes?) between D and E and lines 6-9 of the cadenza. Could you kindly offer any tips as to how to tackle these or fingerings if possible? I'm using the version attached: it's the Ševcík revision, and I like that it offers many fingerings. Thank you very much! - Vincent Han"
In this video I will share with you 4 strategies that will help you tackle this difficult piece and other pieces in the future!
1. Know what intervals you are playing
2. Try different fingerings
3. See you can write down something that is enharmonic the same
4. Practice scales of chromatic thirds (for example from Carl Flesch's book)
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
More entries: October 2013 • August 2013
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