After one year, still very much a beginner

August 18, 2007 at 5:32 AM

Hello. I'm on a Bourree piece by Handel on the Suzuki book. It seems straight forward, in G Major, 4 beats to a measure with the quarter note getting the beat. It has 48 measures, about 170 notes counting repeats. It has many dynamic changes, some slurred notes, etc...

The passages that are problematic to me occur in the 18th through the 20th measure. They're slurred rythmic half, quarter, & eighth notes. I always seem to wind up either with no bow left or when I end up playing on the upper part of the bow, the sound dwindles and waddles. I probably need to play more loose or perhaps memorize the lines. Or visualize playing the passage or constantly hum it or play the passages endlessly. I'll probably be at it for many days.

I've been playing for a little over a year now and it's probably time I learned 3rd position and/or vibrato. I don't know. There's so much to be worked on -- scales, arpeggios, intonation, the stupid metronome, sight-reading, rythm. It's endless. But I'm having a good time, nonetheless.

On a positive note, the left arm, elbow, hand that I hurt nearly two months ago seems slooooooowly to be getting getter. But it's like pulling teeth. It's excrutiating. I wanted my arm to be better yesterday. As a precaution, I've only been practicing every other day and on the times I practice, I limit it to a half hour. Once my arm gets better(knock on wood), maybe I can go back to my old practice routine.

And since I haven't been practicing as much I went on the internet and Tarisio.com recently had an auction and I ended up being the only bidder on "A Violin" as described by the auction house. I thought it looked good, and I had no idea what the sound was like. It had no bridge, no tailpiece, no chin rest, but it was cheap as I was the only bidder.

I should have known better. But when I received it, I was pleased with the way it looked. Now how about the sound? I took apart my present violin and transferred everything that the new violin didn't have. It sounded OK, if a bit muffled. I reversed everything to the way they were and brought the violin to a local luthier, thinking he could fix the sound.

According to the upper wall of this violin shop that I visited, Roland Feller has won numerous tone and workmanship awards. Apparently he is an accomplished luthier. I recently read an article that he is the sole luthier for a Guarneri Del Gesu "The David." This violin was owned by Jascha Heifetz who later donated it to a San Francisco Museum for the rest of us to gawk at, and for Mr. Feller, I assume on retainer, to care for.

Mr. Feller is a very nice man. He's fondled many Stradivari violins I presume and certainly a certain Guarneri. And here he was in front of me ever so kindly discussing the merits of my humble "A Violin" from Tarisio Auction House.

I knew it wasn't good when this very nice man (really by all accounts) seemed to have a pained look on his face. After several utterances back and forth between Mr. Feller and myself, and Mr. Feller measuring this and that on the violin he said to me "How can I break the news to you." Indeed.

Someone had shortened the violin neck. He explained as I shifted down, my hand would be lower and thus more difficult to play. Indeed.

I knew I should have played it first and if I liked it or some expert on tone who isn't the seller or isn't on commission from the seller nodded approvingly, then yeah consider a purchase. But the picture on Tarisio.com looked so alluring.....it had a nice muted red/orange, about 100 years old (confirmed by Mr. Feller). But as it stands, it would cost a couple hundred dollars to replace the fingerboard and we didn't even get to the price of lengthening the violin neck a wee bit to get it to standard size.

Yep, I think I'll stick to the violin I've been practicing with for now. At least I played that one first before buying.

From William Yap
Posted on August 19, 2007 at 3:29 AM

Perhaps it's a bit too early to start vibrato after first year?

Make metronome your best friend!

Yeah, I would get an expert opinion before buying a violin again. Mine is slightly longer, making double stops a bit harder.

Good luck and have fun with the violin!

From Albert Justice
Posted on August 19, 2007 at 6:51 AM

Find the thread on improving "How to Improve Tone"--search for it.... It will help you with slurred notes. Wait until you can feel the string... 2. Go painfully slowly in doing the first until you master it. 3. Practice open strings playing the 7 planes--I'll explain. The E has a plane, the E-A has a double stop plane, and on across the strings.

4. Do not raise your right shoulder. 5. Only make the smallest motions with your right elbow in making string changes as well as playing through the planes/double stops. Stop. And immerse your self in just how little motion is really involved with the elbow.

6. Hold your bow lightly and with good form("like holding a small bird"). 7. Move your bow purposefully, slowly and minimize any un-needed motion for now; and, practice some slurs up-bow/down-bow on something very slow implementing the above.

7. Practice all this for about 5 minutes a day for a couple months.. . Hope this helps.

From Oliver Quilala
Posted on August 20, 2007 at 3:09 AM

Ah, the metronome. That thing always seems to mock me. Every time I play with the metronome, I get to thinking, "Am I still on the beat or did I get ahead of it, or am I behind it?" Of course my frustration boils and I stop. But, the metronome keeps ticking-ticking-ticking, tick-tick-tick-tick..., MOCKING me. The metronome neither commiserates nor empathises with my situation, a very cold device. But, I'll try to make it my friend like you said. It might take a decade or so though.

Thanks for the seven plane slurring advice. I've tried it for a few minutes and I can see how it can help listening for the notes when slurring. I like point #5, every good violinist I've seen whether in front of me or on youtube.com, come to think about it, seem to take to that point very well.

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After one year, still very much a beginner

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