my daily routine--is it good?

November 16, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Hi,

As I mentioned before, I have been playing for almost 5 years (4 1/2 to be exact). My teacher comes once a week to give me a 45 min. lesson, then the rest of the week I work on my own. I try to practice every day but that's not always realistic for a mom with two young kids!

Anyway, I wanted to get your opinion on the routine I'm following. Basically, do you think it's good? Am I missing something? Is there something else I should include in my practice?

Here's a brief description of the books and exercises I'm doing:

Sevcik Violin Studies
Opus 1, Part 1
(left hand/finger exercises or ‘gym’)
I work on only one measure per week. First without legato, then in two's, then in fours, until I do legato with the 8 notes. I repeat this several times.

Sevcik Violin Studies
Opus 2, Part 1
(right hand/bow arm)
I play one etude per week.

Sevcik Violin Studies
Op. 1, Part 2
(2nd and 3rd positions)
I work on one bar per week, repeating each measure twice withour legato and twice with legato.

Arthur Seybold
op. 182
Part 3
(more difficult studies in 1st position)
One etude per 1-2 weeks, depending on level of difficulty or how much I've practiced that week.

Arthur Seybold
op. 182
Part VI
(studies in the first three positions)
Same as above.

I end my practice by playing a musical piece, which changes every few weeks. Right now it’s:

Concertino
in ungarischer Weise
by O. Rieding, Op. 21
Instead of playing the whole concerto at once I go slowly and move in parts. This week I'm working on the first 5-6 bars.

My teacher is wonderful--by this I mean she's firm, demanding and encouraging at the same time --but I'm curious to get your thoughts.

Thanks!

Mayra

From Tom Holzman
Posted on November 16, 2007 at 7:48 PM

It is very difficult to comment, not knowing your level, etc. If your teacher is happy with this and you feel you are making progress, I would hesitate to second-guess. Good luck!

From Roy Sonne
Posted on November 17, 2007 at 3:01 AM

Itlooks like you have a fine, comprehensive menu of technical material, although I'm not familiar with the Seybold studies. I would hope that you have a good balance between technical material and repertoire in your practice. My feeling is that half you practice time should be devoted to technical material and half to music every day. Included in the musical half should be some time of just playing past or present repertoire from beginning to end, expressing the music and enjoying it. After all, why do we play the violin? The reward and the joy of music should be a constant part of our life, not something which we hope to have in the future.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on November 17, 2007 at 5:40 AM

Playing only one bar per week of an exercise sounds strange to me. I agree with the previous commenter that you should have a balance between technical studies and "real" music, music for it's own sake. I think you should be playing a greater proportion of "real" music. I apologize for second guessing your teacher. My method of teaching is just different from your teacher's method.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on November 17, 2007 at 1:45 PM

Initially had the same impression as Roy and Pauline, that *if it were me* I'd want to be playing more repertoire. (And in fact when it is me, that is how it goes).

But as I'm thinking about it more, I've also just started taking lessons again (after 8 years of no lessons--but I'm not exactly a beginner, I played in high school and college, then took time off to get a PhD and have 2 kids). And I'm feeling sort of starved for someone to put me on a nice technical practice routine and make me stick to it. I discussed Schradieck and Sitt with my teacher and I told her "I want some technical woodshedding. I don't get bored that easily." But I also paradoxically have difficulty coming up with that sort of routine on my own. As you said, when you've got two young kids, it's hard to find the time to practice. Sometimes just having a routine there spelled out that you can just execute when you have a free moment can make the difference between practicing and not. So, from the mom-with-two-kids' adult student point of view, I think your routine sounds pretty good!

From Mayra Calvani
Posted on November 17, 2007 at 8:11 PM

Thank you all for your helpful, thoughtful comments!

What you say about having more musical pieces is probably true--at least, you've made me more aware of it now. Maybe I don't notice it very much because I actually enjoy the technique exercises and the etudes themselves are very musical. But after reading your comments I looked for some older musical pieces (I couldn't find what I wanted and settled for Suzuki II) and started to play. Now that the holidays are coming I'll probably start playing Christmas tunes.

But yes, Karen, you're right! It's true that having a set routine is very important in my case. I know it sounds silly, but I insist my teacher write for me my weekly homework in a notebook, as if I were a little kid. It does keep me on my toes! :-)

Another thing is, it was really frustrating to be unable to play musical pieces... but after I increased the technical exercises, playing music has become easier--so this is a big reward. I have noticed a HUGE improvement this year after starting the Seybold studies. For instance, pieces that were unaproachable before I'm able to tackle now.

I just love those Seybold etudes--they're actually etudes from Corelli, Schloming, Kreutzer, Meerts, Wohlfahrt, etc. Some are really little jewels.

Paulina... your comment got my attention: "Playing only one bar per week of an exercise sounds strange to me." Is it because it's very little? I agree it is, but I guess I have to be realistic about my progress. My teacher says that I should do those sevcik finger exercises until the fingers pretty much move quickly on their own. For me to accomplish this, I can only handle one per week (though I will work on it again and again every day). By the end of the week I can handle the bar really well. Again, my problem is lack of time.

Thanks again!

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my daily routine--is it good?

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