Hey there, a student of mine just told me about this video - thanks for the kind words and the mention! 🤗 I completely agree with your approach to violin playing, great channel! Subscribed!
Hey!! Thanks for dropping in. I’ve really appreciated your videos and your playing for while. I think we have similar approaches to playing from exposure to the Zukerman crew, though you more directly than I. I spent a summer with Kopec and Kalinovsky. They completely reordered my mind on how to think about technique, and it’s influenced me to this day. In any case, thanks for the kind words, and I hope our paths cross some time. 😊
Looking at this, I think my bow hold is really too relaxed. I already thought so before your video, but this made it even more clear. Will definitely try pulling up my fingers more. Tried so earlier to see the benefits to tone quality, but I unconsciously always fall back to that 'too relaxed' hold. Time to practise, tyvm!
Glad to hear! Always remember, however, that these are "tricks" or hacks that can help or not help in specific circumstances, so if you don't think it works then it isn't something you have to do, but it is worth trying out!
I just heard that nice ssss sound while practicing some slow etude on the e string! Very subtle. Less cosistent for now on the other strings - It's either harder to produce or percieve. Will keep trying.
Don't try to produce it, per se, just listen for it while doing slow strokes and trying to focus the tone. Also playing a little closer to the bridge helps. Once you hear it, you won't be able to not hear it.
So when we listen for that ssss sound of the bow on the strings (which I have and I hate...) is the end goal to listen and try to lessen that sound or amplify it? Or simply just notice it? Cause I definitely notice it.... I thought I had a crappy bow 🤣
the white noise like or the edgy noise is a byproduct of the violin string vibration which is normal. I think we can also use napkin to plug our left ear to filter some sound, and I find this improve my tone and improve intonation somehow (I think the ear is less loaded so easier to focus). After practicing with a earplug I can observe that this noise becomes more obvious. Interesting thing is, it is hard to find a good earplug that does not muffle the overtones. I finally resort to toilet roll lol.
Outside of large ensembles where you sit in front of timpani, I don't find much benefit from earplugs, however playing with a metal practice mute and really open up your ears.
@@MurphyMusicAcademy Sorry I did not get this. Do you mean use a metal mute? I do find a good mute that reduce the volume but maintain most of the violin timbre. But isn’t the mute detrimental to right hand bow technique?
It's an underlying, non-resonant, very faint "scraping" sound of the bow hair against the strings. It becomes a little more apparent the closer you play to the bridge, but listening for it really helps people to develop their sound. If you don't focus the sound enough you won't hear it, but also if you press too hard and choke the sound you won't hear it either, so it is a good thing to listen for to help orient yourself
@@JohanJohnJohnson not really. The purpose of this is for longer strokes and developing general tone quality. I have my students listen for it when I’m trying to get a more powerful, focused sound without choking or being inconsistent.
@@MurphyMusicAcademy oh okay got it👍 btw I already noticed a big change in my tone using your ssss method. It’s just wonderful, so thank you so much :)
When you say to listen to the "hiss" of the bow against the string, do you mean one should try to avoid it, embrace it, or just be hyperconscious of it?
I think we should make this (the radio white noise like) more consistent (clear and even especially bowing near the bridge). Some people say the is the sign of good overtone production. But be careful this noise is not the same as scratching noise.
I generally feel that you should both listen for it and embrace it. I think it just helps orient the violinist's ear in just the right way and helps them figure out just how much pressure they can put on the string to focus the sound without "cracking" it. Also, as I said, it something that you don't really hear unless you are quite close to the fiddle, so you as the violinist and search for it and not worry about it getting to your audience.
Hey there, a student of mine just told me about this video - thanks for the kind words and the mention! 🤗 I completely agree with your approach to violin playing, great channel! Subscribed!
Hey!! Thanks for dropping in. I’ve really appreciated your videos and your playing for while. I think we have similar approaches to playing from exposure to the Zukerman crew, though you more directly than I. I spent a summer with Kopec and Kalinovsky. They completely reordered my mind on how to think about technique, and it’s influenced me to this day.
In any case, thanks for the kind words, and I hope our paths cross some time. 😊
I like that you are such an encouraged teacher! Very precious :)
I do my best!
You have an incredible talent, and wonderful ways to teach!! 😎🔥😊
Great channel you deserve more subscribers your tips are always helpful and straight to the point thanks a lot
Brilliant advice actually. And very well played/demonstrated. Thank you
Looking at this, I think my bow hold is really too relaxed. I already thought so before your video, but this made it even more clear. Will definitely try pulling up my fingers more. Tried so earlier to see the benefits to tone quality, but I unconsciously always fall back to that 'too relaxed' hold. Time to practise, tyvm!
Glad to hear! Always remember, however, that these are "tricks" or hacks that can help or not help in specific circumstances, so if you don't think it works then it isn't something you have to do, but it is worth trying out!
I just heard that nice ssss sound while practicing some slow etude on the e string! Very subtle. Less cosistent for now on the other strings - It's either harder to produce or percieve. Will keep trying.
Don't try to produce it, per se, just listen for it while doing slow strokes and trying to focus the tone. Also playing a little closer to the bridge helps. Once you hear it, you won't be able to not hear it.
Great helps here Tobiah. Thank you! G Ire
Thank you!
Wow, this is literally the Ling Ling workout with Chloe Chua
Really? Lol, I have actually not watched that video.
you are great presenter my friend
Thanks for the tips!
When you say you can be "too relaxed", how often do you actually see that?
Very rarely. Out of my 25 private students, I can think of 2 that have this problem
@@MurphyMusicAcademy And I assume they're young children, right?
@@ur.kr.2814 One is, but one is actually a guy my age. He's just really chill
So when we listen for that ssss sound of the bow on the strings (which I have and I hate...) is the end goal to listen and try to lessen that sound or amplify it? Or simply just notice it? Cause I definitely notice it.... I thought I had a crappy bow 🤣
the white noise like or the edgy noise is a byproduct of the violin string vibration which is normal. I think we can also use napkin to plug our left ear to filter some sound, and I find this improve my tone and improve intonation somehow (I think the ear is less loaded so easier to focus). After practicing with a earplug I can observe that this noise becomes more obvious. Interesting thing is, it is hard to find a good earplug that does not muffle the overtones. I finally resort to toilet roll lol.
Outside of large ensembles where you sit in front of timpani, I don't find much benefit from earplugs, however playing with a metal practice mute and really open up your ears.
@@MurphyMusicAcademy Sorry I did not get this. Do you mean use a metal mute? I do find a good mute that reduce the volume but maintain most of the violin timbre. But isn’t the mute detrimental to right hand bow technique?
I tried to fill in the web form for lessons but it wouldn’t let me add the correct phone number. Can’t think how else to contact you.
Admin@murphymusicacademy.org
Very nice content
Thank you!
What’s ssss sound? Now I’m super curious haha
It's an underlying, non-resonant, very faint "scraping" sound of the bow hair against the strings. It becomes a little more apparent the closer you play to the bridge, but listening for it really helps people to develop their sound. If you don't focus the sound enough you won't hear it, but also if you press too hard and choke the sound you won't hear it either, so it is a good thing to listen for to help orient yourself
@@MurphyMusicAcademy Does that also happen when playing with fast detache bows or even spiccato?
@@JohanJohnJohnson not really. The purpose of this is for longer strokes and developing general tone quality. I have my students listen for it when I’m trying to get a more powerful, focused sound without choking or being inconsistent.
@@MurphyMusicAcademy
oh okay got it👍 btw I already noticed a big change in my tone using your ssss method. It’s just wonderful, so thank you so much :)
@@JohanJohnJohnson haha, that is great. It works way better than you would think it should😁
When you say to listen to the "hiss" of the bow against the string, do you mean one should try to avoid it, embrace it, or just be hyperconscious of it?
I think we should make this (the radio white noise like) more consistent (clear and even especially bowing near the bridge). Some people say the is the sign of good overtone production. But be careful this noise is not the same as scratching noise.
Very true, in fact, if you press too hard and scratch or choke the sound, you won't hear it.
I generally feel that you should both listen for it and embrace it. I think it just helps orient the violinist's ear in just the right way and helps them figure out just how much pressure they can put on the string to focus the sound without "cracking" it. Also, as I said, it something that you don't really hear unless you are quite close to the fiddle, so you as the violinist and search for it and not worry about it getting to your audience.
@@MurphyMusicAcademy That makes sense! Thanks as always for the content!
Brilliant advice actually. And very well played/demonstrated. Thanks