3. about blocking fingers. what are the pros and cons of using it versus independent fingerings? i learned this form my entire violin life (many methods use it), and now one respected group of violinists here in Brazil is telling me it's not good to use blocked fingers, because it causes too much tension no matter what you do to relax them. by blocked i mean keeping the previous fingers on the string when ascending a scale, for example, or put all 3 fingers when the music is asking for finger 3 only. they say i must put only one finger and leave the others near the string only.
Hi Beth, I am wondering what certain positions, especially the even-numbered ones, are good for. What can 2nd pos. do that 3rd can‘t and 4th that 5th can‘t. Thank you ever so much. Greetings from Germany
1. is it good or bad to start learning violin with sheet music? All for Strings books for example uses it from the very start. Or it's better to play with recordings trying to replicate them and just after some time start sheet music reading and music theory, like suzuki methodology? 2. is it good or bad right from the start to use a tuner to check the notes all the time as you play, and use it to train the muscle memory until you cannot need the tuner anymore? or is it better to train your ears without any tuner, never, ever (just using it to tuning the strings)?
Hello dear Beth Do I should press the string so hard when I want to do vibrato or i must press it softly...? I touch the rosin with tip of my fibgers to make them stick to the fingerboard during vibrato, if I dont do that my fingers glide and move up or down and I lost the pitch. Is it a bad way? Thank you❤
What to do, if you feel frustrated. Learning for one year. Still I sound bad. Maybe I sound right, but I listen to the pros playing , that's why I'm feeling ashamed of my playing. What should I do?
I’m doing a Sevcik bowing exercise, tre notes are slurred and the fourth is a full bow and all notes should be the same lengt and sound volume. So the fourth stroke should be fast and light, but my bow keeps bouncing in the middle. Do you have any tips?
Hi, Beth, I've been playing for about 2 years. When I listen to recordings of myself, those first few notes always sound "beginnerish" - probably because I'm not sure my finger is on the correct note and the resulting sound is hesitant. It sounds amateurish. How do you develop a confident, pure sound to start a piece?
Hi there good evening, Ive just started a week ago and have noticed that when I'm playing my bow bounces like if it were on a trampoline I have loosen up the hairs on my bow and have tighten them as well, how can I stop it from bouncing? Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it the weight and my pressure of my hand/arm that I have to control?
Absolutely! If I knew how to always play at my best level, I would write a book! Ultimately, warming up really well before you exercise self judgement is a must!
I'm having trouble with starting a piece with an up bow chord, and coming back to the chord for the repeat, after a long down bow. I have two problems: 1) at the start, bow bouncing when trying to land on both strings 2) for the retake: cannot find the correct right arm level without making noises on the other strings. Thank you!
For sure, I would have practiced WAYYYY more. And the nature of my practice would have been more thoughtful. Kids are horrible practicers, so in the scenario of wishing to do it all over again, I would wish that I had my 60 year old brain inside my 6 year old body! 😂
Seems like I want more of my chin over the chin rest. I have a small chin and not much space from chin to neck . My violin always feels like it's slipping and I squeeze to keep it there a lot ...I have tried numerous shoulder and chin rests . I'm always trying to get comfortable but so far no luck. I have a kink in my neck 24/7
Did you order the wave chin rest that I recommended in your previous question? Because the Wave extends further away from the instrument, it cradles more of the jaw. I think it would be great if you have a small chin.
@@violinlab I have four wave chin rests. 2 center Mount, 2 side mounts. Short and tall. I've tried everything under the sun. I'm getting the point where I'm pretty sure it's me. I squeeze everything. Chin, shoulder and thumb. I keep going back to my Hamburg style chin rest.
Hi Beth, is there any specific exercise or technique that might be useful in order to improve the extension of the 4th finger? Especially in 1st. position it's sometimes challenging to reach f or f# or c c#. I don't have a big hand. That's in advance Elena
I'm sorry I wasn't able to include your question this time around, but I did cover information about strengthening the muscles that can pull and extend the pinky. I hope you can watch that clip.
When sight-reading (to a basic degree) a known or familiar piece or just generally playing anything, I find myself either getting too focused into the sheet music or I look at my finger positions of my left hand on the fingerboard quite often, that my bow occasionally starts sliding off the "ideal" contact point on the strings. I know this almost immediately because the tone doesn't sound as resonant anymore or it sounds slightly fuzzy so I know to correct it. I am not sure whether I am using enough bow pressure? Do I not have enough rosin on the bow? How often should I be looking at the contact point of the strings as I am playing?
This is a very common problem, and occasionally I find myself losing a certain amount of bow control when I'm fully engaged with reading the music. One solution is to video record yourself to find out where the bow slips the most, then write in your music ("Bridge" or "Push out"), whatever visual cue that will remind you to control the bow stroke. But the good news is, since you're aware of the problem, you will fix it! The biggest stumbling block is simply not being aware.
@@violinlab @violinlab Hello Beth, thank you for your response. I don't know why it never occurred to me actually note down on the sheet music to aid me in that way but this will significantly improve everything for me. I just need to practise smarter, have a more proactive approach in listening and video record myself in short sessions more without always feeling like it's THE final performance. It's just that it is very challenging to co-ordinate everything simultaneously but I guess that all comes with the territory of beautiful violin playing. 🙂
How many hours generally does it take for strength to dull out. And does weather change how the violin sounds. It seems to me when it's cool or chili in my house my violin sounds thin. And when it's warm it sounds better. I'm never happy with my A string in third position it always sounds dull almost on all strings all the time maybe it's my violin or the way I play.
@@violinlab I'm so sorry I meant strings. I'm actually just concerned about a it's weird because in third position I'm never happy with the tone no matter what string it is and as a string gets older it seems to become more dull. This could just be me. Or it could be my violin or could be the strings. I just always wanted more heftier tone up in third position on the a string and I'm never getting that
My time is extremely limited one thing I make sure I do everyday is make sure my violin is in tune and wiped down clean. What is one thing after that I should prioritize if I just have a minute or two ?? ❤🎻thank you
Thanks for clarifying. I think if I had just a minute or two, my primary focus would be intonation. Honestly, a scale is the best format because it covers all the strings, all the finger patterns for a particular key, and you can add a myriad of bowing variations to get a little right arm practice while you try and play perfectly in tune. (Use a drone to help your ear and aural sense of tonality/key.
Unfortunately, I've never tried recent synthetic products. Historically, synthetic hair is performs under par. It just doesn't grab the hair near as well as horse hair, but perhaps the technology has improved.
It depends. If I'm in "performance mode" I definitely try to. But often I get bogged down in judging what is coming out of my violin. I do believe in doing it as much as possible, even in tedious practice exercises, and is still a concept that is aspirational for me. The reality is I often have to remind myself :)
@@violinlab Thank you so much for your answer I struggle quite a bit with it, but I have the feeling it almost magically improves my playing somewhat when doing it.
So I really don’t get how to do Martele bowing technique and even when I do get it in short periods I can’t put a left hand to it - any tips/ tricks ? 0:52
I didn't hear back, so ask me next time. If you can give a specific musical example it will help. There are many, many usages and meanings for martelé.
You might be referring to the technique of sautillé? Unfortunately, I won't be able to include your question this time around. But please repost for the next "Ask Me Anything".
@@violinlab thank you! Ok so I've been practicing the ending of Vivaldi's Summer for 2 years now, almost since I began playing. I'm struggling with the right hand mostly, as I'm a lefty and a guitar player. Lately I tried to place my hand a little bit higher on the bow. Instead of resting against the frog, my thumb is resting on the black leather wrap, with the whole hand a bit higher as a result. It seems to give me more control, the bow feels like it's shorter, and also a better sound, with a more even pressure against the strings, at least that's how it feels to me. Is it ok, whatever works, or am I picking up a bad habit? My bow is pernambucco, the cheapest there was, about 300€, maybe I wouldn't need to do that with a better bow, I can't tell since it's the only bow I know.
@@untartelette7545 It's ok to hold a little higher on the bow if it's more comfortable. I have colleagues who do this and play absolutely beautifully. Check out Midori's Bach Chaconne. Her thumb is also on the leather of the bow, not at the frog.
I appreciate your questions. I am wrapping up my responses so am not taking anymore questions for now. Stay tuned. I'll be posting answers by Friday!
3. about blocking fingers. what are the pros and cons of using it versus independent fingerings? i learned this form my entire violin life (many methods use it), and now one respected group of violinists here in Brazil is telling me it's not good to use blocked fingers, because it causes too much tension no matter what you do to relax them.
by blocked i mean keeping the previous fingers on the string when ascending a scale, for example, or put all 3 fingers when the music is asking for finger 3 only. they say i must put only one finger and leave the others near the string only.
How to progress faster and getting from intermediate to advance? It seems like we're never getting out of that intermediate fase :)
Hi Beth, I am wondering what certain positions, especially the even-numbered ones, are good for. What can 2nd pos. do that 3rd can‘t and 4th that 5th can‘t. Thank you ever so much. Greetings from Germany
HI
CAN YOU SHOW US HOW TO PERFORME A (BACK AND FORTH) BOW STORK AND KEEP A CONTINUOUS SOUND IN ONE NOTE ( if we have to play a long note)
THANK YOU
1. is it good or bad to start learning violin with sheet music? All for Strings books for example uses it from the very start. Or it's better to play with recordings trying to replicate them and just after some time start sheet music reading and music theory, like suzuki methodology?
2. is it good or bad right from the start to use a tuner to check the notes all the time as you play, and use it to train the muscle memory until you cannot need the tuner anymore? or is it better to train your ears without any tuner, never, ever (just using it to tuning the strings)?
Hello dear Beth
Do I should press the string so hard when I want to do vibrato or i must press it softly...?
I touch the rosin with tip of my fibgers to make them stick to the fingerboard during vibrato, if I dont do that my fingers glide and move up or down and I lost the pitch. Is it a bad way?
Thank you❤
What is the best way to develop sincronicity between left hand fingers and bow?
Hello,
Please tell me how to use the fourth finger. I have great difficulty to reach it’s position correctly. Thanks in advance.
How can i play more in tune, especially in high positions? What is the best way to practice this?
What to do, if you feel frustrated. Learning for one year. Still I sound bad. Maybe I sound right, but I listen to the pros playing , that's why I'm feeling ashamed of my playing. What should I do?
Please make a video on how can we speed up trills on violin ?
Thank you !
from Iran 🌹
I’m doing a Sevcik bowing exercise, tre notes are slurred and the fourth is a full bow and all notes should be the same lengt and sound volume. So the fourth stroke should be fast and light, but my bow keeps bouncing in the middle. Do you have any tips?
Hi, Beth, I've been playing for about 2 years. When I listen to recordings of myself, those first few notes always sound "beginnerish" - probably because I'm not sure my finger is on the correct note and the resulting sound is hesitant. It sounds amateurish. How do you develop a confident, pure sound to start a piece?
Hi there good evening, Ive just started a week ago and have noticed that when I'm playing my bow bounces like if it were on a trampoline I have loosen up the hairs on my bow and have tighten them as well, how can I stop it from bouncing? Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it the weight and my pressure of my hand/arm that I have to control?
Is it normal to feel like you're doing great one day and the next day feel like you can't do anything right?
Absolutely! If I knew how to always play at my best level, I would write a book! Ultimately, warming up really well before you exercise self judgement is a must!
I'm having trouble with starting a piece with an up bow chord, and coming back to the chord for the repeat, after a long down bow. I have two problems: 1) at the start, bow bouncing when trying to land on both strings 2) for the retake: cannot find the correct right arm level without making noises on the other strings. Thank you!
Can you send me a copy of your music? violinlab@gmail.com
What would you do different if you had to learn how to play the violin all over again as a beginner?
For sure, I would have practiced WAYYYY more. And the nature of my practice would have been more thoughtful. Kids are horrible practicers, so in the scenario of wishing to do it all over again, I would wish that I had my 60 year old brain inside my 6 year old body! 😂
Seems like I want more of my chin over the chin rest. I have a small chin and not much space from chin to neck . My violin always feels like it's slipping and I squeeze to keep it there a lot ...I have tried numerous shoulder and chin rests . I'm always trying to get comfortable but so far no luck. I have a kink in my neck 24/7
Did you order the wave chin rest that I recommended in your previous question? Because the Wave extends further away from the instrument, it cradles more of the jaw. I think it would be great if you have a small chin.
@@violinlab I have four wave chin rests. 2 center Mount, 2 side mounts. Short and tall. I've tried everything under the sun. I'm getting the point where I'm pretty sure it's me. I squeeze everything. Chin, shoulder and thumb. I keep going back to my Hamburg style chin rest.
Hi Beth, is there any specific exercise or technique that might be useful in order to improve the extension of the 4th finger? Especially in 1st. position it's sometimes challenging to reach f or f# or c c#. I don't have a big hand. That's in advance Elena
I'm sorry I wasn't able to include your question this time around, but I did cover information about strengthening the muscles that can pull and extend the pinky. I hope you can watch that clip.
@@violinlab tks:-)
When sight-reading (to a basic degree) a known or familiar piece or just generally playing anything, I find myself either getting too focused into the sheet music or I look at my finger positions of my left hand on the fingerboard quite often, that my bow occasionally starts sliding off the "ideal" contact point on the strings. I know this almost immediately because the tone doesn't sound as resonant anymore or it sounds slightly fuzzy so I know to correct it. I am not sure whether I am using enough bow pressure? Do I not have enough rosin on the bow? How often should I be looking at the contact point of the strings as I am playing?
This is a very common problem, and occasionally I find myself losing a certain amount of bow control when I'm fully engaged with reading the music. One solution is to video record yourself to find out where the bow slips the most, then write in your music ("Bridge" or "Push out"), whatever visual cue that will remind you to control the bow stroke. But the good news is, since you're aware of the problem, you will fix it! The biggest stumbling block is simply not being aware.
@@violinlab @violinlab Hello Beth, thank you for your response. I don't know why it never occurred to me actually note down on the sheet music to aid me in that way but this will significantly improve everything for me. I just need to practise smarter, have a more proactive approach in listening and video record myself in short sessions more without always feeling like it's THE final performance. It's just that it is very challenging to co-ordinate everything simultaneously but I guess that all comes with the territory of beautiful violin playing. 🙂
How many hours generally does it take for strength to dull out.
And does weather change how the violin sounds. It seems to me when it's cool or chili in my house my violin sounds thin. And when it's warm it sounds better. I'm never happy with my A string in third position it always sounds dull almost on all strings all the time maybe it's my violin or the way I play.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by "strength to dull out"? thanks.
@@violinlab I'm so sorry I meant strings. I'm actually just concerned about a it's weird because in third position I'm never happy with the tone no matter what string it is and as a string gets older it seems to become more dull. This could just be me. Or it could be my violin or could be the strings. I just always wanted more heftier tone up in third position on the a string and I'm never getting that
My time is extremely limited one thing I make sure I do everyday is make sure my violin is in tune and wiped down clean. What is one thing after that I should prioritize if I just have a minute or two ??
❤🎻thank you
Do you mean what to prioritize in terms of practice or violin maintenance?
@@violinlab practice
Thanks for clarifying. I think if I had just a minute or two, my primary focus would be intonation. Honestly, a scale is the best format because it covers all the strings, all the finger patterns for a particular key, and you can add a myriad of bowing variations to get a little right arm practice while you try and play perfectly in tune. (Use a drone to help your ear and aural sense of tonality/key.
Beth, to go full vegan, what do you think of the new synthetic bow hair products?
Unfortunately, I've never tried recent synthetic products. Historically, synthetic hair is performs under par. It just doesn't grab the hair near as well as horse hair, but perhaps the technology has improved.
Is it difficult to start learnng the violin at 35?
Do you sing the piece in your head while playing?
It depends. If I'm in "performance mode" I definitely try to. But often I get bogged down in judging what is coming out of my violin. I do believe in doing it as much as possible, even in tedious practice exercises, and is still a concept that is aspirational for me. The reality is I often have to remind myself :)
@@violinlab Thank you so much for your answer I struggle quite a bit with it, but I have the feeling it almost magically improves my playing somewhat when doing it.
So I really don’t get how to do Martele bowing technique and even when I do get it in short periods I can’t put a left hand to it - any tips/ tricks ? 0:52
Hi! Are you talking about martelé back and forth bowing or all on an up bow?
I didn't hear back, so ask me next time. If you can give a specific musical example it will help. There are many, many usages and meanings for martelé.
@@violinlab eg Famous czardas passage
You might be referring to the technique of sautillé? Unfortunately, I won't be able to include your question this time around. But please repost for the next "Ask Me Anything".
Damn it I missed it and I actually had a question
THere's time. Ask your question.
@@violinlab thank you! Ok so I've been practicing the ending of Vivaldi's Summer for 2 years now, almost since I began playing. I'm struggling with the right hand mostly, as I'm a lefty and a guitar player. Lately I tried to place my hand a little bit higher on the bow. Instead of resting against the frog, my thumb is resting on the black leather wrap, with the whole hand a bit higher as a result. It seems to give me more control, the bow feels like it's shorter, and also a better sound, with a more even pressure against the strings, at least that's how it feels to me. Is it ok, whatever works, or am I picking up a bad habit? My bow is pernambucco, the cheapest there was, about 300€, maybe I wouldn't need to do that with a better bow, I can't tell since it's the only bow I know.
@@untartelette7545 It's ok to hold a little higher on the bow if it's more comfortable. I have colleagues who do this and play absolutely beautifully. Check out Midori's Bach Chaconne. Her thumb is also on the leather of the bow, not at the frog.
Dear@@violinlab, that was a game changer for me. Thank you so much!