Upper Strings Beginners' Thread, For learners up to Grade 3 standard Options

[elisabeth_rb]

So, here we are again, starting a new thread for violin and viola beginners! Thought I'd start again rather than dig out the old one, esp. as we have a lot of new beginners and, if Jo is really going for her grade 5 soon, then I no longer think she qualifies!!!! I think we can call up to Grade 3 the beginners' level. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Anyway, Claudia, how are you getting on with your first lot of prac? I did pizz to start with too, although it was with a different teacher in those days. I don't know the book you're doing and I confess to wishing we were doing the same books as then we could curse the same hard bits and I might get some more motivation as I'd feel I really ought to keep somewhat ahead of you, given that I've been learning for 18 months already. I have been very ill most of the time, so have some excuse, but I know E's keen to push me forward and I don't blame her one little bit. I must drive her mad at times! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) At least I go 98% on my Grade 2 theory, that's something I've achieved, but that's just SOOOOOOOO much easier than learning to play the viola.

The pencil bow-hold exercises are really good. Have you done the bit about shaking water off your hand and picking up an over-ripe berry as well?

BTW, what other musical background do you have, (if any?)

And how are all our other pre-Grade 3 violinists and violists getting along?

[Babybird2]

I'm getting on great thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Will do some more practice later (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Shaking water off my hands and picking up an over ripe berry sounds very familiar to me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
I'm quite keen to move forward though but I know it's not going to be as easy as it was to get started with flute.
Got a lesson on Wednesday but then not for two weeks as E is on holiday one week and I am the next...

As for my musical background... I played recorder at school (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I took up flute one and a half years ago, got my Grade 2 last year and might do grade 4 either in November or June. I've also done my grade 5 theory, did that in June.

[Catherine in Norfolk]

Hi. I have returned to learning the violin after a 45 year break, so I had to start from, "you hold the bow like this, you put the violin under your chin like this", again. I wish every day that I had not given up when I was a child, but I did, so I am now two months into relearning. I had just scraped through my grade 2 with what was described in the examiner's comments as "a marginal pass", when I quit.

I have a teacher I like, and I enjoy playing again so that's a start. I don't really know how far I have progressed yet because I don't have much to compare it with. The fingering is coming back to me better than the bowing is. I did make the mistake of recording my playing a couple of days ago, and it does not sound so good to me recorded as it does when I am playing, so plainly I have been deluding myself. The most obvious problem is that it sounds as though I am rigid with fear when I am playing, there is nothing relaxed about the sound, so I shall have to work on that. My teacher keeps telling me to relax, now I see what she means. (But my teenage son does rather kindly say that it just a cheap dictaphone and my playing sounds better in person, or perhaps he is just trying for more pocket money.)

The rest of my musical background? I also quit playing the recorder when I was a child. I still have it and was surprised to find I can still get a tune out of it, but I never got beyond playing Christmas carols in the junior school performances.

[elisabeth_rb]

As far as musical background goes, I too have recorder playing at school, (I may even come across my old recorder somewhere in mum's loft when we get to clear it out soon.....), but nothing really beyond that. I was 'given' a piano when I was 11 along with a very old fashioned tutor book, from which I learned a few fingerings, some simple tunes and basic theory (which I still remember!). I would have loved to have learned properly, also wanted to do flute when I was 8 or 9 as my friend was doing it and then fell for cello when I was about 14. We weren't allowed anything that would cost my father money (all money was his, end of story! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) ), so music lessons were out and you knew not even to waste your time asking.

So, here I am, 36 and married to a reasonable bloke who doesn't mind me spending a tenner a week on a viola lesson that nothing substantial is likely to ever come from. He even said, 'As long as you enjoy it'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I started on 1 Feb last year, at the threshold of middle age, to finally achieve a childhood dream of playing an instrument.

I ought really to be working on at least Grade 2 sort of syllabus by now, but health is a constant nuisance and I'm grateful if I can stay virus-free for long enough to practise 3 times in one week. I tell you, it's becoming a real pain in the butt! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I'm on a really tricky bit at the mo and, as Claudia said, our teacher is about to go on her hols, so I really don't want to cancel my lesson this week, I want new material to work on whilst she's away. Don't want to be at all competetive, but I really must move forward somewhat and I'll be totally and utterly brassed off if Claudia even takes her Grade 1 at the same time as me, never mind earlier!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

After only having learned for 4 months, (and having lost about a good 10 weeks of that to more blasted illness), I joined in one of the forums' concerts. Fancy a slot in the 3rd January event with me, Claudia? We can play one or two of the really easy peasy duets from 'Viola Time Joggers' where the 2nd viola can even just pizz open strings. As you're local, it would be great! (Are you proud of me, Skyers? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

[Babybird2]

Fancy a slot in the 3rd January event with me, Claudia? We can play one or two of the really easy peasy duets from 'Viola Time Joggers' where the 2nd viola can even just pizz open strings. As you're local, it would be great! (Are you proud of me, Skyers? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

Would love to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/violin.gif)

[elisabeth_rb]

Ace! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

What drew you to viola, btw? Interesting combination, flute and viola.

[Babybird2]

I tried it out at the Yorkshire Late String Starters Beginnners Day, because I thought it sounded nicer than the violin, and because I thought my hands would be too small for the 'cello. Loved it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[elisabeth_rb]

Tell me more about your pizz work so far. Have you done any notes on the strings yet, or is it just timings on open strings etc? My first lesson was both, but I had a few notes to practise on the D string my first lot of homework.

I wanted to come to the YLSSO event and play cello or bass, but I couldn't make that day - typical! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Anyway, might be able to play on someone's cello at the forum concert. Oh, you could do a little flute piece too, if you wanted. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Once we've both made the final decision to sign up and can see where we both are in terms of progress, we can pick a couple of pieces to play. Do you have VTJ at all?

[Babybird2]

I have the book, yes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I also have viola time runners in case I progress mega-fast (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm just pizz-ing on open strings at the moment, and that's my homework for Wednesday (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[skylark]

Fancy a slot in the 3rd January event with me, Claudia? We can play one or two of the really easy peasy duets from 'Viola Time Joggers' where the 2nd viola can even just pizz open strings. As you're local, it would be great! (Are you proud of me, Skyers? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

Looking forward to hearing you pizz! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Anyway, might be able to play on someone's cello at the forum concert.

A cellist from the YLLSO came to the last summer concert so you never know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm not expecting the winter concert to be as large as the summer one so everybody should get the opportunity to play either longer pieces or several shorter pieces, or in more duets/small ensembles (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Babybird2]

I could play a (flute) solo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[skylark]

I could play a (flute) solo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) Bravo!!! Looking forward to it already (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[primrose]

How is the 4th finger coming along, Elisabeth? I've spent weeks using it (my 4th finger, not yours) instead of the open string at every opportunity, and it no longer seems totally unnatural to use it at all.

[rosfrog]

I'm just popping in to moan about fourth finger too - I have to be creative in positions to play some passages because my fourth finger just seems to always fall consistently flat - I'm sure my viola is too big for me but I can't bear to bring myself to change...

[primrose]

I used to have that problem. Since I changed to a smaller viola, my 4th is usually sharp ...