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

[plonkee]

But it reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask. The first few bars are quite playable in first position. But some previous borrower of this LIBRARY book has naughtily written in some fingerings, and they involve going into third position for the first full bar - i.e. 2nd finger on C string for a low G, then rising through A, Bb and D to 1st finger on D string for another G. I find it practically impossible to play it this way. Why would someone choose to do so, when it's clearly harder than doing it in first position? Is it because the open strings don't sound right? At least the open strings are more or less in tune ...

String players usually don't like open strings unless it's for a particular effect because you can't use vibrato on them. Once you get the hang of it, it's just as easy to play in 3rd position as 1st position, it's the shifting between that's a nightmare. If like me you are a little viola player with a slightly too large instrument, some things are actually easier in 3rd position because you don't have to stretch as far.

[Violin Hero]

You can do vibrato on open strings or at least you make it sound like you are doing vibrato.

Eg on violin if you play the lowest g while doing vibrato on the g in first on d then it sounds as if the lowest g is being vbratoed.

Thats what my teacher taught me a while ago.

[elisabeth_rb]

Eg on violin if you play the lowest g while doing vibrato on the g in first on d then it sounds as if the lowest g is being vbratoed.

My viola teacher demo-ed the same thing with the C string.

[invinciblemoon]

Do you ever get times when you just fall out with your instrument, and its nothing to really do with the instrument?

I actually got to the point earlier this week where it made me feel physically sick to even pick up the case, let alone open it and get her out to play.


Having a lesson on weds kind of forced the issue but I got really upset because i'm getting so frustrated- I'm one of those horrendous perfectionists and its driving me crazy.


getting over it a bit now- have just got some random books out and been playing some stuff from those (which has broken the monotony a bit as well) but... ugh.

I think part of the frustration is that I invested in a (very) cheapish instrument when I bought her because I didn't know if I'd stick it, plus being a healthcare student I wasn't sure I'd have time to really commit. And despite the price, she sounds really quite nice (my friend who has an £1800 instrument keeps saying she wants to keep her and was really impressed) but I wish in some ways I'd gone for something that I'd really been able to do more with. I realise that sounds a bit arrogant having played for 7 months, but some of my frustration is in knowing that my cheapy bow etc isn't really .. MINE, as such.

*sounds stupid I know, but it makes sense to me...*

[primrose]

Invinciblemoon, I don't understand. Do you mean you've outgrown your instrument and need something better? That would be surprising if your friend with the £1800 instrument likes yours. But, if this is the case, why not get a better instrument? Is it that you can't afford one?

[Babybird2]

First lesson in 3 weeks tonight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[elisabeth_rb]

Tell me all, Claudia!

We didn't stick to E's lesson plan at my lesson yesterday (also my first for 3 weeks, as I'd had to cancel last week), but we did do the one octave F major scale! This is 'noteworthy' to me as it's a grade 2 key and, as you know, I haven't even done grade 1 yet. We were making a start on 'official' scales, and Teach seemed pleased that I'd already done the format before with my first teacher and I often practise that way anyway. She was also complimentary on my intonation with my two-octave C major scale, which involves low 2nd finger position on the D and A strings. The F major required that on the G string too, so I was quite delighted to play it right first time, (once she'd had me go through the fingering verbally first).

We also did some sight-reading and I always enjoy the challenge of that.

So, over to you. What did you cover this week and how's your prac going? Having 3 weeks 'off' after only 2 lessons must have felt like you'd stopped 5 minutes after you started! Done any fingered notes yet? Or are you working mostly on bowing - upper half, lower half, arm height, whole bows and 'turning the page'?

It's really interesting to me to hear what you're doing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[skylark]

It would be fun for the three of us to meet up sometime (and anyone else in the area), and I could bring along Anna as well (anna-pianna (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif))

[elisabeth_rb]

Well, we certainly will soon - at the Jan concert, if not before. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) We could get quite a Leeds ensemble together, with piano, clarinet, Claudia on flute and me on viola!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[skylark]

I don't think I'll be playing the piano in public for several concerts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

If you and BB fancy meeting up at the college sometime though for a bit of jam (do people still use that word (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)), send me an email (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Mind you, they've got pianos there obviously but I think BB might see mine and want one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


PS Going to log off now, see you again soon!

[Babybird2]

Lesson went well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Started off with some pizz., then went over bow hold and bowing exercises again, just to make sure I hadn't forgotten them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Then bowed open strings for a bit, and that's my homework for next week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Violin Hero]

Babybird everyone has to start somewhere. When I started playing I was doing open strings and g major 2 octave scale for ages. However I did not know it was called a scale then. I just thought it was an excerise to practice bowing!

My main trouble now is doing vibrato with the 4th finger. I have resorted to shifting into 3rd so as to use a 2nd finger.

[invinciblemoon]

Lesson last night and now not for 2 weeks as teacher is away.

I can start to reacquaint myself since I have developed this unnerving fear of getting things wrong. I think it's frustrating her as much as it is me and I'm spending probably 10 mins or so in each lesson frozen to the spot unable to get started. I know what the problem is - and it's got next to nothing to do with the violin- but its going to be difficult to sort out.

So I've got some homework to do. She's given me a couple of the grade 2 pieces we've been looking at to really focus on, and to look at some scales- G major, D major and A major with A major being a new one (and two octaves! madness but I do like me a challenge). My other bit of homework is to try and work out some sort of "trigger" for myself that says "it doesn't matter what it sounds like, it just matters that I start when I need to start and don't keep putting it off" - I spend a lot of time at the beginning of lessons just stood there in position unable to make a first note. Agh.

Perfectionism, people, it sucks beyond belief.

[elisabeth_rb]

I would say that it certainly does frustrate your teacher to have to lose 10 valuable minutes whilst the pupil consents to start!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

But seriously though, now you've identified how you're thinking and feeling, you can sit down and work yourself through why it's bad for you and, perhaps, you might want to do what I would do under the same circs and give myself a good talking to?? For instance, if it were me, (and note that I said 'if it were me' here and am not bagging you - you must work out your own lecture!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ) I'd be reminding myself (in advance, one doesn't have time for this at the lesson) how I was wasting my time, my teacher's time and my own money etc., how I was actually preventing myself from making better progress, how not even the best player that ever was got it perfect 100% of the time and how even pros have off days, how many people my teacher would have heard that were far worse than me and also, heck, I was doing this for fun, so why give myself such a hard time about it and making myself look such a numpty into the bargain!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Also, I would make up my mind to just do as I was told at once at my lesson and then, take a deep breath when asked to play and just get on with it. My teacher is there to help me, so my co-operating fully with him/her is in my own best interests.

Something that may be worth your considering honestly is, are the pieces you're doing etc actually too hard for you, (which looks possible as you cite Grade 1 scales and Grade 2 pieces)? When I felt that I was being given stuff that was beyond my level at the time, I hated prac and my lesson and felt very unwilling. Once I'd carried my point that I felt it was too much with my old teacher, (not my present one, she's much better), we dropped back to where the course actually was taking me instead of racing on to something that wasn't specified at that point and I started to enjoy it once more. We all want to be virtuosos somewhere inside, but we all have to take the needed time about it so, if you're trying to race ahead too fast, (or are being pushed ahead too hard), then say so and drop back to what you feel is right for you and see if that helps. There'll be less fear of gaffing up if it's not too challenging. It should challenge us a bit, but not too much.

Good hunting! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[rosfrog]

Babybird everyone has to start somewhere. When I started playing I was doing open strings and g major 2 octave scale for ages. However I did not know it was called a scale then. I just thought it was an excerise to practice bowing!

My main trouble now is doing vibrato with the 4th finger. I have resorted to shifting into 3rd so as to use a 2nd finger.

Don't panic Violin Hero, you'll get there - it takes a while to get used to fourth finger vibrato - you'll probably look back on it in a while and wonder why it was so difficult.

I STILL bow open strings now as part of my regular practise - I think a lot of fiddle players would be amazed at how much it helps, irrespective of how long you've been playing, so Babybird it sounds like you've got yourself a teacher who sets good basic foundation - it will serve you so well in the future. Enjoy the ride!