I think I want to start again Options

[Sunrise]

Jojo, you say you have a problem playing fast...something that is helping me is to play the notes in pairs - quickly but pausing between pairs to prepare - and the secret of playing fast (again from my oh-so-wise-one) is to take your fingers OFF quickly. So practice slowly, but treat your fingerboard as if it was redhot. Pause between notes at the start...then put 2 together, in all the different ways you can think of, sep bows, or slur, then 4 together. All the time play that group as fas as you can and pause between the groups.

[Dulcet]

I've only been playing for a few months, so I'm in no position to give specific comments. However, I admire you for what you wish to accomplish, and wish you the best of luck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I hope one day I can play as well as you do in your videos! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

thank you Zecic that's extremely nice of you, I wish for you to achieve everything you want and that one day you can play MUCH MUCH better than me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I mean it with all my heart

Jojo, looking at those videos should tell you how far you've come in 2 years! I was really struck with how good your hand position was in the first video, and then watching the second your placing was nothing like so secure. Your left hand is soooo much better now, and so is your bowing. The Gluck was definitely the best performance, but the Sarasate is about ten times more difficult, so not surprising. I think that Jod is right - the shifts are accurate but you seem not to be adjusting the finger SPACING in different positions with absolute certainty. That's certainly something that you can cover with Sevcik and the like - but also, you need to address it when you are first LEARNING a piece - probably why your teacher constantly corrects, to make sure you get the right sound into your head and the right feel into your muscles.

One thing that should cheer you up - starting to play as an adult, at least you don't have to get used to a bigger violin every couple of years!!!

(ps I was a pretty rotten violinist and while I could play in tune most of the time, never in a thousand years could I make the sound that you do! You look RIGHT when you play and that shows that you're DOING most of it right!)

(pps I am very picky and can't lie to save my life)

[Jacobi]

Another way of practising playing fast is to play a section one note to a bow, but for each note play four notes a quarter of the value, when you get to the end go back to the start and play three notes a third of the value, two notes a half and the notes themselves etc. Each time going back to the start to repeat but do not stop the bow or slow down the bow speed!

This might be similar to previous suggestion...

[Sunrise]

Another way of practising playing fast is to play a section one note to a bow, but for each note play four notes a quarter of the value, when you get to the end go back to the start and play three notes a third of the value, two notes a half and the notes themselves etc. Each time going back to the start to repeat but do not stop the bow or slow down the bow speed!

This might be similar to previous suggestion...

It's the opposite, and the two would work well together!!

[jod]

If your problem is intonation, surely it is better to start with the slow work before the fast work. You need time to listen and adjust the tuning and gradually adjust/relearn the motor memory. (at least if motor memory as applied to the violin is at all similar to motor memory as applied to the piano and organ is concerned)

[Sunrise]

If your problem is intonation, surely it is better to start with the slow work before the fast work. You need time to listen and adjust the tuning and gradually adjust/relearn the motor memory. (at least if motor memory as applied to the violin is at all similar to motor memory as applied to the piano and organ is concerned)

Yes - but Jojo also has problems with playing fast and the latter comments were directed at that....

[Arundodonuts]

I just wanted to chip in with a couple of observations.

1. I'm impressed with the Simon Fischer stuff that was mentioned. I shall be printing it out and reading it more closely.

2. I don't think working on technique necessarily equates to "going back to pre Grade 1". My lesson today began with long notes, both at a steady volume then adding dynamics. Then octave slurs and then slow scales. All this with a view to working on evenness of tone, smooth legato and accurate intonation. After that a study and then onto Grade 7 repertoire. I often hear my teacher playing long notes as I approach the house. All that basic technique stuff isn't just for beginners, it should be part of the regular routine.

[jojo]

Just wanted to quickly say:

I have not 'abandoned' the thread, I have just been 'too tired' to post a 'proper' reply to everyone: sorry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) but I have been reading with great interest...

I am off to lesson in half an hour but I will not have a lesson, am too 'depressed' and 'tired' to have one, I want to tell my teacher I do not want to have any lessons for a few months actually, I need to 'rest', I can't do it at the moment, sorry :'( I will give him notice and tell him that if he can have me back in six months time or so then I will go back then.

I will carry on taking my violin out each day and 'trying' to practice but I CAN'T practice properly, I have not been able to do so in MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS, all I want to do when I think about it is CRY

ps I still love my violin, I 'do' want to play it every day I just CAN'T focus or do any 'proper' practice, everything is JUST SO SO SO HARD, it's like it's not sticking in my head or in my fingers, it's like I can't retain anything like I am not learning anything (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I can't do it anymore (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Sunrise]

Jojo, you are feeling so rough at the moment....if you stop your lessons for 6 months then go for it. Grab your grade 1 stuff and play it. then work on to the next grade etc....if nothing else it will help your sightreading and hopefully make you feel better about yourself too. Do it for fun (but always play the best you can). Use it as 6 months consolidation.

I think it will do you good, if nothing else increase your confidence. Above all enjoy it x

[viola-mad]

Jojo, I'm sorry you're having such a bad time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

Perhaps you will feel refreshed after a break from lessons and things. And I hope you will come back with twice the vigour! Look after yourself, and I hope you feel that you can drop in here from time to time, as I like reading your posts.

[jojo]

Ok, am back.

Had a good chat with teacher.

To all of you:

I have had 'problems' in my health that have prevented me to focus on things and have affected me and my day to day life. I kept blaming myself, working too many hours, my commitment to practicing, my 'talent' for the instrument, my body, anything else, but I have had over the past 2 years very very slowly come to put things together like a 'jig-saw puzzle' and only just in the last 2 weeks with the aid of tests have come to shed some light on the symptoms I have been having for the past 2 years and a bit.

No, I have not been going 'mad', no, it was not because I work too much (as I do get plenty of sleep in between shifts and rest on my day off), no it was not because I am not clever enough, no it was not because I am personally doing something wrong, there 'is' a reason!

When I posted this thread 4 days ago, it was my final 'attempt' at trying to 'get things right' at the violin as it's since september 2010 that I 'can't' simply 'can't' practice properly anymore no matter how hard I try!

My teacher has noticed my mental decline too (only too much of a gentleman to tell me but he has been kindly pointing it out in subtle ways in lessons), how I could not remember or do things, SIMPLE things he taught me OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I have shed MANY MANY TEARS in the last 2 years over the frustration thinking I WAS SO USELESS!!! Now I know I am 'not', it is my 'health problem' which I will get fixed!

I have become hypothyroid and I am going to get it fixed. In the meantime I am exhausted, can't function properly and it's affecting me in many ways and now that I know why I am like this I feel in a way so much better, funny hey?

Teacher agrees the plan of 'taking a holiday' is a good one, especially from doing any serious practice (AH! can't practice anyway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)). Wait until I got my medication sorted, then one day when I feel my symptoms are going and I feel like I am improving (ie feel a lot less tired, I can concentrate more etc etc) and I feel I 'want' to go back to practice properly again I can try again....if I can fine if not have a longer break. When I can go back to practice properly only do so for small sessions and only gradually and slowly increase. When I feel ready to go back to lessons he will be more than happy to have me back. He is also happy at any stage to give me an 'ad-hoc' lesson if I want him to check I am still 'ok' with things.

I asked him about me in general, I said to him I knew my intonation still needs working on.

I asked him if my intonation needed more help in 'one particular position' or 'all positions', or is it perhaps a 'hand shape problem with me?', or 'is it a shifting problem?' or 'is it that I need to develop my ear more??' or all of these things?'

he said 'No none of these things, you are a good player, your only fault is that you do not do enough or hardly any SLOW practice and I mean SLOW VERY SLOW practice'

he said what I do is maybe play something slow once or twice then I speed up because I think 'ok I got it', he said I need to 'keep it slow, very slow and my fingers will let me know when they are ready to speed up not the other way round', that I need to (at the very initial stage) do a LOT MORE slow practice for MUCH LONGER. That is all I need to do apparently according to him. He said my scales are PERFECT and that is because I always practice them slow (he's right there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I do always play them slow separate bows)

He said my bowing is ok he does not overall see any problems with that apart from occasionally my pinky being naughty and going at the back of the stick.

Anyway, I have kept you all way too long for now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


A big thank you for ALL THE VERY NICE POSTS FULL OF VERY HELPFUL HINTS/ADVICE/OPINIONS and encouragement/moral support, thank you very very much (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[immy]

O dear, it is sad to read you are in such a bad place at the moment. Hang in there jojo and things will get better.
Your violin is meant to give you pleasure and solace (as well as ask for hard work), if it is only adding to the stress of your life the balance has tipped the wrong way. I hope your teacher can help you find the balance and that you soon won't want to just cry.

Just read your next post - glad that you have identified a reason for all these problems! That sounds really positive. Hope you'll soon feel better with a bit of thyroxine.

[Arundodonuts]

Ok, am back.

I have become hypothyroid and I am going to get it fixed.

I'm pleased to hear you have discovered the source of the problem. My mum suffered from the same complaint and I can testify to the anxiety it creates. Once she got the medication sorted out she was back to normal, so I'm sure you'll be fine before long.

[katica]

jojo, I'm so glad this has been discovered and you can do something about it. Like pushpull's, my mum has hypothyroidism and had a really beastly time of it until diagnosed and given medication.

Hope you feel much better very soon! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Geranium]

My mother had it too! Not glad you have it Jo-jo, but so glad you've found a fixable 'reason' for your state of health.

It's brilliant that your teacher is ready to re-start with you at any time, or even for the odd lesson in between, to see how you're getting on.

Not surprised you're exhausted when you're working so many hours! You should have a good rest first while you get sorted out, then you can enjoy the violin again when you go back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif)

(Your violin has an beautifully resonant sound, by the way!)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mornincoffee.gif)