Guess what I'm getting for Christmas?

My son went to the Saxophone Day at the RNCM on Sunday, and while he was there I went to Notmusimum's house and had a go on Emsoboe's violin. I've decided to start violin lessons, because I'm getting a bit fed up not being able to join in at the orchestral playdays...

I hope you enjoy it

I started viola a few months ago and it's great fun Maybe we'll see each other in the string section at a future playday

Thanks - I'm wondering if I can persuade my mum to get me one before Christmas....

Oh yes, I know. What I meant was that I haven't been told I can't play so I'm taking it very steady. I've not played for most of this week and only after my physio appt today do I feel like I can actually pick Lilah up. I'm working on my posture and stuff atm and learning to relax, as a lot of the problem is being made worse by the fact that every tiny bit of tension is going straight to my shoulders and mkaing them all knotty.

ugh. it's a pain though.

Ooof, I do not like seeing this thread fall to the 2nd page!!! Not that I've been on it much of late....

Like Claudia, I hadn't had a lesson for a while as our teacher was ill, but I had the first one in 3 weeks yesterday tea-time and we're ready to start Book 3 next week! YAY!

Hi guys!

I'd just like to introduce myself, as this thread seems perfect for me.

I'm 24, and bought a violin three years ago when my grandmother died, purely because I'd always fancied giving it a go! Well, I taught myself for a while, and then last year started getting proper lessons.

I've now decided - after refusing to do so for either of my two previous instrument (piano and flute) - to take exams, and am taking Grade 3 in the spring series (March / April).

Very very excited, but also very very scared!

Oooooo how exciting!!!! Look forward to hearing you!


Hi raceybo, welcome to the forums!

I shouldn't be here really cos I'm not a string player, but I look into this thread from time to time as I know a few of the string players so I like to keep up with what they're up to

Good luck with your exam when it comes!

I did wonder where everyone was...

Well, I'm still here and, although I haven't touched my viola since my last lesson (it's been my turn for the 'flu ), I have been looking at some of my sheet music and realising to my joy that many pieces that looked scary before now seem rather simple! Even if that's just 'progress in the mind', it's progress and I'm really pleased.

My lesson last week was fabulous. I'm really loving it, however we've realised that my violin really isn't doing me any favours Took her to the shop today and when given the quote for sorting her out, I nearly died. I spoke to the nice people there and asked whether it was really worth spending that amount of money trying to deal with the problem (s) and they said that even with the repairs the issue with the bridge was always going to remain so I'd always have difficulty.

So I've now got a Westbury on approval to see how I like it and am going to take it to my lesson this week and see what teach thinks.


Kind of excited/ sad at the same time though. I cannot justify three figures in sorting out a violin that cost a third of that if it's not going to truly sort it.Bless my little one though

Ooof, yes, that doesn't sound like fun!

Although I'm only about to start Book 3 this week, I collected Book 4 yesterday and was interested to see that it really covers all the grade 2 material and starts on grade 3 stuff - ie 3rd position! I somehow thought that this intro coursebook series would all be pre-grade 1!!

Well of course all you really need is pre grade one stuff


( I'd quite like to believe that as well... shifting and stuff strikes the fear of bob into me)

The Westbury is fun. I'm ashamed to say I may already have named it (I think it named itself, to be fair) but I'm trying to hold off getting too attached right now. *ahem yeah right*

No, I'm not scared by the more advanced stuff, it's just that I thought this initial tutor series wouldn't go past teh very basic stuff needed for Grade 1, then you'd be expected to go onto more advanced books, that's all! In a way,m it's very encouraging as it means I'm kinda further on in the process than I originally thought.

Starting Book 3 in about 50 minutes.....

Hope your lesson went well elisabeth. I missed mine this week 'cos my boyfriend was working late and I wouldn't have been able to leave uni in time to get the bus...

Teach gave a thumbs up to the new fiddle, so we're trying to get to know each other. It's rather exciting however is distracting me from the essay I have to hand in on Monday. I'm having to restrict my practise time to write the stupid thing. ugh.

Coursework and buses can both be a pain in the butt!

We didn't start Book 3 this week. In fact, doesn't look like we'll get to it until first lesson next year (only one more this year to go), but I don't mind. I too have so much college work to do that I feel quite bogged down with it - even though I really enjoy it!!

Ridiculous thing is I've only got this one assignment to do. This is the first time I've ever been this rubbish with uni work, grr.

I'm done with lessons until at least the new year now May be even later depending on where I'm on placement next *sigh*

What is it you're studying?

I'm just doing a City & Guilds level 3 embroidery course at a local college. It's one day a week, but lots of work. At Uni I did a BA(Hons) in Modern Chinese Studies followed by a PGDip in Applied Translation Studies, so I know what you mean. Oddly enough, it's harder to get going when there's not that much to do. The pressure is there, but not quite as forceful!!! I teach at the Uni now and am even gladder than the students that classes are over for a good 6 weeks!! I overheard 2 students discussing how fast the term had gone the other day and thought that it seemed that way when I was a student, but as a teacher, it DRAGS!

What are you doing? And how's your violin this weekend? I don't think my viola will see too much of me given the headache I've got just now, but the mute might help....

OOh embroidery- I'm always well impressed at that sort of stuff. I've dabbled a bit in good old cross stitch in my time but never had the patience for anything more complicated than a french knot!

I'm studying occupational therapy- in my second year now- and it's insane. This term has absolutely flown by purely because of the volume of work we've had.

Although interestingly, I'm trying to bring some violin stuff into this current assignment. The case study is a child who is learning to play and I'm trying to work out if I can focus on that rather than dressing and washing and boring stuff that everyone else will do

Yipee! I got my new violin on Saturday and I've just discovered it's the same type as invinciblemoon's. I tried out a Concertante in the shop and loved it, but couldn't justify the extra money needed for it. The Westbury seems very good, though, and I'm pleased with it.

I've discovered I can't remember the notes to play from music (the only violin music I still have is Grade 2 exam pieces), but can play a G major scale. I'm going to get lessons sorted out after Christmas.

Good-oh! Looks like we're all doing well.

InvMoon, I like the idea of bringing music into your assignment and I expect your teacher will be delighted with a more interesting aspect as well. Keep up the good work! My only experience with OT, (other than that there was an OT's kitchen opposite my office when I was temping at the Infirmary and I saw them checking that patients could fry an egg safely before being allowed home etc - jolly good idea!), was when I saw some specialist OTs who were working with the NHS Chronic Fatigue Service, which is about the 2nd best programme I'm aware of - and is free!! You can see my embroidery on my Webshots album and my blog, if you fancy.

Can you borrow some sheet music from your local library, Chris? Ours, Leeds City Music Library, has a fair selection of stuff even for viola, so I expect the violin resources will be decent too.

Time I did some prac.....

This is a rubbish week for practice. Too much stuff on in the evenings

Never mind, we have hols coming up to catch up in. My viola week's been pants too. Haven't even touched her since last lesson. Oh no, I did straighten up the case today!!

Well, I can't practise at all next week because I'm going to London and then North Yorks for christmas and the viola isn't coming with me

However the week after there will be lots of practising

Well, I'm going to ask for a kind of holiday in terms of homework, i.e. not to be set anything really specific as I need a good break and have enough college work to catch up on without stressing out over music as well!!! I doubt E would load either of us with holiday tasks anyway.

elisabeth - woo to meeting someone who knows what OT is I say! Sounds something similar to some of the stuff I did on my placement (which was stroke rehab) - kitchen assessments are pretty much bread and butter OT stuff in physical health.

As for bringing music in, I'm looking into doing something related to the therapeutic value of music (probably singing though) for my research project next year. OT is great in that it covers everything people "do", so awesomeness

I shall have a look at your blog in a min whee

chris- how are you getting along with the Westbury? I had a cheap and cheerful one from Gear4Music before I bought this and while it was a good little fiddle, it had some problems and teach said it wasn't really fair to me to keep playing her anymore. I miss her though. I'm liking the Westbury although realising the limitations of my current bow with it. When student loan comes through in Jan I shall have to book myself a time to try out some others.

Claudia- you can only do what you can do. This time of year is stressful (although I'm all finished now woo) so just take it easy and do what you can.


I have no lesson booked now at all until I know what's happening in the new year (due to go out on placement again)- it makes me sad...

So, I had my last lesson of the year yesterday. Over the holiday period I've got a few bits to practise from a new tune a day, including twinkle twinkle little star, ode to joy and the cancan.

I have a lesson tomorrow and haven't picked up violin since last lesson - eek!

Too much christmas socialising I'm afraid.

I agree with Elisabeth too - city music libraries are a brilliant source of sheet music - although you might not find the most recent publications there should still be plenty to have a go at

Spark

Sadly I haven't had much of a chance to play it - too many Christmas things to do and too many piano pieces to learn... I've bought a beginners violin book, though, and I'm itching to get started. I think I'm going to find it hard playing, though, with the family all at home.

I think I've probably got quite a good bow with the Westbury - the person in the shop said they retail at £69. I work in a library, but we have more piano music than anything else here.

Ah! Yet another advantage to avoiding Christmas, (which my teacher declares is a conspiracy against women!!! ), is that you have time to relax and recharge over the hols without all the mad dashing around and hard work.

Re libraries, one can actually make requests for publications, be they music or other parts of the library, so don't be afraid to give your local library full details of anything you want and see if they will get it in. If it seems like a reasonable request (a resource that enough people will use), then they'll get it OK, budget allowing. A good time to make requests can be early spring when the new budget is about to be allocated.

I'm not too sure that it would be ethical for me to buy lots of violin music for my library... someone may smell a rat I don't think you noticed that I wrote that I work in a library . There may be a case for buying some violin music, but our piano music doesn't issue very well, so I'm a bit doubtful. You are right about early Spring being a good time to make requests - we need to spend up our allocated budgets

You're right, I didn't notice that bit! And I'm the one who often curses people for not reading stuff properly before they reply. I shall go away and be justly humiliated for a bit.

I asked at the art library about requests, timings and budgets and they said April-ish was a good time. I want to request some of the recent embroidery titles and also some viola stuff in the music library. Perhaps your colleagues wouldn't be quite so sus if you were to suggests music including violin things you wanted, but also plugging other gaps in the holdings?? If you work at Leeds music library, shove some viola stuff down, will you? Not just post-grade 8 stuff either!!!

my poor violin has been adandoned for a few weeks, as we're staying at the in-laws over the two weeks holidays and there's no time to practice!! that, and a 15000 word dissertation which is going nowhere fast, are seriously restricting me!

but on the plus side, the boyfriend bought me a beautiful new case for christmas, and this morning i've fallen in love with two new violins (see other thread for details). so it looks like my poor old stentor II may be headed for the violin teacher's swap shop, and my dissertation may fall even further behind!!

still, one of that advantages of being a teacher and getting private lessons from the school's peri teacher is that i only get lessons during term times. holidays are for playing and procrastinating!! (indeed, today was supposed to be a dissertation day, but a trip into the violin shop was just too tempting!)

Having been through the 'joys' of higher education, postgraduate projects and so on, (I did 2 extended translations for my postgrad, not a dissertation, but it was a lot of work), I would recommend splitting the time between serious study/work and other stuff - or you'll go mad! Get on with the dissertation though. Last minute rushing with it is good for neither you or the quality of your work, but schedule some violin etc time in there as well. Easier said that done saying 'make a schedule and stick to it', but it does work well and I know how tough it is trying to manage without it! Be better for your playing too. No-one plays well with a bad conscience....

I really need to do some practise today

I'd like to join this thread please.

I was racing on and heading for Grades 4-5 but things have fallen way behind - I played for the first time in two months yesterday and sounded worse than Grade 1!!!

I took Grade 3 last March and have been hoping to take Grade 4 with each new session but it's been postponed due to illness, studying etc etc.... and I've just discovered my teacher is not entering me for Grade 4 this March so I'll have to wait until June now!!! So I'm still at Grade 3!

My sound is rubbish and my intonation has gone to pot!

(okay okay, I'm jumping into this thread looking for sympathy.. I admit it )

Lottie honey, you sound like you deserve about as much sympathy as I do for having touched my viola twice in the last month - once being my last lesson!!!

WHAT is this thread doing being relegated to page 2?? Better get it bumped up by starting some more talk....

Have you re-started your lessons yet, Claudia? I've postponed mine until 29th as I'm going to be flat out with exam invigilation and marking the next 2 weeks, but I mean to try and get on with some prac though. I'm so rusty at the mo that it's painful.

Hi - May I join you? I am just about to restart viola lessons after 20 years.

I played cello a bit as a teenager, and then in the 6th form decided to change to viola, but only had about 6 lessons as the teacher then left the school (actually I think it was with 2 different teachers). I played with a Youth orchestra and did ok cos I could stay in tune with everyone else - playing on my own was a different matter, however. I then went to uni, played for a bit with the college orchestra, and then gave upl

20 years later my 6 year old daughter has started the violin (having asked to play since she was 3) and so the viola came out of the wardrobe so we could play duets.

One thing led to another, it now has a new bridge and a new case and tonight I booked a lesson!

I've been playing some bits from Viola Joggers, but my intonation is awful, I'm not sure I'm holding anything correctly, the A string squeaks and the C string growls - so lots to sort out!

I also decided today that i think my shoulder rest is too high. I've experimented with the bit of sponge my daughter uses on her violin and a folded duster - the height seems more comfortabel but the angle seems wrong - too flat (if that makes sense) - any tips?

So I wait for next Weds with a mix of excitement and trepidation (more of the first at the moment, more of the second the closer we get I fear!)

Look forward to getting to know you

Welcome

I had a lesson yesterday I thought it was going to go terribly but it actually went fine and I've been given lots of C string stuff to work on

Glad to hear that you're back on track, Claudia, after being poorly over the w/e. I was kinda glad I cancelled when I saw your posts saying you weren't able to come.....

Welcome 2childmum! Sounds like you'll fit right in here and we look forward to hearing how you get on with your first lesson! Viola rules, OK!

Back to lessons now -yay- first one back was last night. Have a much better idea of how the new violin feels and stuff now, which helps.

Have some bowing exercises to do which are incredibly dull but will help immensely. I have a problem at the moment with the level of my bowing arm due to now having a violin that doesn't have practically "flat" (physically not tunewise) strings so it's back to basics for a while.

It's nice though, really motivating.

Happy new year everyone (9 days late I know!)

First lesson after a 3 week break this weekend and I think it's going to be awful Only practised twice over Christmas period then went on holiday. Have been practising furiously this week but sound DREADFUL! I cannot believe how rusty I am after a fortnight off. My fingers refuse to work (well worse than they normally do anyway)

This is a quick question just because I'm curious - I play my G string terribly compared with the D, A and E string. Does anyone else find this? What about viola players (sorry I don't know what your strings are called) I'm hoping it's because most of the music I play is on D A and E strings.

Anyway on a positive note my hubbie managed to work out that I was trying to play an easy version of Van Morrison's Moondance so that was good!

Enjoy the weekend
Spark

My G string sounds vile compared to the other strings, but that's a bowing level problem in my case - I haven't adjusted to the new violin just yet so i'm still working out where my arm needs to be.


FYI, violas are C,G,D and A

How long have you been playing, Spark? And what sort of 'dreadful' do you mean when you talk about your lowest string? I've never noticed that my C string sounds worse than the others, but it is a viola's most 'umph-y' string, so I love to play it!!

I found that bow arm height exercises helped me a lot to stop catching so much on other strings as I play, but I don't know if that's your problem or just that a violin seems to come into it's own in the higher reaches whereas a viola is the other way around??

I've been playing since May.

The G string just sounds really dull and raspy and not a pure tone like the other strings. My main string catching problem areas are more the D and A string, I'm OK on G and E. I try to tune in 5ths and to me the G string always sounds 'out' compared with the others. Yet when I play G and D together to hear the 5th it sounds OK. Plus, my teacher checks the tuning every week and a couple of times I've said I thought the G was out and it hasn't been. Occasionally I have to tune violins to a piano and I can tune it to D A and E but not the G. Although most of my playing at the moment is on D A and E when I practise two octave scales of G, A and Bflat major the other strings sound OK but the G string never does - and it's truly awful by the time I get back to it on the descending part.

Maybe my ears just don't appreciate the qualities of G!

Maybe you've just got a dud string. What does your teacher say?

How long has your G been on? If it's been on a while, the string can 'die' (I'm translating from French here, so if that sounds odd, bear with me) - it means that even if you make it sound in tune fifth wise, the resulting notes will not finger correctly in tune. If it's been a while, maybe you need to change your G?

^ thats what i was thinking too. I ahve to change my strings every 6-9 months or they start sounding horrible!
x

I'll check with my teacher next week and see if it needs changing then - all my strings have been on since I bought it in May.

I bet it's something to do with my technique though!

Thanks everyone