Thanks W, that's nice of you.

I have a student on Sat afternoons - out of Leeds, so I really won't be able to come - unless she cancels, which I wouldn't know about until the day!

Ditto.
Sorry to hear you haven't been well, and that you aren't coming to Leeds in May.

You do sound discouraged! I think that some of the learning stages are really painful to go through, at whatever stage you are as a player, and some plateaus are longer than others! I hope you find a really nice viola in Taiwan so you don't give up - it sounds like a really exciting adventure.
N

Thanks Nova, that was helpful. I won't give up with my viola, but I think I'll start a 'Strugglers and Stragglers' thread for those of us who feel it's rather hard, need a boost and so on!!

If I find myself free on the Leeds concert day, (30 May, isn't it?) then I'll come along for a bit to say hi and play around a bit. I daresay Skyers won't mind. Might be able to come along in the morning for half an hour or so.

Still feeling really worn down, but hope to play a little with my viola this afternoon.

It would be nice if you did come, and even if you didn't play you might feel encouraged seeing other beginners.
N

We'd all love to see you!

W

Hi Elisabeth. It feels like ages since we spoke! Sorry to hear you're not doing so well.

It really would be lovely to see you at the concert, even - as nova says - if you didn't play. In all honesty, I'm thoroughly fed-up with my violin at the moment and barely play at all, but am hoping the concert might get me going again.

Congratulations on your scholarship - that is absolutely amazing!

Thanks guys, that's so nice of you all. Yes, I will try to come along that morning. I might even bring my viola??? Skylark did say she wanted to hear me play...... Would love to meet you too, Fiona! But grovel not before the scholarship winner - she's utterly astonished that she was chosen!!

I've actually done some embroidery and watched 'Jane Eyre' this afternoon, which seems to have cheered me up a bit. I actually caved in and went to the doc's yesterday and she did mention that my being unable to do the things I liked would contribute to my staying unwell, so I *made* myself get on with a college work sample.

I'll try and play in the winter 2010/1 Leeds concert, if that series continues.

Hi elisabeth!

Yes do come along in the morning if you can, and bring your viola too - we can liaise nearer the time

There are quite a few stringy people coming to talk shop with!

Good-oh! I'll really try to be there. Unless I'm unwell, you can expect to see me. I can be free 10-12.

For the Jan 2011 concert, I'll certainly have a craft display for you as well, Skyers. I'll have loads of C&G work to show and can borrow a few other pieces back for the day too.

Brill on both counts - it will be lovely to see you again

Soooo.. I have 3 lessons left.

Pretty much finished Tune A Day, so hopefully going to play some duets next week and then I might try 3rd position

Soooo.. I have 3 lessons left.

Pretty much finished Tune A Day, so hopefully going to play some duets next week and then I might try 3rd position

Thanks for the welcome elisabeth... Trust me, the speed I'm learning at is anything but lightning.

Congrats on the scholarship by the way.

Cheers,

Matt.

I had a go at the D major 2-octave scale the other day

Yaaaayyyy it's fun isn't it!!! A 'grown up' scale

It's the same fingering as 'G' on the viola and I'm still having trouble with the intonation The shift itself is in tune and quite easy but the spacing is so different from the violin that I miss a little. (I call it dribbling )

Claudia's is a viola, so 2 octave D major (which I also did recently and it's SO much easier to get your 4th finger in tune when you're using high 3rd!) is high 1st, high 2nd, high 3rd, 4th on C and G strings for the first octave.

It feels good to now have 2 Grade 2 scales under my belt!! The next thing, I think, is E major? I can't quite remember now, but it's not long now until the 3 minor scales for the G2 syllabus.

My problem at the mo is that I just can't get any enthusiasm for viola playing. Challenges are:
1) I feel rubbish - still infected with something that started mid March and feel alternately ill enough for bed and just plain washed out (or else mad busy catching up on 'must do's;
2) I have only 10 or so lessons left before both Teach and I leave. I'll be away in Taiwan for over a year with no guarantee of getting anything to play on out there and, well, I can't find much enthusiasm when I'm about to fly! and
3) I'm finding my tutor book just so hard at the mo. The short things, such as technical exercises, scales and so on are going just fine and I wouldn't even mind just doing those so I can learn as much technical stuff as possible, (well, OK, be introduced to how to do it properly at least), before I have to give up lessons for the foreseable future.

Any ideas? I think if I could solve the first problem, I'd be in with a chance with the second, so if you know any good cures and immune boosters, I'm INTERESTED!

Awww sounds like you've having a miserable time elisabeth.

I don't know anything that boosts immunity other than regular coffee and cake. It seems to work for me Oh that and never going out in public where you could catch things

Do you eat garlic and fresh herbs? Organic fruit and veg? I don't know if diet really helps

I'll send you some healing vibes over my 'virtual' broadband

I only have 2 lessons left

Do you not use open strings? I'm planning to do my grade 8 viola on the 27th June (well I am doing, then entry has gone in and everything) and I'm using open strings wherever possible, though I only tend to use them on the way up, not on the way down.

I really hope you feel better soon elisabeth and can get back to enjoying your viola.

x

Babybird2, 2 lessons left on what? and why? (sorry to be so nosey)

Elizabeth:

ps apparently 'echinacea' is an immune booster? (I probably got the wrong spelling there)

2 lessons on viola as my teacher is moving away

any chance of finding another one in near future?

I think I am quite lucky that if I 'lost' my teacher I'd probably find another one quite easily as there is loads in south London

Thanks for the hugs n stuff guys! Sir has just cut up some fresh pineapple and brought me a bowl in, so that's put a smile on my face!! I love fruit and eat loads of it. I ought to be bouncing fit!


Our (Claudia & I's) teacher gave me to understand that 4th finger is better. For one, it keeps the timbre even - there's a lot of difference in sound quality between an open string and fingered notes. Almost everything will sound better, more even, if the timbre is kept the same. Funny though, I find it easier to use 4th finger on the way up than down. I'm beginning to move my 1st finger over to the next string whilst 3rd or 4th fingers (for scales or arps) are busy on the current one. That really helps.

All the best with your G8!

fair enough, it had actually never crossed my mind not to use open strings. I guses it just depends how you were taught, I was taught to use open strings at 7, and now at 18 I'm thinking it would be too difficult to change. 3 octave scales are hard enough! (Also my intonation is appalling so I need those open strings as benchmarks...)
x

Nah! Anything can be changed, it's just a matter of work and re-training.

Sodding Wohlfahrt!

Elementary?!?! Elementary?!!! I'll give him elementary!!!

I seem to get through the Paul De Keyser alright (second book of studies for the young violinist - I don't care that I'm mid thirties... It's flattering) then move over to Wohlfahrt (Op 54) and No 1 seems to go alright if a bit fiddly with the fourth finger... No 2... getting shaky on the bowing No 3... Intonation goes scurrying away as I get to the bit where you have the chromaticy bit with the third and second then fourth and third fingers and No 4 has some choice language reverberating round the practice room (alright, it's our dining room right in front of the drying washing... truly inspiring ) as the bowing variations send me right round the twist.



I know I'm sounding off a bit but someone please tell me that it's not just me.



(can't find a "banging head against wall" smiley)

Cheers,

Matt.

No of course 'it's not you'... at least you're not alone

My viola book has cartoons on the front

I played in 3rd position

I wish I understood the significance of that breakthrough but congratulations anyway! One of these days, when I've "mastered" piano and clarinet, I'll get a cheapo violin and learn the language of strings players

I'm having enough trouble (fun?) with 1st, but at least I get to use *all four* strings now!
If I can just tune it correctly I am guaranteed to be able to play four notes in tune

great stuff jacobi and babybird2, great progress being made
I remember when I started 3rd position (now about a year and a half ago), was rather 'nervous' and felt lost in anything but 1st position for about a good year.
When I say lost, I could go up to 2nd 3rd 4th and so on position, but did not have a clue what note I was playing, I was playing by 'ear'. So, could listen to tune on cd and find the notes on fingerboard, but if I tried to read the music and find the notes on fingerboard I would be WELL LOST!
I am now (only since 3 months ago) able to know what notes I am playing outside of 1st position
You will get there I can assure you, if I have!

Well done.

How are you do with shifting back and forth between 1st and 3rd positions?

Thanks Lottie, things went a wee bit better tonight.

I remember when I first started (just over a year ago) and I was on the Kathy Colledge books (Wagon Wheels, etc.) and my wife was teasing me that I should colour in the pictures in them before I went to the lessons.

Also went through some of the Eta Cohen books and wished they'd include some clueless looking adults in their demo pictures.

@ Babybird.

Congratulations on third position. It's great fun.

Cheers,

Matt.

I haven't really tried that properly yet

awww bless it's ok, you are going to try that today then you can tell us
My teacher gave me shifting 'exercises' to do when I first started 3rd position, kinda difficult to explain on here, ask your teacher to show you, I am sure he/she knows what I mean

I had a bit of an intro to 3rd position last week as well, although I haven't been able to practise owing to being in bed ill again and then a nice headache.

Still, I think I'll have my lesson today in the hope that it'll spur me on to something and re-fire my viola enthusiasm.

Hope your lesson goes well

It's my last lesson next week

No, you should always wait until you've mastered a particular piece before you colour in the pictures that go with it. ;-)

Oh no! When will you be starting again?

Actually I will need a new teacher soon as mine is leaving (surely my playing isn't that bad )

On the plus side I've decided to upgrade my very purple beginners £50 violin in the next month or so As I've decided I will definitely be continuing learning I'm going to get something that sounds better and will last a good couple of years. I feel an imminent trip to the violin shop to try some out!

Hello

I'm going to join this thread now, because my violin has arrived.

She is very pretty to look at, and the case is better than I was expecting. I'll try and post some pictures on the instrument photos thread later (probably tomorrow) if I can master how to do so.

I've put the bridge up and, despite her long journey, the soundpost was actually still up. I'm at work, so haven't been able to try playing her, but I've plucked the strings and I think she works okay.

I'm going to need a new bow, because I can feel that the one she's come with is rubbish (and I was expecting this anyways). I will get a luthier to check her over (a forum member who lives near me has kindly given the phone number for her luthier) and I also have new strings and rosin on my shopping list, as I suspect that the factory strings and rosin are fairly rubbish.

Hi Flossie *waves back*

Is it a Yitamusic bow?

I was having a lovely chat with my local luthier this morning (a gem discovered and only 20miles away... how excited am I!!).. he spotted the bow that came with Pan.

This is one of Yitamusic's bows.. which came with my T20 viola. He had a really good look at it and reckoned it's a lovely piece!!! I was quite surprised because I thought the bows Yita sent out with their outfits were not too great. At one point my teacher thought it may have warped but that was just a trick of light.

Anyway the only problem the luthier found was that the wedge holding the bow hair is slipping out and needs to be knocked in ... but he reckoned the bow was beautifully made and worth well over £100! He said the frog and shell (abalone?) were beautifully made and matched and he reckoned the 'stick' is a lovely piece of wood with graceful curves.. in fact he seemed almost as excited about the bow as the viola itself and he thought it was "beautifully made".

Bet you're dying to try it all out - let us know as soon as possible how you get on!

Yes it's a Yitamusic bow. I obviously haven't tried it with the instrument, but I wasn't convinced by how it felt when I held it and bowed an imaginary violin. It also seems harder to tighten and loosen the tension than I expected.

Hey Flossie, congratulations on your new baby

Well, I've used my bow for the first successful time today. I've spent the past two days trying to persuade the rosin which came with Chloe that it really did want to go onto the bow - and found that the bow really doesn't work if you can't get rosin onto it.

We don't have a music shop anywhere near me, but I managed to get some really cheap rosin from the market. It's still pretty rubbish rosin, but it's all they had and it is at least better than what came with the violin - it has certainly made an enormous difference to the bow!

I think that Chloe is probably going to have a nice voice once I get the hang of her. I can't play for very long at the minute because my fingers are getting SO sore...

Glad you got your bow working! How does it sound?

I know what you mean about the sore fingers - I've been practising loads and my fingers are sore and a bit tingly - I'm not going to stop though - i have my 'I'm determinede to crack it' hat on.

Re rosin - I still have the rosin I had when i first got my viola 20 odd years ago - and it still hasn't developed a nice groove down the middle! (Not that it was used for rather a lot of those 20 years!) My daughter's - which she has had since September, has a very nice groove. Does it make any difference? - it's one of those 'I feel too stupid to ask my teacher' type questions! What rosin would people recommend? (for a viola)

And on a totally different note - my daughter took her violin prep test this morning. She was bouncing around the waiting room, all buzzy before hand - her teacher bounced with her for a bit! She came out all smiles. Reading the comments I don't think she played the absolute best she could, but she got all the 'listening games' (aural by another name) right, so I'm pleased because i had done lots of work on it with her.

She is extra excited because now she can go onto low 2nd finger - she was banned until after her prep test in case it confused her!

Excellent!
You certainly do need that rosin!

I went to the violin shop this morning and came out with this Westbury violin





It has been professionally set up and strings are upgraded to Corelli Crystal, when I asked if there was any rosin included they said not normally but then they gave me some dominant rosin for free.

Oh and in consideration to other flats next to mine I bought a rubber mute, though it does feel a bit wrong to buy a nice new violin and then put that on, almost feels as if it is suffocating!

I did try another one which was lower in price but it didn't sound anywhere near as good. I'm really noticed how much better this one sounds than my £60 purple one, (although that's not surprising!).
It also feels easier to play, stopping the strings and the bow glides across with ease!

It probably wasn't the best idea but I had about an hour and half on it before my lesson, but I decided to take the new one as the old one sounded so awful in comparison, really rough and harsh sound!

My violin is a Westbury. They're really lovely instruments. I had a really cheap one before and yeah, the difference in tone is astonishing. I love my Theodore

My viola is a Westbury Plus. It does have a lovely tone.

I nearly got a Westbury, but decided on a Yita T20 instead (on the recommendation of a couple of forum members ). Chloe was slightly cheaper than a Westbury, but will need some set up work doing and so will probably end up being more expensive in the end.

I am really pleased with Chloe. She's already got a lovely sound - eventhough she's still got the factory strings, hasn't been set up properly (I put the bridge up myself...) and I can't play her properly. I absolutely love her E string - it's so sweet and clear sounding - and the lower strings are full without being too dark.

Chloe has even managed to stay in tune since I tuned her yesterday. I am quite impressed.

I've been playing some easy pieces from a beginners book today. I did better than I expected - although there were a couple of times when I was wondering why I wasn't getting the notes I wanted and discovered that I was fingering on a different string to the one I was bowing!

I did that today!!!! I have been playing viola for the last month but I took out my violin today... I was playing away and my fingers fell off the edge of the fingerboard

It took a wee while to get my fingers to 'play small' again!

That is why Gandalf (my bass) ALWAYS has to come second in my daily practice, if he comes first (like he did once 2 weeks ago) then I simply cannot play Figaro (my violin) anymore