I've just started learning the violin and the main difficulty I've been having is, of course, finding the correct pitch of each note, especially the distance of semitones. I can find my way around the violin fine, I can read the music no problem and my tone is improving but I'm still not happy at finding the correct position for each note. My problem is that I have quite thick fingers and I cant leave my fingers in the correct position e.g. I have to move my 2nd finger slightly on C# to play D above it. Anyway, I tried a new approach today and it has helped enormously in training my pitch. Its not exactly original but I just thought I'd share it with you. I play and record the violin solo on my keyboard at a slow to medium speed using the Violin voice. The one on my keyboard has quite a nice realistic sound. I then play along several times to it, noting the various places where I always tend to get the pitch slightly wrong. Even after just a few goes, its worked wonders. I'm already getting pretty confident of the distance between tones and semitones and I am getting the spacing to the point where I still get it spot on even when playing without the recording. This learning by imitation and rote is working wonders for my playing.
I know its not exactly groundbreaking but I just thought I'd share this with other beginners on the violin.

Gae

Hi Gae

Sounds like you've got it cracked.. I wish I had my keyboard back so I could try that too

Tried any new pieces? I've been working my way through the Abracadabra book again.. some of the pieces are quite hard in there but I think it's good to challenge myself

Joy

Hi Joy,
Yes, I'm playing lots of different Grade 1 and 2 pieces, also using a couple of beginner's books.."A tune a Day" and a very old second hand book I picked up called "The Easiest Way by Henry Geehl". The book dates back to 1946 and ironically, is anything but "the easiest way" insisting on using the 4th finger on the D and E strings in nearly every excercise...ouch!
I did a little arrangement on my keyboard for the Trinity Grade 1 piece "Pepperone Pizza Pie" and it was fun to play to. I used a mambo rhythm, arranged the piano part with acoustic bass, vibraphone, trumpet and strings and played the violin on top. Great fun, although it did sound like a top class Latin Band had hired a dodgy violinist....

Gae

QUOTE (Gae @ Feb 8 2005, 11:50 PM)

I did a little arrangement on my keyboard for the Trinity Grade 1 piece "Pepperone Pizza Pie" and it was fun to play to. I used a mambo rhythm, arranged the piano part with acoustic bass, vibraphone, trumpet and strings and played the violin on top. Great fun, although it did sound like a top class Latin Band had hired a dodgy violinist....

Hi Gae

Lol! Sounds like you had a great time

Joy

QUOTE (Gae @ Feb 9 2005, 07:50 AM)

The book dates back to 1946 and ironically, is anything but "the easiest way" insisting on using the 4th finger on the D and E strings in nearly every excercise...ouch!