THE QUESTION SAYS IT ALL. THIS IS ONE FOR ALL VIOLIN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

My daughter by a twerk of coincidence (teacher's away and the driver who takes her to violin lessons - that's dad! - is also away for work reasons) is missing 4 violin lessons.

She has a competition coming up next week when both teacher and driver are back. In the meantime she has asked ME - of all people, I don't even know how to hold a bow - a question that got me stumped...

She said, "If I look at my bow all the time but not at the music, I sound a whole lot better! I have accidentally memorised the music so I can play without reading it. Problem is, if I read the music, I can't keep my eyes on the bow all the time and it sounds different! Not good. Can I play without looking at the music, do you think? I'm not sure whether I'll remember all the composer's markings but I do know all my notes."

I said I am not sure either but will find out. It seems a big a risk to me. If she forgets halfway - whether due to nerves or whatever - she'll get totally confused as she wouldn't know exactly where she was! Seems safer to READ the music the WHOLE time even though she thinks she will sound much less impressive. On the other hand the kid has an impressive memory due to her academic streak! Should I advise her to memorise the markings as well OR listen to my protective maternal instincts?

I contacted the organisers who do this thing every year and asked. Was told that it is up to her but the kids always read their music which is usual.

What do others who have been in a similar position think???

(I NEED to know soon!!! She'll be practising right after breakfast and before dinner TODAY!!!) Help!

Why not keep the music there in front of her but don't bother to look unless necessary? If she knows it by memory the presence of music would just be a reassurance. If she has a "map" of it in her mind it shouldn't be hard for her to give a quick glance toward the right spot.

?
Wishing her all the best with the competition.

Hi Tess

I'm sure there are people better qualified than me to advise who will, no doubt, be getting up soon.

However I do know that my teacher always says that if you have memorised the music (ie notes) then you can start concentrating on the music (ie interpretation). For me the composers markings are not an issue to memorise as this is part of the interpretation and how I (or the composer) want it sound. I have to have however the notes in front of me though as otherwise I cannot remember.

By NOT looking at the music she will (as long as she is confident enough) give a better performance.

How long is the piece / pieces she is to play? Does she need to have the right page open at any one time? I would say to take the music, have it on the stand open at the right page, but don't look at it unless there is a memory lapse, just play from the heart. This will require her to ensure that it is open on the right page and that she has a feel for where on the page she is should she need to refer to it in a crisis.

I would imagine if she has memorised the piece she will have a sort of photographic memory for how it looks on the page anyway.

Hope this helps.

Jane

Simultaneous posting, this is exactly what I was thinking.

I agree with janexxx. If the music is 2 pages long, there won't be a page turn. If it's 3 pages, maybe she can photocopy the first (or last) page and stick it onto the adjoining page. That's allowed - then there are 3 straight pages of music.
Even if it's a longer piece that normally requires page turns, it sounds as if she is prepared enough not to need to refer to the music. As janexxx said, it may just be necessary in a small moment of 'crisis'!

Is this her first competition? Good luck!

THANKS, EVERYONE FOR YOUR REPLIES.

Is this her first competition? Good luck!

[/quote]

Yes, it is her first competition, all right. Yesterday, she's been playing 2 wretched pieces all day to her little brother who is a music-mad autistic child who happens to have a fixation with the piano and a violin BOW which he sleeps with every night - "laugh, laugh" just like a gypsy fiddler.

Right now, I'm a little bit fed up with Handel, Huw Jones and also Dancla but I'm very good at hiding my feelings abt this with relaxed smiles. Just imagine if your mum tells you your music sucks, or they are "boring" her to death by now - how would you feel? Your self esteem will crash!

So, notewise, the photographic memory is there but I thought the player HAS to be true to all the composer's instructions like dynamics, etc? No? So SORRY for the ignorance but can anyone explain / elaborate further???

If the opposite is true then she shd be fine.

Tess

Well yes you do have to follow dynamics etc to a certain degree. It depends on the period, the piece and how much of your own interpretation they are expecting. Basically the more modern the piece the more likely the composer will have been explicit in performance directions. But somehow when you play a piece (well this is what I find anyway) those sorts of things are part of the musicality of the piece and once I know the piece these are well embedded in how I play it. It's just the notes I can't remember.

Seems like I beat myself for nothing!

Just had a chat with her late last night. Told her she MUST put her music in front of her just in case she needs them. MUST! She agreed.

She didn't want me to worry. I said I'm not worried. In fact, I feel confident but a bit "risk-averse" by nature, that's all. But then she told me she had memorised everything (including all the editor's or composer's(?) markings) no problem. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

(I suppose our next year's queries will relate to sight reading. She memorises things at school very easily including maths timetables at a very early age and now Shakespearean bits and bobs like nobody's business BUT she gets so carried away with the music that my husband HAD to remind her to SIGHT READ her music when playing! Watch this space... next year, I guess.)

Thanks, ALL.

Gosh! Suddenly, realised I'm beginning to sound like one of those irritating boastful mums at ballet!!! Eeeeks! Apologies to anyone's offended by such monstrousity!

Awww, don't worry Tess, you're doing nothing of the sort, just trying to help out your daughter who seems to be very talented. I wish her all the best, and keep supporting her like you're doing

Gee, thanks, nicki_flute. Just received written confirmation from London borough yesterday that it will be held on Monday, June 20 at 9.24am. Good thing, she's a morning person!!!

Thanks, ALL for the great moral support! Will keep you posted............come what may.........

Your daughter sounds like a 'natural' performer! Relax and enjoy the occasion. Hope it goes really well for everyone.

I don't agree with the above!
This kid does NOT need the music, I think, and she will play much better without it.
I would go for it!
I witnessed a similar event recently with my daughter. She played in a music festival WITH the music in front but wasn't looking at it. The adjudicator noticed and (very unusally for this type of event) suggested she tried it again WITHOUT the music! She did and it sounded BETTER! She won that category, went to play in the big concert - and this time SHE chose not to have the music in front - and she played it better than ever to a big audience.

I might test your kid out though - for example getting a few neighbours/friends to unexpectedly form an audience and get her to perform without the music under a little pressure. I'd put money on it that she'd be absolutely fine - and ditto at the big event.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Be different - C'est mon avis!

Not necessarily. It's quite possible to memorise by ear and by muscles without knowing the appearance of the page. I don't know how many people have a reliable photographic memory, but I would not be surprised if it was less common among musicians than others.

I suppose you should gamble ( a big gamble) either on a good sound or playing all the composer's markings. Still, I rather think you should play with the best sound, but it's not my choice, so you should choose.

Good luck!

from Viohazard (age 11)

Good luck for Monday! I'm sure she'll be fine - and carry on to do more!!

Thanks, Mark. Same to you!

Tess

As usual, the precise timing! I wish her all the best, she seems such a natural player that I am sure she will go far

As usual, the precise timing! I wish her all the best, she seems such a natural player that I am sure she will go far

[/quote]

Good timing, nicki! Thanks! Not sure whether she'll go far in this music thing though, even though she is definitely a natural. She took to the violin like duck to water. Still, her FAVOURITE competition of all time remains, MATHS competitions!!! Uugh!

[quote=Tess,Jun 17 2005, 11:02 AM]
As usual, the precise timing! I wish her all the best, she seems such a natural player that I am sure she will go far

[/quote]

Good timing, nicki! Thanks! Not sure whether she'll go far in this music thing though, even though she is definitely a natural. She took to the violin like duck to water. Still, her FAVOURITE competition of all time remains, MATHS competitions!!! Uugh!

[/quote]

[B]Actually, after this FIRST music competition, who knows? She just might learn to LIKE violin competitions as much as Art, Karate and Maths (her other loves).

Wait and see... "one day at a time" (my fav life motto)

Hehe, if she was a bit older, she could do my Maths exams for me!!
What kind of competition is it? Let us know how she gets on

[quote=indy_epx,Jun 14 2005, 11:31 PM]
I don't agree with the above!
This kid does NOT need the music, I think, and she will play much better without it.
I would go for it!
I witnessed a similar event recently with my daughter. She played in a music festival WITH the music in front but wasn't looking at it. The adjudicator noticed and (very unusally for this type of event) suggested she tried it again WITHOUT the music! She did and it sounded BETTER! She won that category, went to play in the big concert - and this time SHE chose not to have the music in front - and she played it better than ever to a big audience.

INDY, YOU ARE A GENIUS! SHE WON! SHE WON! SHE WON! She played from memory, no problem! She had indeed memorised all 3 exam pieces including one very long one, and she showed me by performing all 3 last night. My jaw dropped. I said for the 1st time, "Oh my God. Now, I know you ARE talented!"

Thanks to nicki-flute, frances, rosemary, mark the harp, viohazard, jane, etc and ALL who advised us here on this issue ... She is Sooo happy! It's her first strings competition.

Tess

Wow, congratulations! Did you get any comments from the adjudicators/examiners?

Eer, actually, I wasn't there. Babysitting at home as usual. Just got a phone call from them at the venue. Are they supposed to say something? Oh well, I'll soon know...

That's brilliant Tess

Many, many congrats to your daughter - and to you for being such a supportive and interested Mum.

First of many.....

Love Frances

Well, usually in a competition there are a panel of judges who mark the competitors, often, these give comments about the performance. Aww, it was a shame you weren't there to see it .

Thanks, Nicki and Frances...
Nick, I can't be there! It's a long story but basically, my son sometimes gets very distressed in new surroundings. But, thanks all the sam for the great support we've had here!

OMEDETOU! (That means congratulations).

Tess
I'm THRILLED for both you and daughter! Congratulations all around!! Woohoo!!
This experience will be a huge encouragement for your kid and give her great confidence. She is very talented, and it sounds like she really loves music. Shame you couldn't have been there - maybe next time - there's lots of festivals around!
I've been to 3 different festivals as a parent, and they are brilliant for helping young ones to get up and play in front of others - something not every musician has the courage to do even if they want to. OK one kid was terrified to the point of feeling sick (in front of say 10 people in the audience), others breezed in as if it was a walk in the park, most are nervous but thrilled afterwards, whether they win or not. The audience actually mostly comprises of other contestants and their family. I think my kid learnt an awful lot just watching the others. And parents can learn a lot too, and help them realise that lots of other children play music - sometimes you forget that when you chauffeur them around, and kids don't often see/hear other kids perform, especially on piano.

congratulations!
Thats brilliant!

Ah I see No worries.

Hi Nicki,
Guess what? I haven't miss anything!

She came home and handed me a notice of a "Prize Winners Concert" next month at the nicest Hall in town to which I can go to see for free a repeat of her and other winners' performance! Hurrah!

Shall I dump my kid with you that evening, Nick???

Just kidding!

Hey, wow that is really good news . Would it be at all possible to take your son? Maybe you could take him to the hall beforehand. That will be really nice, you'll feel so proud!

Did she win anything?

Yup, a record voucher to buy CDs or DVDs which she said she'll use to buy Oistrakh!

Hi Tess

I'm so pleased for you all. Congratulations, and I'm sure it will be the start of many successes. And great that you will be able to go to the re-run.

Brilliant!!

Thanks, all, for the marvelous support we have had here!!!

The whole family has just been to the prizewinners concert (where she was the sole soloist violinist!) and IT was brilliant. She did great and folks came up to us warmly to compliment her. Enjoyable evening watching so many wonderful kids.

Wow, it must have been a joy to watch, and so glad you could be there with her!

I hadn't been following this thread past the first couple of posts, but have just seen the last bit, and wondered whether it was the Waltham Forest Schools' Music Festival you were talking about, Tess, as I think you're fairly local to me - wasn't it you who was asking about the Stratford and East London Festival?

If so, you'll have seen a couple of my pupils at the concert - two excellent young recorder players. One played Vivaldi and another Bigaglia. The latter child also won his piano and strings classes (I don't teach him strings though), so I think he played his cello at the concert too. I couldn't go - it's always held during my teaching hours.