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Andie's Practice Sessions!
Follow my progress as I upload each practice session and tell me what the hey I'm doing wrong so I can sound better~
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suresh
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March 23, 2013 - 3:52 am
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Normally, it is better to stand up and practice. If the sitting position is comfortable, carry on.  Happy fiddling.

If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it ..(William Shakespeare in Twelfth Night)

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Fiddlestix
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March 23, 2013 - 8:21 am
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There are mixed opinion's on whether to stand or sit. Myself, I find it more comfortable to sit while practicing. If I was only going to practice for 15 or 30 minute's, I may stand, but my practice session's are sporadic and last sometime's for hour's, playing for 20 minute's then breaking for 10 minute's then another 15min. and so on, this can last the whole day. I wouldn't want to stand the entire time.

Although If you are going to practice while sitting, it is important to have the correct posture, there are several video's on Youtube which show's both position's.

It is important that either way you practice, sitting or standing, that you have your music stand at the proper eye level and in front of you, not on a table to where you have to look down or to the side.

Choose which is the most comfortable for you, Andie and keep workiing on long bow stroke's.  smile

 

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Picklefish
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March 23, 2013 - 11:04 am
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As a matter of personal opinion (and personal laziness), consider your playing style and audience when deciding how you want your posture.

Violinist in Motion determined that posture does affect the tone and quality of your playing.

Hillbillies play and dance and call  and even hold the thing against their arm pit and play and are quite happy.

If you are playing in an orchestra, you are expected to blend in. Sit up straight and look professional.

If you dont train yourself sitting up straight while playing or standing up straight, if you ever find yourself in that situation down the road you will have incredible shooting pains in your back after about half an hour. lol. I hope its not just me...

So in all things FiddleViolin consider your chosen playing style and your audience when deciding all these little things. Pfish.

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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AndieKae
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March 23, 2013 - 11:16 am
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I see. I don't know if I had proper sitting posture or not, probably not, as I had to turn a little to better face the camera and be in better lighting. Plus I was sitting on a tall chair. Sometimes I sit, sometimes I stand; in fact, in another of my practices I recorded but never uploaded and in my next video I'm standing. I just have more surfaces for my camera where I have to sit to be in the shot. Because I want to be a performer I do want to spend more time standing while playing, but standing for long periods isn't a problem for me. I do need to buy a music stand, but currently I'm able to use my front door with a magnet holding my music at the proper height, so it's not first on my list of purchases.

So here is my video with my progress on my bow hold and how it has helped(?) with my bowing. What do y'all think?

http://youtu.be/Tv-W7kAY3UA

"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."

Algernon Moncrieff (Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest")

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AndieKae
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March 23, 2013 - 12:37 pm
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@pfish I guess you posted while I was working on my post, lol. I'm not planning on playing in an orchestra, that's for sure. I mean, I guess I'll have to in order to get experience and gain confidence performing, but that's not my endgame. I didn't choose to learn violin so I can be stuck in a chair, I've been there plenty with my piano. I've also spent a long time being mediocre and not being able to stand out against the crowd. I want to shine. Which is very self centered, I guess... But I've been an artist and a writer and I've been swallowed up in all the competition, and without at least enjoying what I was doing to keep me motivated. I love music and whether I play for myself, my family, a small venue or for the world, I love getting to play. But for once I want to be recognized and be able to inspire someone.

Anyway, if someone has something to say about my posture, then please do. If something is amiss I can't do anything without knowing how to fix it.

"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."

Algernon Moncrieff (Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest")

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Picklefish
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March 23, 2013 - 2:14 pm
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Posture looks good to me there! I think you are doing fantastic and are def on the right track. As you become more accustomed to it you will pick up your bow speed a bit and that will project your sound more and stop a bit of the squeekiness. All in all I think a Brava is in order!!

pfishthumbs-up1st-placedancingdancinbunny

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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StoneDog
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March 23, 2013 - 5:03 pm
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I sit and stand when I practice and try to play tunes. I am usually sitting when I am going over basics > bowing, scales, double stops, etc  with the metronome. I put on drum tracks after that and do some standing time and try tunes. So both seem important > yea never know if you will be sitting or standing down the road when one is playing beyond beginner.

Your bowing looks pretty good to me > your not sliding all over the neck. I do see some bouncing of the bow. That was happening to me a lot >> I loosened up my bow tension a bit and it helped a lot for me.

I enjoy watching your vids cause it reminds me of some of the struggles that I am going through. Gets pretty ugly for me trying to find those notes, having proper bowing, holding the instrument properly, and all that stuff. I figure if I keep at it, it can only get better. With your musical background you will do great after you play for hours and hours and hours and get use to the instrument. You know, sort of become one with it. Keep at it >> and you will >>> ROCK!!!

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KindaScratchy
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March 23, 2013 - 5:33 pm
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Your posture looks good to me, in my humble opinion. This is coming from someone who has gone through all kinds of contortions of posture while learning this instrument. Think I'm finally more or less upright.

I usually practice sitting, though sometimes I stand. The advantage to sitting, for me, is that I can put my music at eye level.

BTW, I think you've got some great goals. I hope you achieve them!

crossedfingers

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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coolpinkone
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March 23, 2013 - 6:36 pm
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Great bowing practice... I never took that much time to do the recommended bowing practice.. (true confession)...and I am now a year later working on that.... Keep up the good work.  It is inspiration that you share and it helps me recall things I need to work on.

 

Cheers, Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Fiddlerman
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March 24, 2013 - 10:00 pm
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You are doing some great things for the short amount of time you have been playing as far as posture is concerned.
Work on leading with your right arm elbow. The elbow should start to drop before you even change directions to down bow and should rise before you even get to the up bow. Let me know if you understand this and I would love to see the result as well.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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RosinedUp

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March 25, 2013 - 1:45 pm
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First known AndieKae cover.  Journey From Royledale, opening theme.  E-minor with an accidental F natural.  Played by me, o' course.

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AndieKae
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March 25, 2013 - 5:33 pm
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Wow, you are all such a wonderful help, and so kind to me! It's nice to be able to come here when I'm frustrated and down on myself and find such uplifting people.

 

Pierre - I think I know what you're saying. When visualizing it, changing the direction of the elbow and letting the hand sort of follow behind looks a lot smoother than the other way around. I'll definitely need to start focusing more on bowing tutorials to get it stuck mentally.  I look forward to making another video to see if I have it figured out. 

 

RosinedUp - So close, but well done! I'm so happy to hear it on the violin. Sounds like it's going to be pretty nice if I can fix it up a little more. :D The only thing I can tell so far that you need to change is that there's no accidental on the F, it remains F# in this part. Where you think it's F natural, take it a half step lower and see how it sounds.

 

If anyone's curious about the song Ros is playing, it's one I started writing in high school and am playing in this video, followed by another song I started writing more recently.

http://youtu.be/QKGMKUUaY2Q

"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."

Algernon Moncrieff (Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest")

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StoneDog
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March 25, 2013 - 9:48 pm
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I kept thinking the other hand was going to get involved> It did not. Maybe there was not a part for it. > JUST imagine >>>> Playing your own tunes on the keys and then recording the violin with it. It will be all you > SWEET > I kept hearing the viddle playing along with this as you played > possibilities are endless. > Keep ROCKing.

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AndieKae
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March 26, 2013 - 10:38 am
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Yeah, it's definitely a work in progress. It started off as something I would hum or sing in the shower. My music writing abilities are very limited, which is why I'm taking some music theory lessons from Rosined. Yesterday we discovered why I was so unhappy with the part from 0:14-0:24; something about it didn't fit in with the song and then I realized I had changed the mode by ending on G. That's my theory, anyway. There's another part I'm unhappy with because it constantly makes me think of a song from a kid's show my son watches. Drives me crazy! So basically I'm throwing out half the song and keeping everything from 0:58 and on. I really wish I had a bottom hand part to accompany, I'm just really stuck and don't know how to do anything besides melody yet. The song is really lacking in substance without that extra something. I do look forward to playing the theme on violin, though, and having a piano accompaniment to support it, it'll be so overwhelming to me to have that happen. :D

"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."

Algernon Moncrieff (Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest")

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DanielB
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March 26, 2013 - 2:31 pm
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Nonono... You don't throw out half a song because it doesn't fit.  If it *really* doesn't fit, then you use it for a whole new song.  If it only sorta doesn't fit, then you can maybe use it as a bridge or something. 

A melody doesn't need to stay in one mode for it's entire length, anyway.  Or even one key.  Modes are a handy tool for analysis, but what mode a melody is in and how strongly it is in that mode can vary as the melody progresses.

Now, for the left hand, try starting with just playing long sustained notes for the left hand.  Like drone notes.  See how they fit, keep what fits.  The process can be shorter if you know the key you're writing in, but good old trial and error will serve even if you don't.  Doesn't matter which hand you write first, you can always work up the other one as you develop the piece out.

 

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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StoneDog
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March 26, 2013 - 10:14 pm
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DanielB makes an excellent point. One should never scrap an idea, a feeling from within. Modes are like paints on a painter's palettet to color ones ideas. The key > of the musical idea > unlocks a world of modes which are moods of the spirit. There are no wrong modes within the musical room the key opens and once inside that room > there are many other doors to venture through.

 

 

 

 

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AndieKae
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April 23, 2013 - 9:26 pm
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It's been such a long time already! I'm having such a hard time keeping up with everything. Just so y'know, I got a job, so I'll be a bit scarce... But that means I have money to fund my violining!

 

Here is my month (and a half) update. I'm using my Cecilio E-Violin with D'Addario Pro-Arte strings, basic free bow that came with violin, Jade rosin, and the Marshall amp sent to me by Scotty (thank you so much!) So now you can REALLY hear my mistakes, haha!

 

Also, unlike my previous videos, I kept this one short so I wouldn't have to edit it. That means it's not just my "best" performances... but all of my awkwardness in between, too! Yay for you and my deepest apologies.

 

http://youtu.be/0LY9xn4YB2I

"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."

Algernon Moncrieff (Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest")

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StoneDog
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April 23, 2013 - 10:23 pm
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I see the desire to play. I see the frustration with trying to learn. I see the patience with the learning process. I see the need to make it sound SWEET. I see me. Sometimes I just > well I don't know. I just look away for a moment and go back at it. Sort of what you were doing. But its getting better > and you are getting better > Keep at it. It can only get better. It will never be as good as you want it. You will never find perfection with yourself but each moment you spend with it will make the next moment better. This instrument is driving me insane right now > BUT > it is getting better. With finding a job the window to practice is smaller now but if you want it you will find the time > I'm thinking you want it.

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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
April 24, 2013 - 12:35 am
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Hi there... congrats on the job and the violin funding funds!!!!

Keep up the practice... many of us were right there with you.  I see that you are diligent and trying hard.

Keep up the good work. You are working hard to do the bowing and fingering and all that is involved in this fabulous instrument..it is not easy.

I would suggest (something I should have done more of..) is open bowing... to get a little bow speed and confidence.  (I don't give a lot of advice..as a newbie..so the only advice I can give is advice on what I wish I would have done).

Good for you..thanks for posting.

Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Fiddlerman
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April 24, 2013 - 9:16 pm
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You have a good ear. I can see and hear you correcting your intonation as you go along. The times where you get a bad sound are the times where you are not moving the bow enough and when you are too close to the bridge.

The effect of having the light behind you with those curtains is real cool. thumbs-up

My daughter and I played "Star Of The County Down" as well. We got chewed out for saying Country down and my daughter for mispronouncing words. facepalm

We were not very familiar with it.

Thanks for the post. Look forward to your 2 month video.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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