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Checking In - Twinkle Twinkle
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
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laserbrainz
SLC, UT
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September 22, 2013 - 12:16 am
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Hey all.

Been a week or two since my last video (I think). I've been playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to death, but I don't want to move on until it's really solid. And anyway I think it's a good base song to practice some other stuff on, like I'm doing here. In this vid I'm just messing around with some slurs: been practicing them for Silent Night, which I plan to post a video if soon so y'all can help me (please please help me.) Also, I'm tapping my foot to keep a beat (metronomes don't do it for me - I've got to feel it) so that's why I'm bouncing. Also also, I have no editing ability so the weird ending is me thinking i'll give it another go then saying "screw it" and turning the camera off. :)

 

So anyway, please let me know how I'm doing/what needs work/tips to help me improve. This is about 6-8 weeks of me playing violin.

 

thank you!

 

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Fiddlestix
Michigan, USA

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September 22, 2013 - 1:42 am
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I like your improv, Kayla.... It show's you have imagination and that's good. You're doing great, keep it up.

clapclapclap

 

Ken.

 

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Feathers
Colorado, USA
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September 22, 2013 - 2:46 am
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Great job Kayla!

I like that you put a unique twist to the song. It sounded really good that way!smile

"Music is what feelings sound like." ~ Author Unknown

 

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Ferret
Byron Bay Australia
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September 22, 2013 - 3:56 am
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Hi Kayla

My observations where:

You are doing rather well for 6 to 8 weeks

Your intonation is good

Your bowing is rather straight and I'm sure that it will get straighter soon.

You might want to start using more of the length of your bow. You will find it useful very soon especially if you are interested in slurs. They tend to use more bow. Myself I sometimes run out of bow on a 3 note slur :)

 

I hope the critique was useful.

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Teapot

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September 22, 2013 - 6:41 am
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I think you have great posture!And very good intonation as well. I like how you did a bit of improvisation on the piece. Your bowing is also  very nice and straight- my advice would be to make sure you have your right upper arm and shoulder relaxed, so you can bow  more from the elbow and hand rather than the shoulder. I find that this helps make for straighter bowing and more control over the bow. I look forward to hearing what you 'll play next!!!

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StoneDog
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September 22, 2013 - 9:23 am
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I like it > you are doing great > looks like you got a handle on that unwanted screeching sound that most beginners struggle with. Improvisation > SWEET!!!

Your right about it being a good base song to play over and over again and other things do come from it.

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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September 22, 2013 - 9:40 am
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The only thing to add is bow using your elbow not your shoulder and relax you wrist. Check you bow tension, I heard the bow bounce at one point.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 22, 2013 - 9:47 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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GREAT job Kayla,

I love that you are using your own embellishments already. Your imagination and musicality will pay off. :)

Like Teapot said, use more elbow and avoid the shoulder movement on the bow strokes. Use the shoulder joint almost exclusively for lifting or dropping the elbow for changing strings, though you don't need to give that any thought as it happens automatically.
Just think elbow. That will give you much straighter bow strokes. Check yourself out in the mirror like 5 minutes a day or at the beginning of every practice session to see that you are drawing a straight bow parallel to the bridge.

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

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Tyberius
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September 22, 2013 - 8:19 pm
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Oh how I love to hate Twinkle. I think most have played it to death and beyond. It is a really nice little piece to play when you are also learning and altering your bow strokes. Suzuki book one does a real nice job walking you through this. Its very good to get you to transition bow strokes and still keep your timing., like has been said, lets you see when your shoulder is doing the work and not your elbow.

 

Very nicely done  :)

"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader

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RosinedUp

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September 23, 2013 - 5:50 am
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Nice playing.  Good form.  Great progress.

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laserbrainz
SLC, UT
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September 27, 2013 - 1:12 pm
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Sorry it's taken me so long to get back here.  Big thanks to everyone for your replies and tips and encouragement!

 

The posture remarks make me smile, because if only it could be so good in the rest of my life.  Anyway, I marvel at the people who can sit and play, cause I can't seem to do anything unless I'm standing.

 

I do have a hard time relaxing, basically everything - shoulder, wrist, hand and fingers.   Pierre, that "paintbrush" thing is hard! I notice I even tense up when I listen to other people play.  But when I do relax I can instantly tell the difference - even in the video up there, a few moments in I relax and then my bowing gets straight(er). I've been doing the mirror thing and I think I'm improving.

 

@Ferret I run out of bow all the time.  Practicing slurs definitely makes me conscious of putting it all to use.

 

@Kevin M. My bow bounces a lot, usually.  Bow-hair tension confuses me, I second guess myself every time I tighten it up when I start playing.  I haven't really been able to tell if the bow bouncing is the tension, or just my own skill level being the problem.  Is there a way to tell if the bow is too loose?  I mean, aside from it being obviously just way too slack.  Is there a certain sound that it being too loose would make?

 

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Tyberius
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September 27, 2013 - 10:20 pm
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Lazer, the bounce will stop as you stop tensing your arm, wrist and hand. It comes with time. As you start playing more that bounce will just disappear. For me, and it will gain the attention of at least one "expert", I use my little finger between the hair and the bow in the middle of it. when I can start to poke it between, I stop cranking on the frog end of the bow. After a while, you just look at it, figure what the heck, and start making noise. ;)

 

As for running out of bow, My guess is you are unsure of your notes and you drag them out until you figure out the next one. Maybe not. That was my problem when I started. Then you tend to go the other way. You only play on about 4 inches in the middle of your bow and everything turns into quarter notes. It just takes time and lots of playing/practicing. Don't give up. Its a natural progression stage. You are doing very well. :)

"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 28, 2013 - 10:16 am
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The paint brush stroke takes time. Practice bending and straightening out your fingers with just about anything you have at hand. While eating, watching tv with a pencil..... etc.
Suddenly it will come. :-)

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

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Fiddlestix
Michigan, USA

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September 28, 2013 - 6:39 pm
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Just be very careful with a fork, as not to poke out your eye. lol

Time was when bow bounce was a huge topic in here, but that has changed since most everyone has overcome the bounce now. There's not many of the long time member's who still have a problem.

It's a very common thing so don't feel alone, it will get better.

 

Ken.

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Mad_Wed
Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city
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September 29, 2013 - 4:57 pm
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Fiddlestix said
...There's not many of the long time member's who still have a problem.

I'm the one of those "not many". I have it sometimes, not all the time now though. First thing that helped me - Pierre's tips and playing open strings, concentrating on relaxation. Here are the threads about bouncing:

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....t-stop-it/

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/p.....ncing-bow/

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/p.....-bouncing/

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....part-3e25/

 

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