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Critique me
Attempting to add 3 videos of me at 4 months of playing the violin
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Kim D
Nevada
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February 20, 2016 - 9:30 pm
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Godfather's Theme

Amazing Grace

Scarborough Fair

I've noticed that I don't keep my fingers close to the fingerboard when I play.  I will try to be more aware of that while I'm playing.  Please let me know if you see anymore bad habits.  Thanks!

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Kim D
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February 20, 2016 - 9:34 pm
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Hmmm...I thought that I added the video in the Critique area of the forum.  Ugh!  

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Fiddlestix
Michigan, USA

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February 20, 2016 - 10:16 pm
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I was going to mention something about keeping the fingers closer to the fingerboard, then I read what you critiqued yourself on.

You have excellent intonation for playing such a short time. You can use more bow though. Bow stroke's are a bit short, but that will come in time.

Great job, Kim, keep it up.

violin-1267

Ken.

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Kim D
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February 21, 2016 - 9:39 am
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Thank you, Ken!  The videos were recorded a couple of weeks ago.  In the last 2 weeks, I've seen videos on bow strokes and have attempted to improve my strokes.  My playing sounds worse with the longer bow strokes, but I know it will improve.  Thank you, again @Fiddlestix.

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damfino
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February 21, 2016 - 10:05 am
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Great job on all the pieces :) I agree with Ken that your intonation is really good :)  

On the Godfather theme I noticed that your palm on your left hand was starting to go flat to the neck of the violin, but since you didn't do it in the others it might be something you have worked through already.

Keep up the good work!

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ElisaDalViolin

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February 21, 2016 - 10:11 am
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Awesome job on intonation! Like Fiddlestix said, the short bowing is a problem you can overcome with time. Try to do some slow exercises, even on open strings, using the entire bow. It might feel weird because you are not used to but after some training your movements and sound will improve a lot. 

Other things I noticed, your bow hand might be a bit too low, your pinky sits almost on very end of the bow screw which can cause you bow balance/control problems. Do you feel confortable with your violin position? It seems high, as in, the scroll is pointed a bit too high. 

Hope I helped you

Happy practicing!  :D

 
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Kim D
Nevada
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February 21, 2016 - 6:20 pm
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damfino Thank you for pointing out the palm.  It could be because the song was longer than the other 2.  I'll pay attention to see if it's something that happens on longer songs.

@ElisaDalViolin Good observation on the bow.  I've noticed that I lose control when I get towards the top of the bow (using long bow strokes).  As far as comfort, I had to chuckle because nothing felt normal the first couple of months.  I will take note on how others hold the violin.  It does feel awkward when I play notes on the G string.

I really appreciate the time you all take to critique!

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intrepidgirl
Bragg Creek, Alberta
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February 21, 2016 - 8:46 pm
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Kim D, I just listened to your videos, Ken is right, really good intonation! You are doing great.

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Kim D
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February 21, 2016 - 9:38 pm
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Thank you, @intrepidgirl!

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coolpinkone
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February 22, 2016 - 1:47 pm
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kim-d 

Good Job ... very very nice... You are doing very good work with the violin.

Impressive!!  I am so glad you posted.  I get inspired by playing with and seeing others.  

 

@Fiddlerman  she needs a badge... woo hoo @Fiddlerman

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Kim D
Nevada
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February 22, 2016 - 9:01 pm
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Thank you @coolpinkone!  I get inspired too by watching others!!!  I enjoy watching how people progres.

Yay, I'll get my first badge!

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Kim D
Nevada
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February 24, 2016 - 10:14 pm
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Fiddlerman please critique me when you can...Then I get a badge?

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Fiddlerman
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February 25, 2016 - 3:37 pm
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Of course!!!
Great job. It's refreshing that you are so aware of your intonation.

You would do better in the long run if you would straighten out your left wrist.

Use more bow and connect the notes more rather than a breathe between each note.
Thanks for the post. You get a badge. :)

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but the one who needs the least."

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fiddlinsteudel
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February 25, 2016 - 7:52 pm
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Great job, like everyone said intonation is great! Which is really hard for a lot of people. Some things that I noticed (and others mentioned):

1. Work on long bows, good exercise is just to play open strings with a metronome and start it at a slow beat (40bpm). And you hold the bow for four counts and then switch directions, then hold it for 2 counts and switch directions, and lastly hold it for 1 count and switch directions. You want to make sure that you don't have spaces in between the notes. The long smooth bows will help get rid of the scratchiness when you start and stop notes.

2. Are you reading from sheet music? Do they have slurs notated? One of the things I noticed was interesting choices in when to slur notes and not slur notes. If the music has slurs notated make sure to follow those when you practice. Choosing when to slur and when not to slur really has an effect on a lot of aspects of playing: easy of changing notes, playing fast, rhythmic effects, phrasing, etc. If it's not notated then, it's pretty tough to know where the right places to change are without some guidance ...

3. Bow angle: I noticed only a few times (scarorough fair :20) your bow leaves being perpendicular with the bridge and starts to angle towards your head. You will get much better tone if you can keep your bow perpendicular to the bridge.

 

Anyway you are doing great! Keep up the hard work.

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Kim D
Nevada
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February 25, 2016 - 9:39 pm
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Thank you, @Fiddlerman!  I will pay more attention to my wrist and bowing.

 

Thank you @fiddlinsteudel, I will try your bow exercise.  I definitely need to work on my bowing. I've noticed funny bow angles in my videos. I will look at myself more in the mirror.  

Unfortunately, I'm not that great at reading notes.  I don't know what a slur looks like on sheet music. Recently, I've been looking at many videos of violinists playing, trying to get an idea of when to slur.  I wasn't aware that sheet music tells you when to slur.  I was winging out.  I truly appreciate all the comments and suggestions!!

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damfino
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February 25, 2016 - 9:51 pm
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kim-d 

An example of what a slur looks like on sheet music, here in the Godfather theme, the second and third notes of the song, the C# and D have a little swoosh line above theme, looks like a little sideways parenthesis... That's a notation for a slur. So those two notes would be played on the same up bow. Slurs can cross strings, and be many more notes in a row, and when they are noted on the sheet music that swoosh will go like that across all the notes meant to be played in that bow stroke.

Hope this helps!

https://fiddlerman.com/wp-cont.....-Theme.pdf

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Kim D
Nevada
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February 28, 2016 - 9:41 pm
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damfino, thank you for showing me a slur!!!  In the same row, how would I play note 15, 16 and 17?  It looks like a sideways parenthesis over 15 and 16, then a sideways parenthesis under 16 and 17?  

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damfino
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February 28, 2016 - 10:35 pm
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I believe that notation is telling you to continue holding the note in the same bow stroke, since the note doesn't change in the second half of the slur. Looking farther on in the sheet music, where the slur is repeated, the sheet music shows the bow stroke notation reminder, the whole slurred section is a down bow, and the first note out of it is an up bow, so I'm pretty sure that is how that should be played.

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Kim D
Nevada
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February 29, 2016 - 9:03 pm
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You've really picked up on the notes and sheet music markings quite quickly.  Do you happen to know what the elongated greater than and lesser than symbols below the lines mean?  Thanks @damfino!

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fiddlinsteudel
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February 29, 2016 - 9:24 pm
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Those ate dynamic markings. Crescendos < and decresendos >. Crescendos mean get louder and decrescendos mean get quieter.

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