Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
The meaning of feedback
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
Avatar
lenasv.

Advanced member
Members
May 12, 2011 - 8:06 am
Member Since: January 13, 2011
Forum Posts: 70
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

 

There are many ways one can see opinions and get feedback from your performance as a violinist. But what does make some opinions more important than others? Are there situations when we should not expect to get any feedback? Arnold Steinhardt mentions in his book "Indivisible by Four" that when they were students, you could never expect to get a positive comment on your playing from any fellow student, they all were inspecting your performance as others inspect smelly cheese.

One way I find being easiest to know something about how the performance was perceived is to measure the intensity and length of applauses. Here of course, one needs to be aware of that the length depends on the public amount, where in the program you play, and how many friends you have in the public.

I find the most appreciative and constructive, when it comes to feedback, people in general being either non-musicians, or professional musicians, and the most critical being other amateur musicians of the same instrument group or non-musicians that are extremely passionate listeners to classical music. What do you think?

Avatar
Oliver
NC

King
Regulars
May 12, 2011 - 8:41 am
Member Since: February 28, 2011
Forum Posts: 2439
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Violinists, I believe, are extremely competitive and their feedback motives are always open to suspicion.  I trust the opinion of "uneducated" acquaintances who actually may have been listening to the music rather than contemplating my bow arm posture, etc and worrying that I might be better than they thought Smile

 

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 12, 2011 - 9:00 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Very well said Oliver :-) I don't know if we should generalize but it sounds very close to the truth.

The opinions of our audiences, general public, non-professional musicians, classical music lovers, are in my opinion, the most important. They are the ones that we are first and foremost playing for.

As far as learning and improving is concerned, I believe that EVERYONES opinion counts though you must be able to filter the bad advice from the good. When someone gives you good advice you may want to listen extra well to them in the future. Smile

Unbiased advice is for sure more truthful.

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

Avatar
Oliver
NC

King
Regulars
May 12, 2011 - 9:25 am
Member Since: February 28, 2011
Forum Posts: 2439
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

The most valid generalization I can safely make is that I am my own worse critic.  I have invented a quote … "I may not be good enough to be good enough but I'm good enough to hear it"  Laugh

PS   Lacking a teacher, I ALWAYS check out the value of new information BUT, in general, I find that a lot of advise is given by people who are defending something they do (wrong).  I think it takes many years for someone to really understand what is going on AND be able to explain that to a novice. 

Besides, I have also come to realize that most of my shortcomings are simply a violation of the most basic principles and require more attention than correction.

 

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Avatar
lenasv.

Advanced member
Members
May 24, 2011 - 12:20 pm
Member Since: January 13, 2011
Forum Posts: 70
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Oliver, that is a brilliant quote!!

Very often, I think it is much easier to criticize somebody else's playing, than to play it himself. However, I think many violinists criticize having in mind the idea "I would do better if I had time to do it." but they never actually try performing the piece, or some similar piece...most of them wont even try to go on stage even if having the opportunity, even though they still think "I would do better." And most often, no matter how much one practices, one will do a lot of mistakes or small things here and there in a performance...even the big stars do it :)

I find it being a bit sad, that people are so bad with complimenting each other. When somebody goes on stage from the orchestral members, I ALWAYS congratulate them and tell all my positive impressions from the performance...so that they continue performing.

Avatar
Oliver
NC

King
Regulars
May 24, 2011 - 12:48 pm
Member Since: February 28, 2011
Forum Posts: 2439
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

A little complement goes a long way as does the recognition but I am always aware of the loneliness.  Another good quote .... "The enemy has been sighted and it's me!" 

I too do not like the competitiveness that seems so common among violin players.  It is sometimes bitter and comes from people who just know a lot of buzz words and are much better at talking than playing.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 24, 2011 - 3:57 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

I'm really happy to see this discussion here. Playing the violin is about having fun not being competitive and jealous. 

Let's make a deal here. Only constructive criticism and admiration for all the positive that we accomplish. We can decide that we don't need to compete to be accepted because we are doing this for the love of the instrument and music. Everyone who decides to work on the fiddle deserves an applause for accepting the challenge and sticking to it.

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

Avatar
Daniel
Dipolog City, Philippines

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
May 25, 2011 - 3:41 am
Member Since: April 26, 2011
Forum Posts: 203
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Deal! Besides, we won't be able to accomplish anything when we put each other down.

Short-term Goal:

Avatar
lenasv.

Advanced member
Members
May 25, 2011 - 5:35 am
Member Since: January 13, 2011
Forum Posts: 70
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Daniel and Fiddlerman, I am in!!

Avatar
Oliver
NC

King
Regulars
May 25, 2011 - 7:56 pm
Member Since: February 28, 2011
Forum Posts: 2439
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I will always welcome criticism from anyone who demonstrates the correct approach and exhibits that on a video of their own playing Surprised

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 138
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, JPferrman, Designer 88, LyleA, Stephen, Dorque, Trisha, Elaisa, wonderputz, Gordon Shumway, dougga, Russionleo, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7761
ABitRusty: 3915
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2425
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2149
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31663
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10590
Posts: 134224
Newest Members:
Adityaail, SoCal335, Jan Howard, edwardcheng, Oscar Stern, bryanhanson, bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5309