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This is a great idea - not as easy to slack off when you know your 3 month plans are out there in the public ;P
Since the month is almost over, I'm going to make January's goal simple: "Buy violin". That one's the easy one.
Feb:
- Work on left hand and bow hold
- Scales and etudes (first thing I downloaded here - thanks Fiddlerman!)
- Be strict with practice time and get into a routine. Would like to be playing at LEAST an hour a day by end of Feb... 6 days a week?
March:
- Start playing with musician friends - good for feedback and motivation to improve!
- More scales end etudes, with arps and maybe double stops. We'll see.
Too ambitious for a new fiddler? Thoughts anyone? 
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@caterwaul There's nothing wrong in being ambitious! 
It seems a good plan. My advice is take your time, focus in gaining good habits first, such as hand posture (may take a while). Remember that sometimes in order to go forward we have to take a step back. It can be frustrating but it pays off. Anything you need, we are here to help!
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@caterwaul -
I love your goals. Very focused and awesome!! Never too ambitious.
I love your January Goal... can't wait to hear about your new violin.
Cheers....
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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coolpinkone said
I love your January Goal... can't wait to hear about your new violin.
Additional January goal:
Gonna try to take some better photos of it this weekend and pop them in my introduction post with info - can't believe I forgot to introduce my violin! 
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In addition to scales I am also studying harmonized arpeggios. While incorporationing thirds, fourths, fifths and octaves.
I am on track with my goals but this post is to demonstrate progress that I acknowledge the appropriate terms. I was fiddling the other day (I didn't practice yesterday [sick]) I started harmonizing the arpeggios and it sounded beautiful. I performed a beautiful harmonized étude out on the street earning myself six bucks!
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as January is ending. I feel focused and in line with my goals.
Yesterday I watched and participated in SIX of Fiddlerman's videos. 4 vibrato, 3rd position, and fifth position.
I also worked on string changes at the tip of the bow.
I have been putting down my fourth finger more.
I have signed up to participate in Street Jelly.
I watched the video from Juan on Shifting. Practice a few pieces with a bit of shifting.... FM's Swan Lake arrangement.
Woo hoo.... I am excited going into February.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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After further investigation I've realized the double stop studies each require a solid foundation for understanding there implementation. Ideally I can spend a week on each set of stops.
Feb. 1-7 : sixths
Feb. 8-14 : fourths
Feb 15-21 : thirds
Feb 22-28 : improvise harmonic scales and arpeggios
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Change of plans again. I am going to dedicate a lot of time to playing in Sul. That means utilizing only one string. After jamming today from Sul E to G I've discovered a new doorway through which i can express myself. By playing in Sul, I should be able to harmonize particular tones.
@Fiddlerman if I play in sul D is it the norm to harmonize a single note on either the G string or A string? Or, does harmony occur as a consistent interval between root notes? Or, can I improvise harmony by means of trial and error - repetition of double stops from sul..?
Paganini was said to shave his strings so that by the time his concerts were nearing an end, he would only have his G string to continue performing on. How incredible is that!?
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Jacques said
@Fiddlerman if I play in sul D is it the norm to harmonize a single note on either the G string or A string? Or, does harmony occur as a consistent interval between root notes? Or, can I improvise harmony by means of trial and error - repetition of double stops from sul..?
It's easier to do so. For example, if you are playing Sul D and the G or A is withing the chord of the passage/key you are playing, you can obviously use one of those notes. Especially if the G or A happens to be the base note of the chord. Usually the related third of fifth will work too but as you said, trial and error will help you solve the mystery. Obviously open strings are the easiest but some fingered notes on those strings may not be that difficult.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I am excited to say that I have Ashokan (easy version) in my head... so I can work on adding my own stuff. 
I can say I put the fourth finger to work a bit. (rebellious little criminal)
Vibrato is really pissing me off. I can do it as long as I don't bow. 
(actually I can get the first finger to vibrate on the G-string... go figure.. that does not help my God father one stinking bit.. )
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Good news about Ashokan.
Be patient with vibrato. Sometimes wanting something too badly is a hinder. It will probably just come some day.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman I made a video of my vibrato.. I am going to post in Critique corner. (I think.. i made it two days ago but never had the courage yet).
- You know I was very very into learning vibrato that first year.. but I stopped as I knew my hand would not relax....
- I have delved into it in the second year.. it was a bust...
- the third year.. a little...
- But I feel .. I mean.....now I really want it to come.....
Okay.. I am going to put the honking duck video up for critique.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Your attitude is fantastic. Bravo!!!
I feel confident that you will achieve your goals...
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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half way through the quarter and I feel I am progressing towards my goals. I'm looking for the 35 day practice challenge and can't find it. Can anyone help with a link..
thanks
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I'll do it with you. I am ashamed to say that I have not been able to successfully get through a month yet. I am determined to achieve that goal this year.
I'll start now but I'll start marking my calendar next Sunday. Anyone else with us?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks, FM. I am now on day 8 of the practice but as I did not record my times, I felt only fair to start again yesterday. So today is day 2. I also feel a practice should have some structure to it, so when I do not do my finger & bowing exercises, scales, work a new song or two then rehearse some old songs I've not really "Practiced". That's just my own opinion of my own practice session. Last week I spent my time working out the songs for the StreetJelly set. I'm going to cc this over the the 35day practice challenge thread so as to keep CPO's thread on goals separate...
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I am right on the mark with the 35 day practice challenge! I have noticed that I am practicing more minutes at a time then I thought.
My goals centered around singing and Maiden's Prayer. Had my second singing lesson. I am singing in tune!! Yeah. I am afraid I will not meet my goal of singing solo though.
I have 5 new songs under my belt and the high note -D at the end of Ashokan Farewell. I can stumble through Fiddlerman's version of Amazing Grace with the 3d position.
Is it possible I wrote the wrong goals?
Oh I have sped up Old Joe Clark, but my daughter listened and said I was playing much faster then 120 beats. I am excited that I can play that fast but add that to nerves and that must be why I mess up at jam.
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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Reporting in.
Feb has gone well. My practice times aren't regularly 1 hour a day like I'd hoped, but I've been getting better results than I expected so I guess I'm ok with it for now. 
Need to work more on E string, have some issues now and then with fingering on natural F, almost always hit it slightly sharp. I started with the G string and moved up, so E has had a bit less time than the others. Naturals on the A are similar but not as bad - maybe a hand position thing? I might need to rotate my hand around a little more to get 1st and 2nd fingers closer.
Hopefully heading down to Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales for a few days next week to catch up with a guitarist friend. So I'll be able to cross off the first thing on my list for March!
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I did good with the first 35 day practice challenge.
I did not succeed in all my violin goals for February. I had a Street Jelly thing that kept me just rehearsing and not doing so much on the fine tuning of my goals.
But I had some progress. NO break throughs.
I should still be using the 35 day practice journal, but I play every day for 45 to 60 minutes. Now what I need to do is make a hard core list of what I must learn and practice everyday.
I will focus on that list and journaling my practice for March.
Happy Goals to all.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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