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I just put up two videos that are meant to be used as play alongs for new violinists that don't have anyone to play together with or just for those who want to play duets for practice.
The first one has the melody in the background which is what I was listening to when I played my jam, (accompaniment).
The second video has no melody so that YOU, the soloist, can be heard. This one can be very hard to follow if you listen too carefully to me. Try to keep a steady beat regardless of what I do and you should be fine. I tried to keep it simple but as usual got carried away.
Your input will help me make better jams in the future.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Here is the sheet music in case anyone needs it:
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks, Fiddlerman! This is great!
I use the Fiddle Time range of books from Oxford University Press for my violin studies (I'm a beginner). There are a number of books in the series and each comes with a CD with accompaniment for all the pieces in the book. This helps a lot to make sure that you are playing on pitch and for keeping rhythm and time and it feels as though you are making music form the very first two note piece! Even though the books are aimed at children, I thoroughly enjoy them.
Here's a link to Amazon's site for the first book in the series:
King
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That series sure is getting great reviews but could you comment on the level of difficulty? Do the books progress in a nice controlled order? Are CD's in tune?
I'm asking for potential Fiddlerman customers. I, personally, have progressed to the point where I now make mistakes at a more advanced level. 
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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Oliver, I really enjoy working through the books. I am an adult violin beginner with a solid music background - been playing piano since I was about six years old. I thus have the advantage that I don't need to learn how to read music at this stage. I completed the first book in about three months of weekly lessons, but I've also worked through the Trinity Grade 1 syllabus at the same time. The books continually progress to more difficult pieces while working on specific techniques. I have just started with the second book (runners) as well as the Grade 2 Trinity works. I find the Fiddle Time pieces much easier than the Trinity works, but enjoy studying them because of the CD. It really helps me to make sure that I play on pitch. The CDs are of very high quality. The accompaniment is well performed and well on pitch. It gives you the feeling of actually making quality music from your very first steps! Many of the pieces in especially the second book are only violin duets. It helps a lot with keeping your pitch while playing with someone else!
The books unfortunately do not have many explanatory notes with the works. If you do not have a tutor, some of the technical aspects might go unnoticed.
All in all I am very happy with the books and can recommend them for beginners. 
King
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Thanks for the report. I am a fan of play-along. I think it is a unique and important learning tool. It is also a nice introduction to the real world versus solo practicing. It is only relatively recent that play-along CD's have been widely available at the entry level here in the USA.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
King
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Fiddlerman
Is there a way I could easily capture the videos (or audio) for off-line study?
Digitally challenged in NC
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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One way, since you have a mac, is that on each video you want to see you click on them while holding down your command button. You'll get a bunch of tabs, press pause on the ones that are open immediately so that they are not all playing at the same time. After they have loaded you don't need to be online unless you close the windows.
I could give you other ways but it is better for me that people visit and spend time online for Analytics, SEO, and Adsense.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
King
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I get your drift but I spend very little time on the MAC because it is essentially my wife's computer and she is an e-mail, FACEBOOK and on-line games junkie (at least, that what she tells me!)
So I will just have to do an audio recording with my little pocket recorder in order to go upstairs to MY Windows (XP) music dedicated computer. I don't even have an internet connection there. Don't want one.
No big deal.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Honorary advisor
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I'm on a PC. There's an application called FlashGot that you can add onto Firefox that will download videos to the hard drive. Probably one out there for Mac browsers, too.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
King
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Looks awesome! Think I did see MAC talk also. Will pursue.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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I was sure that you used a Mac. You can do the same thing with a PC. I believe you have to press Control instead though. Someone check that for me. What key do you hold down and click to "Open in a new tab" ?
Which OS do you have installed on your PC?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Using Windows XP. To open in a new tab I just right click and a menu appears.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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Fiddlerman said:
I was sure that you used a Mac. You can do the same thing with a PC. I believe you have to press Control instead though. Someone check that for me. What key do you hold down and click to "Open in a new tab" ?
Which OS do you have installed on your PC?
you can open a menu by right clicking and select it there, or you can press control t to open a new tab, control w to close the tab you're on, and control n to open a new window
King
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I have a MAC for on-line. I then take files up to my Windows XP (not on line) with a thumb drive.
IF I manage to capture a video, what will be the file format?
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Honorary advisor
Regulars
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Mine come through as VP6 Flash Video which plays with VLC Media Player (free download that plays multiple formats of both audio and video) or Winamp. My version of the Windows media player doesn't support this format, but I hate to support Bill and use alternative programs whenever possible 
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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Fiddlerman said:
I just put up two videos that are meant to be used as play alongs for new violinists that don't have anyone to play together with or just for those who want to play duets for practice.
The first one has the melody in the background which is what I was listening to when I played my jam, (accompaniment).
The second video has no melody so that YOU, the soloist, can be heard. This one can be very hard to follow if you listen too carefully to me. Try to keep a steady beat regardless of what I do and you should be fine. I tried to keep it simple but as usual got carried away.Your input will help me make better jams in the future.
Beautiful. I have access to a couple of old violins and will see if my local guitar tech who also works with violin can get them to a reasonable working standard and start playing. Thanks Pierre. 
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keepvid.com works pretty well for downloading youtube videos.
You can pick from a few formats there.
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Pikachu said:
keepvid.com works pretty well for downloading youtube videos.
Thanks Pikachu,
That's good to know. I used to be able to download using my free realplayer but it doesn't always work. 
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