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I've been doing a video log to track my progress and this is my first one since I got my new fiddle.
The actual playing starts about halfway through.
Any advice is appreciated!
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Glad you got a new fiddle. Make sure to bring it inside with you no matter where you go in the future. Darn thieves. 
As far as critique, we'll start with your bow arm. Use your elbow more to draw a straighter bow and avoid much shoulder movement.
I was a little nervous when I saw that ceiling fan and the tip of your bow. LOL
Good job. Keep it up and keep us posted.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks!
Bowing from my elbow is something I've been working on. For a while I skipped practicing in front of a mirror and that set me back. My teacher and someone on here recommended a tool that I could get that can help teach me to do that better, but when I asked about it at the violin store I go to, the guy helping me (who was a teacher himself) had no clue what I was talking about. Neither of them told me what it was actually called either. Would you know what it is?
Honorary tenured advisor
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Bow-Right is one such training device. I've never used one, but it looks like it would work. It forces you to keep the bow straight. AFAIK, your form will be correct as long as you keep the bow straight, meaning that there is basically only one way to do that.
BTW, you will have to get your wrist involved too, not just the elbow.
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Is this perhaps what you were looking for? We have plenty in stock. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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This bow Right was recommended for me recently. Very cool device.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Sounding great! Glad you got that new fiddle back. I liked your choice of tunes too! Good to hear some more bluegrass fiddle tunes.
One thing you might try is utilizing more of the bow. I think that'll give you some better tone as you play. It'll also highlight (if you are doing it wrong) whether or not you are keeping your bow perpendicular to the fiddle.
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Thanks for all the advice everyone! I've been working on that the past two weeks and made an update:
I might have to get that Tone Shaper thing... looks better than some of the other ones I've seen online.
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Hey SecondFiddle,
Real cool that you are outdoors playing at midnight. That in itself is super unique and interesting. I see the reasoning but I hope you live in a safe neighborhood. 
First of all, thanks for posting. The more people that post here the more this becomes like a classroom for beginners to learn from.
I'll talk about two things that hit me the hardest when listening to you.
1) Choppy bowing. Your notes should connect more unless there is a specific reason for separating each note. Try singing the pieces (la, la, la....) to get an idea of how you would want to hear it played. Perhaps use a little more bow speed and that will force you to connect. Practice on anything you like, scales, open strings, arpeggios, single notes.... connecting the notes as much as possible.
2) your rhythm. Believe it or not, most people tap their feet when others play. This means that for the ones that don't play rhythmical, the listener looses the concept fluency. Perhaps, try playing it and dancing at the same time (we know that you like to dance now ;))
I know you mentioned getting the "tone shaper" so I won't talk about that, since it's also very dark and difficult to see exactly what you are doing on this video.
Once again, thanks for posting and keep up the great work.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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It is pretty fun to do! There are two main problems though: tuning as my iphone tuning app picks up any tiny gust of wind. And then... i'm actually not sure what it was... Before I made that video I practiced for about 15-20 minutes after tightening my bow and tuning. The video had two previous takes due to stammering and then when I began playing during my 2nd take finding my bow had completely loosened itself and had to be tightened again (Subsequently when I loosened it and went inside where my roomy keeps the apartment at 65 degrees at night, the next day the bow was as if I hadn't loosened it at all... which was kinda handy for practice that day). Would that be because of heat?
Choppy bowing is something I have been working on, my teacher has been stressing full-bowing and faster bow speed is something he suggested as well. It seems that when I focus on one thing (like keeping my bow straight, intonation, fluidity of notes) something else gets out of whack. I'll start paying attention to what I struggle with the most during a practice and then focus on that first thing in the next one.
I do need to start doing that more. I have a bad habit of not doing that or using a metronome, though I have started using one more. Thank you for the advice!
I have one question though, would you prefer I post new videos to this thread as I make them (I have a goal of making one every week, which doesn't always happen) or make new threads for each one? Or just make a new thread when one gets too long?
Thanks again! Everyone here has been really helpful!
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@Fiddlerman I have a question on Choppy Bowing.
When I read the sheet music I see the notation for slurs, that is when I slur.
I am wondering if one can just slur to connect and blend notes when it is not notated on the sheet music? I am not sure If I am explaining it right.
Take Thaxted for example. There are placed where it is indicated that the notes are tied or slurred. So I do that... right on the same bow stroke. Since it is indicated that I do it specifically in those places I am assuming I am NOT supposed to do it in other places?
Does that make sense. I have been told by a friend to combine more notes on bowing in my playing to connect the notes, so is this something I can do at will as long as the tempo is correct?
I am not sure I am explaining what I mean here.. I need more coffee. 
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Honorary tenured advisor
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SecondFiddle said
when I began playing during my 2nd take finding my bow had completely loosened itself and had to be tightened again (Subsequently when I loosened it and went inside where my roomy keeps the apartment at 65 degrees at night, the next day the bow was as if I hadn't loosened it at all... which was kinda handy for practice that day). Would that be because of heat?
It's not the heat ... it's the humidity. 
The air conditioner dries out the air. It drips water, right?
When moisture is taken out of the hair, it shortens, and it can be a pretty big change in length.
IDK whether they still do, but they used to make hygrometers using hairs to sense the humidity.
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CPO - You can slur even if it's not indicated on the sheet music provided you are playing by yourself, and it suits the music, and phrasing.... etc.
If you are playing in a group and feel the bowing should be different, you would need to convince the leader of the group.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
King
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@coolpinkone : I agree with, Fiddlerman. Example: Imagine playing in an orchestra, the bows are usually moving in the same direction accept one. When everyone else is using a long down bow stroke, you play two short up bows. It totally looks out of place.
Playing by yourself I don't think it really matters. I've laughed at myself when playing because I use no set pattern for bowing. What I do is what I do and would look strange if I were playing with other members in an orchestra, but it all works out in the end and no one watching would be able to tell that i'm not following the sheet music.
If you get my point.
Ken.
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@@SecondFiddle
I did not mean to high jack your thread ..: I have choppy bowing issues(I think)... Or I have been told.
@Fiddlerman thank you. That is what I thought. How does this factor in for the Thaxted recording? Since it is individual screen shots.. Probably not too much??
@Fiddlestix that makes sense to me. Thanks for replying.
Cheers!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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I wrote the bowing to accommodate the piece both musically and violinistically but you are welcome to use any bowing you like. I won't be offended at all.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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