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@BillyG thank you for listening.
Funny thing about me. I really should be listening to the songs on YouTube to understand the song more.. and different versions.
I saw the GF movies 15 years ago. I just barely remember it and I had it on a music box for years (the kind that you open up and it plays). When I went to play it.. I went and listened to some other violinists play it... rather than the sound tracks. But I think I need a bit of both.
So I am adding the task of actually listening to it on you tube and getting nuances and suggestions.... YES!! thank you.
I certainly would love you to join in the Godfather song. '
Bottom line, I knew the song would never be my own until I could add some vibrato. So yes... I don't hate it.. but I hate it now that I am listening to it.
I had an opportunity to play it on an Electric Violin and that was cool..
Thanks Bill !!!!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars

@coolpinkone, I know you're getting bombarded with a lot of suggestions, but... My first suggestion is to only concentrate on trying to do one thing at a time. If you try to do to much, you may just become frustrated. Suggestions have been:
1. Don't be tense
2. Employ dynamics by varying your bow speed and pressure
3. Learn to use vibrato
4. Don't play long notes on open strings
and so forth.
I think it's too much to try to do that all at once. I would suggest taking one thing at a time, starting from the easiest, either 1) dynamics or 2) don't use the open strings and tackle just that. Once you think you've got that engrained, only then tackle the next thing. Of course, you can try to relax more while you're doing it, which is, I guess, 2 things.
For dynamics, just watch Pierre's video on dynamics and use the bowing techniques etudes in the etudes section of the "sheet music" tab up at the top. There's a ton of good stuff in there.
Or, if you want to tackle not using open strings -- that's easy enough. Just play the song in a different key so that there are no notes on open strings, such as Eb. Here's a link to the song in Eb.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright











Hmmm... I'm just a bystander on this thread - but yep.... @Uzi - very interesting - I'm taking the summary on-board as well - especially your points 3 and 4...
There is another thread regarding "what do you understand by a classical violinist" ( or something similar - apologies to the poster if I quoted it incorrectly ) - but it does kind of sound to me that this is sort of where we are going with this. And that is a good thing !
Slow (relatively), deeply passionate and moving music has a very special place in terms of performance ( I do not "go there" yet, I am not capable - and it is also not my preferred genre - but that's not important - ALL music is good ) - so I lift my hat to ANYONE who does !!!
Good on yah @coolpinkone
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)







@BillyG thank you... I am also working on my Loch Lommond..... that is where tempo from sheet for me is tough.. so I am listening to versions on YOu tube which vary slightly so it seems as does the lyrics.
@Uzi
Thank you for breaking it down for me. That makes all the sense in the world to me.
I might try that Eb version a try. Thank you. I like how it sounds.
You all are Awesome. Thank you.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Honorary advisor
Regulars

Great job, Toni! It's not an easy tune to play. I love your expressions. You are really feeling the music
In the first part, I think you rushed some notes and delayed others. I liked the second very much. Overall, like it was said before my reply, try to add some bow dynamics and fourth finger instead of open strings. It makes a big difference.
I'm looking forward to hear more














@Uzi I think I was able to add a bit of steps one and two.
@Jacques A bit late for March 1st.
Here is my March attempt .. I am not sure I was able to improve with the dynamics that were suggested. I have been able to use my fourth finger (occasionally) on one segment.
I am still not able to achieve the vibrato that I think would make this piece, less boring.
Anyway, I promised a March update.. so here it is:
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato







@Fiddlerman
Thank you Pierre.. I am going to force myself to play along with some of the version out there. And see what I can come up with. I am in the middle of subbing my fourth finger when I can... and so right now the whole song is kinda of in the tank.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars

You're showing big improvement in tone and intonation. Just keep listening to the pros do it and play along with their recordings and try to blend in. That will allow you to hear, learn and understand the little nuances of what they do to add character and feeling to this piece, or any piece for that matter. There is a lot more to it than just adding vibrato, such as changes in volume, sliding into certain notes, small variations in the actual duration of notes as opposed to what's written in the score and how they accent notes, to name just a few. It has been said that reading is like thinking with the brain of someone else. If that is true, then music is like feeling with someone else's heart.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright







@Uzi - thank you for listening. I am working on what you suggested and playing along with some violinists as well as the sound track. Thanks so much for all the help.
@Juanfiddler
Thank you for listening. It means a lot. I hope you learn to play it also. I hope we can play together someday.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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