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.
Currently working on getting badges to show up horizontally. Should hopefully figure that out within a week. Thanks for your patience.
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(1 votes) 
Offline
So here is my flying pinky. I tried a rubber band but it didn't work.
I am aware of it and I am making corrections. It is not as prevalent in the songs that I am learning now, but in my petite collection of songs that I learned last year, my pinky is a wild thing!
PS...on my computer it was skipping quite a bit on the YouTube video? I am not sure if I just have overload, or it is like that for everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Member
Offline
Hey there!i think you are doing well,practise makes perfect!
On the pinky issue,i notice you have a slightly long-nailed manicure..this can be a problem when playing,when the nail is long on the pinky finger it is difficult to place it properly on the bow without it ''collapsing'' into flatness.I notice it happens to me when i let my nails grow a bit...so if you try trimming your nails on the pinky finger a bit shorter,it might help keep it steadier.
Hope it helps 
Offline
Hello there... I think you are right on the pinky... the right hand nails I have left a bit longer (girl thing)... but you are right... trimming it would give me a better bow hold. I think I have solved my middle finger flying issue on the bow... trying to solve bad habits is a B... bear...
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Advanced member
Offline
Nice work CPO! Don't take this the wrong way, but I really hate that song, after the over-exposure it received due to the success of the movie and also I'm really not a fan of Celine Dion so I never liked it in the first place.
You played that so well that I could not get Celine Dions voice out of my head, and now it's stuck there.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.
Offline
Oh OCF....I loved that song...for so long and you are right...after a year or so...gag gag gag..I couldn't stomach it and I was not a fan of Celine singing it...but I really like the violin version..and I love the movie...no matter what.
Thanks
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Hi, Toni; I think I see what your problem is. I watched your vid several time's and twice played along with you. You need to use your pinky more, not one time in the song do you use it to play a note. Your pinky muscle is not developing a habit, I'll say it like that, habit.
I'm going to say something and I don't want you to take offence to it. I do this all the time myself.
You are becoming lazy with your pinky. You are playing an open A when you should be playing the A, fourth finger / pinky on the D string. It may slow you down and feel awkward at first, but soon you'll get the habit I mentioned.
Watch your video and you'll see what I mean. The first open A is @ 0.38, 0.55, 1.00, 1.10 and a few more time's I didn't jot down. Playing the A note on the D string with the pinky will more than likely not be a clear sharp note in the beginning and may discourage from using it at first, but it will come the more you use it. You need to develope strength and control in the finger and hand muscle's.
Good luck, you're doing well.
Ken.
Regulars
Offline
Yeah, I have flying pinky syndrome also. Its almost like a am drinking a cup of tea in a most sophisticated manner. What I have noticed is the more I am using it in my practicing and attempt at playing songs the more it hangs out closer to the fingerboard. When it is not involved with what I am currently doing it just does its own thing. What has been teaching my pinky to hang closer to the fingerboard in the event it may be a player at any moment is repetitive practicing of scales with the metronome. It has taught my pinky to be ready at any moment.
You played that tune well.
Offline
@ Fiddlestix ... Thank you. You are correct. I have stopped using fourth finger A. I started out following FM's advice and my teacher... Over time I did get a little discouraged by the weaker sound... And sort of coped out and went back to open A as default ... I had not realized that. I think you are right... I need to get that pinky back to work. Thanks again... Invaluable advice!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
OMG! You've just made nervous! Is that a realy bad problem? I'm interested, because i have all of my fingers flying and just can't keep them down, no matter how hard i try, my brain stops working if fingers are close to the strings. =/
Wish You good luck with that battle, Toni!!!! 
Offline
I have seen you play Nask! You look great... you have no worries.
I am hoping that I can play as well as you and then I wont care what the pinky does.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Regular advisor
Regulars
Offline
I agree with Fiddlestix's advice, and I'd like to add how I got my pinky to stop flying around.
Try to practice a very fast paced tempo song that forces you to use your pinky lots. In my case I used Jay Ungar's "Wizard's Walk" since it forces you to use the pinky religiously at the 8th note section (or 16th, however arrangement it may be notated). Start at a slow tempo and concentrate on your finger height, and then keep practicing at speeding it up, and eventually the fingers will be forced to stay where you want them since your subconscious will react to it and go where they need to. Hope this helps.
Offline
Thank you.
Yes...this does help. Lazy show off pinky needs some work.
I agree with Fiddlestix and you ... get her working.
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Regulars
Offline
Hey Toni!
That video really scared the hell outta me. Can't you see there's a headless stalker in a black cloak, trying to hide between the bookcases, just waiting to pounce on you, when the tune is over? I sure hope you're OK, gal ...
But really ... Here's what I think would help your pinky issue. First off, lovely as they are, you simply have *got* to trim those nails - all of them, on your left hand. Now. You need a firm string contact with the ball of your fingertips, and your tone will suffer if there is too much flesh contact.
There's a really good exercise to tame the pinky (and the others). It's all in this one here, just the first page :
http://imslp.info/files/imglnk.....Violin.pdf
Please give it a go, and report back
Mr Jim 
Offline
@Worldfiddler Omigosh.. you really freaked me..
1. I thought your were talking about a spider... and we have spiders here...
2. Then I just got freaky...
3. My Cello was moved for carpet cleaning... so it was in it's case and only in that spot for a short time.. a day or so..
sOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... when I looked back.. I freaked out..( home along and jumpy)..
Okay... back to the advice.. I will try your advice and check back.
Today I was happy I had some really good bowing... and I was moving my wrist... ..arched and bent coming up ...."like to scratch my nose"..(teacher told me that)....
Anyway .. thank you..for the tip and the bit of adrenaline.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Honorary advisor
Regulars
Offline
Fiddlestix said
You are playing an open A when you should be playing the A, fourth finger / pinky on the D string. It may slow you down and feel awkward at first, but soon you'll get the habit I mentioned......Playing the A note on the D string with the pinky will more than likely not be a clear sharp note in the beginning and may discourage from using it at first, but it will come the more you use it. You need to develope strength and control in the finger and hand muscle's....
Ken.
Thank you Fiddlestix! It is an advice to me as well.
If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it ..(William Shakespeare in Twelfth Night)
Regulars
Offline
Worldfiddler said
Hey Toni!http://imslp.info/files/imglnk.....Violin.pdf
Please give it a go, and report back
Mr Jim
@Worldfiddler
Its a shame that that link is not working. I would have liked to see it. I have the same problem not using the pinky
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of 
..... What was I saying???? 
Regulars
Offline
@coolpinkone
What do you mean that you tried a rubber band?
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
Regulars
Offline
Hi Toni,
Sorry I freaked you ... I didn't think you'd think spiders or anything like that ... it was just a joke about the black shape in between the bookcases .. my little joke backfired slightly .. well, I'm known for not being too serious a lot of the time
Now we're talking violin again, and I'm serious now, OK? So, back to the pinky.
Shame about that link .. it worked for me just before I posted it. Here it is again, same content, but this time on my server. Just right-click and save to your computer.
http://www.worldfiddlemusic.co.....Violin.pdf
The important thing about this book for you at the moment, is the first page. The exercises are really very simple, but they make all of your fingers work, including the pinky. Every phrase uses all four fingers. Bowing patterns are not important at this point - just so long as you get a clean note out every time. Just bow in whatever manner is most comfortable.The idea is to eliminate everything else, and concentrate on the motor workings of your left hand fingers.
If you struggle any of it, just take a little break, and start again. When you are comfortable with the phrases, practice them daily, even just for 5 solid minutes.
Every single one of my students fixed pinky problems using this method. Some did it in a matter of weeks
It's a tried and tested exercise across the whole of the violin world.
Please try, and report back
Mr Jim
1 Guest(s)
Jols
Fiddlerman
Mouse
Andie.Kae
