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Backup
As in files. Was thinking about this today. I currently use sync.com , and have been happy with it. The paid plans are reasonable, and they have a free 5GB plan as well.
I use it for backing up files from my devices (like photos from my iPhone), and also as a shared cloud service—e.g.,. I maintain a website for our local ensemble group, and I link a shared folder in my sync.com (with password) for the group members to access stuff.
But I’ve been looking at other things that are out there, too. Another service I started trying out about 2 weeks ago is IDrive—they offer 10GB for free (for right now; I think they are going to get rid of this free option), but paid options seem reasonable.
I like the interface, and find it easy to pick & choose what you want. I’ve been testing out the automatic scheduled backup function on one of my PCs. Also, been trying out the continuous backup function, that you can set for real time, i.e., changes you’re working on are saved immediately to cloud—this is nice if you are working on a project; you don’t have to worry about remembering to back up what you’ve just spent hours on. I like the ease in which I can pick specific files for these backups, and add/edit the backup configuration as I choose.
It also offers cloning and restore options (which, with only 10GB, obviously, I haven’t tried yet)—might purchase a plan at some point so I can try this out.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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4th of July Eve – Founding Fathers Who Played String Instruments
Thomas Jefferson – started playing violin when he was young (and also cello); traveled with a pocket fiddle. He learned to read music and played classical, but also played by ear playing country fiddle tunes.
Patrick Henry – also learned violin when young. He also played a harp lute. He played by ear, and favored Scottish fiddle tunes.
Jefferson & Henry met while both attending the College of William & Mary, and sometimes played duets together at parties.
Benjamin Franklin – played viol da gamba, as well as guitar and harp.
In 1779, Franklin’s son wrote to his father (who was in Paris) from their home in Philadelphia to tell him that British forces had taken several instruments from the home, including the viol da gamba. There is no record indicating whether Franklin ever replaced it, although he wrote a London colleague in 1789 asking to find one.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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@SharonC -
That was VERY COOL (I only knew about Thomas Jefferson)!
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Practice
I think my bow exercises are paying off. My string crossings on the fast passages are faster and more solid. I definitely have better control.
I’ve gotten away from working on scales—I plan to work on these now.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Duets
I’ve created and posted videos for the 5th tune, The Wise Man, from the Applebaum Duet Bk1 in the Learning Thread:
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....s/#p145183
The tune focuses on using the whole bow, bow distribution, and string crossing slurs.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Reasons for Playing an Instrument
Good Olaf video sharing feedback he’s gotten about the various reasons people take up an instrument. Hadn’t thought about the “A Way to Annoy the Neighbors” as one, but okay 
I took up violin because I wanted to when I was young, but didn’t have the opportunity. I first got to see string playing live when I was in high school and my band (I was a percussionist) went to New York City (I lived about an hour away) to see the New York Philharmonic in a practice session (they opened some of the practices to students). I was amazed with the strings—both the sound and the dynamics, the synchronized bowing, etc.,
Here, later in life, and more than decade into violin learning, one of the reasons I keep playing is because of the challenge of it. Starting as an adult, the first couple of years were very frustrating, primarily because I was focused on what I couldn’t do (or at least what I couldn’t immediately do).
I now approach each issue as a riddle to solve—an immediate issue in front of me, and not one of dire consequence: How do I fix my bowing posture? How do play this section without squeaking on that string crossing? I have settled into the groove of it—everything takes a lot of practice and patience. And that’s okay. I now see violin as a journey, not a destination
So, Forum-sters, why did you start playing and/or keep playing? How about you guests out there who are visiting--why have you, or what is making you think about taking up one of these string instruments?
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Amazing, isn't it?
I (also) was drawn to the beautiful sound of the violin when I was young, but turns out it's the chameleon qualities & versatility that have intrigued me the most!
SIX years in now 😮🥰 I challenge my fiddle, it challenges me - something new/exciting EVERY DAY, from the moment my bow touches those strings! ...don't think I could've devoted this amount of time when I was younger.
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Reasons for Not Playing an Instrument
Okay, really, what people say are some of the reasons for quitting (or not starting) an instrument:
- “I practice, but I don’t see any improvement.”
- “I’m too busy with other things.”
- “I can’t play the tunes I want.”
- “I’m too old to learn.”
- “I’m not enjoying it.”
And some of the things that may be underlying these reasons:
- Setting unrealistic expectations
- Fear of mistakes
- Lack of encouragement
- Instrument isn’t in tune
There are always reasons for either doing or not doing a thing.
Videos by Alison (Online Violin Tutor) talks about learning violin as an adult—what to expect, and some advice.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Practice/Playing while sitting or standing?
I prefer to stand.
I practice while standing. And, I haven’t performed while sitting in quite a while. When I was playing with the New Horizons ensemble a few years ago, our practice sessions & performances were done while sitting—so at that time, I did practice some while sitting so that I was comfortable performing that way.
With the group I play with now (that my teacher hosts), we practice and performing while standing.
There are reasons not to do one or the other (after my back surgeries, sitting upright in a way that is considered good posture for violin playing is not something I can do for an extended period).
A video that talks about pros & cons of sitting and standing, and good posture for both:
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Excellent video!
Hoping my weight-loss goal (this time) will also reduce my pain level - so I'll be able to play in a much better position. I'm not as free to move as I want to be.
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Sitting in an orchestra two-to-a-desk also means you sit quite far from the music (more than a bow's length) and if you need special glasses for that, you can use them when standing. Keeping such a distance from your music stand is another way of avoiding tilting the head down.
In an orchestra, keep the stand high, so the conductor is immediately above the music. You'd be surprised how many keep their music near the floor.
Whether your right leg gets in the way when you are sitting will also be determined by how flat a platform is presented by the violin. If you let yours slide down your chest, that will be bad in every sense.
James Gallway once said that if you mostly play standing, practise while standing; and if sitting, sitting. Made sense to me, but my violist friend, a Yorkshire lass, said "he's a twat".
The woman in the video and my current teacher would put it less forthrightly.
Ultimately it seems best to stand (Alexander technique, etc) for best posture and best presentation of the violin as a platform. Sitting is problematic, as everyone's needs are different. One of my desk partners has a slipped disc, so her comfort is difficult to achieve and more important than her violin technique.
But stand square with your feet under your shoulders. One foot forward is laterally unstable. My teacher recommends playing with your heels and back pressed against a wall. Turn 45 degrees to the wall to play fast so that your shoulder and upper arm don't move.
On no account stand like Augustin Hadelich! Be like Menuhin or Vengerov or Oistrakh!
I wouldn't play on a barstool - too easy to slip off!
Actually, this video makes it seem Hadelich's stance is different when he doesn't have an audience.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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How I stand when I play, I think, depends on what I’m playing, and for how long.
If I’m standing for a while, I tend to stand with my left foot forward, putting more of my weight on it, most of the time (I have minor nerve damage that effects my right leg), shifting my weight back onto the right leg occasionally to avoid fatigue.
I play with my violin scroll more toward the front than to the side, so my leg forward just follows that.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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It's actually not a bad way to develop tone if you have a lazy right index finger.
At least not hanging upside-down, but bending over and looking at the floor or laying your music on the sofa and bending over to play it. Don't do it just after you've eaten, though.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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Gordon Shumway said
It's actually not a bad way to develop tone if you have a lazy right index finger.
At least not hanging upside-down, but bending over and looking at the floor or laying your music on the sofa and bending over to play it. Don't do it just after you've eaten, though.
Funny, I tried to do the opposite--lying down (so the violin scroll was at 90 degree angle pointed up)--no sheet music (would have had to paste it on the ceiling).
Very disorienting. I'll keep myself upright, I think--I have a hard enough time with that
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Sight-Reading
Did some sight reading today. I want to try to make sure I do this at least once a month. I pulled some music off of 8notes.com; got a subscription for it back in March.
Just a site with some tips for sight-reading:
https://violinspiration.com/vi.....t-reading/
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Duets
I’ve created and posted videos for the 6th tune, Twilight, from the Applebaum Duet Bk1 in the Learning Thread:
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....s/#p145328
Like the last tune (#5, The Wise Man), it focuses on using the whole bow and, for the 2nd violin, string crossing slurs.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Above all, we need to find ways to stay motivated to learn anything as an adult.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Intervals
After I made a comment in the Learn to Play Fiddle Music By EAR! Thread,
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/l.....2/#p145369
I was thinking about how I go about harmonizing a part to a melody. I realize recognizing intervals can be an important part to doing this.
Associating a commonly known tune with an interval can be useful way to learn and remember them. This site has a neat customizable tune list generator that you can create to help you do that (for both ascending & descending intervals):
https://www.earmaster.com/prod.....rator.html
So, you can create a list of tunes for you that you can quickly associate to an interval.
For example, I always think of Here Comes the Bride for a perfect 4th. But someone else might more easily associate Amazing Grace.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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