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Xmas group project practice
this is my progress 😬
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There are some awful notes in there I know but I’m ok about it 🤣
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You are doing great, @Katie L!
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The Bumblebee Flies!
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Katie L said
Xmas group project practicethis is my progress 😬
@katie,
The parts that are good are Very, Very good!😊
You know which parts need work, and I’m sure you’ll tackle them.
Your tone is great, and that’s true on the good notes and the work in progress!
Your bowing is strong and steady.
Keep going and keep up the great work! It’s clear that you can do this!
By the way, despite the frustration along the way in preparing these projects, in the end I always see significant improvement in my technique and abilities as a result of the practice and participation. I’m sure you’ll find the same thing. It’s worth it!
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I agree with Unfretted, Katie L. These re great learning pieces. I would not participate in any that are faster, I do have my limits. I think fast is harder on cello, at least for me. And this is my limit with the speed of the 8th notes in the cello part.
But, that said, I have learned to pay more attention to my bowing arm, and I was able to do some of the 8th note runs, which is why I know this 96 count is about it for me. The triplets, I cannot do, so I wait them out and join back in. There are only two areas with them, so not so bad. This has all transferred over to my other songs.
Keep it up.
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The Bumblebee Flies!
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@Katie L Sounding good! You've got the swing thing on the 8th notes. You seem a little hesitant on the triplets, slowing down a little when you play them--but that's a normal kind of reaction.
Bowing triplets can feel awkward because your bow starts a triplet in one direction, and then ends up in the opposite direction when you end it (unlike when you play 8ths). And, because there are places where a triplet goes into 8ths (& visa versa), it can feel even more awkward.
No worries, nothing repetition won't iron out 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Thank you Mouse and Unfretted I really appreciate your kind comments and for watching ! I completely agree with you infretted , even though this is a huge challenge, I’m doing it and making progress. I don’t even get the chance to think about things I’d normally be stressing about. I am hoping I keep improving and can managed to play with the click track and hold my nerve when I record. Definitely have areas that need a lot of work ! Thanks again !!
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Thanks Sharon, I’m going to work on the triplets.I am actually enjoying this even though I’m might not look it !! 🤣thanks for watching and the advice
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Katie L
Good job, it's voting along nicely.
Now I need to get my rear in gear and get practicing on this project, thank you for posting this.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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really good katie!
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@Katie L -
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Thanks Emily Mark Abitrusty ! I’m glad I posted it. Only did a tiny bit of practice today . But I thought it went pretty rubbish. But anyway, hopefully tomorrow will be better. Really hoping I can improve and managed to get on ok with the click track . And then submit.. not sure how I’m not going to not go to pieces when I record. But anyway got a bit of time yet !! Thanks for watching !! 😁
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Finding the group project really tough going at the moment although I did a bit of ok triplet practice and I feel like my fourth finger is improving just from doing this project ! Like I’m reaching it without thinking . Sometimes it just happens without me trying too hard ! Bit of a miracle ! Umm but over all pretty pants. I’ve been practicing vibrato just on the rib of the violin … finding that removes all the tension but that’s not going that great either . Still time to improve and I’m away this weekend visiting so I’ll take my violin .. lots of potential practice sessions .
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Yep, these group projects are great learning tools for many reasons, pushing yourself out of a comfort zone (I can only go so far, though), playing with a set timing and having to play in that timing, for me, because of having to video, playing in front of an audience. The camera, to me is an audience, especially since I know others will see it.
Keep at, Katie L. Just do as best as you can.
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Thanks Mouse I will do my best for sure and there is still a while to go. By the way , I lost my ear pods as well , I think they are called ear buds maybe. You reminded me to get some more. I have no idea where mine are .. I think I’ve lost them in the garden !!
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Funny. So many names. Mine are actually referred to as AirPod Pros. Too many names the things that do the same thing. 😂😂😂
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I had a bit of a weird practice session this evening !! So I know I press too hard on the string at the best of times but when I practice vibrato it’s ridiculously hard even when I’m really trying not to ! I came across a video by Professor Fitzpatrick where he put some paper under the string to show how lightly you need to press. I tried this and even with the paper I wasn’t pressing down hard at all and I think I managed to get a clear sound. So that was an eye opener !! So the main reason I was looking up finger pressure was because I think that’s part of the reason I’m struggling with vibrato .. my wrist hardly moves at all, and my finger joins are really tight. So I just thought this is stupid and I just went for it and got very erratic with the back and fourth motion and hardly pressed down on the string but I was getting a much better vibrato. Particularly on my first finger. It was all over the place with the note ( I know that’s not good ) but it was my much faster and looser.. this may not be the way to go but it feels better and sounds more like a vibrato than previous attempts. ! Will see how it goes. Some of it was whistly but you could kind of tell it was Annie’s Song !
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@Katie L Finger pressure is a topic that is not dealt with or even considered an issue for some of the problems. We need to remember to ask about that when members post questions that may be the result of incorrect finger pressure. I have been trying to pay attention to it on my cello, and will try when I get back to my violin in a couple of days.
Good post!
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Try practicing without touching the neck AT ALL with your thumb.
And stop over thinking it.
You are probably constantly looking to see if if your fingerjoint moves, stop doing that as well, it's counter productive. Told you I eventually gave up with wrist vibrato because it didn't suit me, and now I can do both because once you get the feel it's easy, I much prefer arm vibrato, to me it feels more natural. When you vibrate your hand should be tilted very slightly towards you, just a small amount, you will find it a lot easier if you do this, trust me.
If you watch videos of good players you will see they all do this, probably don't even realise they are doing it, but you will see what I mean straight away, it's how I eventually sussed it out. When you already have a tiny tilt in your hand and you push it away it will collapse a lot easier, don't know why. Once you have that you can work on it, which is what I am doing, it gets better and better the less conscious you become of the action, that's the trick, if you don't believe it give a few you tube vids a watch you will see it straight away.
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@Katie L -
I still tell myself to relax my hand. I still can't do arm vibrato, because I end up tensing up my whole arm, not just my forearm. I enjoy Prof Fitzpatrick, too.
I can't remember if you've seen the Ray Chen Wrist vibrato video? It might help. He suggests wrist vibrato might be better for tension in his 1st part video, then in his 2nd video he shows a target combination of wrist & arm vibrato.
I like he wants us to start vibrato right off using EACH of our fingers - ALL 4!
I still end up pressing harder, to begin with. Especially until I get more used to whatever new piece I'm learning, or if I'm trying to figure out/unsure where I want to add vibrato to an older tune.
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