I have a battery powered clip on orchestra light attached to my music stand.
Another good practice tonight, but have to see if I can increase my total time for the day as I don't think I'm going to get much better without it.
It sounds like you don't think you are progressing or progressing quickly enough. I was wondering, are you working on too many songs at a time? This could prevent you from really honing the skills because you never get to where you are comfortable with a song and be able to relax and concentrate on fingering, bowing and intonation because a new song is constantly being learned. That is the way it is for me, anyway. You and others may be different.
Also, I am not turning your blog into a normal thread with replies and comments, I just noticed the comment in your last post, and thought I would mention what I was thinking about that comment. I just can't pay attention to bowing, intonation, etc if the song is new. I have to get familiar and comfortable with it first. Like I said, it could just be my learning method. I work on a song for a long time before moving on and maybe have one that I am familiar with and comfortable with to hone in on the fingering, bowing, etc. I will then use that as a break away when I move on to a new song that has a little more challenge. The new song will be my main practice session and use the song I just figured out as a release song to just play.
I can loosen up with a release song that I am not having issues with, and then get back to working in the new, more challenging song. I will using have two to loosen with and one I am using as a lesson song. That lesson song will usually take 1-2 weeks or more. But, again, you method may work for you, I was just thunking about your comment.
If you want me to delete this from your blog so it remains just your thoughts, please, post a reply requesting it, or email me, That is definitely not a problem. 😊