Hello All,

I started learning violin around 5/6 weeks ago.  I've had three lessons with a teacher and done some practising at home with printed off sheet music and watching videos.  I am left handed and play left handed on my (left handed) Gliga Gems 1.  

When I started school at four years old, I was fascinated with the violins in the school orchestra and dreamed of one day being allowed to learn.  I didn't know at the time that some of those violins were actually violas, lol, but this didn't dampen my passion!  At six and a half years old I was summoned to the music teacher and told I had been recommended to learn violin and play in the school orchestra.  I was so happy that I cried and almost fainted, seriously lol.  Then the music teacher told me to pick up a violin so he could assess me.  This was the point he realised i was left handed and promptly withdrew the offer of lessons. 

So here I am almost 50 years later, giving it another shot now I can afford my own violin and with the wonders of online study.  Last week I sent a sound recording to my teacher of me playing Danny Boy.  I learned that when I record myself, my playing deteriorated instantly, lol. 

I practise with a mute attached but this makes it harder for me to focus on my 'intonation'? There're some sharps where there should be naturals etc.  Hopefully this will improve as I progress.  There is so much going on when playing, up-bows, down-bows, slurs, reading the music on the sheet whilst having to know exactly where your fingers are.....  my fourth finger isn't good yet.

Anyway, practise, practise, practise is the answer.

Janice