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.
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(0 votes) 
Offline
Cool,
I never heard that before. I noticed that you have a pretty strong fourth finger too. Good job. Maybe you should do the "Hold The Bug" exercise on the violin. Almost the exact same thing but showing it on the fingerboard. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
Thanks for the exercise! My fingers dont work like that anymore but that exercise seems to help.
No matter where you go, there you are!
Regulars
Offline
Fiddlerman said:
Cool,
... I noticed that you have a pretty strong fourth finger too.
/whispering/ I have an exercise for that too, as soon as i'll get my camera back i can make a video if it's interesting..
Maybe you should do the "Hold The Bug" exercise on the violin. Almost the exact same thing but showing it on the fingerboard.
Hmm... i have some doubts that this task is doable for me - it's toooooo dificult 
It's much more easier to practice on the table, to get some finger flexibility and then- on violin while making vibrato 
=)))
Late Bloomer said:
Thanks for the exercise! My fingers dont work like that anymore but that exercise seems to help.
You're welcome! I'm glad that it's useful .. =))
Regular advisor
Regulars
Offline
Thank you Mad! I didn't see this earlier today. 
How long should I do the exercise per finger do you think?
This is definitely something I need to work on. (And can do quietly while my family is sleeping or when I am looking at the computer.)
BTW- I could understand you just fine. 
-After doing it the first time I noticed that joint on my fingers must be double jointed a little bit. I am not sure if this will make learning vibrato harder or easier. 
I can almost lay that joint flat on the table with my hand up in the air like yours is in the video. When I try to put some strength in that joint to move my finger I think I would "smash the bug" (It deserves it if it is a spider.. but then I wouldn't have my finger on a spider!!! 
)
-My joint in my pointer finger is hardly flexible in really any direction. I will keep up with this though and work on less pressure if I can get my fingers moving.
I find this easier on the body of my violin too. My fingers don't slide as easy, as on the table. (This may be cheating, but I need to start somewhere, and maybe work up to the table since the table is more like how a fingerboard feels…)
Thank you so very much again! 
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
Regulars
Offline
RP said:
.. How long should I do the exercise per finger do you think?
I do for 15-20 seconds or until i'm bored, or until understand or until i decide that it's enough =)
-After doing it the first time I noticed that joint on my fingers must be double jointed a little bit. I am not sure if this will make learning vibrato harder or easier.
Double-jointness DOES NOT make ANYTHING easier unfortunately..
relax your hand as much as possible!! =) Don't put any strength (if you trying too hard you can damage some finger )
-My joint in my pointer finger is hardly flexible in really any direction.
Same thing!! But it's still doable! 
I find this easier on the body of my violin too. My fingers don't slide as easy, as on the table. (This may be cheating, but I need to start somewhere, and maybe work up to the table since the table is more like how a fingerboard feels…)
It's not a cheating, RP ! If you feel more comfortable, doing this on the violin, then do it that way =) it's not a principle what surface to use.
Regular advisor
Regulars
Offline
Oh, no I meant just a little more tension in that joint so it doesn't flop down. (Not pressure to yank my joints into doing it) I don't want to damage the joints. ( Only a slight more tension going in the vibrato direction.)The only pressure I use is to try to get just enough so my finger doesn't slide around.
Having started to build calluses on my fingertips now makes it a little more challenging to stop them from sliding.
I walked around and did this on and off all day today while I was doing things. When I started my first joint felt like I had a mosquito bite on the joint last night. (If that makes sense. Maybe it is slight arthritis.. *sigh*)
Today, doing it on the violin, the joint does seem to move a little easier, it does not feel quite as tense. If doing this, even slightly starts to bother my joint, I stop for a while and come back to it when I think of it.
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
Offline
LOL, I know that if there was a bug under my finger tips while playing, He, or she would be a "mashed bug" for sure.
As far as calluses go, try some kind of hand moisturizer. Preferably not a greasy one though. More one that goes into the skin and keeps it moist.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
Yes, I have been doing this at work. Everyone thinks I crazy!
No matter where you go, there you are!
Regulars
Offline
Thanks Mad, I have to try this. I'm hoping it will also help my wife with her arthritis in her fingers. I know with my own hands some days I can barely make a fist because my fingers don't move. I think this will help a lot and I can hold some bugs in the mean time.
Regulars
Offline
Fiddlerman said:
LOL, I know that if there was a bug under my finger tips while playing, He, or she would be a "mashed bug" for sure.
ROTFFLMAOWTO!!! Yep!! That's true!
But if you tell to them who starts to do that exercise to kill the bug - they'll be breaking their fingers on the desk.. It's too easy to start increase pressure to make your joints bend - it's not good! THe point is in gentle movements =)
Late Bloomer:
Yes, I have been doing this at work. Everyone thinks I crazy!
My co-workers got used to see me, doing a lot of strange things (in violin training without violin) they don't ask me about that anymore..
KevinM:
....I have to try this. I'm hoping it will also help my wife with her arthritis in her fingers. I know with my own hands some days I can barely make a fist because my fingers don't move.....
I don't know if it can help... Maybe it's better to ask a doctor?
Regular advisor
Regulars
Offline
Yeah probably best to ask a doctor if you know positively you have arthritis.
I don't know if I do, I hope I don't. That's just what my finger feels like at times. Besides if I don't believe I have arthritis I won't have it.... Right? lol
I will put some of the silicone glove on.
I thought building calluses is good, and that the moisturizer would get rid of them?
I was also scared of getting sloppy golp all over my instrument. I usually always wash my hands right before playing lol.
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
Offline
RP said:
.....I thought building calluses is good, and that the moisturizer would get rid of them?
I was also scared of getting sloppy golp all over my instrument. I usually always wash my hands right before playing lol.
Actually it is not good to have dry fingers. You need a connection to the fingerboard and dry fingers slip too easily for that. Vibrato is really hard if you have dry fingers. Some people get calluses and others don't. I am blessed with the non-callused fingers. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
Offline
Fiddlerman said:
... Some people get calluses and others don't. I am blessed with the non-callused fingers.
My teacher doesn't have them too. And i do. She says that calluses is bad
=( But i can't get rid of them.. So i've just got used to it
Regular advisor
Regulars
Offline
Hum
With the advent of the cold season I am bound to have dry skin. I may have to buy stock in hand cream. It's good I've always liked non greasy hand cream though I suppose.
Wonder if part of it is the Cecilio strings being tough on my fingers? They don't seem bad compared to the kids electric guitar strings. Do they make smooshy feeling violin strings?
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
Offline
Mad_Wed said:
Fiddlerman said:
My teacher doesn't have them too. And i do
I know GREAT professional violinists that have them BIG time. They don't seem to think it is a problem.
RP said:
Wonder if part of it is the Cecilio strings being tough on my fingers? They don't seem bad compared to the kids electric guitar strings. Do they make smooshy feeling violin strings?
I don't think they are that hard. Possibly your bridge is on the high side but I couldn't tell you. There are low tension strings and high tension strings. If you don't mind a little less volume you can get the low tension strings. They tend to respond faster as well.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
I think the "Hold the Bug" exercise should be broken out into it's own thread and stickied for people to find, rather than leave it in here under the Irish/Scottish Embellishments thread. There's good information here that would benefit many newcomers to the site.
I never would have found it, if it hadn't been the only unread thread on my list... 
Regulars
Offline
I have to agree with you Headcheese, Hold the bug should be moved to make it easier to find. I found it the same way you did and almost passed it up.
Regular advisor
Regulars
Offline
There ya go Mad. You have a ton of votes to make another thread with your exercise. (Count me as one! It's helpful!)
Don't forget to mention the other exercises too in the new post. They are all helpful!! 
Sirens especially is kind of fun. My dog likes all kinds of sirens 
LOL! Sirens is also pretty much the only exercise that is on YouTube everywhere since it is Suzuki.
*Puts on a Smokey The Bear costume*
Only You can prevent people from strangling their violin necks! ...... Oh wait, that's not how it goes....
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
Regulars
Offline
I love doing sirens on the electric with the echo turned up. All the dogs start barking and the cats run away
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
Kevin M. said:
I have to agree with you Headcheese, Hold the bug should be moved to make it easier to find. I found it the same way you did and almost passed it up.
Yes, hold that bug is just to good to keep to ourselves!
No matter where you go, there you are!
1 Guest(s)
Fiddlerman
Mouse
ELCBK
