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Congratulations Fiddle Chick - and it sounds like you have a practice habit you'll continue!
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Great job Fiddle Chick. Any observations about your progress that you care to share with us?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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Hmmm. Let's see. Aside from the obvious (that it takes practice to become good at anything), the main thing I've noticed is that I'm becoming more comfortable, both physically and mentally. It seems like I'm finally able to play without having to concentrate as much. I wouldn't say it's effortless, but just more relaxed and natural. That's not to say that I'm really good, just that I'm getting there. Sometimes I just play, without a lot of thought about what I'm doing. Just doing it. I'm finally developing an ear for what works and what doesn't. Vibrato is still not perfect, but way better than, say, 6 months ago.
Let the bow flow.
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Sounds like really great progress. Congratulations. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Schaick Heck yeah..Jamming counts...
@fiddlechick70 awesome stuff!!!!
I have a decent total ... and over all I have had some very good practices, kind of in line with what Barry was talking about.. good practice sessions.. actually applying lessons and tips.
1. practicing string changes on the bow tip, using a circular motion, bowing "inside" the strings.
2. Fourth finger down here and there... Little pinky is starting to make her presence known on my fingerboard.
3. Some wobbly handed vibrato.
4. A little shift here and there.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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My daily practice time has already doubled if not more, but have missed a couple of days already... Nice thing about this challenge is that it's so easy to start right back up again.
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OK, completed day 4 of 4. One problem I see now is I am practicing more each day that sometimes it gets hard to put the instrument down. I'm beginning a new song that requires me to learn the third position so I needed to add some new exercises to my warm up. Now after a 14 hour work day, an hour of practice, I still have at least 2 hours of study for my certification exam to get in before I head to bed. And I'm sitting here checking out the forum.. ugggh... 
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@coolpinkone I have realized though that jamming for 3 hours my posture goes down hill! LOL!! The violin is sometimes down at about armpit level and I try real hard not to rest my elbow on my knee.
There are times during playing I have to look over my violin shoulder to see what chords are being played. I try to sit across for the guitar players but they get up and move around!!
I was going to say I would not count the hours, but thinking harder on it there a fews thing I am very conscious of - tone, not squeaking, memorizing the music, blending back-up and chords!!
So I am going to count those hours!!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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Thanks, FM. I am now on day 8 of the practice but as I did not record my times, I felt only fair to start again yesterday. So today is day 2. I also feel a practice should have some structure to it, so when I do not do my finger & bowing exercises, scales, work a new song or two then rehearse some old songs I've not really "Practiced". That's just my own opinion of my own practice session. Last week I spent my time working out the songs for the StreetJelly set.
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Well, today's practice was day 36, so I'm very happy! The challenge has definitely set me up to practice with more discipline and I'm planning to continue everyday if I can. I'm playing with more purpose/confidence, but still working on my bowing and intonation. I do feel as if there's been an improvement in these which is great.
I've even joined a small Ceilidh band and performed on stage - something I didn't expect to be doing after only 11 months of playing. I was so intent of playing the right notes my technique went a bit sloppy, but here's a video of part of our set (I'm the middle fiddler and my daughter Samantha is next to me.)
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Very cool. I couldn't quite figure out which fiddler is you though. I see four on the left but it looks like a guy sitting next to the young girl. I'm confused.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Yes, that's me - the one with the stiff right Wrist LOL!
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OK, so you are the third person from the left? It's fantastic that you are playing in a group after 11 months. That's life.
Glad to see it!!!
Thanks for the post.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@KimB That is super cool!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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I'm gonna go for it. I am a 63 year old beginner. I played trumpet in high school and haven't really touched and instrument for several years. I convinced a retired university music professor to give me lessons. I have had my 4th lesson and am slowly building muscle memory. Still working on open strings. Scheduled to start using strings next lesson.
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toidi said
I'm gonna go for it. I am a 63 year old beginner. I played trumpet in high school and haven't really touched and instrument for several years. I convinced a retired university music professor to give me lessons. I have had my 4th lesson and am slowly building muscle memory. Still working on open strings. Scheduled to start using strings next lesson.
Welcome to the forum @toidi - enjoy the journey !
I'm only a couple of years behind you in age, and have been playing for almost a year. The 35 day challenge is open to ALL - and that's the point - it is like "setting your own, achievable (just) goals - but - at the same time - pushing yourself beyond what you are comfortable with right now" and making you "push onwards"..... Well, that's how I looked at the challenge, and is what I did anyway. I've just completed mine and I'm pretty happy about it. I'm now setting "shorter term goals" for my own benefit.
Great to hear you have a tutor - that, I am sure is an advantage.
Once again, welcome, and when you feel ready, share some playing with us all !
Bill
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Here I am on day 58 of this 35-day challenge. Whew! I wasn't sure how long I could keep it up, but I'm still going!
Let the bow flow.
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That is fantastic. Congratulations!!!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Ok, I'm going to give this a go! Since today is a Sunday and the first of the month, it seems like fate wills it! 
Seeing what others have been able to achieve is inspirational.
Off do do my first session now!!
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