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Not to brag - but I am! I have 635 days of practicing every day since I started playing the violin. Some days only 15 mins, some days practice is broken up into many segments of time that add up to 45-60+ minutes.
BUT... maybe I shouldn't [brag] 'cause doesn't that mean I should be playing better with more practices under my belt?
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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:O Wow @Schaick!
That is amazing commitment!!
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@RedViolin. It all started with my first lesson which happened to be right after a 5 year old who played a song beautifully. I told her that she was amazing and that I was going to "...practice everyday because I have a lot of catching up to do!!"
My day can be going absolutely horrible. I sit down and play the violin and the sun shines!
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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@Schaick that is something to brag about.
I haven't been logging in my challenges because I practice everyday. I finished a long challenge on another site and then I finished a couple 35 day challenges here. The second one being better than the first.
That being said, I think the 2nd one was better than the first because I was participating in a challenge. So I think I will start a new (3rd) 35 day practice on Sunday March 29th.
Keep up the good work everyone. 
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Well, I failed. Again. 
Starting again this Sunday. As incentive, I promised myself a new FM carbon fibre bow if I succeed. I hope you ship to Australia, Fiddlerman. 
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Thanks @coolinkone and @RedViolin
Great incentive @caterwaul you can do it!!
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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@caterwaul ..... Just log the days you do... if you got 25 out of 35 you did not fail... then the next time you might get 28 out of 35. You are not failing!!!!
Keep up the good work.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Hi all long time no see,
Congratulations on every one who has completed the challenge or just improved you practice habits there both win win situations.
Sorry for no posts, but I have been reading the forum. A thank you to all who have posted I have enjoyed your posts, discussions and videos!
Life is full of surprises a few weeks ago My Dad fell and broke his hip and was 3 weeks in the Hospital for surgery and rehab before he got to come home, my uncle had a kidney removed and my father inlaw they was suppose to have a mass remove which turned out to be a calcium deposit which they decided not to take out. Work got crazy and vacation time came and I'm in Texas at the moment enjoying my Granddaughter, working on my son house along with the warm weather compared to Indiana weather.
In the mist of the chaos I took the 35 day challenge along with finding a teacher (just a pup 19 years old been playing for 12 years from Columbia, plays in the local symphony and he is quite good at long hair music) I stared taking lessons again 32 years after I took a few before my daughter was born. I was not sure if he would want to teach an left handed old fossil with the requests I made when we met. (But he did, and I kinda feel sorry for the kid having to put up with me harassing him about our age differences.)
He's a good young man and has hammered me with lots of exercises, scales and long hair music. I must admit I have never been a fan of classical music, but now at I have tried to play it, I have the up most respect to those who play it well, and I'm enjoying it now to both try to play it and listen to it. Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Welcome to all the new comers, enjoy the journey and hang on for the ups and downs of trying to learn the Violin, one of hardest to learn but one of the most versatile and beautiful instruments ever made.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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@Schaick I am always inspired by the little kids I see on YouTube playing pieces so well etc. When I first attempted violin (around 11 or 12 years of age) I quickly lost motivation when my teacher would compare me to the 4 and 5 year olds she was teaching... as you can imagine, they had very dedicated parents, had been learning since 3 or 4 etc, and no kid of the age I was then likes to be compared (especially unfavourably!) to children less than half their age! Now though, I find their examples inspirational and helpful!
Good luck with your new challenge, @coolpinkone 
And you too, @caterwaul! A fantastic motivation you have there, with the FM bow to look forward to!
@Mark_1 nice to 'meet' you, and sorry to hear about all of the family illness/injury suffered lately. I hope things improve for everyone soon. Good on you for finding a teacher and doing a challenge through it all! Very inspirational!
I'm up to my last week of my first 35 day challenge. I'll fall short by a couple of days due to traveling for Easter, but I already have my goals written out for another challenge once I get back! (I'm just finishing off the Strictly Strings book I got for my birthday some months back, and looking forward to re-learning all of the Suzuki book 1 songs I learned as a child, plus attempting a few for the first time, over the next month)
Good luck all!
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@Mark-1 So sorry to hear about your family's troubles. The saying when it rains it pours can be so true! It was during my family troubles that I was motivated to do something for myself and that was learning to play the violin!!
It was the best decision ever! That and joining this forum. There is amazing support here at the Fiddlerman forums.
@RedViolin That would be so very irritating as a child to be compared like that but now as adults we can believe that - If a little squirt can play the violin like that then so can I!!
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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Ok I have to start over. I got sick after only getting 6 days straight. Practiced yesterday will practice today but do need to start over.
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WOW Schaick,
That is an incredible accomplishment. You should be very proud. I guess this means that you'll even practice when you are not well or that you have been very healthy for almost 2 years straight. Also, an incredible accomplishment.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Schaick that's a much more motivating way to think about it ^_^
Hope you're feeling better @toidi.
As predicted, I didn't finish the whole 35 days this go due to traveling for Easter, but did at least get to learn "Hot Cross Buns" in time! Thanks for the challenge @Fiddlerman
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Fiddlerman said
WOW Schaick,
That is an incredible accomplishment. You should be very proud. I guess this means that you'll even practice when you are not well or that you have been very healthy for almost 2 years straight. Also, an incredible accomplishment.
Thanks!! Well here is the scoop - I suffer from a handful of neurological disorders that cause chronic pain and fatigue. When I am playing the violin I am distracted and after playing the violin I am so excited about the music I am learning and researching...., I would play all day if I had the time!!
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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Schaick said
........
My day can be going absolutely horrible. I sit down and play the violin and the sun shines!
Ahhhh - I totally get that !
Personally, I'm now just wanting to get into BAAAD ROCKKK and blues on my EV - I'm not really "fluid enough" yet to play what I "hear in my mind" - but - I know exactly what you mean. Playing music is kind of "cathartic" - even playing (as I do when 5hit happens to me) simple "go-to" tunes - I think "Aye, that was OK - I've heard better performances by others, but THAT was well good to my mind..." LOL
Keep at it @Schaick ( well, I clearly didn't need to say that ! ) You're doing great !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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@BillyG
@Schaick
I feel the same. It took a while for me to understand that it could help me if I play through hard emotional times. I tie emotions to just about everything I do. Sometimes in the past year, if things get bad in my world then I couldn't pick up the violin. The tide is changing and now I get busy with violin and it helps. It hard at first to stop thinking or feeling sad... but then once i put my energy into the violin and music and reading music, then It is a very good help.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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@coolpinkone - for me, if anyone asks why I play fiddle, I say, "It's a "hobby" - in reality I know it has become an obsession and tell no one apart from my friends here !!! But it is a good obsession, there are many worse things....
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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yes..
"there are worse things I could doooooooo." Stockard Channing - Grease 1978
*** not really applicable to violin.. but what the heck?
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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You just made me feel like seeing "Grease" again. LOL
One thing is for sure, although I think we are so very conservative here in the, things have changed a bit. I don't think I had ever listened to the lyrics to that piece before.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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