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(4 votes) 
Regulars
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I'm going to spend the rest of this week revising the pieces I've worked on so far, before jumping into another 35 day challenge... hopefully I'll get all the way to 35 days this time with no intervening holidays! [PS. I found a video on bow hold exercises for travelers that might be helpful for other beginners who have to be away from their instruments: plus this post on returning to your practice which might help some more advanced people who have to take a break: http://www.allthingsstrings.com/How-To/Study-Practice/Back-from-Time-Off-Regain-Your-Skills-in-3-Steps%5D
My next challenge will be to *finally* (after almost 2 decades) finish Suzuki Book 1. 
Most of this will be revision/refinement, but there are 5 pieces towards the back I'd like to learn to play through.
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Started a fresh 35 day challenge with the aim of finishing Suzuki book 1 yesterday!
Anyone else challenging at the moment?
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I wish I could do it too but I have a few outings planned where playing is not that appropriate. Too humid to bring the fiddle. Perhaps I should get a CF fiddle.
I'll give it a shot after our Keys cruise which is the 1st week in May.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@RedViolin
Hi hi I am doing the challenge. I don't have my paper with me at work. I believe my new one started on 3/29/2015... I have done very well. (4/8) I didn't play and there is one day that I have a 10 minute. But most days 45-60 and more. 
I like keeping track and its like that paper just sits there telling me.. "well .. are you going to practice?"
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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I start a fresh, new 35 day challenge every week. Lol... One of these months I think I will actually finnish one...
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@Ripton
I have found that this 35 day challenge has become addictive to me... and a good reminder and habit. It is rare now to miss practicing and writing it down.
I hope now to add journaling .. what I played and what I worked on.. and progress made. I am hoping this will help fine tune my self teaching...as it is coming along slowly.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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I agree Toni. This has made a big (positive) impact on my practicing. While I am still not 100% every day, I really know I have greatly improved the time and effort I'm putting out there. I use a "journal" to keep track of my days and what I do. I will have to ask KathaElaine where she hid the file and will share. Just as an example.. .
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Hi hi @coolpinkone sounds like you're going really well!
It's a good idea both you and @Ripton have about journalling. I have been making a note on the challenge template of what I plan on doing. But an actual journal sounds good.
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I've had a difficult time doing days in a row. I struggled for 8 weeks with this nasty cold cough thing and had to cancel 3 lessons. I am now working on 3 fingers on each string. My problem is I am using a tuner to to check finger position and I think i am frustrating myself trying to be too accurate unnecessarily. I am not comfortable trusting my ear but trying to reach accuracy is also frustrating. I think I am going to back away from my tuner and work on my ear. My bowing is something I am also working on trying to develop a straight motion and rolling the bow to simplify that. Any additional suggestions?
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I agree that you should trust your ear. If you are uncertain, ask someone musical to check you. Tuners are extremely sensitive.
You are also encouraged to post a video of yourself playing here so that we can better help you with constructive criticism. It will also give you a badge. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Good luck @toidi!
Ooh, a badge @Fiddlerman for critique videos? How do we go about getting that?
I just finished a 35 day challenge yesterday - I made the recommended practice amount most days, except for a couple where my violin was in parts of much of the day (for obvious reasons!)
Over the next 35 days I want to start going through "Violin: an easy guide" which I just got in the mail, while primarily focusing on the last 4 songs in Suzuki Book 1. I've managed to play through all of the Suzuki book now, which I thought I'd never do in my life, so that makes me very happy, but I still have a long way to go.
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I am starting a fresh 35 day practice tomorrow. If anyone wants to join and talk about it and our goals and journey! I am in it!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
I am curious to know why the practice challenge is 35 days and not one month, 30 days. What do the 5 extra days mean ?
Ken.
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@fiddlestix - I assume its because it's a nice neat 5 week period.
If it was 30 days I'd have passed already 
I started again yesterday, totally going to finish this time...
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RedViolin said
Good luck @toidi!Ooh, a badge @Fiddlerman for critique videos? How do we go about getting that?
You just need to ask for it provided you've done one. Are you asking for one? 
Usually a PM will suffice.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Started a fresh new 35 day challenge today to see if I can prepare for the summer activity and the House project. Who is in with me?
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Regulars
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Me me me! I started a fresh challenge yesterday (Sunday) too! 
What are the summer activity and House project, @coolpinkone? (Please excuse my ignorance!)
I'm going to spend the week working on Andante and Minuet from my new book...
Thank you @Fiddlerman for the badge! Very exciting!! I'll keep the PM in mind in future in case I earn any other badges... Thanks a lot 
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coolpinkone said
Started a fresh new 35 day challenge today to see if I can prepare for the summer activity and the House project. Who is in with me?
I'm always in!!
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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RedViolin said
Me me me! I started a fresh challenge yesterday (Sunday) too!What are the summer activity and House project, @coolpinkone? (Please excuse my ignorance!)
I'm going to spend the week working on Andante and Minuet from my new book...
https://fiddlerman.com/2015/04.....n-project/
Thank you @Fiddlerman for the badge! Very exciting!! I'll keep the PM in mind in future in case I earn any other badges... Thanks a lot
You are very welcome!!! No need to PM, any way you let me know is fine.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Schaick - Yay.. I know you are always in. I pretty much practice every day also. I use the challenge to help focus and for goals.
@RedViolin
Summer project = There is a StreetJelly Summer fiddle show on June 20th. It is an online live show that some are playing in. I haven't committed to a performance, but I am practicing as if I am. 6-7 simple tunes. (basically you play on live with camera and mic)
The House project is the current House of the Rising Sun Fiddlerman project.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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