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I had an interesting and helpful experience while I was practicing tonight. Maybe others already do this, but thought I'd share it in case it might be helpful to someone else.
I was practicing a Natalie MacMaster tune and playing along with the recording using an iPod speaker unit. I sensed that my intonation was off because I couldn't hear the recording well enough over my own playing, so I switched to using earbuds. When I use earbuds, I usually only put one in one ear but, for some reason, this time I put the buds in both ears.
The effect was really interesting. The recording drowned out the sound of my violin and it felt like I was the one playing what I was hearing. It was really cool to feel like I was playing as well as Natalie MacMaster.
At that point, I wasn't concerned with intonation because I couldn't hear myself, but instead I was focused on how my bowing felt. It seemed like I was able to bow more smoothly by imitating the recording.
Then, I took one earbud out and played it again, this time paying attention to intonation and later it played it without the recording. It seemed to me that my playing improved overall...both intonation and bow technique.
Does anyone else practice this way? Am I just late to the party? 
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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Thats great Diane. I do that with you tube vids and my suzuki books. You will improve for sure that way.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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If im am learning a song and have a recording of it then I always play with ear buds piping in the tune to my ears. I find I am able to get up to speed, play smoother and more accurate, and able to memorize it quicker if I practice that way, its kinda a faux duet.
My instructor has pointed out a few times that I am a good copier, so only faux duets, real duets, and ensembles for now.
A hoopy frood always knows where his towel is!
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I have experienced this state> It was as if I was right there with the tune. One of those special moments it was for me >> keeps me going. And I can duplicate that moment by putting the earphones on> Don't know if that is bad or good but it feels neat.
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KindaScratchy said
Am I just late to the party?
Pardon me, what party?
peanut_gallery said
with ear buds piping in the tune to my ears. I find I am able to get up to speed, play smoother and more accurate
Thank you both Diane and PG for sharing. I will have to try it at some point, but it sounds very interesting.
I feel a need for revising my method of learning so this is something that might be very helpful.
Thanks again.
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Hi Diane
That would be beyond my skills ATM
If I where to play without hearing myself, the folks next door wood be hammering on 'my' door.
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying???? 
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There's a certain logic to it, KindaScratchy. I'd say that what you are doing is practising the mechanics of the bowing separate from the fingering/intonation. Since the bowing movements are also a part of playing the song, it seems reasonable that can contribute to getting the piece down better.
I have never tried practising that way, but it sounds interesting. Maybe even fun.
@Ferret: Well, you have an electric, as I recall. The neighbors would have to have pretty sharp hearing to hear an unamplified electric.
Or fold a bit of tissue or take a slice of soft sponge and tuck it between the strings and the end of the fingerboard. Not too tight, just enough to damp the strings and stop the vibration. Too tight and you might actually get a note or harmonic. Even on an acoustic, I doubt you'd get much more sound than perhaps a soft squeak with that.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Daniel,
I will have to try that trick with the paper. My daughter is always telling me I can't play because I will wake the baby (future violinist) up.
Duane
"Violin is one of the joys of my life."
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I had an interesting and helpful experience while I was practicing tonight. Maybe others already do this, but thought I'd share it in case it might be helpful to someone else.
I was practicing a Natalie MacMaster tune and playing along with the recording using an iPod speaker unit. I sensed that my intonation was off because I couldn't hear the recording well enough over my own playing, so I switched to using earbuds. When I use earbuds, I usually only put one in one ear but, for some reason, this time I put the buds in both ears.
The effect was really interesting. The recording drowned out the sound of my violin and it felt like I was the one playing what I was hearing. It was really cool to feel like I was playing as well as Natalie MacMaster.
At that point, I wasn't concerned with intonation because I couldn't hear myself, but instead I was focused on how my bowing felt. It seemed like I was able to bow more smoothly by imitating the recording.
Then, I took one earbud out and played it again, this time paying attention to intonation and later it played it without the recording. It seemed to me that my playing improved overall...both intonation and bow technique.
Does anyone else practice this way? Am I just late to the party?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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