I am trying a new tactic, for me, for self-learning, and I am going to try to be patient and stick with it, and not start rushing, again, Since, I still can’t risk playing my cello without, possibly, being stuck sitting in the chair with it an entire afternoon, I am doing my violin, mainly, and once in a while do my viola, but not as intense. Cannot wait to get back to my cello. 

When I traded in my Doetsch violin a couple weeks ago, I got another violin that is warmer, using the same brand strings that I had on my Doetsch, Fiddlerman Strings, this violin is warmer. Although you know I really like the sound of the Fiddlerman Strings, I have now changed them out for Obligato for a couple reasons. I am still using the Fiddlerman G String, however.

The reason I swapped out the Fiddlerman Strings has nothing to do with the strings, exactly. The Obligatos are a little harder to bow, at least for me. I need bowing work. So, I switched to the Obligatos for learning purposes.

I found a song, actually it was provided to me by the luthier/owner of the violin shop when I traded my violin, that has plenty of bowing, and a few opportunities to use the 4th finger on the D string for the E. It is not the type of song that I really want to play on this violin, it is in the folk fiddle line, but not a fast one, this is meant to be played with feeling. It is a 3/4 song. Because of these factors, it is suited to my needs. When I am finished using this song on this violin, I will be playing it on my Fiddlerman Concert Deluxe, mainly. Very well suited for that violin because of the different sound quality produced on that violin. 

For my self-teaching, I am breaking this song into sections as I move along. I have been working on the first 5 measures because it was a good place to stop. It is right before 4 eighth notes. It has one of the sections that is appropriate for a 4th finger E. I worked that section until I got it down pretty good and was trying to train myself to look ahead and prepare.

The last time I did that section, about an hour ago, I looked ahead to the next 1 and 2/3 measures and added that. I will work this new section, first 6 and 2/3 measures of the song, until it is very smooth and I have that bowing down so I am getting the nice clear sound that I know my violin is capable of. I think I will be just playing this section for at least a few days, and maybe breaking some measures or note groups for more individual work.

When I am comfortable, I will add next 6 beat section, 1/3 measure from the previous section, the next measure and the first two beats from the next. That is a natural place to stop, so that will be my next added section. 

So that is my plan. I am going to fight stopping and pulling out another song. Playing Willy Nilly does not help, sorry Willy Nilly. If I want to play something different, I will just play some scales.

I was going to do a blog, but I am not sure how diligent I would be, and I am not making a bunch of videos as I move along. I am just going to record to hear what I am doing, no putting them on YouTube to post. If I find I am adding to this, I will move it to the blog section, but my plan is not to do that. I was just presenting a possible plan for others to start with, modify, or whatever, to suit themselves.

Also, when I am ready to shift, in the future, I will set up some lessons to learn that. I really have issues with that and decided I would wait until I am ready and get lessons, so that I do it right. Same thing with vibrato. So, my plan is a slow and steady route and lessons when I need something new taught. Lessons are always too fast paced and the music is nothing I can understand heads nor tails of, classical. So, I am going to learn at my own pace, with music that does not boggle my mind so I can understand it, and get lessons for techniques, etc, as I progress.

I hope some members or guests find this helpful and can take bits an pieces for their own plan.