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I would not bother with this post except that there may be something to learn here(?) (or maybe just some entertainment value)
I'm sure that many have heard about learning "automatically" simply by the passage of time with the subconscious brain doing all the work. So, I decided that I would simply not touch a violin for 2 months. Instead, I would attempt to play something else simply to be musically active.
That other instrument was a Descant Soprano Recorder which is famous as a first instrument for Twinkle, Twinkle but that rapidly changes when one gets to Mozart or Michael Starke. (a la Baroque)
So, what happened after 2 months? Much improved violin. (maybe if I gave it up entirely I would become great?) Noticeable gains for intonation. This may be partly due to the fact that recorders are generally not in good tune but the performer can sometimes force the instrument to pitch. So, intonation awareness may have been raised a notch for both instruments in this test.
The violin is about 5 or 6 things going on at once. Is this a penalty for concentrating on musical expression?
I think that is definitely true. I could focus on the recorder music (expression) much more than with the violin. I think the recorder made "better" music. Of course, that is related to the performer(me) but I certainly found the violin to be very distracting by comparison.
I did notice a problem with both instruments in that I tend to keep my fingers too high. Also, I often fail to anticipate the next measure.
I also thought that I had a genetic problem with playing fast but I could play much faster on the recorder so maybe I'm just being lazy and the genes are OK?
Should I just play a civilized recorder? No way, I hate the violin too much!
As always Oliver an interesting post. I haven't seen you in awhile. Good to have you back.
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I sort of did something similar. Took up the viddle to experience another instrument besides the guitar. I played the guitar for many years and just needed something else. What I have notice is how much more I pay attention to intonation, etc. Ya have to on the viddle > the no fret thing going on etc. I really wanted to play a fret-less instrument. Big time difference. I'm learning much from it that I will be applying to my guitar.
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When I was at my music shop last week I saw that you can buy something that literally adds frets to the violin fingerboard. I thought it was odd, I've never seen anyone do that before. (Admittedly, I was a little intrigued as well.)
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@Hman , there are various of frets available as stickers, I think some members here use one, they can help finger placement and intonation very much...adding frets that aren't stickers, but real ones are not good though, it will be harder to use vibrato, and intonation would be sounding bad although you've pressed the right string, and it will make scratchy sounds because the strings can touch some other frets while bowing.
cheers! - ⁰ℨ
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I bought a recorder some months back because I wanted respite from intonation concerns. Ha ha, that was sort of ignorant of me. I did get to where I could play the C scale with decent intonation, but I sort of lost interest in it.
I hadn't thought of the subconscious operating to improve physical skills such as those involved in violin playing, but I think there could be something to it. But I am a believer in the subconscious working in the background on the elements of the intellect.
Well, first of all, @Oliver, welcome back! Missed You here big time!!! Hope to see You more frequently!
Great news You've brought, here. But, as i can tell about myself, that i definitelly loose my skills if not playing long time (longest time for me is about 5 days) =). I guess that i just didn't get to your level though
Nice to hear from You!
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