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Practice routine
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ryonass
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June 22, 2018 - 4:24 pm
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hello everyone,

I’m working on having a proper routine. Here is the thought so far. Let me know what you think is missing/what I should add. Also, it would be helpful to see your routine.

  • 5min open strings
  • 10min scales
  • 15min reviewing pieces

 

  • 5min open strings 
  • 10 scales with vibrato 
  • 15min new pieces

 

  • 5min open strings double stop
  • 10min scales spicaccto & staccato 
  • 15min review

 

  • 5min open strings
  • 10min scales with 3rd position
  • 15min new pieces
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BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
June 23, 2018 - 4:46 am
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I have nowhere near such a structured approach (not that there is anything wrong with that, what you suggest there sounds good to me thumbs-up).

It may well depend on "where you are in your playing" - and indeed "where you want to go in your playing" - certainly, in my first year I DID do something very similar, usually getting in at least 2 hours per day, and it certainly paid off!

Now a few years on for me and I'm not so structured.   

Probably depends on style and genre you are interested in as well - I just play fiddle tunes for the sheer pleasure of it, and "adapt" many other tunes to fiddle/violin. 

HOWEVER - in any 20 to 30 minute period I most certainly WILL review and practice various techniques as and when they are required (exactly as you say, DS, staccato, spiccato, plus, for me, various "specific fiddle techniques" including cuts, rolls, turns, slides, grace notes etc).

Oh,  and scales.  For instance - I commonly have an issue if I move from playing something in Bb or Eb etc to playing something in A, D or G etc - facepalm - and I will take a few minutes to "mix all these scales up" and get the intonation back.... 

I think your plan looks fine and will surely help to structure your practice - good luck! 

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

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ryonass
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June 24, 2018 - 12:26 am
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Thanks for the detailed reply @BillyG. My teacher just gave me some fiddle toons and I really like them. A nice break from all the classical. I am trying to finish up this book and figured a structure will keep me from just playing things I want haha

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Pete_Violin
Utah

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June 24, 2018 - 2:37 pm
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@ryonass I was just going to ask if you are currently taking lessons.  IMO you would benefit in your practice to closely follow your lesson plan.  Practice what your teacher feels are the areas that are the most helpful for you.  I do think that a structure is helpful for practice.  All the techniques you are working on are vital areas to keep working on.  My teacher does not specifically tell me to work on any particular technique, unless it is something in a piece I am playing.  But last lesson she did spring on me to warm up with some scales and I work on these daily, so I played them smoothly and well.  It was a great feeling!  

At my level of playing, I don’t have the same amount of technical practice you have listed. I am working more on intonation and fingering, like most everyone else.  But you have several skills I have not yet learned.  

The point is to practice, and practice consistently and often.  Work closely with your teacher to focus on specifics.  But as long as you continue to work on it, any practice is good and beneficial.  (And I am saying this to myself as well)

- Pete -

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ryonass
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June 24, 2018 - 5:32 pm
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@Pete_Violin yea I do, but there isn’t really a lesson plan per say. I follow the Suzuki method and my teacher just assigned me some fiddle songs, she says summer is for fiddling. I agree with consistent and often practice. How long have you been playing? I started at the end of April 2017. 

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Pete_Violin
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June 24, 2018 - 6:00 pm
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Well I am in my 4th month of playing.  I will begin Suzuki soon. I am just finishing my first violin book.  I began with Strictly Strings.  My teacher is recommending I begin Suzuki method as soon as I complete this book.  

Oh and by lesson plan I simply meant whatever your teacher is having you work on. If it is Suzuki than that’s the plan. 

- Pete -

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ryonass
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June 25, 2018 - 10:31 am
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@Pete_Violin I have been using Suzuki since I started, I really like it. Good luck with your violin journey.

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Mimi Aysha
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June 25, 2018 - 10:43 pm
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Kudos to you Ryonass, thats awesome!...and Pchoppin, I think you will love the Suzuki.

I do wish I was disciplined enough to follow a plan, but I struggle...mine is usually grab the fiddle play along with a few tunes - then flip flop back to suzuki, throw in some intense practicing on something I just can't get right, back to fiddle for fun....I just started Suzuki book 4, did the first song...can't play it to speed yet, but the rest of it looks a bit scary so I thought I would leave it for after the summer....

My teacher is pretty easy going, he says to enjoy it, teaching me techniques along the way...he spots where I struggle and gives me pointers and such, so I just play it over and over til I get it, then onto the next tune. 

I'm trying to do more fiddle songs, working on bowing and speed, which is really challenging for me...I can't keep up with any of the songs I want to right now, but it's fun.

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Pete_Violin
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June 25, 2018 - 11:08 pm
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That’s awesome Mimi!!!!

My teacher is really cool.  She knows my goals and direction so she helps me focus in those areas.  I tend to be a little high on my expectations so she will make sure to keep me reigned in and at the same time challenge me.  She also makes sure to keep me from creating bad habits, although I’ve already started some small ones.  I cannot seem to keep all fingers down on the string.  I have to keep them ALL down.   Not just the one playing the note. GRRRRR.  

Anyway, we all have our demons.  

- Pete -

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 26, 2018 - 10:28 am
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I'm really happy to hear positive feedback on your teachers.
I'm going to start a forum for teacher recommendation in which you guys can promote your teachers. I know that adult beginners often have a tough time finding the right kind of help.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Pete_Violin
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June 26, 2018 - 4:44 pm
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Fiddlerman said
I'm really happy to hear positive feedback on your teachers.
I'm going to start a forum for teacher recommendation in which you guys can promote your teachers. I know that adult beginners often have a tough time finding the right kind of help.  

Fantastic @Fiddlerman 

- Pete -

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Mimi Aysha
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June 26, 2018 - 11:26 pm
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great idea!

My first experience was so bad it made me doubt I even wanted to play - but I just love my new teach! He helps me move along so quickly and gives me challenges that I would never dream of trying, very motivating and encouraging...

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damfino
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June 27, 2018 - 1:28 pm
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Fiddlerman said
I'm really happy to hear positive feedback on your teachers.
I'm going to start a forum for teacher recommendation in which you guys can promote your teachers. I know that adult beginners often have a tough time finding the right kind of help.  

 

Good idea :D I'm currently still on a break from my lessons, but really liked how my teacher worked with me. 

☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
July 5, 2018 - 2:50 pm
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I just created it. Please help out and list your favorite teachers and possible contact methods, provided they are OK with it, and what you like about them.
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/t.....endations/

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Kody

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August 5, 2018 - 9:33 am
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Little late to the party, but i'll list my current practice routine in the event that it's of any help. I like to practice in somewhat larger chunks (usually 2-3 hours) each day as opposed to short sessions. 

Scales - 30-45 min

I always focus on the scale with the corresponding key of the piece of music i'm learning. I've found starting this way really helps my intonation when I move on to the piece. I'll usually use a tuner for the first 1-2 times through the scale to help me hear the scale exactly in tune; then i practice the rest of the time without one to try and consistently hit the correct note. I'll set a comfortable pace for me (usually 40-60 bmp) and start with 1 whole note per bow, then two half notes per bow, etc. until i'm slurring 8 notes per bow while keeping the same bowing speed. I still only know 1st position; but i'd eventually like to incorporate 3rd position scales into this as well. 

Etudes/Specific Techniques - 30-45 min

After scales I work on etudes that cover similar technique to what i'll be playing in the piece like slurs, staccato, etc. The Wohlfahrt studies have been a huge help for that. I also have a few other books for specific technique. For example i'm currently learning how to play "Millionaire's Hoedown by Herman Clebanoff. A large portion of it has double stops; so during this time i practice double stops out of Harvey Whistler's "Developing double stops".

The actual piece - the rest of however long i feel like practicing.

Usually between 45 min to an hour and a half. I'll start by playing through the piece once or twice to see what sections i'm still having trouble with and then i work on those measures until i'm satisfied with how they sound. 

When i first started practicing i used to have no structure and would jump between playing the piece or scales or etudes basically at random. It was bad practice and since I've been paying more attention to how i structure it I've made a lot more improvement. 

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 15, 2018 - 12:53 pm
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Thanks Kody

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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coolpinkone
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August 15, 2018 - 1:03 pm
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To the orginal poster...woo hoo...that is a rocking good schedule.

oh my friends.... I play about 20 minutes a week...Ive been so distracted. 

I played last night... Drunken Sailor, Ashokan, Amazing Grace, Scarborough Fair, (Dixie...shhhhhh blame Bill), New World Symphony, Sad Romance and Hanging Tree... nothing was great... I think I do it just to NOT forget.

I miss having a teacher and playing...  this thread was a serious motivator for me.

Thank you everyone.

Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Fiddlerman
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August 15, 2018 - 1:14 pm
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Good Toni. I am hereby here telling you to practice right now!!!

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
August 15, 2018 - 1:14 pm
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coolpinkone said
......I played last night... Drunken Sailor, Ashokan, Amazing Grace, Scarborough Fair, (Dixie...shhhhhh blame Bill), New World Symphony, Sad Romance and Hanging Tree... nothing was great... I think I do it just to NOT forget.

I miss having a teacher and playing...  this thread was a serious motivator for me.

Thank you everyone.

Toni  

 Hahahaha @coolpinkone - yeah, go ahead, blame me...  I can take it !  :)     :)     :)  

  Rock on, Pinkie la Cool ( yup, there'll be another Talk Like a Pirate Day get-together come September.... ) bunny_pole_dancer

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

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damfino
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August 15, 2018 - 1:32 pm
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coolpinkone said
To the orginal poster...woo hoo...that is a rocking good schedule.

oh my friends.... I play about 20 minutes a week...Ive been so distracted. 

I played last night... Drunken Sailor, Ashokan, Amazing Grace, Scarborough Fair, (Dixie...shhhhhh blame Bill), New World Symphony, Sad Romance and Hanging Tree... nothing was great... I think I do it just to NOT forget.

I miss having a teacher and playing...  this thread was a serious motivator for me.

Thank you everyone.

Toni  

Awesome start back into it :) I feel ya, I miss having lessons so bad, and it's only been maybe 4 months since I quit. But I miss them, I've fallen into playing tunes and not really practicing technique like I used to. I start to, and then get bummed out because it's the same stuff I was working on 4 months ago, just brushing up on it, mainly making sure I don't forget. We need each other to keep motivated :D  

☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆

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