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I'm an old guy and I've just started learning violin. I've been taking lessons from an instructor for the past 7 wks and am LOVING it. I know it may seem very odd to pickup such a time-intensive instrument at my age, but I am compelled to learn and play it.
The question I have is this; my instructor, who has been playing with orchestras for about 35 years and teaching for 8 years, has incorporated the philosophy/techniques of a violinist/music professor/author by the name of Susan Kempter, who learning premise can be summed up as playing using muscle memory, particularly in regard to the left-hand fingering activity.
A technique used in this teaching is to swing your left arm back and forth under the violin to ensure your fingering, string to string, is the same/accurate. In my mind, and I'm really not trying to second-guess my instructor, there are so many moving parts between your left shoulder, through your elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand, that this is really not as accurate a method to play as her theory might lead one to believe.
Any thoughts from other players/teachers would be of great interest to me? Thanks so muc for your time.
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The fun thing is that it actually works. It takes a long time, but it will benefit you greatly. I completely agree with that muscle memory is #1 when it comes to playing. You don't want to be staring at where you put your fingers etc. Since your fingers can easily move quicker than your eyes can keep up with. Because of this you are encouraged to practice muscle memory no matter what instrument you play.
Also if you get used to the movement. Everything will seem so simple, even if it is a complex maneuvre, it will eventually be just like lifting a spoon off a table. You just do it without thinking. This is the benefit of muscle memory. The brain is interesting this way.. It does not like to juggle more than 5-7 things at once, before it shuts down completely. So the less you have to think of, the better you perform...
It all boils down to that it might seem silly, but it works.
A method of practicing accuracy/speed for me was that I would hit awd asd awd asd awd asd awd asd, and then the reverse as fast as I could. And even if it is nothing similar. It helps out a lot, since it is not a completely unrelated movement 
"Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild."
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You are right for being suspicious. Too much movement is not good and will actually slow you down. Also, not good for the shoulders as you said. However, the angle is slightly different on each string so a little arm swing is perfectly OK.
Include feeling and guides with muscle memory as well.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Yes, the idea of muscle memory is sound but the way of obtaining it here seems a bit off. As you said, muscle memory relies on accurate repetition. The more you have to move, the more likely it is that you'll introduce variations which, as FM noted, will slow down the learning process.
I think muscle memory in violin is a lot like muscle memory in typing. You start from a "home" position and learn where your fingers go in relation to that position. Thus, working on getting a consistent hand placement on your violin from which to start would be the basis for muscle memory. Then you just have to teach your fingers where to go to hit the right notes from that position. (That's what I like about FM's technique for holding the violin. It's consistent. Too bad my hand is too small to use it.)
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I'm an old guy and I've just started learning violin. I've been taking lessons from an instructor for the past 7 wks and am LOVING it. I know it may seem very odd to pickup such a time-intensive instrument at my age, but I am compelled to learn and play it.
I have been intriqued by the fact there are so many old people starting to play the violin. I thought I was the only one!
When I first found this site and started posting I truly thought might situation was uniqe but again and again I find folks with the same story.
Maybe us oldsters are selling ourselves short. To think its so crazy to learn something new. Afterall havent we been learning something new ever since we got our first slap on the bottom while hanging upside down by our heels.
And the things we learned through life actually had consiquinces. And we were expected to be accountable for them.
No more apologys from me for continueing to live. No Sir.
But having said that! Good luck to all you youngsters . I have to admit I am not sure I would want to do it again in these times.
No matter where you go, there you are!
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I appreciate your insight Aleive. I completely understand the benefits of muscle memory in regard to any physical skill. I think I was questioning this particular technique because everything I've read about violin and fiddle technique talks about keeping your elbow directly under the instrument.
But I'm trusting my instructor and working diligently to lock it in.
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Thanks FM I will keep that in mind.
4FUN - thanks for pointing that out. I am working hard to "nail" my homebase.
LATE - you know, that's exactly my perspective; just because I'm old doesn't mean I'm going to stop learning; I just started snowboarding (with my teenage son) last spring; been a skier for 45 yrs and just needed a new challenge (I'm 56) and falling on hardpack at 25 mph kicks my ass, but I'm laughing the whole time.
Thank you all so much for feedback. Has anybody read any of Susan Kemptor's work? I just think she's missed a LOT of details.
King
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If muscle memory is #1, I would be interested to know what is #2 ?
(anything but fret tapes 
)
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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Sometimes a single note can convey a multitude of feeling.
So I would say mucle memory should be second to SOUL!
Oh yeh!
No matter where you go, there you are!
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I agree with you Late bloomer. The muscle memory/technique is really just the means by which the music is communicated. After you get that down then it takes back stage to the heart behind it.
Oh, hey! No more math. 
King
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When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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Fiddle4Fun said
I agree with you Late bloomer. The muscle memory/technique is really just the means by which the music is communicated. After you get that down then it takes back stage to the heart behind it.
Oh, hey! No more math.
Congrats lol.
No more practice in bare feet I case the answer was >11.
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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