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5 simple tips for very beginners
Topic Rating: 3 Topic Rating: 3 Topic Rating: 3 Topic Rating: 3 Topic Rating: 3 Topic Rating: 3 (1 votes) 
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Hurton

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April 22, 2014 - 10:34 am
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Hello. I play violin for 3.5 month and I want to share a few observations about it. This information may be helpful to those who just have taken a violin in their hands.

1. Don`t keep in mind the idea that violin is one of the most difficult instruments.
It isn`t important. Don`t spend your time for such a kind of thinking.

2. Always plan your work!
It is more effective when you do it in writing.

3. Read books about violin and music!
It is easier to built your practical skills when you already have a theoretical model of it in your mind. For instance, Carl Flesch "the art of violin playing".

4. Don`t worry if your intonation is bad.
It will become better over time. Don`t try to understand the difference between B and C by any rational method. People, in general, aren`t able to count a number of HZ to identify notes. https://fiddlerman.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif Instead, try to "feel" them. Just hear! After a few time you will be able to put your fingers exactly on notes! Moreover, it will become better and better everyday.

5. Feel yourself relaxed when you are playing.
In case of any tension put aside your violin for 5 minutes.

Also, this scheme was very helpful for me:
https://fiddlerman.com/wp-content/forum-image-uploads/hurton/2014/04/db1404bb44a4.jpgImage Enlarger

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Barry
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April 22, 2014 - 10:59 am
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I only disagree with the intonation part. this is not a piano or fretted instrument where you just put a finger down and get the correct tone. This instrument relies heavily on a good ear and must be trained from the very beginning

There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart

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coolpinkone
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April 22, 2014 - 1:24 pm
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Great tips. I came for motivation today.. and to catch up on the goings on. I think this is a good plan for everyone!

On intonation, it seemed when I was first learning my teacher was not big on intonation..she was more about bowing and using the right finger..high middle, low middle. She never stopped me and said I had to the wrong note. As an adult beginner this bothered me. I think sometimes now I am too worried about intonation, but it there such a thing as worrying about it and fine tuning it too much? I mean the idea is to play the right note.

Anyway...I am not arguing the point, just thinking about it and how I feel about it. :)
Cheers. Thanks again, very good tip sheet.

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Barry
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April 22, 2014 - 1:40 pm
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youre right Toni, its about how we personally approach it. I beat myself up daily striving for something close to perfection. Im constantly trying to produce a better tone and notes MUST work together semiquaver-1214

There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart

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Hurton

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April 22, 2014 - 1:49 pm
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Barry, I agree with your comment. I meant only that a person should hear and feel a note. So, the idea was that intonation will be developed by feellings through hearing rather than by brainstorming))

Coolpinkone, thanks! :)

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coolpinkone
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April 22, 2014 - 1:51 pm
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Hi Hi Barry.. I am a fellow self beater-up-er. I think at this point in my playing, I am more thankful for paying attention and checking tone often, than if I had ignored it... seems better for it to come second nature to the ear and finger if learned well at first.

But I again that is just me, as I am having to relearn things from the first year that I botched... I am glad that intonation is not my worst issue. (death grip is back in my life).

I am also just grumpy about how it seems progress slows around the 2 plus year mark..for big progress it takes even bigger commitment than in the beginning....well it seems that way..however the rewards are sweeter and the sounds don't hurt the ears (as much).

Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 22, 2014 - 3:37 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537

True, IMAO, intonation is harder to fix later. Bad habits are more difficult to break than spending a little more concentrated structural time to start.

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

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Uzi
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April 22, 2014 - 10:38 pm
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Yea, I'm not going along with the intonation thing. I think it would be fair to say, don't become obsessed by intonation to the exclusion of all else. The thing is, you can have the greatest technique in the world, but if your intonation is off it isn't going to sound good. It's something you should always strive for and continue working on forever Here is a demonstration of excellent technique, but...

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

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Fiddlerman
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April 22, 2014 - 11:47 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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ROFLMAO

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

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Guest
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April 23, 2014 - 12:20 am
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I love how so many of us use Jack Benny in our threads / posts.
He certainly was a classic.

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DanielB
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April 23, 2014 - 6:11 am
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I think it might just be how it was stated in the original post..

"Don't worry if your intonation is bad"

.. but Hurton does say to use your ears and that it will get better with practice. To me, that isn't saying it isn't important, just acknowledging that it won't be perfect at first and that it will take work to get it better.

One tip that I would add is:

Practice regularly.
Daily is best. Even 20 min a day done almost every day is likely to give better results than an hour or two done just once in a while.

"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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Hurton

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April 23, 2014 - 8:11 am
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DanielB, that is exactly what I wanted to say. Thanks for right interpretation of it. It was also about the fact that there is nothing scary in bad intonation and that it does`t mean that a person incapable of developing good intonation.

I also agree with your point "Practice regulary"

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Fiddlerman
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April 23, 2014 - 11:12 am
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:) Thanks for all your ideas and tips Hurton. I enjoyed your post. I think it will benefit many.

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

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Xubinghui

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May 13, 2014 - 5:43 am
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Hurton said

Hello. I play violin for 3.5 month and I want to share a few observations about it. This information may be helpful to those who just have taken a violin in their hands.

1. Don`t keep in mind the idea that violin is one of the most difficult instruments.
It isn`t important. Don`t spend your time for such a kind of thinking.

2. Always plan your work!
It is more effective when you do it in writing.

3. Read books about violin and music!
It is easier to built your practical skills when you already have a theoretical model of it in your mind. For instance, Carl Flesch "the art of violin playing".

4. Don`t worry if your intonation is bad.
It will become better over time. Don`t try to understand the difference between B and C by any rational method. People, in general, aren`t able to count a number of HZ to identify notes. https://fiddlerman.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif Instead, try to "feel" them. Just hear! After a few time you will be able to put your fingers exactly on notes! Moreover, it will become better and better everyday.

5. Feel yourself relaxed when you are playing.
In case of any tension put aside your violin for 5 minutes.

Also, this scheme was very helpful for me:
https://fiddlerman.com/wp-content/forum-image-uploads/hurton/2014/04/db1404bb44a4.jpgImage Enlarger

Hi. Can i study Violin by myself?
I plan to watch violin video online and buy violin guide books to learn it myself at home. Now i 'm trying to learn the basic knowledge and making note from fiddlerman website and bookstore, other website etc. I'm still afraid that i cant learn it well because i didn't have any basis for music until now.
Wish to hear your voice and suggests. Thank you^^

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DanielB
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May 13, 2014 - 5:48 am
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Sure you can study it by yourself!

If you can take lessons with a teacher, it will almost always go easier/faster than doing it on your own.. But if you can't, sure you can do it yourself. Many of us here do.

"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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May 13, 2014 - 11:06 am
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I am amused at the excitement
Twinkle, twinkle can generate :)
Any average person has some musical ability.
But average stays average without the instruction of a good teacher.
Self-taught might be totally adequate for the "venue".
I find that the lack of a teacher is becoming painfully obvious but it's all in the "fine print" . The Ladies Auxiliary loves me but a few folks know better.
On the other hand I know I will never be satisfied.

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RockingLR33
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May 13, 2014 - 9:42 pm
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@Xubinghui

Of course you can! I'm in a place where i don't have a violin teacher here so I'm self taught. I just the critique corner here, by posting videos of my playing, so that the more expiranced players can help with any bad habits i'm forming! It really is possible, especially if money is also an issue and taking lessons is just to expensive. I've found it to be an amazingly fun journey! :D Good luck!!! You may never become "professional" being self taught, but then again if thats your goal anything is possible if enough time patience and will power are involved. I play just for myself so I'm very content!

Lead me, Follow me, or get out of my way!

             ~General George S. Patton

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 14, 2014 - 5:52 pm
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I've seen some incredible things from people who are self taught. It all depends on your motivation, dedication, available time and talent.
Good luck :)

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

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Xubinghui

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May 15, 2014 - 9:22 am
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Thank you @Fiddlerman :)
I wish i can play it well one day.
My motivation to study violin will be let violin becomes my interests in life.
Now i got lots of time to learn violin. I'm still searching for the book with Entry-Level. So i didn't start it yet. :( Can you recommend one book for me? Thank you!violin

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Xubinghui

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May 15, 2014 - 9:48 am
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Thank you for your encouragement. @ rockinglr33
It's a good idea. I will learn this way to avoid bad habits. :)
Yeah it's also very expensive to take a lesson at my hometown. I was upset When i went to Music Studio to consult for Violin by self learning, They told me that it's better to take a lesson to learn Violin, It's hard to learn it well by self taught. Violin it's the most difficult instrument; also it needs to be started when you was a kid..

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