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zpilot said
I'm referring to the practice mutes; both the rubber and metal ones. I think you probably don't mind them because you already have a well developed technique. Whereas a beginning student like myself needs the actual feedback from the instrument to refine what does and dose not work.
I've actually never used a practice mute before. I've been in the room with other people using both rubber and metal practice mutes (and that's how I get the impression that the rubber ones are just fine for reducing volume), but I don't own one myself. I only use a rubber orchestral mute for performance purposes.
I was mostly wondering if the people saying the rubber ones don't reduce volume enough were saying it because they'd been using orchestral mutes.
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AndrewH said
I was mostly wondering if the people saying the rubber ones don't reduce volume enough were saying it because they'd been using orchestral mutes.
The rubber mute I have is a fat practice mute. It'll muffle the sound, make it a bit nasal sounding, but nothing compared to the heavy metal one my teacher let me borrow.
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Fiddlerman said
Wow everyone. I'm so glad that you guys are tough. You have to be bigger than anyone or anyones critique. Learning to play the violin can be compared to building a house. Just tell your spouses, family, friends, enemies..... that it takes time to build a house. You have to start with the foundation and you work on the finishings at the very end. If they can't deal with you learning and are forced to hear you because you live under the same roof, maybe a heavy metal practice mute or electric violin is a good compromise.....Ripton, I've heard you play and you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
@Cearbhael - Thanks for your kindness but let's face it, he's got the looks and the chops.
I don't blame your sister at all. At least she likes something coming from a violin. Too bad she doesn't encourage you though. She may be jealous.
I like what David Garrett is doing for the reputation of the violin and violinists.
@Fiddlerman Well, yea he has the looks and chops, and YES, he is doing a lot for the reputation of violins and violinists. He also is exposing people like my sister to Vivaldi etc. BUT, I find it very hard to take when I want her to listen to something you have done on video and she cuts me off with a “David Garrett is the ONLY violinist I will listen too”! It is so close minded. She never used to be so blunt and hardheaded! But she no longer listens to anything I say unless it is something she is interested in. My interests no longer matter. As I said earlier, at least I have this list to surround myself with positive support! I only wish I could share my joy for the violin with my sis.
"Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one".- Albert Einstein
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Cearbhael said
@Fiddlerman Well, yea he has the looks and chops, and YES, he is doing a lot for the reputation of violins and violinists. He also is exposing people like my sister to Vivaldi etc. BUT, I find it very hard to take when I want her to listen to something you have done on video and she cuts me off with a “David Garrett is the ONLY violinist I will listen too”! It is so close minded. She never used to be so blunt and hardheaded! But she no longer listens to anything I say unless it is something she is interested in. My interests no longer matter. As I said earlier, at least I have this list to surround myself with positive support! I only wish I could share my joy for the violin with my sis.
I think that this is more common than you may imagine. My kids are the same way. They are a bit hard on each other.
It could change over time. Maybe she'll just surprise you someday and take up the violin herself. Perhaps when she comes to visit, you can put on some cool violin or fiddle music in the background. What kind of music does she normally listen to?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman She likes The Beatles, other 60’s music she loved and country! David Garrett was a total surprise and tells me that in secret, she was researching violinists. She plays him for me while we go to her new home in Northern MN. That is a nod to placate me, I have to admit, and I do love “Somewhere” from West Side Story”. You might be right about her being jealous, but she claims she wants to learn the accordion. I gave her my mother’s accordion, since I have my flute and my grandfather’s violin. She asked for it, and I felt it would be good for her to learn music.
PS: I do have 3 CDs of the Cheiftains. Excellent Irish music, Fiddle, Penny Whistle, and all!
"Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one".- Albert Einstein
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Ahhhh - I do read most posts but only manage to comment on a few - Ahhhh "The Chieftains" Yesss !!!! !!!!
I somewhat hesitate to post this - it is probably 20 mins or so long - but not only featuring The Chieftains somewhere in the mix - but also my Scottish brothers Phil and Aly - and instruments beyond counting - harp, fiddle, whistle, low-whistle, guitar, mando, sax (yes), bagpipes, ohhh whatever - and all the rest... great party...
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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LOL @BillyG Do you know that was the very song I was listening to as I read your post? It is on pause right now! Glad I am not the only fan of The Chieftains! I wonder how many people realise that there is an Irish drum, Irish flute, Irish Harp and Irish bag pipe? I would love to have an Irish flute but the costs are discouraging! Great video!!
"Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one".- Albert Einstein
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I'm a bit late with advice here, but I just want to say that if you haven't talked to your wife about how her laughing about your playing makes you feel, you should try have a discussion with her about it. I personally haven't had anyone make me feel bad for playing my instruments, but have been made fun of for many, many other things, so I know it's very discouraging when someone is making you feel bad about what you like to do.
As many others have said, you are playing for you. Not anyone else. Good luck, I hope you will be able to find a solution that will let you play confidently.
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@Ripton
1. I have heard you play and it is quite nice.
You are not being sensitive. She needs to knock it off. However it sounds like she isn't going to.
So you have to get the gumption to realize that her laughter is her thing... it really had nothing to do with your playing and she will have to figure that issue out. Silly woman.. I'd kill to have you playing and practicing around me knowing that your viola sounds so nice and it is only going to get better from her on out. (it's not a very good example for your girl... she is the one who sang on Street Jelly...or did she play something..) Regardless... the snickering or laughing is a form of Bullying.
When I was 46 and I just learned to play... I got out my violin in front of my mom and I screeched out a song... and my mom started laughing her ..... off....
I kinda just stopped and laughed also..
Now I just won't play for her. Too many others ask me to play even in my mediocre state....
Keep on playing Ripton... you got style...and an beautiful instrument.
Keep on playing.... You are AWESOME.
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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@Ripton I agree with everyone here. She needs to knock it off. I also think that the people closest to us are able to hurt us the most when it comes to practicing. I have a hard time playing in front of my husband. Not because he has ever laughed at me (thankfully) but the devastation it would cause if he did. Please keep playing! I recently played with the concert master of our local symphony. I let her know I was a beginner and really intimidated. It ended up being some of the best practice I have ever had. That experience was less terrifying than playing for my family.
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At some point you need to just tell draw a line and stick to it. Otherwise... I don't think people say and do these things because you're not good enough. That's just an excuse for some other issue.
Next weekend I'm flying to Houston to visit my parents for the holidays. I'm always nervous about this because they literally dislike all music as far as I can tell. (I think they're both among the 3% of the population with musical anhedonia.) Whether it's Mozart or Metallica, it's equally irritating to them, and that's when I'm listening to professional recordings, never mind playing. They were supportive when I took piano lessons growing up, and even when I started self-teaching violin as a high school senior, but then they were surprised to hear that I continued playing in college because they really didn't see a point to music beyond college applications. They seem to understand that some people enjoy listening to music, but seem perplexed by the idea that I'm one of those people who enjoy music.
I've brought my viola on most visits anyway, because there's usually stuff I need to practice for when I get back to California. They complain about the "noise," but it's turned into a sort-of-negotiated arrangement where I practice half an hour a day while I'm there, and no more.
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Everyone wants to be treated with kindness, respect, compassion, etc., so I'm sorry you've experienced these things, and hope you can discuss and work through these issues.
I've also been interested in the discussion of mutes here. I have very sensitive ears that can hurt from playing, so I've been using an earplug in the left ear. I don't like using the earplug, and I had a tourte orchestral mute, that didn't do much. After seeing this thread, I got the rubber ultra (thick) mute, and that really helps a lot (I don't need the earplug anymore). I'm curious about the metal mute, so I have an Otto Musica Artino mute on order.
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I have a slightly funny / sad story that fits this subject..
So my dad mentioned he used to have a violin as well, waaaay back, but he never actually played (belonged to his dad before). So he told me the story of how he doesn't have it anymore.
Many many years ago he and some of his friends were drinking at a hotel restaurant and one of his friends brought his violin and was playing there. One of the guys wanted to play a cruel joke on him, so he went there and put a piece of paper money between the hairs of his bow... The violinist then went closer to him and started playing even louder in his ears... then the guy was like... "I didn't give that to you so you come and play for me... I gave it so you stop playing completely" then started laughing (lol).
After that the violinist literally lost it... and went into rage, smashing his violin to tiny bits (ouch). Needless to say he needed another violin afterwards and since my dad had one, which he never used.. he traded it to that guy for a set of high quality precision drawing pens which my dad needed (he's a construction engineer and this was before the age of computers haha).
That shows how easily you can offend someone when it comes to ridiculing a talent they have, be it music or other stuff.
On a side note, my dad feels sorry for trading his violin ever since, which is probably why he's more supportive of me wanting to learn how to play it, than he was with any other instrument I ever picked up.. (Basically he disregarded every one of my music related hobbies as 'nonsense' before and now he actually helped me get this bench-made violin I have, in fact it was his idea since I simply wanted to order a Stentor Conservatoire online 
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@Ferenc Simon, that is a slightly funny/sad story. I wonder if there's any chance you could track down your dad's violin? It might still be out there somewhere, although maybe not if the violinist who got it is prone to smashing them!
@Ripton, keep at it! My husband says my playing gives him a headache, but he would never laugh at me and overall is very tolerant of my playing. Occasionally, he even says that I am getting better. Your wife is being pretty rude and you need to stand your ground and let her know that it is not acceptable. Don't give up.
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CharlieStrings said
@Ferenc Simon, that is a slightly funny/sad story. I wonder if there's any chance you could track down your dad's violin? It might still be out there somewhere, although maybe not if the violinist who got it is prone to smashing them!
Haha, yeah, I'm not sure I would have given a violin to someone who just broke theirs in a tantrum, haha.
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Interesting. There you have it Ripton, we won't allow you to quit. Buy your wife some earplugs.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Again, thanks all. I will continue to ignore her jest. Now if I can get my workshop/studio above 40..... lol
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Catching up on posts; I feel for you having to go through this @Ripton; sure hope you can find a solution. In the meantime, how about a heater for your shop? I wish I had a workshop/studio!
My ex-husband was so critical and belittling of me it has unfortunately had a lasting effect on me., negatively. I did not play the fiddle back then though. I am so glad I can play whenever I want in my own house, without being judged. Although when I showed a friend a video, he laughed his head off, but mostly at my hair 'cause it was messy lol. That kind of good natured joking is OK, and I had to laugh too.
@Cearbhael my sister is the same way, and we are 1 year apart. I find it is getting worse not better as we get older. I always have to listen to her music when she comes out, (a whole week) but she won't listen to one tune I like. Sorry but listening to Melanie's "The id goes marching on" makes my ears bleed.
My parents love fiddle music, and I have left my first fiddle at their home, but I just can't play it anymore! sounds awful.
BTW I also love the Chieftains and have a couple of their CD's from way back.
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They laughed at Mickey too, but then applauded later. Hope you get applause and support soon.
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Cool video.
Funny how he tunes the D and G string using the E string peg and it's perfect afterwards. Also, cool how they make the strings move.
Its funny how they make his hand move so much when he vibrates at times.
The best part is how he makes himself cry. LOL
Never thought about the fact that Mickey had hair either.
Wonder who the violinists really was. They never get credit. LOL
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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