Hiya,

I just wanted to add for everyone who commented on this thread that my Gliga Genial 1 arrived today. I have not played it at all, except for plucking it a bit when I was practising holding it and am going to wait until I've seen my teacher before I start, although I've got some music books ordered to start taking a look at.

The Violin Company have set the violin up ready to play and it is in tune, as far as I can tell, but I'm unclear despite everything I've read and watched on how to tighten the bow properly and can't get the violin very comfortable under my chin. I am very skinny and bony around my shoulders which could be a reason and I'm very out of practice. When I was younger, my teacher put a sponge on my chinrest with elastic round it and I think a shoulder rest will help me but my teacher will know best. It's quite a light violin and once I have been shown, I think it will be fine.

Although I can't comment on the sound yet, I'm very pleased with the violin itself and the accessories. It's a lovely colour, nicer than in the photos well set up and I really like the bow. The case is gorgeous too. Purple is my favourite colour. I could add another bow if I wanted. There's a velcro strap for the neck of the violin and a gorgeous violin blanket, which is an unexpected plus. They put a Hidersine rosin in the compartment which is just like I remember. The outer pocket could be bigger but that's all I would change. They included a sheet of advice on caring for the violin and a duster as well.

I'll let you all know how I get on once I start playing. I hope to start around the end of July. The next two weeks are too busy for me with my sister's wedding.

Thanks for all your help with the decision. The books I've ordered are Fiddle Time Joggers and Stepping Stones, but I particularly want the Joggers book because I like the tunes in it.

Photo below.

Hi!

Thank you both!  I have been practicing every day and am getting better. My bowing is not as scratchy as it was most of the time and my hold is improving, though still quite clumsy. My sound is also getting better. The biggest difficulty I have with the bow right now is changing strings cleanly without catching other strings, lots of room to improve here and my speed too. I can't play fast enough for some pieces yet.

Mad_Wed said
If You have a choice between speed and accuracy - choose the second! Speed will come by itself, accuracy - won't =) Speed without it is a mess.

I still have problems with string crossing too either. Good luck for both of us on it!

Thank you! Great advice. It's been about three weeks now since I started playing and I'm pleased with how things are going. My speed is not too bad on pieces I know now although I agree, accuracy is much more important. Good luck to you too! I'm glad I'm not the only one to struggle with string crossing.

Now I'm playing 1st finger pieces, I've found to my surprise that it's not the fingering I struggle with, but bowing on the right string at the same time. Because my left hand is generally useless and I rely on my right for everything, I expected it to be the other way round. But my bowing seems to go to pieces when my fingering is fine. I've started a 2nd finger piece I love but I can't manage the bowing as well as the fingering so it's going to take time to be able to play it properly.

Getting a decent sound out of the E string is my other big issue at the moment, especially when there is one short E in the middle of other notes. The bow seems to slip off it a lot more, even when it's gripping the other strings well and sometimes I catch it with the edge of my left hand so there's barely any noise or it's scratchy.

All in all though, very happy. Thanks for the advice and support.

Thanks Mad_Wed. I still have trouble with the E string but it's getting better. I didn't put the strings on. The violin was set up for me and they're a good brand, Corelli. It's all my technique I think although my teacher is great and we're doing a lot of work on my bowing, making it straighter and bowing from my elbow rather than my shoulder. The more I play, the more I get it right. Lack of rosin was probably a reason too but I'm using more now.