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Honorary tenured advisor
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Do you simply pick the violin and try to play it? Or maybe you listen to it on Youtube to give you a general idea of the song before trying to play it? Maybe you take it one line of measures at the time and practice it until it's satisfactory before trying the second one?
How do you tackle those new songs? Curious to see the different approaches!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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I try to listen to it first. But that's not always possible due to everybody's different interpretations!
I also go measure by measure, humming the song out. Just to get a feel for it, then I attempt it!
In the past (and on a different instrument), I was able to sight read and play most stuff right off the bat. Now......not so much! LOL And especially not on violin! But I hope to get to that point again! Someday!
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
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First dozen times I try to play most of the notes and catch the high and lows, the runs and scale like quallities of it, the rythum, etc. by playing along hit & miss style, then try to locate a piece of music that follows the sound track pretty close then just practice my ass off. 
After a bit, (usually a very long time) I will record myself playing along with it and catch all the mistakes I can, work on those a while then listen in my ear only and play along while recording and see if it even sounds remotely like I thought it should, then put the violin away and go have another drink, fully realizing I'm a failure and won't make the lead violin position playing the concert in the park this summer.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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But a worthwhile try, Denny boy lol
I try to hear the song first. If I don't recognise it I got no chance.
Then I'll play it all the way thru a few times, then break it down into phases and practice each one til I have it right ( or as near to right as my newbie form will get me.
Then I go back to another piece of music I have tried to play and see if that one has improved.
Than I'll go find Dennis and see if he fancies a beer or three!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
Honorary advisor
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Great question! I try to listen to a recording of it first so I get the feeling of it. I usually listen many times before I attempt to play it. It helps me to be familiar with the piece. For instance, if I didn't already know Schubert's Ave Maria I would never be able to play it right just from the sheet music. And even though I know it, I'm still working on it.
I've learned so much from my mistakes that I've decided to make some more.
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Only the songs that I have memorised. But someone keepS moving the notes to a different position!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
Honorary tenured advisor
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After a bottle of good red wine I assure you all the notes *sounds* right where they belong! 
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Yup! All the right notes, but not neccessarily in the right order!!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
I look at the key and the time signature and start in. I'm not familiar with most of the little songs in my book anyway. Eventually, after a few run throughs, it starts to sound like a song. Ha. I probably should analyze a little more before playing. 
Fiddlestix said
Does anyone ever play by ear ?
I know Barry / Rebel Fiddler played by ear all the time.
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Fiddlestix said
Does anyone ever play by ear ?
Shh.....I actually, primarily play by ear! LOL Most times, I'll use the music as reference! I've actually started accumulating songs that I've figured out without music! They're the easy ones though. When I read music, the dying cat comes back out until I'm familiar with the song! 
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
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I only play songs I know (and like). Except, of course, for the silly little songs in my lesson book, but thankfully they're short so I just muddle through those.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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NoirVelours said
After a bottle of good red wine I assure you all the notes *sounds* right where they belong!
I like her way of thinking. 
you and me baby...
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
Fiddlestix said
Does anyone ever play by ear ?
Yep. Mostly when i'm too lazy to search the sheet music. I used to play only by ears earlier, but now i have a goal to learn the note reading, so even if i play something by ear i try to wright it down... Works bad though for now .
Pro advisor
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I listen to the song a whole bunch of times first and have always played by ear. Now with violin I listen to the song a whole bunch of times while looking at the sheet music then pick up the violin and play the scale that the song is in. Then finally start learning the song phrase by phrase. Then play along to an audio track and record it to hear how bad I seem to sound compared to what I think I'm hearing. It's a long boring way but it gets easier as I get better at playing...
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