micra said

hi there!  a bit shy to post, being new myself, but on the other hand, i'm new to lessons too, and fresh in my mind is the best thing i discovered on the first one i had: cello drones!

want to train your ear and acquire muscle memory?  i both tune my violin and play scales and sometimes even difficult songs with the appropriate cello drone playing in the background.  you will hear it, when you hit a wrong note. i got the album off iTunes, you can get them probably anywhere tho', and play them on your phone or computer or thru your computer on an amp, whatever works best.

cello drones

just throwing this out there.  i'm sure lots of folks have learned using "taped-on frets", and maybe have never played a scale.  i think there's a better way- and it sounds like you may be reaching that conclusion, too.  every practice for me starts with scales, maybe like you that's just the piano player in me!

think positive!  you're on your way!  good luck  

Hi! Don't feel too shy to post, I welcome any and all advice!  I like the idea of cello drones and will look I to it this weekend when I get a bit of free time.    I too think there's a better way, I've found with the tapes this last week my eyes keep getting drawn to my fingers instead of the music and I lose my place, it's distracting.  

Ive vey been playing again for almost 2 years off and on (just recently getting more serious about it) and I haven't had tape that whole time, I was in tune for the most part,  my electric doesn't have tapes and won't have tapes so at least there's that.  I can practice on the untapped electric and leave the tapes on the acoustic for lessons for a while, then mention taking them off or just take them off myself.   Yes, I quite like scales, I'll be doing more arpeggios too soon as I find my scale book.

Good news!  The lesson tonight went about ten times better than last week.  I felt way more comfortable, there was minimal small talk, and she restricted it to when I was getting ready and then packing up at the end, much better.  I got the minuet I worked on last week ticked off and started a second one, did some third position work too . All in all much better!  She also had some helpful hints for my left hand position, and my bow hand must have improved since last week because it wasn't mentioned at all.  I was in tune!  My counting was a little off in places and she suggested I get a metronome to practice with which I've been meaning to do anyway.  

Next practice I'll video the little minuet, it's quite sweet.  Maybe also the new one for next week. 

ElisaDalViolin said
Glad to hear it misha! First lessons can be a bit awkward but it's perfectly normal. I'm happy for you.

Looking forward to see more of your progress 

Thanks!  I thought it might be that's why I decided to take a few so we could get used to each other a bit.

I haven't had much time to practice this week, school work is getting the better of me.

this is the minuet that was ticked off last week in the lesson

http://youtu.be/iW1TCCotz3E

Im working on minuet 2 but it's still a bit jumbled in the middle.  

ElisaDalViolin said
My favourite minuet among the three

You seem a lot more confident! I really liked your bow arm, it moves more freely.

Good work, mischa! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for the feedback!  I like that minuet, the second has a good tune but something about the middle is messing me up, maybe the timing.  

I've been working on the bow arm/hand for a while, those exercises from sevcik's bowing techniques really helped.

@fiddlerman, i find getting a piece right all the way through very tough, trying to play without making at least one mistake is so hard!  I've been playing through book 2 and the tunes in the second half of the book are pretty challenging to play all the way through so i might suggest we start half way through.  Book 3 starts with vibrato stuff and while i do need to learn it i still think i'm too tense and need a bit more loosening up and confidence before i tackle it.

@coolpinkone, Thanks!  I like those minuets too, they're fun to play especially playing all three in a row one after another.

Fiddlerman said
You really don't need to rush vibrato. When you feel more relaxed you can start working on that. Or, every day at the end of your practice session, place your fingers on their tips, erect, and pull your forearm back slowly till your fingertips flatten and back again. Do that slowly without any intent of speeding it up until it flows nicely by itself. You can also use your wrist or hand but it's easier IMAO to start with your arm/elbow at first.

Oh i am definitely not ready to rush into it, i'd rather be much more relaxed, i feel like if i started now i'd either develop bad habits trying to force it or it just would be a mad old mess.  I might try to incorporate a few minutes at the end of a practice a few times a week if i'm feeling relaxed and have had a good session, i'll start with the elbow like you suggest, that's a good idea.  The teacher hasn't mentioned it again so i think she's realized i'm not comfortable enough for that yet.

It was definitely the right time for me to get a teacher, I feel like I'm improving.  I being forced to actually count the notes and get them right instead of making it up as I went along and playing by ear.  I'm also feeling a lot more confident about the whole thing now.  Scales a coming along,even third position is staring to take shape, it's going to take a while to get my head around the notes being played In a different place than I'm used to but at least it's coming.

im working on a gavotte from suzuki book 2, been on it a few weeks because I can't seem to get the bowing right, my hand wants to add more slurs than are written, my teacher broke it down In to parts to play slowly and really think about the bowing.  It's helping alot.

im also going to give playing In the next project a shot, all my video taking for practice will pay off.