Drunken bumble bees... That would be fun to watch. They are usually so graceful.

🐭

So, my husband fixed the shoulder rest on my Yamaha electric violin. I can now use it. I really distaste the sound of a violin while I am learning a piece and cringe. When I am learning a piece, it is really bad. With my electric, not plugged into anything, I can play it without it blaring. Then I can switch to my acoustic. So, I am also going to set a goal to learn a piece in my Suzuki that I had a lot of issues with when taking lessons. I haven't picked one yet. The Yamaha is much easier for me. I think maybe the overall construction of it is easier to handle. I will also work on my intonation more on my Yamaha. Well, that would go hand in hand with learning a piece because that includes intonation, but with Fiddlerman's exercises, also.

Thanks for bringing up the idea of a midway progress report, @wtw.

1. I have been working on my bowing for each instrument. I believe that I am making progress. I am trying to, and feel that I am, paying more attention to it when playing. I think it is making a difference. I still have a long way to go, though.

2. My intonation consistency is a hit and miss, like a 2 stroke John Deere Tractor! I have been very diligent working on that. It is getting better and I think it is because my bowing is getting a little better. The violin and viola consistency have moved up to about where my cello is. I still just lose it in the middle of a piece or scale and can't get it back without completely stopping and searching for that first finger first position on the string that started it all and run up from first finger to fourth finger. I have to do that a couple of times, then I can start over with whatever I was doing. There is no pattern to what causes it. Sometimes if I miss a spot I can just slide the finger to hit it, other times, I am so lost that I have to do what I described above.

The exception is my cello. I don't have this issue as much with my cello. I think the position of the cello is easier for me. My violin and viola give me the above issues.

3. Because of the issue I still have in first position, moving to the next position has not happened, except for my cello. I was exploring other positions when I had cello lessons. That has helped, but with my intonation improved on my cello, I think that has helped with different positions even more.

4. Recording myself still has issues. I have done a couple more videos. Not sure when i will do it again. I do, however, just set my phone down on my table and record my sound for my own use. There are a number of issues with recording myself, one is that it takes too much time away from just practicing and playing.

5. Vibrato: I started, or was introduced to vibrato in cello lessons, then it was just dropped. I have been improving it on my cello. I have been working on different speeds and making it stronger on my cello.  I have attempted it a few times on my viola and violin. Not very good. I need to get the intonation better before I tackle that, anyway. I do find the motion easier to do on the cello. 

🐭