Fiddlerman said:

Now let's talk about Pky's progress. How's it going with your playing Pky?
(my attempt to get us back on track. LOL)

Not doing very well, running down of juice on practicing and got frustrated with my intonation and moving arms that wouldn't listen to me, so I haven't done much practicing, no new songs either. I mainly practice what my daughter is practicing.  

myguitarnow said:

pky? Don't give up!!! Lots of beginners here. Just play your open strings to get to playing from your elbow instead of your shoulder. Stay on one string until you can feel the right position where your shoulder feels comfortable then move on to the next string and see how you need to get your shoulder in place to make it comfortable to bow from the elbow. Keep it smooth man! Let your wrist bend and don't think mechanical. 

MGN, Thank you so much for your support. I'm not giving up yet. I just went through a phase when I had some low time on practice. I still try to practice everyday, although I had skipped the last two days because when it's my practice time, I could hardly keep my eyes open.

Will your daughters teacher let you sit in on her lessons? Ya never know if maybe is isn't a very good teacher too? 

Yes, I have been sitting in all her lessons. She is a very nice lady, she explains well, and knows when to nudge the children. She even tried to correct my postures last night.

And like Mad Wed said use your ears for intonation (welcome Mad Wed by the way).

My problem is I could here it is out, but every time my fingers would not land on the same spot.

Play the Fiddlerman games for intonation to hear those notes in your head. You can't expect the learn a new instrument by just playing songs. It takes a lot of discipline but know down the road you will be jamin'

I don't just play songs, but I have the urge to learn to play songs, it's much more fun to play songs than to practice etudes, scales, etc. I have to admit that.

Did you get the First Violin Lessons by Mel Bay which includes a DVD and CD with your CVN 500. It will really help I think because you can play along to it and should help with intonation.

I don't have that book, but I ordered one last week and it hasn't arrived yet.

Mad_Wed said:

Good work, pky!  

Maybe i will repeat somebody.. but about your famous left pinky: try to make it more rounded - it will prevent the double-jointedness in future.

About tapes. I've only seen them in i-net. Of course i've met not too many violinist, but those who i know never used them . My friend's daughter (was 6 years old, when begun playing violin) never has something like that too. Our teachers don't use any marks on fingerboard.

Take them off! Use your ears! The sooner you do that - the sooner you will be able to play in tune. If one use the orthopedic boots without a necessary he can hardly feel comfortable in ordinary shoes..

Thanks and welcome Med_wed! I don't have tapes on my violin, my daughter does. I did not take hers off because her teacher put them on. She does not really look at them any way. Sometimes I have her practice with her eyes close so she could concentrate on listening to the tones.