Fiddle Playing Technique

This video on a bowing technique for fiddling by Ian Walsh, is very good. You'll notice he holds the violin differently than a classically trained violinist. Please view my other posts for information on holding the violin. The bowing and rhythm he teaches is very important in playing fiddle music. Even if you are not into playing fiddle music, practicing this rhythm is helpful in developing bowing and rhythmic skills. If you're just starting to learn the violin or never tried to play fiddle music before, look for more fiddle lesson videos on YouTube. Learning different styles of music to play on the violin, can make it more fun, exciting, and motivate you to practice even more. Happy fiddling!

Violin Teaching - Suzuki or Traditional Method?

Every music teacher has probably been asked what they think of the Suzuki Method versus the traditional method of teaching music. I wrote a paper in 2003 about the Suzuki Method and how my research affirmed my thoughts about the Suzuki Method and the traditional method. Since I grew up learning the violin through the Suzuki method and have been a violin teacher for over 15 years, I have seen what methods work and which do not. I know both methods and consider my teaching method to be traditional. To read the paper I wrote on these two methods, click on the link below to go to my website and view the PDF there. I've included the bibliography, so that you can read those books and articles if you'd like more information. I hope you find this helpful in discovering which method you'd like to learn the violin or as a teacher, what method you'd like to teach. If you have any further questions, leave them below. Thanks!

http://www.musical-strings.com/violin-blog.html

Violin Vibrato Techniques

One of the most desired techniques to learn on the violin is called vibrato. Some of you might not know what that term means, but it's when you vibrate a note to make the pitch wobble, giving it a beautiful tone. All advanced violinists use this technique. There are two kinds of vibrato techniques - hand/wrist and arm. I will discuss the two types and recommend one of these techniques.

Professor V, on YouTube, has a video showing the hand/wrist technique. He does a great job at explaining this technique and the method to learning this type of vibrato. There are several disadvantages of this technique. First of all, this technique doesn't allow different speeds of vibrato. Your hand and wrist get into a fast vibrato grove and it's very difficult to make the vibrato wider. It is hard to control and make a slower movement to slow the vibrato down. (You want to have a variety of speeds with your vibrato, to adjust easily during different songs.) Faster notes require a fast vibrato while slow notes require a slower and wider vibrato. This type of vibrato doesn't allow that. Also, in this video, Professor V talks about the fact that once your in the correct hand position, you'll have trouble avoiding the first peg when using your first finger. This is very true and if a technique is preventing you from playing correctly, there must be another way that is better. Don't worry about placing the violin against the wall like he says because you should be holding the violin with your shoulder and chin.

I myself learned this type of technique, hand/wrist vibrato, and when I became more advanced, I realized that the other technique of arm vibrato was much better and really is the correct way to learn vibrato. It was hard to change techniques, but I'm so glad I had a really good teacher to help with the change.

Next, watch the video to the left and learn how to do arm vibrato. He does a good job of explaining this, but there are a few things I think need to be focused on. When your working on the motion of the finger rolling from the tip of the finger to the meatier part of the finger, focus on the first knuckle of your finger. That should be moving from being bent to being more straight. So when practicing this motion think "bent, flat, bent, flat", looking at that first knuckle. Again, don't put your violin again the wall, there is no need for that. Be sure to start out with slow movement. Once your consistent with the slow movement, add the rhythm in figure 1 to increase speed. (Professor V says to do doubles and triplets, but only an advanced musician would know if they are playing the rhythm even or not.) If you don't follow the rhythm I've given you, you might not have a vibrato that is even. Once you have the movement and the rhythm in figure 1 down, then play the rhythm with a metronome at a slow speed. Increase the metronome speed to continue to get a more even and controlled vibrato. 

FIGURE 1

The notes with the orange squares are when the pitch is lower (your finger is flattened and rocked back).

Once you feel comfortable with the above exercise, move on to this next exercise.

FIGURE 2

I hope this information was very helpful and points you in the right direction for have the best vibrato and therefore the most beautiful violin playing.

Learn the Violin through "Violin Master Pro"

Have you ever wanted to learn the violin? Maybe you just haven't had the time or wanted to commit to weekly lessons. Do you have a child that is interested but you don't know where to start? This program is geared for adults but I think that middle school aged kids and up would be able to follow the lessons easily. Younger children could also learn, but would need help from a parent. The explanations and demonstrations might be harder for a younger child. With sports and other activities through school, there might not be time to add violin lessons. You can set time aside after dinner to do the violin lessons. This would be a great way to get a child started on the violin and great to connect parent and child in a learning experience. 

You'll be learning from the professional violinist Eric Lewis through his "Violin Master Pro" program. View this link to get a feel for how he teaches and if he'd be a good match for you. First Violin Lesson by Eric Lewis on YouTube. His teaching is very clear and easy to understand. You may have to consider whether you can learn by example and following instructions via video, because it may be hard for some to learn that way. I think the price point for these lessons is extremely reasonable. I am a teacher and would almost charge for one lesson, what the cost is for Eric Lewis' WHOLE PROGRAM. Learning an instrument through a video series, allows you plenty of time to go at your speed, repeat lessons, and go through the lessons when you have time. Eric doesn't just limit you to only playing classical music. You'll learn jazz, rock, country, and others. There is a right way to be trained to play the violin. Once you learn how to play correctly, you can play any type of music you want. The style of music doesn't determine the way you play.

When I was a young child, I really enjoyed fiddle music and country, so I played and practiced that music along with my weekly lesson music. That kept my interest and love of the violin. A little variety made it more exciting. Now, I love to play all kinds of music. I love the fact that Eric introduces and teaches other styles of music to help more people reach their violin playing goal. For more information and to download the program click here http://8d290evpp9rr-5wqmez30glj94.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=VLNMASTERPRO or click the ad on right side bar of this blog. I hope this helpful! 

Best wishes learning the violin!

Violin Spiccato and the Difference Between Staccato

Staccato and spiccato are two techniques used on the violin and other bowed stringed instruments. These techniques are made by using the bow in such a way that produces these sounds.

Staccato is using a short quick bow stroke to make the note sound short. You keep your bow on the string, pull down or up quickly and stop between each note. The notation for this technique is a dot on top of the note.

Spiccato is a short note also, but is made by keeping the bow in about the same spot and hitting the string with your bow. You'll make a V-shape with your bow. The notation for this technique is the same for the staccato. You'll need to learn when is the best time to use it through your private teacher. It depends on the type of song. Some songs might have the word spiccato written above the notes.

If you have any specific questions about this, please leave a post below or e-mail me at contact.musicalstrings@gmail.com.

The video below is a great way to get started and learn these techniques. Happy Spiccatoing!

Magic Fiddle violin app

One new app for ipad is Magic Fiddle. This is a very interesting concept. To learn more about the details, click here to view an article. You can only see what it's like by viewing the video below.

As you can tell, it doesn't sound like a real violin, but an electronic violin. I realize that this could seem fun to some people, and just to try it for technology advancement sake, is interesting to me. Although, I can't see playing any fast songs using this app. The two are not always together and not every note is accurately in tune. Playing with others in a group would be very difficult.

If you'd like to learn the violin, I would suggest spending time learning the real violin and not on this app. You'll have a better sound, more control of the sound, play using techniques that give the violin variety and uniqueness, can play in a group, and play accurate notes. 

I think this app is a fun idea to draw more people into music and playing instruments. 

Violin Legato Bowing Technique

I was looking for a good video to show the legato violin technique. The legato technique is the way you move the bow to make the sound smooth when changing bow directions. When you're beginning to learn the violin, you'll be bowing with a little stop between the bow changes. Later you'll learn this legato technique to make the sound more flowing (without the stop). The video below shows a lot of detail and has some great examples that might help you understand this technique. 

Reading Music for the Violin

Learning how to read music is one of the first steps in learning how to play the violin. 

If you'd like to learn how to read music fast, click on this link to order "How Anyone Can Learn to Read Music in Just 7 Days". This is a great program! Maybe you've forgotten how to read music and just need a refresher course. If you've been given a violin and just never had the time to start learning, you can start today and learn very quickly through this program. You could spend more money learning how to read music from lessons from a violin teacher. Don't feel like spending time searching for a local violin teacher? Then learn in the comfort of your own home!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

There are two great workbooks I'd recommend for learning to read music - Workbook for Strings Book 1 and Book 2. These two books are geared for the young beginner. You'll learn notes, where the notes are on the violin, and other important musical terms. 

To shop for this book through Google, click here.

Holding the Violin Bow

Figure 1

I've been a violin teacher for over 15 years and have learned many things that work and other things that don't work for teaching students. One thing that is often taught wrong at the beginning is the bow grip. Teachers think that it is easier for the very young students, younger than 8 or 9, to place their thumb outside of the bow on the flat part of the frog. The orange arrow, in figure one, shows where the thumb would be placed.

Figure 2

My question is why teach something incorrect and have to reteach it later? Younger kids, even the really little, can handle placing their thumb inside the frog. See the orange arrow in figure 2. 

If you'd like detailed instruction on how to properly hold the bow, check out this link to Itzhak Perlman's youtube video by clicking here. 

Shar Music Sale

Shar Music has a sale on blemished and previously used instruments including violins. Click here to check it out. They also have free shipping with a purchase over $20.

The violins they have on sale are Hoffmann, Lamberti, and Fischer. These are beginner violins and are priced for their quality. These are not going to have the greatest sound, but are great for young students just beginning. I would suggest the Lamberti because it will have better sound, but you'll have to pay a bit more.

Happy Violin Shopping!

The Importance of Scales

I ran across this blog post about practicing scales. Click here to view. While reading these posts, I realized that it's split pretty evenly between those who think scales are not important and those who think scales are important. As a teacher for over 15 years, I've noticed the importance of scales. When you are learning the violin, it is very necessary to practice the notes that you'll be playing. You obviously need to learn where to put your finger for each note and the best way to practice that is with scales. (Young beginners can learn the notes one by one instead of using a scale right away. Most teaching books have it set up that way. Sections of a scale, the 3 or 4 notes on each string, are introduced. Scales are added later.) Scales train your ear so you can hear if the note is incorrect. Beginners start with simple scales and work their way up. Learning 3 octave major and all the minor scales, is pretty advanced and once perfected, one can move on to the Flesh Scale System. Some etude books incorporate scales in the lessons, which I think is great. That way you're teaching your ear the sound and key, before learning the etude exercise or song.

Hope you have a great day and practice those scales!

New Stadivarius Violins?

Many of you might not know about what I'm blogging about today. I just recently ran across some articles about a new scientific way to make the wood that Stradivarius used for his violins. If you click here you can read the full article from Science Daily. They call this mycowood. The scientists that figured this out say that they should be able to develop this so that many others can have the opportunity to play a violin as good as a Stradivarius. Other articles say about the same thing. One article mentioned that if a cheap violin is treated with this fungus, it may still not have the sound of the Stradivarius due to other factors (type of wood and age, strings, climate conditions, etc.)

Personally I think this is an interesting idea. If these scientists can work on this idea, I think it would be great for some violins to have a better quality. As a teacher, I've heard many of the beginner violins and it's not a great way to learn. For most students, the quality of the instrument doesn't matter as much. As students progress, some notice the quality of the violin. Sometimes it is the technique of the student that is creating a not so nice sound, but many times it is the quality of the instrument. I do recall one student being frustrated with his instrument because he couldn't get a good sound out of it. I do know there are other types of violins that have a great sound and are not Strads. My violin is an "Emmanuel Fabrica" from the Guarneri line. Click here to learn more about Guarneri violins from Wikipedia.

Would love to hear other's input on all this information. Thanks!

Violin for Christmas?

Did you get a violin for Christmas? Have you had a violin but never had the motivation to learn how to play it? No matter the age, anyone can learn the violin. Violin Master Pro is a great program to learn the violin. You'll learn from the professional violinist Eric Lewis. View this link to get a feel for how he teaches and if he'd be a good match for you. First Violin Lesson by Eric Lewis on YouTube. His teaching is very clear and easy to understand. You may have to consider whether you can learn by example and following instructions via video, because it may be hard for some to learn that way. I think the price point for these lessons is extremely reasonable. I am a teacher and would almost charge for one lesson, what the cost is for Eric Lewis' WHOLE PROGRAM. Learning an instrument through a video series, allows you plenty of time to go at your speed, repeat lessons, and go through the lessons when you have time. Eric doesn't just limit you to only playing classical music. You'll learn jazz, rock, country, and others. There is a right way to be trained to play the violin. The style of music doesn't determine the way you play. Once you learn how to play correctly, you can play any type of music you want. When I was a young child, I really enjoyed fiddle music and country, so I played and practiced that music along with my weekly lesson music. That kept my interest and love of the violin. A little variety made it more exciting. I love the fact that Eric introduces and teaches other styles of music to help more people reach their violin playing goal. For more information and to download the program click here http://8d290evpp9rr-5wqmez30glj94.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=VLNMASTERPRO or click the ad on right side bar of this blog. I hope this helpful! Best wishes learning the violin!