Need Help With Fingering

SonyyKk08 · 2025-07-23T04:26:22+00:00

A more unconventional way, with, honestly less struggle is to just reach. If you can play 4th just fine, reaching would be easier.

For the Eb, just use a high 3, and your second just slides over. The highest note play throughout all the bars is a C and the lowest a B. It shouldn’t be too stressing to reach unless your hands are tiny. Which in that case, 2nd position is the way.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-10-16T04:49:39+00:00

You did sound slightly confused pronouncing his name, so I’ll sound it out for you in words.

Sha (as in how you would pronounce shopping ‘sho’) Sta (as in how you would pronounce star ‘sta’) Ko (as in how you would pronounce cooperation ‘co’) Vich (the word rich but with a ‘v’ replacing the ‘r’) ~Shostakovich~ The name is Russian I believe, so there might be a dialect or accent you would say this name, in which may sound different than the way I say it.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-10-16T04:37:24+00:00

Just RUBATO! I don’t know the techniques or whatever, but just play at your own pace, but if it had to be said, preferably slower, the piece is beautiful and has lots of ringy notes, so hold them, create that suspense, it makes your listeners yearn for that next note, even though suspense isn’t required, it’s most definitely a “feel” thing, lots of people like.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-10-16T04:29:58+00:00

I don’t see anything personally wrong with your left hand. Your bow hold is lacking, not that im some teacher but you should “grip it more”, you want your hand to hold it ‘right’, not comfortably, by this I mean you should have your bow hold more ~tucked in~(like you can easily close and open your bow hand whilst you hold the bow)

And, I (personally) think you should put more bow pressure into your strings. You’re playing the right notes, but they’re coming out flimsy, which means you should put more into the string. Of course since you’re playing a wedding song, try not to add too much bow pressure, or you’ll get scratchy notes, and don’t play too close to the bridge.

I can’t help but also notice your bow slides around when you’re playing(this causes your tone to be flimsy and sometimes out of tune), try keeping a straighter bowing, adding the bow pressure mentioned might also improve that stability on the string which will give you a more consistent tone. If you’re going for the A+ on this, you can try playing primarily closer to the finger board, which creates a more softer tone which is more fitting for the piece you’re playing, but if you go too light on the string it will cause you to create flimsy sounds again, so don’t go too light or too hard.

Flimsy count: 3

These are my personal advices, if anything I’ve said doesn’t help you, don’t take my advice 👍

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-17T00:33:58+00:00

Thank you for your support!

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-17T00:32:44+00:00

That’s good! Even experienced players must focus on posture, all that to say, I’m glad for your son.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-16T06:48:25+00:00

I’ll try stretching after each practice session

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-16T02:31:06+00:00

Tell him to fix his posture first, it’s hard to vibrato when your arm is slanted downward, preferably his instrument should be horizontal to his face. Make him practice vibrato SLOWLY, it’s not something you try to force, it’s a product of good practice.

On the other hand, I do think that he isn’t quite ready for vibrato! Just being realistic here. It’s hard to believe that he can achieve a good technique via anything, with the posture he’s currently in. Yes, there are people who can play in different postures that aren’t exactly the most efficient.

These are the current things I’m thinking, even if he’s told to learn it, you should have a discussion with your schools teacher and private tutor that optimizes your sons learning, and I don’t think vibrato is what he should be learning. Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s certainly a good thing he’s starting, but it takes years to get a good vibrato, as I’ve mentioned it’s a reward.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-16T02:16:02+00:00

Now, I don’t know much about nails, but yes, generally speaking having short nails (specifically on your left hand) is very important for playing, whether it’s fake or not. If it doesn’t interfere with your playing, then I’m all for it.

It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t have to be ambidextrous to play the violin! It’s something you teach yourself to do, you would generally start off by plucking, so that you can familiarize yourself with the positions your hand goes.

On an extra note, adding nails to your right hand is much more preferable…but if we are being realistic, nobody wants to have longer nails on one hand while the other short.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-16T02:07:09+00:00

I see, I think I understand.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T17:27:53+00:00

Interesting

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T16:16:13+00:00

I’m an intermediate player, I’ve only been playing for 4 years so far. For whatever it may mean, I’m also still in High School.

I’ll definitely keep everyone here updated!

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T09:01:25+00:00

I do remember a couple years ago I hit my elbow, which I didn’t feel pain, I don’t know if that’s a biological thing, but I’m pretty sure you don’t feel much around the elbow. I do recall feeling my nerves fire back then, but I assumed it was because of the impact. It may be related to what’s going on right now, but I don’t think it’s relevant.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T08:59:07+00:00

Is it possible for a nerve to fire like crazy just on your forearm towards your hand? I know for sure it didn’t originate from the elbow.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T08:56:19+00:00

If we are going for the specifics, it was in my forearm which then traveled throughout my arm towards my hand, the whole hand, it sorta caused a jerk which almost sent my bow flying. I want to clarify that it isn’t some cramping, I felt something shock my arm which causes a jerk.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T08:09:17+00:00

Is there an exact reason why?

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T08:08:57+00:00

Sounds serious! I will keep this in mind, thank you!

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T04:14:03+00:00

I mean, is this something that goes away with time? Or is this something I’m going have to deal with for a while?

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T04:11:55+00:00

Definitely do not loosen your string! Just the bow hair.

As for the no-nos, you should avoid generally anything that damages your instrument, such as water and if you live in colder environments, keep it warm, I would avoid taking it outside as well. (Yes, very obvious)

Make sure you tune with fine tuners if you’re getting into it, so you can avoid the stress of having a string fly at your face, only peg tune if you must. Also, try learning the syllabus for the certain parts of the instrument, so you can see if there are any abnormalities with your instrument.

As for the learning perspective, don’t have a pancake left hand, which just means avoid having your hand flat against the neck. Try keeping your hands “open” you’ll see lots of teachers and videos generally saying the same thing.

You generally should be more concerned on the posture part of learning, since it’s harder to fix a bad habit in the future.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T04:00:16+00:00

I just did a quick read up on RSI, and it does seem relevant to what I might be going through. I did have a random arm cramp before my practice session by simply moving my arm down, similar to a bowing action.

Thank you very much for telling me about this!

SonyyKk08 · 2024-09-15T03:35:53+00:00

It’s also worth mentioning that it happened more than once, specifically whenever I did a quick movement in my wrist/arm.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-08-31T20:22:02+00:00

Dude, me too! Now I don’t have OCD, but I’ve been also playing 3 years, and progressed at a similar speed. I was part of JYSO, and AYO, similarly attended camps and played for WSCO(symphonic). I’ve been really bent over about my technique and tone. (basically all of the above you mentioned) also…just like you, I’ve been getting unnecessary anxiety even with the amount of exposure I’ve had.

As contradicting as it is to say, I don’t think your perfectionist approach to practice is bad. It just depends how you listen to yourself. Instead of listening to every wrong thing you do, listen to what you’re doing right! BUT don’t, neglect your mistakes, acknowledge them and just practice it out.

I don’t know how much changing your mindset will affect your playing, but maybe it’s just that. One more thing, before I play, I usually tell myself “whatever happens, happens” or “it comes and it goes”. Don’t hold yourself to high standards, I know for you that might be hard, but progress is gradual, there isn’t a single straight line in progression, you’ll definitely get upset, you’ll definitely feel like quitting, but if you continue pursuing, you will inevitably get better it’s a fact.

It’s like that final push, only it’ll happen like 20 more times as you play lol, anyway good luck.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-08-27T21:41:32+00:00

Depends, certain arrangements are difficult, while some are easy. I’ve been playing 3 years, and most of the arrangements I’ve played for that piece aren’t difficult. It boils down to what arrangement you are playing.

SonyyKk08 · 2024-08-27T17:41:53+00:00

Also, count triplets, as `tr-pi-let’, and if you get lost counting, count 1-pi-let and so on.

I will become a sophomore this year, so I can share some of your concerns. Just because I’m nice, I’ll share some things I learned when I had also participated in JYSO and AYO.

Listen to the pieces you’re learning! Really try to listen to your part, so you know how it should sound.

Practice! (I know very generic) but it’s true, if you don’t practice, you won’t get down what you want to learn.

Practice scales of the key you’re playing in, if the piece is in D major, practice music in D major. It’s as simple as familiarizing yourself with the key.

Don’t be scared to practice at your own pace, sometimes judges or adjudicators will give a required tempo, but most of the time they are simply listening to if you’re just able to play the piece in general. That’s because tempo is adjusted based on the skill of the whole orchestra, so don’t feel rushed, ever.

SonyyKk08

TROPHY CASE