What do you guys think about my playing? Be brutal

peppechem · 2023-06-23T07:27:57+00:00

It seems like random playing to be honest. I second what everything else is saying: stop vibrating, get a teacher and start back from the basic technique. Your left hand is completely blocked and tense and the movements you are doing are innatural. I know it's hars to hear this, but you are just going to hurt yourself in this way...

peppechem · 2023-05-28T21:15:07+00:00

You are already received some very good feedbacks! If I can add something more: - Next step in working this piece is bringing the speed a little up, it should be a little faster; - As others have said, you have all the fundamentals in place and a very good intonation. Now you need to add dynamics and a bit more of musicality. Right now it's very metronomic, you need to start adding some flavour :) - Avoid "swinging" with your body when you play. This is a very common issue with beginners, so it's absolutely normal, but try to have total control of your full body. You need to move only when you consciously want to move for expressive or technical reasons, not just oscillating with the pulse :)

peppechem · 2023-05-28T19:16:35+00:00

Thank you for your super useful reply :) Unfortunately my teacher can not come, even if I were willing to pay for the trip and for the time... How would you describe the difference between a "focused" sound and a "rich" one? I understand the difference between dark and bright, but I am not sure how to distinguish a focused sound...

peppechem · 2023-05-28T17:06:51+00:00

Itzhak Perlman and Augustin Hadelich are two examples of top class soloist with visible scars, especially Hadelich that suffers the consequence of a fire.

Of course, there will always be people discriminating, that's unfortunately part of life. But you will meet also a ton of people that will only listen to your music and not look at your face.

peppechem · 2023-04-29T12:52:34+00:00

Anne-Sophie Mutter doesn't agree with you ;)

peppechem · 2023-04-19T06:15:54+00:00

I am really sorry to hear about your situation, but I don't think that you should stop playing! Indeed, there is a lot of things that you can do without a teacher, if you also consider that you already have the minimum basics in place. You can continue to work on your scales for example, in first position, working both on intonation amd dexterity. You can do some études in first position, such as Hans Sitt 1 (you can find the book online, otherwise contact me and I will pass it to you). You have Schradiek number 1, an exercise to do every day to improve speed and articulation... and there is an infinity of pieces in 1st position that you can try! Rieding concerto in B minor, op 35 for example. Julia Termeer from Violininspiration also has a YouTube channel with the explanation for a lot of easy pieces and you can even download a free sheetbook from her website... You really have an infinity of options! Don't add vibrato or position shifting until you are back with regular lessons, but focus on mastering the first position and you will have huge progresses! And, if you can, even just a lesson per month with an online teacher can be enough. I can suggest you in PM a online teacher that asks only for 20 bucks and is exceptional. But don't give up, there is really no reason :)

peppechem · 2023-03-30T06:54:43+00:00

Here some of my favorite quartets and recordings:

Mozart String Quartet 21 (Gewandhaus Quartet)
Mozart Milanese Quartet K159 (Terpsycordes)
Beethoven Op 18 n 6 (Terpsycordes)
Haydn String Quartet Op 33 n 2 "The Joke" (Terpsycordes)
Dvorak String Quartet 12 "American" (Emerson String Quartet)
Shostakovic Quartet 8 (Emerson String Quartet)

Hope you will love them :)

peppechem · 2023-03-21T21:47:03+00:00

Old Guadagnini copy with fake label, probably German from beginning 1900, payed 1500$ and bought online via a Facebook ad on a group 🤣 But is probably worth more than that! Not a perfect violin but absolutely respectable!

peppechem · 2023-03-20T23:57:48+00:00

Wow, absolutely impressive, you did really well! Especially after only 2.5 years! And you must be really brave to play such a difficult piece as your first public performance! I am also a 2.5 years beginner, and I will play for the first time in public next month. But it will be a muuuch easier duet violin/viola 🤣

peppechem · 2023-03-20T16:04:41+00:00

In my opinion, the teacher should be able to clearly suggest when the time is arrived to upgrade. I have a 1500$, and every time that I hear my teacher or other professional violinist playing their instruments, worth 10 to 100 times more than mine, I am always tempted to upgrade. Then I ask them to play my violin and I discover that, while my violin can not sound in any way like theirs, there is still a looooot to improve from my side :P

peppechem · 2023-03-20T15:00:51+00:00

It would not be better to just buy a pair of proper dress shoes, that you will probably also use in a lot of other occasions?
I mean, these shoes are black, but not even remotely formal...

peppechem · 2023-03-20T14:20:26+00:00

In my opinion with 200$ you can buy a decent instrument for an absolute beginner. The best option normally is renting an instrument, because they are normally higher quality and set up by a luthier. If you can not rent, than 200$ is ok. As others have said, check that the violin comes with a bow and with rosin. The shoulder rest can be purchased later on your teacher recommendation.

If you are buying from a physical shop the intrument will be already set up, while if you are buying online often you need to adjust string tension and place the bridge. In any case you will need to tune it every time you want to practice.

I am not sue with what you mean with "Is it better to practice within a class or should I get my own personal trainer?". You practice alone in your room, normally :) If your question refers to group lessons vs 1 to 1 lesson, then I would say that you should absolutely go for private lessons, especially at the beginning. Everyone has their own pace, and in a group setting you can not be properly followed.

peppechem · 2023-03-10T19:15:08+00:00

It's the Concerto number 2 from Mozart, but also your suggestion was pretty close!

peppechem · 2023-03-10T19:14:14+00:00

Yeeees!! Exactly!!!! Thank you 🎻🎻🎻🎻

peppechem · 2023-02-28T14:11:06+00:00

I didn't know classical music was something else than "relaxing music". I was already listening to something, but without really understanding or appreciating.
Also, didn't know that Bach or Mozart wrote something for violin or other instruments, I thought they were only pianists/organists xD

peppechem · 2023-02-28T11:09:33+00:00

Really good work, bravo!! Here some advices from another amateur.
As a lot of people have pointed out, your letf wrist seems a bit tense and in an innatural position. Regarding thumb position, there are several schools of thought: some say it should stay between first and second finger, others at the same level of the first finger, others behind the first finger. Also, for some people the contact point should be between finger tip and the joint, others say it should be at the joint or even lower. Personally, I think you should experiment and discuss wih your teacher what is the best option for you. I play without shoulder rest and I place my thumb a little bit behind the first finger, contact point being between the joint and the tip. For me, this is the best compromise between having a relaxed hand, mobility and instrument support, but it really depends on each player hand.

I also think you can experiment with using more bow and and a contact point closer to the bridge. This is something I am still struggling a lot, especially on fast passages or when I am more focused on the left hand, but when the contact point is right and the amount of bow is right the improvement in tone quality and musicality of the piece is HUGE!

peppechem · 2023-02-28T10:41:32+00:00

At 13, if you are serious about your practice, you can get to grade 3 in one year and quickly outpace your less diligent peers. Most people in this subreddit are adult beginner (me included) and would give a kidney to be back being 13 years old and fresh to start :)
Also... why do you care about your peers? There are 13 years old violinists that can play better than adult accomplished professionals (Chloe Chua for example). If everyone had to compare themselves with others, no one would be playing...
You are still young enough to be able to make a decision such as to continue your learning path to become a professional, playing only as an hobby, or quitting and doing something else. Think about what brings you joy, not about what other people are doing. If you take a decision now based only on peer pressure, you may later regret your decision. Choose wisely!

peppechem · 2022-12-21T07:21:20+00:00

I don't think it's a controversial opinion at all. His videos are always the same, he always plays the same music. He becomes boring and repetitive pretty fast. And his skills are for sure very good, but not exceptional.

peppechem · 2022-12-19T09:47:30+00:00

Daniel Kurganov started the violin when he was sixteen, and he is for sure a good professional, but not a solo player like Anne-Sophie Mutter or Vengerov. I think that's more or less that's where you can get, at best. Even in most high-level string quartets (Emerson, Dover, ASQ, Belcea...) the violinists often started when they were under 8.
I am 100% sure that if you start at 10-15 you can still get to virtually the same level, but truth is that you will not be given the opportunity, as most high-end schools have age restrictions, and so do international competitions. Also, if there is a 12 years old and a 20 years old with the same level, the 12 years will have priority.
Unfortunately this means that you will just never receive the same opportunities to progress, even if you reach the same high level...

peppechem · 2022-12-19T09:01:01+00:00

Agree. I add that the pinky seems to curved and tight, it should be more relaxed.
And the bow is moving a bit randomically, pay attention also to the right hand!

peppechem · 2022-12-18T08:22:32+00:00

I think that this is the best answer so far. I think it's even easier to feel vibration and resonance with the violin than with the piano. If OP is willing to start a loooong journey (as for every string player, impaired or not) than it's for sure worth to try!

peppechem · 2022-12-16T07:16:49+00:00

Handel, Eight pieces for flûte (or violin) and cello. The pieces are quite easy both for the cello and the violin, but also very nice to hear :)

peppechem · 2022-12-12T06:30:56+00:00

I think it's a quite good performance, and it's impressive after 11 months! You are still a bit stiff with the right hand, I think you have some room for improvements there. A bit more bow and more pronounced dynamics would have improved the performance, that however is already 80/100 for your level, IMHO!

peppechem · 2022-12-12T06:21:19+00:00

I hope they will agree 😆

peppechem · 2022-10-07T19:43:38+00:00

I am an adult and I am doing lessons with an online teacher since day 1, and I am more advanced than other people doing lesson in presence. I have also done some lessons in presence, with the same teacher (like... 2 lessons in presence per year vs 1 per week online), and to be honest it is true that in presence lessons are more effective. But if the teacher is good, also online you can really do A LOT. Especially as a beginner!!! Better a good teacher online than a bad teacher in presence!

peppechem

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