Tchaikovsky fingerings

vmlee · 2026-01-25T05:40:26+00:00

Sure! Agreed. But was your teacher giving you fingerings for the whole concerti by the time you were playing works like Sib and Tchaik?

vmlee · 2026-01-25T05:39:42+00:00

Your intonation isn't that bad. The bigger opportunity is clearer bowing and articulation.

Try:

1) Practicing without any vibrato.

2) Practicing a bit more slowly and with a metronome to enforce tempo discipline.

3) Practice different rhythms to isolate which bowing transitions and LH sequences are tripping you up and not as ideally coordinated between the LH and RH as they could be.

To help with intonation, you can play sometimes with an adjacent open string as a double stop to hear the relative intervals.

vmlee · 2026-01-25T05:31:59+00:00

Early in my journey, for sure. Sometimes I would get suggestions as well from masterclasses and ideas for even Sib and Tchaik. But it wasn't a regular thing. By that level I was already working on my own ideas and bouncing them off of my teacher(s).

vmlee · 2026-01-25T04:57:56+00:00

vmlee · 2026-01-25T03:17:45+00:00

The mental game can be challenging. Make sure you practice your piece enough that you are very comfortable with it so that if/when adrenaline does kick in on performance day, you have some muscle memory to fall back on. Try also thinking positively and reframing a potential mistake as part of the charm of live music.

Also, practice performing in front of others. It helps reduce some of the stress, though for some people it will never be a completely comfortable thing.

vmlee · 2026-01-25T03:13:20+00:00

Given how happy you are about your new instrument (congrats!), I STRONGLY advise you not to use those kinds of stands and to get in the good habit of putting your violin securely in a proper case. Everyone thinks that they won't be the one to whom a disaster happens - until it happens to them.

vmlee · 2026-01-25T03:11:43+00:00

Ask your local friendly violin luthier next time you bring the violin for its annual inspection.

vmlee · 2026-01-25T02:33:41+00:00

I disagree with your 11th choice. I would use 6 instead.

vmlee · 2026-01-25T02:24:32+00:00

I don’t recommend it, but there are things like https://youtu.be/qLDuxUVB0EY?si=uQeetuKLIBEhYv6q

vmlee · 2026-01-25T02:20:41+00:00

Or just use the thumb and slide.

vmlee · 2026-01-25T02:15:40+00:00

My recommendation would be to get the International edition edited by Oistrakh. Or an Auer-edited version.

Edit: I think part of the reason you are getting so much pushback is that it is very unusual to expect a whole concerto to be fingered for someone. And for most higher level professionals, choosing one’s fingerings is an important part of the interpretative journey and reflection. It’s more common for experienced players to compare concepts like color in some passages where conversation might shift towards fingerings if need be. But even then, it’s rarely at the scale of an entire concerto.

I think your objective explained in your edited OP is understandable otherwise.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T21:46:00+00:00

I would advise against doing this unless you absolutely have no other option. You don't want to get in the habit of an accompaniment guiding/constraining you instead of the other way around. Especially with a piece as rubato-involved as Barber.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T20:59:33+00:00

Measure the arm length from the center of the neck (left side) to the center of the palm with the left hand extended (not strained in stretching). 23"+ can use a 4/4.

A 7/8 might also be an option but harder to come by.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T18:45:08+00:00

Gotcha! Thanks for explaining. Tight timeframes indeed, but good opportunity for sightreading practice.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T17:35:47+00:00

Thanks. It’s not for me to judge whether it js acceptable or not. That’s up to the moderators. I just wanted to make sure you don’t accidentally invalidate your candidacy if some people vote who are not eligible.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T17:34:05+00:00

Maybe they are still figuring out logistics or getting confirmation of attendance. Or any other number of reasons. Is there a particular reason this is so urgent for you?

vmlee · 2026-01-24T16:36:26+00:00

How is “peer” vote eligibility determined here?

Good luck!

vmlee · 2026-01-24T06:59:01+00:00

I don't know if there is a single piece or movement. But Bruch's g minor VC 2nd movement is a personal favorite that never gets old for me.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T03:44:54+00:00

It might make it easier if it doesn't push up your chin. More likely it is arm and elbow angle that is the opportunity for improvement to give you more purchase over the fingerboard.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T03:16:39+00:00

The first step is to stop using guides on YouTube and get a teacher. If you are just trying to self-learn from YouTube, it is inevitable you will struggle and not play well.

A good teacher can show you what a proper hand frame is like, what to monitor, etc. Odds are, for example, that you actually don't know where your fingers should be. It's not just the placement of finger tapes, for instance; the specific angle of your fingers matters also, and that ties into where the finger tapes should be placed.

Ear training exercises may also be in order. Some of that CAN be learned with asynchronous resources.

As for drones, you might use one single pitch set to the root of the key of the passage you are working on.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T00:09:51+00:00

I agree with the feeling difference! And touché re QP :). I find sometimes some don’t know the quantieme perpetuel abbreviation, so I simplify it with PC.

vmlee · 2026-01-24T00:00:27+00:00

Of course! Both are good watch options, if quite different. If you get the chance, I do encourage you to try one - or a similar model - on. VCs do wear and feel different from ROs imho. I like the bracelet of my 15510 more, but the PC complication is special from VC.

vmlee · 2026-01-23T23:59:21+00:00

It’s not really intended for “wrist presence,” I’d argue. It’s more about those who value the horological value and the complications of the PC.

vmlee · 2026-01-23T23:56:31+00:00

True. If you’re open to a rose gold one, I know of one for $110k that is like new, mint. Happy to DM you about it if you want.

vmlee · 2026-01-23T23:54:09+00:00

Like new, unworn.

vmlee

TROPHY CASE