Practice Techniques

Here are some practice techniques that I have found helpful:

•  To help with bowing, I practice sitting in front of a mirror. This helps me make sure that I am holding the bow parallel to the bridge. If you just look down at the bow in your hand, the slant at which you hold the bow and the instrument creates an optical illusion: this makes you think you are holding the bow parallel, but actually, it is bent back toward your shoulder. This causes the bow to screech and slide all over the strings. Even though I still use the mirror, and will for some time, I can already feel my arm and wrist naturally bending to hold the bow parallel to the bridge, but it took hours of simply watching my motions in a mirror:)
• I spent a lot of time simply bowing open strings and running through the scale of the key of D to improve my handle and pressure in using the bow. I practice moving the bow quickly, moderately, slowly, stopping and starting at random to create the strongest, clearest sound I can. I also practice moving across the strings in order, then out of order to make my transitions more smooth. All the while, I am watching myself to make sure I keep the bow straight and move my arm and wrist in the correct way. 
• In addition to using the mirror to make sure I hold the bow straight, I also use it to watch the angles of my arm as I move from string to string, as well as the motion of my wrists. The wrist is meant to arch up when holding the bow closest to the frog and to straighten out as you move it towards to the tip--fluid like the floating jelly fish in Finding Nemo, as my teacher said:) The angles of your arm look like the following: lower and closer to the body for E string and raising ever so slightly higher as you progress along the strings. E is closest to your body, A a little further away, then D and finally G. You are not moving the arm away from the body, but rather simply raising and lowering the lower arm--your upper arm and shoulder don't move. The more I watch myself do this, the more natural the motions become.
• I still practice simply plucking the strings so that I can concentrate on my fingering on the finger board. 

At the moment, these are the rituals and methods I am using, while repeating in my head helpful instructions and tips given by my teacher and viewed on the Internet. They seem to be working so far. And of course, all the while, I am practicing these as I run through little ditties, rounds, and songs that make it all sounds pretty (despite my hair-raising screeching) and make it fun!

Small Steps

It's been five weeks (it would have been six, but for having my wisdom teeth removed) and this is where I am so far: I am still playing in the key of D and am getting more adept at hitting the right notes more often and more accurately; I have learned to play "A" on the D string--fourth finger; and I am doing better with moving the bow from one string to the next, as well as holding it and using it.

I have officially been bowing for about 2 weeks now, and am getting a slightly less squeaky sound. Mind you, my playing still sounds like a dying cat/seagull combination, but as I hear myself playing every day, I can hear the ever-so-subtle improvements. I have to remind myself daily that this is a life-long investment I have made, and that I must relax and enjoy the process. I have a nature that wants to master and perfect everything immediately; this is simply and utterly not going to happen with the violin. However, I am learning to be patient and take it step by step, enjoying the process and trying not to get frustrated. I have learned a lot by watching tutorials and videos on the Internet about bowing, and have tried some practice techniques gleaned both from my teacher and the Internet, which I will share in another post. I suppose the point of this blog is just to say that learning the violin is a journey, and one that will only be enjoyed and achieved by taking it one small step at a time and remembering to enjoy the adventure itself.

The Violin Chronicles Continues...

It's been one week since I have been able to pick up and play my violin. Finally got to start bowing last week, then had to put off playing because of surgery (wisdom teeth out:() When I picked it up again today, I remembered how HARD it is to bow at the beginning...oy!! I practiced open strings, particularly D and A for about an hour, focusing on moving my lower arm/elbow and just getting a feeling for the bow. I spent a few minutes on playing "G" on the D string, but my goodness, this is difficult! I finally had to huff in frustration after an hour, pack it up, and treat myself to some pie and tea!!! But....I still love it and can't wait to beat this bow!