Three Tips for Better Listening

I have a confession. I'm so frustrated this week. It's summer, of course, so nobody's practicing. That's a tiny bit of the problem. I wonder why parents insist on bringing kids all summer if they're going to make excuses for them when they don't practice....but I digress...

The big annoyance factor is that nobody is listening to their CDs. I would type that in all caps, but shouting on the 'net is rude. So I'll just say it quietly. Nobody is listening. So I want to share with you a few ways you might listen, and use listening as a way to play better music.

1. You know those CDs that come in the back of nearly all your music books? Play them. You don't have to sit with your hands folded and listen like you're at a stuffy concert. Just put them on and let 'er fly, while you're playing, eating, exercising, working, doing homework...... play them in the car while you're going to dance classes..... play them all the time. Hearing the music played correctly makes it much easier to learn! I looked in the back of somebody's book a couple days ago, and her CD was still sealed up in there. The seal wasn't broken. But she was complaining about NOT GETTING THE TUNE. Imagine. Listen to the CDs.

2. When I'm working on a piece, I like to listen to it being played by different artists. Now, a lot of you are going on youtube and just randomly finding people playing your pieces. I'm really proud of you for having the initiative to go looking up your music. But I would caution you that there are lots of very bad musicians on youtube. So how about looking up the greats and listening to their versions? Even Menuhin, Heifetz, and my favorite all-time player David Oistrakh --the old recordings can mostly be found on youtube. Listen to them -- don't waste your time with somebody who knows less than you!

3. Also, if you're working on a piece sit down with that track of the CD and listen to it critically before you play. Follow along in the sheet music if that helps. Consider whether you play it exactly like the recording. If not, who do you think is right?

OK I appreciate you hearing out my rant. I feel better now, and hopefully you understand what to do when you're assigned a listening exercise.

Happy violining!

Practice at the best speed

How do you select the best speed for practice? When I say “slow down,” most students slow down maybe a teensy bit. Maybe even an entire metronome marking. But the majority do not practice violin/viola/cello at a truly SLOW speed. And if they aren’t doing it for me, I know they aren’t doing it at home either.

To find slow, try setting your metronome at 40. That means your quarter note beat will equal the “tick” of the metronome. Now choose one phrase of the piece; let’s say you’re working on Minuet 2 in the Suzuki book. The first phrase is the first two measures of the piece. Work on this phrase over and over with your metronome. Are you right on the beat? Is your intonation good? Are the first and fourth notes exact the same tones as the three notes in the second measure?

Now go over it a few more times, maybe 5 times. Is your left hand relaxed? Is your bow arm moving smoothly and in the correct place? Are your teeth clenched or is your brow furrowed? Relax!

If you’ve done all this, it’s time to move along to the second phrase. Repeat the above. The goal is to learn what “slow” really means. Come to your lesson and show me!

Til next time,
Happy violining

Last night two of my students, Sherry Keene and Josie Rogers, joined me in playing violin for the "Flowers on the Lake" celebration. This is a remembrance of victims of domestic violence put on by our local Safe House. It is a beautiful concept -- we all put flowers into the water at the end and watch them spread and float away gently.

Anyway, Sherry and Josie both did a great job. We did a medley of Celtic tunes, some of the ones from the first student CD (for those of you who are students, and therefore learn from my CDs.). The point is, these are fairly easy tunes but they make great entertainment pieces. Both Sherry and Josie learn classical as well as Celtic music.

I've set up this blog mainly as a place to post hints for students: practicing, learning, choosing a direction, etc. Please let me know what else you'd like to see. Thanks!