It's been a long summer without lessons - nearly three months!

And it was my first lesson back tonight. I haven't been terribly well for a while, haven't been practising much, been dreading my exam (Grade 4, November) and actually at the point of thinking I should give up!

But no, I have a wonderful, inspirational teacher!!! and had a wonderful lesson!

I'm not going to do an exam this term, there's no need; I'm in no hurry. So that's a big weight off my mind.
And my teacher introduced some new aspects of technique which were exciting, some really interesting new music (baroque concertos and duets) and we're going to look at some other 'fun' stuff and I feel all inspired and excited again.....yippppeeeeee. Maybe I'll try some jazz

Just had to share

I can't wait to get back into my practice routine.

Yeah. I keep hearing about people who have had ages off lessons and not practised in ages.
Am I like the only person who takes lessons in the summer break?(slightly less often due to my teacher's comitments though).
The only thing I break from in the summer is orchestra.

I find that one can learn a lot faster without exams. Just play many pieces with different styles and bowings etc... It works great for me.

This "excitement" you have will soon wear off. I find that with practicing most evenings for at least 30 mins that violin is just a fun activity that can be engaged in, a way to get away from all the stress of work etc that comes with life.

Of course the more talented one is the more fun it is possible to have when practicing becuase you cna make a nicer sound.

I have lessons through summer too

Yay for getting back to lessons Lottie Jazz sounds awesome I love jazz violin! And it's awesome that you learnt some new technique - i get really excited when i learn new techniques too I was sooooo excited about vibrato!
As for you nearly quitting Don't! You love the violin and are super good at it

Violinhero - why would the excitement wear off? I practise 2 or 3 hours a day and am always excited to practise (possibly due to 'slight' obsession with violin..... !)

I agree. i wnat to join 2 orchestras, my dad says that is going a little too far! Maybe becuase he does not want to pay for all my train fares and taxis I would require!

I am addicted to my violin like some people are addicted to chocolate. When learning a new piece I am excited for a few dasy. Then I find taht i am no longer excited but still find it fun to play the piece, in ordder to become even better at playing it.

I have lessons whenever my teacher is willing to teach, so, yes, all through the summer etc.

Not sure I should be on this thread though, as I'm not really a genuine violin lover. Down with that E string!!! (Preferably a couple of octaves......)

I must admit I do like a nice C string myself.... one day perhaps

We should get a 5 string violin/viola and have a C string and an E string to keep the violinists and the violists happy haha it'd be like the... i love violiniola thread
Personally i love the E string It's quite possibly my favourite string!

And i'm glad to hear i'm not the only obsessed one violin hero 2 orchestras isn't too much - go for it if you enjoy it

i play in 3 orchestras every week, and a percussion ensemble, on top of playing 4 instruments, so I don't think you'll have a problem with 2, though it depends on your time management.

I too am always excited to practice, though this does tend to wear off before exams.
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Same - i'm in like 6 orchestras too Including school orchestras/ensembles, i'm in over 12 :|

It must be hard doing 4 instruments though - i used to play many but now can only just about handle 2 (3 including singing )

I only play 1 instrument. Basically on the time management issue it is school 08:45- 15:50 not including travel.

Monday evening orchetsra
Tuesday evening free
Wednesday evening driving lesson
Thursday evening free
Friday evening orchetsra
Saturday morning violin lesson afternnon and evening free
Sunday morning and evening free Afternoon squash coaching/match.

It is quite clear to see that I can easily manage 2 orchestras.
There is also school choir to account for so that is one late afternnon taken up.
I use my free evenings to practice violin as well as complete school work, which unfortunately has to come before hobbies such as violin playing.

How can one manage 6 orchestras though?

monday - violin lesson
tuesday - orchestra, percussion, scouts, shooting
weds - orchestra
thurs - piano
fri - work (ie job), then orchestra
sat - driving lesson
sun - skating/voluntary work

i leave for school at 7.30, and get home at 5. I have a busy time, but i enjoy what I do and manage to fit it in. I always practice at school, before school for example.
xx

My schedule is pretty hectic
Ontop of school i have
Monday - flute group, teaching, then gymnastics (dont get a break till 8:30 x_x)
Tuesday - woodwind ensemble, work
Wednesday - string group, gymnastics
Thursday - school windband, flute lesson one week, volunteering at a centre for autistic children the next week (every other week)
Friday - windband, string group, sometimes gymnastics
Saturday - windband, modern ensemble, work
Sunday - work

i have driving lessons too but i try fit those into my free lessons in school, as well as fitting 2 hours instrument practise a day and school work into my other frees

Some other orchestras i'm in are only termly though, e.g. we'll have like 6 hour daily rehearsals through half term and then do a concert, and then we won't meet again until the next half term.

I'm quite good at managing my time though and i enjoy everything i do and surprisingly i still have plenty of time for school work. Somehow!!

I have plenty of time for music as all my schoolwork is music too really - i do music, music technology and then 2nd language welsh but i can speak welsh anyway So i'm lucky that i can put almost all my time into music

ffliwt I couldn't manage your timetable!

We are not allowed to have driving lessons during school hours! Anyway I prefer to do school work in my frees. Go home in the evening straight after school and thn do my extra curricular activities. I like having one evening off during the school week though.

I have come to learn that everyone needs some time off just to be lazy and do absoultely nothing of any value...

I may also jpin the school band but as I am in my last year it may not be worth it. They are mainly grade 1-3 while i am grade 7/8! Should I do it or not?

Also I may take music As if it fits in with my other subjects. Need to make up for the failed maths AS. However this would kill 7 frees for me. Again should I do it?
It would only give me 8 frees a week.

If you think you'll enjoy it you should join and i'm sure they'd benefit from someone of a higher grade Although the music may be too easy for you and believe me it's sooo boring when that happens

I agree that everyone needs time off to do nothing, i do enjoy what i do but i wiiish i had just one day off to do well... nothing

I dunno what to advise about the AS though, but music AS is quite time consuming as there's a lot of composing to do

Violin Hero - I'd join if you fancy it - it doesn't matter what grade they are - you still might enjoy yourself playing with them and they could learn something from you - you may even learn something from them - being at a higher grade doesn't automatically stop you from learning from someone at a lower grade - they may have natural skills and musicality that rub off on you for example.

I'm a professional musician, but I still enjoy playing or singing with people of your standard, for example, and very often I learn things from them too.

If you fancy it, go for it

i agree with above comments... down with the e string!

Am i the only one that finds the e string beautiful? (when played nicely!)

Yes.
Yes you are.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!


I love E strings!!!!... but I think I need a new one coz my one is squeaky.

Maybe it your playing rather than the string....

E string is hardest to avoid squeaks, I sometimes still have problems avoiding squeaks when high up on e string.

Yes, sadly it could be my technique. The E string sometimes doesn't 'sound'.. it just makes a high-pitched squeaky-squeal but I've made sure my finger isn't touching the string so it can't be that. Perhaps it's the angle of my bow???

Lottie: The flatter the bow is onthe string the better the sound that can be made. If you have an angled bow it makes it harder to make a nice clear sound cauing those nasty squeaks.

Bow some notes on E string and see what difference it makes. Try angling the bow to various degrees and then using a flat bow. The difference is very noticable!

i play the violin it was getting a little frustrating sometimes but now ive had a nice summer break and i think i'm going to return to playing with a new found love for it!



Just thought i'd add my schedule:

Monday evening - singing lesson (although this may be stopping )
Tuesday evening - drama
Wednesday evening - free (for the moment, i think i may be joining a hockey club so this evening is taken up and also might be doing a sign language class on this night)
Thursday evening - orchestra
Friday evening - Drama
Saturday afternoon - Orchestra
Sunday 9.15 - 3.15 - Yorkshire young musicians

Add to that violin, flute, theory, piano and singing practice, plus babysitting, plus i am doing 6 a-levels and getting a job.
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