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So, rehair done. It’s loads better ! The strings will last a bit more.
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Great!
The Bumble Bee Flies
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It's been some time since I came here.
At the end of october, I think I was seeing some progress, with my fourth finger (always a problem for me) and with speed too, which I've been trying to work on for some time now.
Then I hurt my back (lumbago) and couldn't play for a week. Or rather, I shouldn't have played at all but I still tried once, after a few days. The result being that in addition I hurt my neck -- you know, the place where the chinrest friction sometimes leaves a mark : well, just half an hour of trying to play with back ache = not a 'mark' but rather a cyst there. Which took almost a week more to heal.
Moral of that : don't try to play when in pain, you'll just compensate with bad posture and hurt yourself elsewhere. Also, the back is extremely important for viola/violin (which I already knew).
Anyway, I'm almost back to normal, and I had a very agreeable playing session this evening. One of those times when playing is effortless and everything seems to go right… I still don't know why, and why at other times it feels like I'm battling with my instrument to extract a good sound (and failing, usually, no matter how much I try). I'm not trying to understand anymore, just enjoying the moment when it happens.
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I am pleased you are back to playing, once again.
I can relate to the inconsistent playing sessions. It is sooooo annoying! It is like two steps forward and one back. Sometimes, one step forward and two back!
The Bumble Bee Flies
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I got little violin out of the cupboard. I'm having fun these days, with fragherrnmaurer's youtube channel. Pity there's no equivalent for viola.
I'm using my viola bow with the violin, but I don't know if there's any reason I shouldn't.
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@wtw, when I first started with my violin, I used a viola bow. I saw it in a violin lesson online, cannot remember where. It was actually stated you can and that many do. The issue some have with it is that it is shorter, so they adjust speed when needed. Go for it!
The Bumble Bee Flies
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I thought they were the same length? Mine are exactly the same length, only the viola bow is heavier. I have to remember to bow lightly.
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On youtube I stumbled upon this guy who says Primrose advocated, as a practice technique (among others), to play the same passage 60 times. Obviously, not 60 repetitions of a whole piece, but of a section that presents a difficulty, be it shifting or whatever. I thought, why not give it a try? and, armed with a counter, went on to apply it on just 3 bars.
One sure thing : never before had I played anything 60 times in a row (maybe 10, at most, and rarely). Took me some time. There was a nice improvement (the contrary would have been depressing), for one thing I became much less tense ; but I'll have to see if it really helps (or if the next day I'm back to where I was), and if I can stick to this exercise.
How repetitively do you practice?
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I don't think I've ever counted the number of repetitions, but the norm is probably 10-15 times for me, and 20-30 is not uncommon.
Even without counting, I know I've definitely gone well into triple digits... I once spent almost 3 hours working on an 8-note solo in an orchestral piece. Of course that's an unusual situation.
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@wtw, are the frogs the same on both bows? The viola has a curved edge at the frog end, where the violin has a right angle. I think the viola bow is slightly wider, too. I don't have mine with me here. Maybe the violin bow is for a 3/4 violin? Seems odd but maybe they are the same length at times maybe determined by the maker?
The Bumble Bee Flies
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@AndrewH Thanks for your input. If 20-30 is not uncommon, I definitely need 60! Can't imagine the pressure of a solo, even just 8 notes.
@Mouse The frog of my viola bow is curved, yes, while the violin one makes a right angle. Okay, so looking it up on the internet :
Here they say :
A violin bow typically weighs 56 to 63 grams and measures about 74.3 cm, while a viola bow weighs around 70 grams and is approximately 74.5 cm long.
I've seen websites that do say that the violin bow is "longer", but it's always marginally, 1 cm at most. I consider that as no significant difference.
Fiddlershop carbon fiber violin bow has 4/4 : 29.5 inches (=74.9cm) ; 3/4 : 27.3 inches (69.3cm)
I think the weight is more variable however, with carbon fiber and all the newer materials.
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Interesting. I never really paid great attention to mine. I am looking at them hanging in the wall right now. My violin bows are all about the exact same length, but I do notice a difference in length between my two viola bows. My Fiddlerman viola bow is a little longer and more equal to the violin bow length than the one at the other end of the rack.
I always liked the added weight of the viola bow over the violin bow when I was first beginning violin.
Interesting. I never really looked at the wall rack and paid attention to the lengths, visually, just by what I have read, and the first viola bow, the non-Fiddlerman one, my first viola bow. I do use the Fiddlerman viola bow more often.
The Bumble Bee Flies
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I've been mostly having fun these days. I haven't had the motivation to come and write here, but half of my playing has been on the violin anyway, so here is not the place.
By having fun, I mean like this for instance :
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I LOVE that! I could see a black T-shirt, black pants, black beanie and you swaying and tapping like the beatnicks!
So very well done.
The Bumble Bee Flies
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Thanks. (I had to ask wikipedia about beatniks, though, never heard of them before.)
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@wtw Too funny. I guess I aged myself. Dobie Gillis? Maynard G Krebs?
The Bumble Bee Flies
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It's been a while for me too. I've not been playing a lot, but not stopped altogether either. I spent some time with the violin, trying the Bach double concerto just for fun (I'm nowhere near managing it).
I also just changed my viola strings and went back to the Vision solos. Took me a few days to get used to them again, but I really like them. Double stops feel easier too.
But I lack a concrete goal/piece to work on right now. Or the motivation to practice seriously. No matter, I'm in no rush to achieve anything.
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I don't have a particular piece. One problem is that my playing space in the house is occupied. It will be for a little while. My knitting machine is temporarily set up.
The Bumble Bee Flies
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Goal will be to improve them. I think I should practice a bit with a metronome.
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Nice job. You have a nice sound.
I can't play with a metronome. It always messes me up. Have you ever done it? You said you need to practice a bit with one.
The Bumble Bee Flies
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Gordon Shumway
