|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:19 am
hi
ive been playing violin for abut 8 yrs and i really like ait and dont want to stop , adn im thinking about maybe doing it in college. i dont kno yet, cause im only gonna be a freshman in high school in sep. my problem is, i cant seem to get motivated to practice enough. im not improving like i should be, and im playing really cool music and i like it, but i just cant get motivated. i dont want to ask my parents, cause my mom lectures me about it whenever i have a bad lesson and it just makes it worse. any suggestions?? stressed
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:41 am
I am going through the EXACT same thing. I stopped practicing for longer than 30 minutes a day for medical reasons, and then when I was allowed to play more...I lost interest. It became like a chore because my parents were ALWAYS bringing it up. It got to the point where I'd practice on 15 minutes a day, and I'm supposed to be getting in 2-4 hours a day.
Then I went to a violin masterclass with the famous violinist Chee-Yun and I asked her about it. She told me to take my violin out of its case first thing in the morning (but to keep it in a place where I can see it whenever I walk into the room but where it won't get smashed by something) and keep it out all day. She said that the hardest thing about practicing is actually taking the violin out of its case. If you leave it out you don't have to go over that hurdle. Also, that way you can do sparratic practice sessions, like 10 minutes every half hour or so. I tried it the next week and it worked. I'm still not practicing enough as I stopped leaving it out for a while because my mom got angry with me and called me irresponsible... but I finally convinced her to let me do it and my practice time has quadrupled.
Try it. I find that it works. Chee-Yun is quite smart.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:15 pm
...I need to try that. I've been slacking off as well, as we're getting closer to summer and I'm lazy.
I saw Chee-Yun in concert with the Las Vegas Philharmonic... she is completely awesome!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:51 pm
thanks! ill try it, especially since i have to learn some music for camp in a couple weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:54 pm
i've been playing since i was in 3rd grade but i havent practiced in 3 weeks i feel really bad now sad
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:44 pm
I remember when I didn't practice for two weeks straight because of a stubborn virus that left me in bed for a week and a half. I wanted to, but my parents took my violin away because they didn't me grabbing it during a feverish delusion. Perhaps they are not as stupid as I believe them to be. Anyway, when I finally did practice again I couldn't play worth poop. It took a week or two to get back to where I was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 10:21 am
All I gotta do is listen to a member of the DSO play some Heifetz (he practices in one of the lesson rooms as I'm having my lesson) and I'm thoroughly impressed. Actually, just have to listen to my violin teacher play an A and that's good enough for me. sweatdrop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 1:57 pm
Ugh when I was 4 my parents would bug me to practice about an hour a day, and I hated it then. But after about a year I got to play harder music, and I did it because I felt like it. What makes it worthwhile is that once you get good, you get to do cool things. I'm only 15, but I already get to teach a class at a middle school, and I get to go all over the country for festicals and competitions and whatnot. Even now, I only practice when I'm in the mood, not cause I have to. My advice is, be glad that you can play the violin and do it because you want to. The best way to do that is to find music that you really like and play it for enjoyment. I like to practice in the bathroom, because it has a tile floor and it echos and it makes a nice soud.
Also, make a recording of yourself sightreading a piece, and then spend a lot of time perfecting the song. Then listen to the recording again, and...I don't know, it's just a way of proving to yourself that practicing makes you better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 9:25 pm
I've found a technique that works for me: as soon as I finish breakfast, I put the timer on for 50 minutes or so... I'm working up to an hour or more. And then I get out my violin, and warm up and play. And I'm not allowed to get up until the timer goes off. I can't move, can't stop playing for more than thirty seconds, etc. And so I get about 45 minutes of practice if you don't count getting the violin out. When the timer goes off, I'm always surprised. My arms, back and shoulders hurt but I want to keep going. However, I put the timer on for about twenty minutes, and read or go on the internet, and I'm not allowed to pick the violin back up until the timer goes off, at which point I put the timer on for 30 or 40 minutes, and repeat the process. It feels really good, but hurts my arms and back really badly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:49 am
I was eight years old when I went to the Conservatory...conservatoire...don't know how to write it... I studied 30 min. a day and in the vacation very few ore nothing. So...you could say that I'm not motivated... But I'm still there, eight years later, and I build up the practice-time. If I had no parents, who said I had to practice, I wouldn't be so far as I am now. I'm studying 1,5 hours a day and everyone is very enthausiastic about my playing. So.....WHATEVER???
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:40 pm
I think you should try getting a wall hanger for your violin. I have one and its absolutely wonderful! Whenever I have a fiddle song stuck in my head, or I just suddenly feel like playing it, then I can just pull it off the wall real quick, play it for however long I feel like, and put it right back up. ^_^ I highly suggest violin stands/hangers for anyone! (We just happen to have cats that like knocking things over so we went with a hanger. xD)
The other thing is whenever something in the house makes a sound--whether it be the TV or a door shutting, ect--if your instrument is out of its case, it will vibrate and be doing something, unlike when its in its case where the world around it seems to completely shut off until you open it again...
Plus it makes for cool decoration!......But you didn't hear that... whee
And the very best part is... wall mounts are only $10! ^^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:11 pm
I had no idea that they had wall mounts. I never really thought of that. Whenever I looked in Shar there were only floor stands. See, the whole 8 cats thing... yeah, I can't really have a violin sitting out on the floor. But a wall mount... and only $10??? Sweet!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:55 am
The timer idea is awesomem, thats what Id do to practice because Its like ive set a rule upon myself. Ialso get easily distracted and I think its a good way for beginners to get into practicing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:32 am
The mind works in such a way that you cannot fully concentrate on something for more than 55 minutes on average. That is why concerts have intermissions. It makes no sense to practice for two hours straight as only the first hour will be productive. Rehersals are different as you do take breaks every once and a while, generally while the conductor is drilling another section while you're supposed to wait quietly. The goal most people should have if they do not practice that much is to extend their physical stamina past their mental stamina.
One method of doing this that has worked quite well for me and many others is to set aside a clear hour, or 45 minutes, and block the time out into 5 or 10 minute sections depending on how well you know it and what it is. For example;
e minor three-octave| 5 minutes
e minor arpeggios|5 minutes
Sevcik etude|10 minutes
Schradiak etude|10 minutes
Mendelssohn|30 minutes:
::triplets on first page|5 minutes
: surprised ctaves on first page|5 minutes
::letter H|5 minutes
::cadenza part I|5 minutes
::cadenza part II|5 minutes
::cadenza part III|5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 60 minutes
Watch a clock during your practice time.
This method worked for me quite well as my attention span is not so great. If I've only played for 15 minutes I may start saying to myself, "Ugh, I still have 45 minutes left..."
So, try it. You'll know after an hour if it works for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:41 pm
i'm running into trouble practicing over summer because i'm away so much. i've been working at a summer camp and i don't even have my violin there with me because there's no place to keep it at a constant temperature, and i know i won't have any time to practice anyway sad . i just came home, and i'll be able to practice this week smile , but i know i'm loosing some of my skills from not playing at all most of the time sad . what should i do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
