I play the violin and want to be alot better. What can i do?

Question

this is my second year of violin . I also want to know how to shake my hand while playing.

Answer 1

As you can see from previous answers, practicing is a large majority of how to get better, BUT! If you don't practice the right way, it doesn't matter how many hours you put in -- those just could've been hours of you drilling in bad habits or wrong notes.

When you do practice, practice WISELY. While you're playing, don't ignore the wrong notes that you hear -- fix them as soon as you hear them! Play things at least 2x slower than regular speed and fix the bad notes you hear, then gradually up the speed while making sure you're in tune.

Like everyone else said, being able to play better music and making faster improvement is easiest done with a private teacher. If you're still in school, ask your music teacher if they have any contacts of teachers in the area that are willing to give lessons. Look in the newspapers for advertisements of teachers (though these might be a bit rare to find) or instead, put out an advertisement looking for a teacher.

As for the "shaking hand" thing, that's vibrato. This is one of the biggest building blocks in learning how to violin and is recommended that you find a teacher before you attempt it. There's a certain way to do it and it's hard to explain through just text -- the best way to learn it is from someone being there with you and working you through the motions. :\

Best of luck to you and your playing!

Answer 2

When you practice, don't bother looking at the clock. Some teachers insist of so many minutes or hours of practice per day. It doesn't matter. Yes, practice every day, and practice with your hands and your ears and your heart. Play something until you really like what you hear. If you don't, try to figure out what you're doing wrong. Have patience with yourself.

The hand shaking thing is called vibrato. Second year is still too early to learn it, but listen to violinists who use it, when they use it, and how, and how it improves their tone. Again--ears and heart. If your ears and heart understand vibrato, you'll do it well when your hands are ready to learn it.

Are you taking private lessons, learning violin in school, taking conservatory lessons? The more individual work you can do with a teacher, the better.

Answer 3

BRAVO, ENCORE *applauds loudly* I'm sorry I don't know anything about Idyllwild Arts Academy but I certainly know what I like. You certainly do NOT suck, in the video you stated that you're 13 and for those 3:53 seconds I was captivated by your skill as a classical music aficionado myself I was delightfully touched with your performance at the age of 13 you show huge if not magnificent potential to be something great if not well renowned in years to come I know this isn't what you wanted from an answer but I would be surprised if your weren't accepted. Keep up the work you have the talent and Bach must be smiling down at you with admiration at you.

Answer 4

If you want to learn vibrato, an easy way to become adjusted to the movement is find the edge of a flat surface, like a table or something that is able to support weight, place your fingers close to the edge, and try making your fingers"vibrate" by moving your wrist. But try not to move your arm. Also, when practicing your scales, use the 4-2-1 drill. the first time you play the scale, play each note four times, using four short bow strokes. ( to make it a bit more challenging, add some stacatto to your bow action ). The second time you play the scale, play each note twice, using two bow strokes. The third time play the scale using only one bow stroke for each note. Then come the slurs. slur every four notes of the scale. ( for example : on the D Major scale, play D,E,F#, and G all in one bow stroke ). Next, play the scale using one bow stoke every two notes, slurring every two notes. Second to last, play the scale with a hooked bow. play every two notes with a hooked bow. Play the first note slow and long, but save room at the end of you bow for a "hooked" staccatto note. ( hook D + E, F#+G ). Finally play the arpeggio.

Answer 5

If you truly want to be better, resolve to pick up your instrument and play every day. We only practice on days that end with a "Y" and we only practice on days that we eat.

Start keeping track of what you know. How well do you know each string? How many songs can you play by heart? How many different ways can you bow? (Staccato, Spiccato, Col Legno, Marcato, Legato, Hooked Bow etc.) How well can you play scales in the circle of Fifths, circle of fourths? Do you know your natural minor/Harmonic Minor/Melodic Minor scales? How accurately can you play each note? How are your double stops, how smoothly can you cross strings/

Get together with other musicians and play duets, trios, quartets, etc. How good is your sight reading? How are your improvisational skills?

Go on the web and find any music you can get your hands on. Download it and learn it. Go to places like http://www.stringstuffpage.com

That ought to keep you busy for awhile. If you need something feel free to let me know. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Study, study, study, all the best performers will tell you that's what it took. You also have to have a good teacher. If you study everyday you'll start to see in time how much your improving, after all this is only your second year. Don't skip any days of study, even if you only practice scales for twenty minutes a day. I noticed that if I skip a day "I notice" if I skip two days, "my teacher" will notice, if I skip three days,"my audience" will notice, even if it's only twenty minutes keep in form, and if you have what it takes it will start showing. As for shaking I'm not sure what you mean, from nerves or for special type of expressing yourself as in vibrato?

Answer 7

Find a personal instructor for private lessons. The instructor should be a professional musician themselves (you'd be surprised how many are not) and come well recommended.

Practice (obviously), but when you practice, really listen to what you are producing. The best musicians have a strong command of their tone, and that is actually far more important than technical proficiency, which simply comes with time and effort.

Answer 8

the shaking of the hand is known as vibrato, if you want to know how, its really hard to explain on the web. you have to get good instruction and know your stuff. ive been playing violin/viola for 10 years and i only learned vibrato in my 6th year. be patient and practice. and get lessons...

Answer 9

You can always get a personal instructor at a local music school, buy books, videos, or just ask your strings teacher.

Answer 10

Practice, practice, practice