Recording Your Practice Series I: Camera Mount

So, since my lessons in ViolinLab.com are online and Beth is in Austin, Texas, the only way for me to get feedback on my violin playing is through recording my practice at home with the use of a camera.  I had an awesome Sony Cybershot digital camera that I got as a graduation gift from my sisters and mom, but I dropped it in my last practice last year :(.  Thankfully enough, I got a Samsung DVD camcorder that records in both SD cards and mini DVDs, but I had to find out a way how to prop it to get an awesome camera angle.

And after weeks and weeks of thinking, this was what I came up with.

So Many Things To Do, So Little Time

I'm a writer and I write when I work, and I write when I don't work. It's in my blood and I can't shake it off.

However, right now work and a lot of personal responsibilities are getting to me... I have more than 5 drafts prepared for this website as well as my ever lengthening list of what to practice and when to practice, and how to practice - not to mention a McGyver idea on how to prop up a camera for an awesome camera angle that a fellow ViolinLab.com member has shared with us all.

Please stay tuned as I will upload a featured interview soon of possibly two awesome online violin professors.

See you around!

ViolinLab With ProfessorV

Two of the most amazing violin teachers have come together in Austin, Texas for ViolinLab's workshop and masterclass. Todd Ehle, known in YouTube as ProfessorV is one of the guest instructors in the workshop and Beth has graciously shared her interview and chat with this truly amazing teacher.

 

Twinkle Twinkle Variation C Part I

So, 1st Twinkle Twinkle done and I'm now off to my second variation, which is the third variation in the Suzuki Book 1.  Beth recommends skipping Variation B for later and, although I trust her, I was a bit confused at first. After hearing the notes and watching her tutorial on Variation B in ViolinLab.com, I fully understood why.

YouTube Channels For Beginning Violinists

YouTube has come a long way since its started. And now, more and more people are tuning in to YouTube not just for movies and series, but for how-tos and tutorials as well.

ViolinLab  

Using A Shoulder Rest

One of the most difficult things I have to get over with in playing the violin is that painful dig the wooden instrument gives me when I put at the crook of my neck.  It digs to my collarbone and my then-instructor told me that the skin was starting to get raw.  Either I use a towel, or I use a violin shoulder rest.

My shoulder rest is just a simple, inexpensive black thing that I bought for just P500 (about $12 USD) in a local music store (which I will not promote because the manager is just so snotty).  And I will not

Benefits of Listening to A Music Piece

I loved the violin since I was little, and know instinctively that I should know my notes if I am to play my violin someday.  Granted that I have the inherent "ability," so to speak, to play a tune better if I know what on earth I am playing,  I wanted to get that habit out of me so I can learn how to read notes.  However, I can't seem to visualize notes better than when I hear them in my head.  And I think Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was aware that there are individuals out there like me who will only play better if they are familiar with the music that they are playing when he made his violin program.

And for that, I would like to earnestly say Thank You to Dr. Suzuki for coming up with such concept.