rob aylestone
Moderator
That guys website shows a violin tutor who is happy with technology and a wide range of styles - I'd certainly give him a call.
Slouching Raymond
Well-known member
He looks like a good all-rounder to me too.
Your tall tree is taller than my back garden is long.
I chopped down a tall tree a couple of years ago, by removing a chunk from the bottom, then pulling the rest down to the ground, before removing the next chunk.
The tree was held up by being tangled amongst all the other trees.
Your tall tree is taller than my back garden is long.
I chopped down a tall tree a couple of years ago, by removing a chunk from the bottom, then pulling the rest down to the ground, before removing the next chunk.
The tree was held up by being tangled amongst all the other trees.
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
Thanks rob & Raymond; now I've found this tutor I'll contact him when I'm ready; it's much too cold to be running around at the moment and my studio is still out of bounds but things are going to change; next Money will be like an heatwave with 13C forecast but accompanied by lots of rain. First job I need to do is to remove the studio door which has started to stick and also rub the carpet so I'll adjust it then I'll sort out new wiring for the fan heater which is due in the New Year at least I can put a 13A plug on and run the cable in readiness; I don't want to mess the tutor around but I'm sure it will be money well spent saving me making lots of mistakes wasting time.
My wife and I have always regarded our rear garden as our very own mini park Raymond; it already had big mature trees which I've been felling over the years but when we moved in we planted most of the trees I've just felled they too having taken off after 35 years growth; once conifers get their feet they tend to go ballistic; we've had lots of specimen trees like firs; mountain ash; blue spruce; western hemlock; silver birch and oak trees etc but they eventually became a liability due to our very exposed valley side often damaged by high wind or heavy snow meaning me being out in atrocious conditions with chainsaw hence this year after yet another tree became damaged in February I decided I'd had enough and felled 15 of the big ones. we still have a number of nice trees including the huge blue spruce and two of the oak trees.
Storm damage splitting an 80' tall specimen conifer dwarfing the garden hut leaning right into the neighbours garden; like you Raymond for this one I had to cut it in 4' sections and drag it back after each cut as usual in hostile weather whilst working on the steep slope; never any light jobs living here. Having cleared this section I later felled the rest.
Here's another specimen it being a beautiful fir also at 80' tall it landed perfectly right up the garden; my 20" petrol chainsaw has saved us a fortune over the years; I dislike felling these beautiful trees but due to proximity to our bungalow it was worrying every time the wind blew and damage to the trees was never in hot summers weather. I logged all the trees giving all the logs to wood-burning neighbours and shredded the brash which then was used as garden mulch; the neighbours of course very happy indeed to collect totally free nicely cut logs by the car and pickup full loads but never once offered to help. I've watched many YouTube videos of tree fails but most of these are due to novices using chainsaws. Example;
Here's one of the stumps I removed from the top hedge it taking a full week of very hard work; this is one of the Cherry Laurels.
Part of the new wildflower meadow replacing the huge hedge at the top of the garden with more trees I've since felled.
Yes it's all been worth the hard work; a close up of our meadow flowers; walkers along the lane adjacent to the top of the garden can see full view now the hedge has gone and they stop to stare in amazement at the meadow many taking digital images and wanting to talk to me asking how I created the meadow. About a week ago a guy was on the lane taking images through our fence of the valley; we have panoramic views across and along the valley he explained he wanted to obtain an image with mist in the valley bottom.
All this is way off topic but again shows the amount of heavy work I get through each year leaving little time to enjoy hobbies; now I've got some free time the studio is freezing whilst energy bills are soaring so I'm prevented again from peacefully settling down in a warm studio; the CH radiator can't cope in the studio but once I install the new fan heater I'm sure I'll be much happier; I want to get used to playing the violins and plan to get in touch with the violin tutor in due course; I've got the studio all set up with violins to play plus quite a bit of gear so I'm still very keen to learn to play a violin.
The panpipes arrived yesterday and they are fun and interesting to experiment with; I can get notes out of some of the pipes others are proving reluctant but as with violins it's all down to practice and lots of it. I'm just passing a bit of time on the forum which is much better than being brain dead watching rubbish on TV.
I hope this is of interest because it's sure been long hard work over the 35 living here this just a very small example. I always take lots of digital images of everything I do around home and gardens.
Kind regards, Colin.
Thanks rob & Raymond; now I've found this tutor I'll contact him when I'm ready; it's much too cold to be running around at the moment and my studio is still out of bounds but things are going to change; next Money will be like an heatwave with 13C forecast but accompanied by lots of rain. First job I need to do is to remove the studio door which has started to stick and also rub the carpet so I'll adjust it then I'll sort out new wiring for the fan heater which is due in the New Year at least I can put a 13A plug on and run the cable in readiness; I don't want to mess the tutor around but I'm sure it will be money well spent saving me making lots of mistakes wasting time.
My wife and I have always regarded our rear garden as our very own mini park Raymond; it already had big mature trees which I've been felling over the years but when we moved in we planted most of the trees I've just felled they too having taken off after 35 years growth; once conifers get their feet they tend to go ballistic; we've had lots of specimen trees like firs; mountain ash; blue spruce; western hemlock; silver birch and oak trees etc but they eventually became a liability due to our very exposed valley side often damaged by high wind or heavy snow meaning me being out in atrocious conditions with chainsaw hence this year after yet another tree became damaged in February I decided I'd had enough and felled 15 of the big ones. we still have a number of nice trees including the huge blue spruce and two of the oak trees.
Storm damage splitting an 80' tall specimen conifer dwarfing the garden hut leaning right into the neighbours garden; like you Raymond for this one I had to cut it in 4' sections and drag it back after each cut as usual in hostile weather whilst working on the steep slope; never any light jobs living here. Having cleared this section I later felled the rest.
Here's another specimen it being a beautiful fir also at 80' tall it landed perfectly right up the garden; my 20" petrol chainsaw has saved us a fortune over the years; I dislike felling these beautiful trees but due to proximity to our bungalow it was worrying every time the wind blew and damage to the trees was never in hot summers weather. I logged all the trees giving all the logs to wood-burning neighbours and shredded the brash which then was used as garden mulch; the neighbours of course very happy indeed to collect totally free nicely cut logs by the car and pickup full loads but never once offered to help. I've watched many YouTube videos of tree fails but most of these are due to novices using chainsaws. Example;
Here's one of the stumps I removed from the top hedge it taking a full week of very hard work; this is one of the Cherry Laurels.
Part of the new wildflower meadow replacing the huge hedge at the top of the garden with more trees I've since felled.
Yes it's all been worth the hard work; a close up of our meadow flowers; walkers along the lane adjacent to the top of the garden can see full view now the hedge has gone and they stop to stare in amazement at the meadow many taking digital images and wanting to talk to me asking how I created the meadow. About a week ago a guy was on the lane taking images through our fence of the valley; we have panoramic views across and along the valley he explained he wanted to obtain an image with mist in the valley bottom.
All this is way off topic but again shows the amount of heavy work I get through each year leaving little time to enjoy hobbies; now I've got some free time the studio is freezing whilst energy bills are soaring so I'm prevented again from peacefully settling down in a warm studio; the CH radiator can't cope in the studio but once I install the new fan heater I'm sure I'll be much happier; I want to get used to playing the violins and plan to get in touch with the violin tutor in due course; I've got the studio all set up with violins to play plus quite a bit of gear so I'm still very keen to learn to play a violin.
The panpipes arrived yesterday and they are fun and interesting to experiment with; I can get notes out of some of the pipes others are proving reluctant but as with violins it's all down to practice and lots of it. I'm just passing a bit of time on the forum which is much better than being brain dead watching rubbish on TV.
I hope this is of interest because it's sure been long hard work over the 35 living here this just a very small example. I always take lots of digital images of everything I do around home and gardens.
Kind regards, Colin.
Last edited:
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
Yesterday was a sweltering 14C but unfortunately not a violin day for me; I'd visited three supermarkets and back home by 8:30am; after a mug of tea I spent quite a while washing and drying the car the first time in ages due to the recent freezing weather; next I tackled the studio sticking door; the door was quickly removed and I set about planing the closing edge and also its bottom. why can't I do the simplest of jobs without being bitten? I shouldn't have been surprised to plane right though the door bottom the frame member was about as thick as veneer; the door is made of two very thin sheets of ply on a very lightweight frame with cardboard honeycomb center it being about as cheap as a door can be made. I rehung the door which was still rubbing the carpet and tidied up bringing me to dinnertime. After dinner a friend visited so scuppered any violin playing for yesterday.
This morning I've been on the door job having just knocked off for dinner and to allow glue to set.
The wayward studio door which was sticking at the lock edge and rubbing the carpet at the bottom; it needed quickly sorting out otherwise it could end up being damaged trying to open it.
What a truly wonderful sight to greet me; cheap and nasty this is the door bottom having started to plane it;
Showing the door construction; it's actually strong given the flimsy materials but why add such a very thin strip of wood at its base as part of the framework.
Here's the new door bottom frame member I've just made of hardwood.
The new frame member well glued and let in clamped until the glue sets then perhaps I'll finally succeed in planing the door bottom to clear the carpet.
The original door bottom what there is of it; cheap and nasty in the extreme.
Normally I don't mind woodworking jobs but it infuriates me why I still can't get into the studio in peace to practice playing my violins; will these jobs ever let up but I doubt it.
I'm still daydreaming of playing a violin but I think it's just a fantasy.
Kind regards, Colin.
Yesterday was a sweltering 14C but unfortunately not a violin day for me; I'd visited three supermarkets and back home by 8:30am; after a mug of tea I spent quite a while washing and drying the car the first time in ages due to the recent freezing weather; next I tackled the studio sticking door; the door was quickly removed and I set about planing the closing edge and also its bottom. why can't I do the simplest of jobs without being bitten? I shouldn't have been surprised to plane right though the door bottom the frame member was about as thick as veneer; the door is made of two very thin sheets of ply on a very lightweight frame with cardboard honeycomb center it being about as cheap as a door can be made. I rehung the door which was still rubbing the carpet and tidied up bringing me to dinnertime. After dinner a friend visited so scuppered any violin playing for yesterday.
This morning I've been on the door job having just knocked off for dinner and to allow glue to set.
The wayward studio door which was sticking at the lock edge and rubbing the carpet at the bottom; it needed quickly sorting out otherwise it could end up being damaged trying to open it.
What a truly wonderful sight to greet me; cheap and nasty this is the door bottom having started to plane it;
Showing the door construction; it's actually strong given the flimsy materials but why add such a very thin strip of wood at its base as part of the framework.
Here's the new door bottom frame member I've just made of hardwood.
The new frame member well glued and let in clamped until the glue sets then perhaps I'll finally succeed in planing the door bottom to clear the carpet.
The original door bottom what there is of it; cheap and nasty in the extreme.
Normally I don't mind woodworking jobs but it infuriates me why I still can't get into the studio in peace to practice playing my violins; will these jobs ever let up but I doubt it.
I'm still daydreaming of playing a violin but I think it's just a fantasy.
Kind regards, Colin.
Slouching Raymond
Well-known member
Most of my internal walls are made like that, and only 2" thick. Just think plasterboard instead of veneer.
They are pretty rigid though.
They are pretty rigid though.
rob aylestone
Moderator
Colin - I'm a little confused by having to scrap the practice? I'd have thought you would be able to squeeze in a few minutes when you have those little empty spots? Do you not have the odd fifteen minutes spare in between finishing one thing and starting another? Pop into your studio. pick it up, play for a bit, then go an do something. It sounds like you start each day with a rigid timetable? One of the benefits of being retired is that you don't have anything that must be domne at specific times.
Those sapele type doors I had at my old house were all feather light, and the current ones appear to be moulded wood grain effect - I suspect they're cardboard too inside. Just little softwood blocks for the lock area.
As your practice routine doesn;t involve technology, can't you just go in, play for ten minutes and when the cold gets you, put it down again. I do this all the time with the piano - I never go past without playing something.
Those sapele type doors I had at my old house were all feather light, and the current ones appear to be moulded wood grain effect - I suspect they're cardboard too inside. Just little softwood blocks for the lock area.
As your practice routine doesn;t involve technology, can't you just go in, play for ten minutes and when the cold gets you, put it down again. I do this all the time with the piano - I never go past without playing something.
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
2" thick walls even for internal is very thin Raymond but as you say they are pretty rigid due to them being a torsion box construction just like this door I've just sorted out.
Thanks rob, I'd love to pop into the studio for a bit of practice each day but unless I put the heating on in there for a lengthy period it's just too cold and is why I posted earlier about the fan heater I've now bought and will install once it arrives to give the CH radiator a boost hopefully rapidly heating the studio; I do always leave the radiator on setting #2 for low background heating; I don't have a rigid timetable my life just drives me with lots of constant problems that I can't ignore; if you lived here I'm sure you too would find violin playing difficult; not immediately attending to a sticking door is asking for trouble; sometimes a sticking door lets go with a difference in weather but I attend to problems as they arise.
My office is warm but too small the front room is warm and plenty big enough but I wouldn't wish my violin practicing on my wife who already does so much to support me and deserves a bit of peace; the rest of the rooms remain unheated until they are used; I've gone to a great deal of time and trouble putting the studio together in spite of the many heavy jobs I've carried out this year so I want to use the studio after all it's what I created it for and all my gear is in there; I'm still keen as ever to learn to play my violins and having spent so much time in the studio already today it's nice and warm so I'm about to wander in and pick up my violin; I hope my plan with the fan heater works then yes I'll happily pop in. I've been watching lots of YouTube violin videos and the book "Violin for dummies" is very interesting.
I'm built like a stick insect and really do feel the cold; how many these days visit the surgery and having their BMI tested (?) are advised TO PUT WEIGHT ON? I've not been to the surgery for myself for at least six years and the time before that was a period of twelve years; this bungalow and gardens see to it I never put any weight on. I'm constantly fighting the climate here on the valley side; my office is actually our hallway and only a few years ago I used to sit at the keyboard during our long winters warm down my right side perished down my left side; I could even feel the cold through the keyhole with the key in the lock; I cured this by making and installing a porch which has made a tremendous difference to my comfort;
I made and installed the complete porch; these jobs take a lot of time as did the tree felling and subsidence damage this year; we catch extremes of weather.
Enough of this I'm heading into the studio to make some noise.
Kind regards, Colin.
2" thick walls even for internal is very thin Raymond but as you say they are pretty rigid due to them being a torsion box construction just like this door I've just sorted out.
Thanks rob, I'd love to pop into the studio for a bit of practice each day but unless I put the heating on in there for a lengthy period it's just too cold and is why I posted earlier about the fan heater I've now bought and will install once it arrives to give the CH radiator a boost hopefully rapidly heating the studio; I do always leave the radiator on setting #2 for low background heating; I don't have a rigid timetable my life just drives me with lots of constant problems that I can't ignore; if you lived here I'm sure you too would find violin playing difficult; not immediately attending to a sticking door is asking for trouble; sometimes a sticking door lets go with a difference in weather but I attend to problems as they arise.
My office is warm but too small the front room is warm and plenty big enough but I wouldn't wish my violin practicing on my wife who already does so much to support me and deserves a bit of peace; the rest of the rooms remain unheated until they are used; I've gone to a great deal of time and trouble putting the studio together in spite of the many heavy jobs I've carried out this year so I want to use the studio after all it's what I created it for and all my gear is in there; I'm still keen as ever to learn to play my violins and having spent so much time in the studio already today it's nice and warm so I'm about to wander in and pick up my violin; I hope my plan with the fan heater works then yes I'll happily pop in. I've been watching lots of YouTube violin videos and the book "Violin for dummies" is very interesting.
I'm built like a stick insect and really do feel the cold; how many these days visit the surgery and having their BMI tested (?) are advised TO PUT WEIGHT ON? I've not been to the surgery for myself for at least six years and the time before that was a period of twelve years; this bungalow and gardens see to it I never put any weight on. I'm constantly fighting the climate here on the valley side; my office is actually our hallway and only a few years ago I used to sit at the keyboard during our long winters warm down my right side perished down my left side; I could even feel the cold through the keyhole with the key in the lock; I cured this by making and installing a porch which has made a tremendous difference to my comfort;
I made and installed the complete porch; these jobs take a lot of time as did the tree felling and subsidence damage this year; we catch extremes of weather.
Enough of this I'm heading into the studio to make some noise.
Kind regards, Colin.
rob aylestone
Moderator
Don’t forget that shirt and often is the usual suggestion. 30 mins practice but I’ve never been good at practice. I need goals. So I record. I’ll set myself the goal of completing something and once that’s done I stop.
Slouching Raymond
Well-known member
On the topic of setting goals, I shot a 35 minute youtube video, and decided to add a music track to it.
35 minuites is almost a complete album. I created it in sections, changing the feel every few minuits.
Some of the music was quite creative.
It was having the goal of 35 mins of music, that forced me to keep at it, until it was comlete.
Without the goal, I would probably never have created those parts of the music that I like.
35 minuites is almost a complete album. I created it in sections, changing the feel every few minuits.
Some of the music was quite creative.
It was having the goal of 35 mins of music, that forced me to keep at it, until it was comlete.
Without the goal, I would probably never have created those parts of the music that I like.
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,.
Thanks rob & Raymond.
I'd like to get my hands on a violin; I headed into the studio as stated and got as far as the front room; stuff violins I'm sick of trying at the moment; my enthusiasm is shot for today but tomorrow I can dream again; stuff my bad luck too.
Oh for an isolated desert island I could enjoy in peace with only my wife for company and finally pick up a violin; no one would believe what I go through every time I want to go into the studio; 16 months in and still struggling to pick up the violin will it ever end.
Kind regards, Colin.
Thanks rob & Raymond.
I'd like to get my hands on a violin; I headed into the studio as stated and got as far as the front room; stuff violins I'm sick of trying at the moment; my enthusiasm is shot for today but tomorrow I can dream again; stuff my bad luck too.
Oh for an isolated desert island I could enjoy in peace with only my wife for company and finally pick up a violin; no one would believe what I go through every time I want to go into the studio; 16 months in and still struggling to pick up the violin will it ever end.
Kind regards, Colin.
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
Yesterday evening feeling tired and weary I could have piled all my gear and set fire to it; I'd tried and tried to get into the studio but each time was prevented; just absolutely frustrated.
What a difference though this morning I got out of bed once again full of hope and put the studio heating full on before breakfast; 9 o'clock I actually made it into the studio and have spent a blissful one and a half hours playing my Yamaha YEV-104 until I ache so I've knocked off for a mug of tea. I've left the studio heating on and plan to spend more time in there this afternoon.
I've tried fitting the new Bonmusica shoulder rest but am out of my depth with it feeling uncomfortable and the increased height on my shoulder of the violin is throwing my bowing out so I've put the Bonmusica to one side and enjoyed playing without shoulder rest; I even tried using a center chin rest but wasn't happy with it. In the new year I'll contact our local violin teacher and if he does home visits I'd like him here to set everything up for me; it's too near Christmas and the New Year but I'll start the New Year right; my wonderful wife has asked what I would like for Christmas so I think violin lessons will be the perfect choice; in the meantime I'll keep practicing and reading. I knew if I kept trying eventually I'd break through; surely after 35 years of constant heavy work around bungalow and gardens I can start to enjoy retirement in 2023; I've been retired 22 years but it's been a continuation of work but seven days a week and no holidays.
I've a big smile on my face at last.
Kind regards, Colin.
Yesterday evening feeling tired and weary I could have piled all my gear and set fire to it; I'd tried and tried to get into the studio but each time was prevented; just absolutely frustrated.
What a difference though this morning I got out of bed once again full of hope and put the studio heating full on before breakfast; 9 o'clock I actually made it into the studio and have spent a blissful one and a half hours playing my Yamaha YEV-104 until I ache so I've knocked off for a mug of tea. I've left the studio heating on and plan to spend more time in there this afternoon.
I've tried fitting the new Bonmusica shoulder rest but am out of my depth with it feeling uncomfortable and the increased height on my shoulder of the violin is throwing my bowing out so I've put the Bonmusica to one side and enjoyed playing without shoulder rest; I even tried using a center chin rest but wasn't happy with it. In the new year I'll contact our local violin teacher and if he does home visits I'd like him here to set everything up for me; it's too near Christmas and the New Year but I'll start the New Year right; my wonderful wife has asked what I would like for Christmas so I think violin lessons will be the perfect choice; in the meantime I'll keep practicing and reading. I knew if I kept trying eventually I'd break through; surely after 35 years of constant heavy work around bungalow and gardens I can start to enjoy retirement in 2023; I've been retired 22 years but it's been a continuation of work but seven days a week and no holidays.
I've a big smile on my face at last.
Kind regards, Colin.
rob aylestone
Moderator
I reckon the combination of the expert and you together, will sort out loads of your stumbling blocks Colin. Nothing worse that learning wrong!
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
Thanks rob; once I'm pointed in the right direction I quickly learn but unfortunately I don't know anyone who plays a violin otherwise I'd be bending an ear.
I phoned Gavin our local violin teacher straight after posting this morning but no reply just a message saying contact him by other means like email due to him receiving so many spam calls so I've emailed Gavin asking if he does home visits and how much for two hours plus expenses? Getting my shoulder rest and amp settings would be a huge step forward but if I can't get help I'll still continue.
I've just turned the heating up again in the studio and will wander in shortly; I think I'll start by practicing scales learning sharps & flats so I'm not wasting time whilst learning the basics. This morning at first was a very poor practice; the violin sounded terrible but I stuck with it and by the time I knocked off I was back to normal; this Yamaha YEV-104 stays in tune for ages; I thought it might need new strings but I think everything was still cold which must make a big difference.
Whilst the studio heats up I'll pop out and do a bit of leaf blowing; the oak tree next to our patio dropped 16 heavy bags of acorns this summer it being a bumper harvest which I ran to the tip; now it's dropping leaves which are incredibly easy to move with the Makita cordless 18V blower; this job used to take half an hour with sweeping brush now done in minutes with the blower then into the studio for a bit more fun; I hope this continues because it's long overdue.
Kind regards, Colin.
Thanks rob; once I'm pointed in the right direction I quickly learn but unfortunately I don't know anyone who plays a violin otherwise I'd be bending an ear.
I phoned Gavin our local violin teacher straight after posting this morning but no reply just a message saying contact him by other means like email due to him receiving so many spam calls so I've emailed Gavin asking if he does home visits and how much for two hours plus expenses? Getting my shoulder rest and amp settings would be a huge step forward but if I can't get help I'll still continue.
I've just turned the heating up again in the studio and will wander in shortly; I think I'll start by practicing scales learning sharps & flats so I'm not wasting time whilst learning the basics. This morning at first was a very poor practice; the violin sounded terrible but I stuck with it and by the time I knocked off I was back to normal; this Yamaha YEV-104 stays in tune for ages; I thought it might need new strings but I think everything was still cold which must make a big difference.
Whilst the studio heats up I'll pop out and do a bit of leaf blowing; the oak tree next to our patio dropped 16 heavy bags of acorns this summer it being a bumper harvest which I ran to the tip; now it's dropping leaves which are incredibly easy to move with the Makita cordless 18V blower; this job used to take half an hour with sweeping brush now done in minutes with the blower then into the studio for a bit more fun; I hope this continues because it's long overdue.
Kind regards, Colin.
rob aylestone
Moderator
Keep in mind most music lessons are probably 30 mins - because after that, the progress slows. two hours seems a VERY long time. half an hour can seem an eternity when teaching - I'd expect him to counsel you out of long sessions - you just won't learn that way.
Tuning is actually a great thing to get sorted. Do you have a system? with stringed instruments tuned in 5ths, you tune by ear a bit like a piano tuner. Electronic tuners remove a skill that is critical for success. Tune the bottom string by beating it with a piano sound from your keyboard, then tune the string above till it becomes a sort of 'drone' as it approaches the 5th. A nice thicker sound with no pulsing beating. Are you doing this? If you use a digital tuner, you are missing something. The sound of a 5th being tuned is a very violin type sound, and something to practice. Music teachers commonly dont answer the phone as they may be teaching, but text and mail works normally.
Tuning is actually a great thing to get sorted. Do you have a system? with stringed instruments tuned in 5ths, you tune by ear a bit like a piano tuner. Electronic tuners remove a skill that is critical for success. Tune the bottom string by beating it with a piano sound from your keyboard, then tune the string above till it becomes a sort of 'drone' as it approaches the 5th. A nice thicker sound with no pulsing beating. Are you doing this? If you use a digital tuner, you are missing something. The sound of a 5th being tuned is a very violin type sound, and something to practice. Music teachers commonly dont answer the phone as they may be teaching, but text and mail works normally.
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
Thanks rob, I'd like the music teacher to visit for two hours to our bungalow; this hopefully makes economical sense and will encourage him also of course I'm happy to pay all expenses; I don't just want a violin instruction I also want to fully set up my studio if he has the experience of my gear; I've got recording gear together with laptop which I'd like to correctly set up also although my wife and I don't use a mobile phone I did buy my wife a decent phone just for emergencies so I'd like to learn how to record my practices using the phone; I've bought a desktop phone stand; he'll also have the ear to adjust my Yamaha violin to the Yamaha amp; to get through most of this will be well worth the two hours.
Assuming he can pay an home visit for this first meeting then in future it won't be a problem to visit him in his studio so I'm doing my best and willing to spend money in order to move forward; I've been dogged by bad luck ever since I first touched a violin; I'm hoping to increase studio heating too straight after the New Year; I just hope now I'm able to spend time in the studio I can continue without huge jobs like tree felling and subsidence dragging me away again; this year has been very hard and difficult I'll be glad to see the back of it.
I've been trying to get into the studio for 16 months and today finally succeeded so no I don't as yet have a plan but today I've just enjoyed playing the violin for the sheer joy of it; yes at the moment I'm using an electronic tuner otherwise how can I train my ear with nothing I understand to work from; I don't play a keyboard either so I'm doing the best I can as all novices do. Sorry rob at the moment I haven't a clue as to 5ths but I'm sure the music teacher will enlighten me. As yet I've not received a reply to my email from Gavin the music teacher but if he does reply I'll update with any information; I've browsed the web for local violin teachers but most are female; I prefer a guy to teach me in my small studio.
I've enjoyed two really nice peaceful sessions today; this afternoon out of curiosity I played around with Amazing Grace score trying to read the notes; it was slow but it's started me off in a small way; due to your kind help I'm now aware of sharps & flats which I can recognize also which way a note should be played up or down with the bow; every bit helps but as you rightly say expert tuition will set me straight on many things. This morning the violin sounded awful but by the time I knocked off this afternoon it had shaken hands with me making some wonderful sounds.
Kind regards, Colin.
Thanks rob, I'd like the music teacher to visit for two hours to our bungalow; this hopefully makes economical sense and will encourage him also of course I'm happy to pay all expenses; I don't just want a violin instruction I also want to fully set up my studio if he has the experience of my gear; I've got recording gear together with laptop which I'd like to correctly set up also although my wife and I don't use a mobile phone I did buy my wife a decent phone just for emergencies so I'd like to learn how to record my practices using the phone; I've bought a desktop phone stand; he'll also have the ear to adjust my Yamaha violin to the Yamaha amp; to get through most of this will be well worth the two hours.
Assuming he can pay an home visit for this first meeting then in future it won't be a problem to visit him in his studio so I'm doing my best and willing to spend money in order to move forward; I've been dogged by bad luck ever since I first touched a violin; I'm hoping to increase studio heating too straight after the New Year; I just hope now I'm able to spend time in the studio I can continue without huge jobs like tree felling and subsidence dragging me away again; this year has been very hard and difficult I'll be glad to see the back of it.
I've been trying to get into the studio for 16 months and today finally succeeded so no I don't as yet have a plan but today I've just enjoyed playing the violin for the sheer joy of it; yes at the moment I'm using an electronic tuner otherwise how can I train my ear with nothing I understand to work from; I don't play a keyboard either so I'm doing the best I can as all novices do. Sorry rob at the moment I haven't a clue as to 5ths but I'm sure the music teacher will enlighten me. As yet I've not received a reply to my email from Gavin the music teacher but if he does reply I'll update with any information; I've browsed the web for local violin teachers but most are female; I prefer a guy to teach me in my small studio.
I've enjoyed two really nice peaceful sessions today; this afternoon out of curiosity I played around with Amazing Grace score trying to read the notes; it was slow but it's started me off in a small way; due to your kind help I'm now aware of sharps & flats which I can recognize also which way a note should be played up or down with the bow; every bit helps but as you rightly say expert tuition will set me straight on many things. This morning the violin sounded awful but by the time I knocked off this afternoon it had shaken hands with me making some wonderful sounds.
Kind regards, Colin.
rob aylestone
Moderator
Being honest Colin, what you’re now asking is something that will scare the pants of many teachers. They teach instruments they don’t teach technology and your restrictions on what you have will probably put them off. If you have been reading the books and internet sources then 5ths should be in your head already. They are the open strings and are the root and fifth note of a simple three note chord. They are not Major or minor but the sound of them is how you tune. It’s a critical part of playing a stringed instrument. If you cannot hear it, how will your fingers find the place to go? You need this skill as early as you can develop it or your hour and a half practice will be wasted. You do not want to learn out of tune notes! Music teachers are not remotely all technology people. I’m confused by some things. Adjusting your violin to your amp? Surely you’re already skilled at this? Recording gear and a laptop sounds good? Have you mentioned this before? You need somebody to get you into good habits and help you learn how to tune by ear and how to make sure your intonation is accurate. Are you having trouble connecting your amp and adjusting it? You’ve left me a bit confused as to what you’re doing in your practice sessions? I gave a lady a few guitar lessons but I gently dropped her when I realised her expectations were way above what she’ll ever be able to do. I didn’t feel I could help her as she just didn’t have any musical ability but she desperately wanted to play the guitar. She just wasnt able to put her fingers where they needed to go and progress was painful.she wanted to carry on but I didn’t
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
Thanks rob for your continuing patience and generous help. I'm a mechanical engineer never having come into contact with musical instruments and I admit I'm struggling; 5th's aren't in my head because as I've explained many times I've only enjoyed very limited violin playing time whilst also setting up the studio with electrics and benches etc together with gathering gear I think I'll eventually need as I spend more time in the studio; at last I'm now in a much better position to start seriously learning to play a violin but only as an hobby player enjoying violins to the best of my ability.
You've really surprised me rob in that it appears I'm totally wrong in expecting music teachers to have expanded taking in a wider spectrum such as understanding amps and recording; it never occurred to me I'd be asking Gavin the violin tutor to help me with setting up my gear after all I've seen so many YouTube videos of musicians with fully kitted out studios so I thought this would be normal; I didn't think music teaching would be such a narrow field of skill. I'd be happy to pay a musician to visit in order to save me lots of time experimenting with settings; I've played around with the Yamaha THR10 amp but I'm informed my violin sounds like it's being played down a well also in my ignorance I didn't know I was only playing the white notes on a keyboard; this is the reason I joined this forum in order to ask all the very basic and silly questions; if I don't ask I'll progress very slowly indeed.
I've not received a reply from Gavin our local violin teacher and possibly never will by what you tell me but it's not a major setback after all who taught the master violinists hundreds of years ago surely they too must have started at the bottom; being a mechanical engineer I wouldn't expect a novice to do as I do and use my engineering lathe to turn an item to a tolerance of one ten thousands of an inch (0.0001") it takes practice and as with violins I'm not familiar with the term 5th's but at 5:30 this morning I was looking into 5th's via YouTube on our TV; here's and example video;
I'm honest and not scared of looking a fool whilst asking basic questions; it's how I learn; violin playing and all this new music gear is alien to me but even with my many problems I've made a lot of progress and feel very happy that I've not quit ages ago; I've three friends who quit trying to play violin it too difficult for them and not one of them has suffered the problems I've suffered but I'm still here and will remain here dropping notes and doing things totally wrong because I don't know any better; it doesn't bother me in the least because I've never yet failed in any project I've tackled and I'm multi skilled learning lots of new skills from scratch entirely on my own.
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/blown-my-welder-up.94007/
I've got staying power and I'm too thick to know when to quit; I will play a violin.
There's so many settings on the Yamaha amp rob and I'm having to play around which is time consuming especially when it's been incredibly difficult to get studio time. What a shame about you having to let the young lady down when she was so keen to learn to play her guitar; my violin practices cost nothing and I'm not under any time constraints which is the case whilst paying for lessons; I might yet hear from Gavin and I hope I do but if not I'll learn as I usually do the hard way.
I truly appreciate your generous help rob; your time is precious as is the time of Raymond and all members who have joined in to help me I thank each and every one of you.
I'm going to back off now from the forum; not packing in actually far from it; I'm going to spend more time in the studio after all I've moaned long and hard about not having studio time so I don't want to waste it; when the weather warms up I'll be bogged down once again with lots of maintenance so I'd better get some violin practice in. Hopefully I'll be able to post progress in the near future; my dream still is to play Lara's Theme correctly so the time has come to learn to read music and to get plenty of violin practice.
Thanks again everyone.
Kind regards, Colin.
Thanks rob for your continuing patience and generous help. I'm a mechanical engineer never having come into contact with musical instruments and I admit I'm struggling; 5th's aren't in my head because as I've explained many times I've only enjoyed very limited violin playing time whilst also setting up the studio with electrics and benches etc together with gathering gear I think I'll eventually need as I spend more time in the studio; at last I'm now in a much better position to start seriously learning to play a violin but only as an hobby player enjoying violins to the best of my ability.
You've really surprised me rob in that it appears I'm totally wrong in expecting music teachers to have expanded taking in a wider spectrum such as understanding amps and recording; it never occurred to me I'd be asking Gavin the violin tutor to help me with setting up my gear after all I've seen so many YouTube videos of musicians with fully kitted out studios so I thought this would be normal; I didn't think music teaching would be such a narrow field of skill. I'd be happy to pay a musician to visit in order to save me lots of time experimenting with settings; I've played around with the Yamaha THR10 amp but I'm informed my violin sounds like it's being played down a well also in my ignorance I didn't know I was only playing the white notes on a keyboard; this is the reason I joined this forum in order to ask all the very basic and silly questions; if I don't ask I'll progress very slowly indeed.
I've not received a reply from Gavin our local violin teacher and possibly never will by what you tell me but it's not a major setback after all who taught the master violinists hundreds of years ago surely they too must have started at the bottom; being a mechanical engineer I wouldn't expect a novice to do as I do and use my engineering lathe to turn an item to a tolerance of one ten thousands of an inch (0.0001") it takes practice and as with violins I'm not familiar with the term 5th's but at 5:30 this morning I was looking into 5th's via YouTube on our TV; here's and example video;
I'm honest and not scared of looking a fool whilst asking basic questions; it's how I learn; violin playing and all this new music gear is alien to me but even with my many problems I've made a lot of progress and feel very happy that I've not quit ages ago; I've three friends who quit trying to play violin it too difficult for them and not one of them has suffered the problems I've suffered but I'm still here and will remain here dropping notes and doing things totally wrong because I don't know any better; it doesn't bother me in the least because I've never yet failed in any project I've tackled and I'm multi skilled learning lots of new skills from scratch entirely on my own.
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/blown-my-welder-up.94007/
I've got staying power and I'm too thick to know when to quit; I will play a violin.
There's so many settings on the Yamaha amp rob and I'm having to play around which is time consuming especially when it's been incredibly difficult to get studio time. What a shame about you having to let the young lady down when she was so keen to learn to play her guitar; my violin practices cost nothing and I'm not under any time constraints which is the case whilst paying for lessons; I might yet hear from Gavin and I hope I do but if not I'll learn as I usually do the hard way.
I truly appreciate your generous help rob; your time is precious as is the time of Raymond and all members who have joined in to help me I thank each and every one of you.
I'm going to back off now from the forum; not packing in actually far from it; I'm going to spend more time in the studio after all I've moaned long and hard about not having studio time so I don't want to waste it; when the weather warms up I'll be bogged down once again with lots of maintenance so I'd better get some violin practice in. Hopefully I'll be able to post progress in the near future; my dream still is to play Lara's Theme correctly so the time has come to learn to read music and to get plenty of violin practice.
Thanks again everyone.
Kind regards, Colin.
rob aylestone
Moderator
The video is a good example of how the sound of the two notes - creates that characteristic fiddle sound, and that is what you MUST hear in your head. The snag with learning an instrument is that it has to fit you. Years ago I remember a really good book that was designed to work out what instrument was most appropriate for you. It asked things about how best you learn. There are four generally accepted styles of learning. Visual, Auditory, reading/writing and kinaesthetic.
People in any group fall into these four styles of learning - and make best progress. I'm kinaesthetic - as in I learn best by touching and fiddling, learning as I go. Musically - people will either be musically aware, or not. You can teach anyone to dance, but only those with the right genes will be dancers - same with singers, and I expect even engineers. You could teach somebody to operate a lathe, but can they measure properly. I'm sure you know people who cannot use micrometers, or have any real understanding of how small a thou or two actually is? You have chosen an instrument that plays in tune by the virtual of the musicians ear. It needs considerable dexterity to put fingers on them in the correct places. You need to understand angles to be able to play the desired string and not another. If you had hearing that was less pitch sensitive, you could perhaps play percussion if your timing was developed, but a violin? Not every electric bass player can play fretless - a huge number cannot. people with stumpy fingers struggle with the violin, but delicate slim fingers might have trouble with the double bass. By rights, Elton John should have struggled with the piano, because he has little stumpy hands, but he developed his playing style to cope with it. Some instruments and style dictate certain attributes, others are more fluid and bendable.
How exactly are you learning Lara's theme? Are you playing along to a recording, or maybe a track in your computer. What are your goals each session? Timing? Pitch accuracy or just the correct letter name being played? Do you judge yourself on the practical things as in 98 notes all played or 98 notes all played perfectly in tune? Timing? As in the recorded track, or a version with some very long notes and some very short ones? How are you measuring success?
With a violin tuned with an electronic tuner - those 4 open strings will be absolutely in tune. The rest should be, but are they? A really good test is to check you can hear the beating. play a low open string and then on the next string put your finger on the same note, but an octave higher. When the two notes are close, they start to beat with each other - a sort of throbbing. As they get closer to being the same note the throbbing slows down. When the two strings are exactly the same pitch = this beating vanishes. Can you hear it? You really need to, because if you cannot, or cannot learn to hear it, then the violin will never be mastered and you will always sound dreadful. It's worth spending serious time on this. You MUST learn it, you need to always hear it. String players cannot play in tune with headphones on, unless they can hear their own instrument in them. Hence why so many play one ear covered, one ear open. If you cannot hear you are flat or sharp, and cannot master this - the violin is the wrong instrument for you. Identifying a C from a B is important for every musician, but a string player needs to identify a B from a very near B. This is all you need to find out from a teacher before deciding the next steps. It's perfectly possible to then receive advice to pack it in. You need to stretch to grow, but no decent teacher will set you up to fail. Parents do it to their kids all the time and teachers have the difficult problem of telling mum Johnny is simply not going to progress. They say they will work very hard, but that is not enough if the basic skills are absent or unable to be brought out.
Get the teacher in for an assessment of where you are now. Many teachers will be comfortable with technology, but it is not a given. Just don't put off a teacher by bombarding them with your needs until you know them better - it will put many totally off.
Tune your bottom string with a tuner. then tune the rest by ear - then use the tuner to see how close you were. That perfect 5th is VERY important.
People in any group fall into these four styles of learning - and make best progress. I'm kinaesthetic - as in I learn best by touching and fiddling, learning as I go. Musically - people will either be musically aware, or not. You can teach anyone to dance, but only those with the right genes will be dancers - same with singers, and I expect even engineers. You could teach somebody to operate a lathe, but can they measure properly. I'm sure you know people who cannot use micrometers, or have any real understanding of how small a thou or two actually is? You have chosen an instrument that plays in tune by the virtual of the musicians ear. It needs considerable dexterity to put fingers on them in the correct places. You need to understand angles to be able to play the desired string and not another. If you had hearing that was less pitch sensitive, you could perhaps play percussion if your timing was developed, but a violin? Not every electric bass player can play fretless - a huge number cannot. people with stumpy fingers struggle with the violin, but delicate slim fingers might have trouble with the double bass. By rights, Elton John should have struggled with the piano, because he has little stumpy hands, but he developed his playing style to cope with it. Some instruments and style dictate certain attributes, others are more fluid and bendable.
How exactly are you learning Lara's theme? Are you playing along to a recording, or maybe a track in your computer. What are your goals each session? Timing? Pitch accuracy or just the correct letter name being played? Do you judge yourself on the practical things as in 98 notes all played or 98 notes all played perfectly in tune? Timing? As in the recorded track, or a version with some very long notes and some very short ones? How are you measuring success?
With a violin tuned with an electronic tuner - those 4 open strings will be absolutely in tune. The rest should be, but are they? A really good test is to check you can hear the beating. play a low open string and then on the next string put your finger on the same note, but an octave higher. When the two notes are close, they start to beat with each other - a sort of throbbing. As they get closer to being the same note the throbbing slows down. When the two strings are exactly the same pitch = this beating vanishes. Can you hear it? You really need to, because if you cannot, or cannot learn to hear it, then the violin will never be mastered and you will always sound dreadful. It's worth spending serious time on this. You MUST learn it, you need to always hear it. String players cannot play in tune with headphones on, unless they can hear their own instrument in them. Hence why so many play one ear covered, one ear open. If you cannot hear you are flat or sharp, and cannot master this - the violin is the wrong instrument for you. Identifying a C from a B is important for every musician, but a string player needs to identify a B from a very near B. This is all you need to find out from a teacher before deciding the next steps. It's perfectly possible to then receive advice to pack it in. You need to stretch to grow, but no decent teacher will set you up to fail. Parents do it to their kids all the time and teachers have the difficult problem of telling mum Johnny is simply not going to progress. They say they will work very hard, but that is not enough if the basic skills are absent or unable to be brought out.
Get the teacher in for an assessment of where you are now. Many teachers will be comfortable with technology, but it is not a given. Just don't put off a teacher by bombarding them with your needs until you know them better - it will put many totally off.
Tune your bottom string with a tuner. then tune the rest by ear - then use the tuner to see how close you were. That perfect 5th is VERY important.
R
Retired
Active member
Hi,
rob you are a gem but asking me questions at the moment I simply cannot answer; I've only just got into the studio where at last I'm not under any pressure and already I'm feeling rather overwhelmed with so much information in front of me. Today is very cold again so I've not heated the studio being busy with other things; however good news for a change the new fan heater has arrived and I'll wire it into the studio so with the fan heater and CH radiator on together the studio should warm up quickly encouraging me to venture in; at the moment the radiator struggles to get on top.
I've been using the electronic tuner in order to place my fingers for each note including sharps & flats at least it's much better than guessing and puts my fingers in roughly the correct place; as I gain more experience I'll drop the tuner because even now I'm starting to notice differences in pitch/tone as I practice; I'm also taking a keen interest in reading music because my short term memory is terrible; if I can play from a music score I won't need to worry about memorizing the notes; not the best way but better than not playing at all; I've had to enlarge the score making the notes easier to see and now I'm trying to memorize each note and will just keep practicing; I've got Andy Williams singing "Somewhere my love" on memory stick also the animated YouTube teaching aid giving slow; medium and fast; I've also been practicing timing using a manual metronome which I initially found quite difficult but was soon catching on. Please don't be too disappointed with my efforts after all violin playing is a very interesting long term hobby for me and if I never play tunes correctly I'll not worry; I just enjoy playing for the fun of it; I'll never make an orchestral violinist and I don't want to. I can feel and understand your frustration at my slow progress.
I hope the young lady you decided no longer to teach guitar to isn't put off from still just enjoying making music which would be a shame. There are so many levels to everything and often so many different ways of learning but with the same result; a specialist once told my wife you can visit twelve specialists and get twelve different opinions.
My wonderful wife has spoiled me rotten and now I've got a decent studio with quite a bit of recording kit to play around with much of it still untried but is there ready as I gain experience; I put a very poor YouTube video together just to experiment with my Tascam pocket studio whilst trying to export to YouTube which I found difficult but I did succeed; I don't even care if it's laughed at because at the time I was on a ballistic learning curve; the only way to fail at something is not to try.
I've got a floor microphone stand on order from Thomann recommended by a forum member for my Rode condenser mic; one thing I did notice regarding my Yamaha YEV violin was the original short cable with angled connector to my Line 6 relay sounds quite a bit different to the new same length cable but with straight connector.
I've started reading "Violins for Dummies" but am still on basics; I'm learning for my own enjoyment not to impress anyone; we have friends visit and they never ask as to how I'm getting on with my violins so I never mention them; I'm 75 with almost 60 years of heavy work behind me; I've no intention of stopping learning and be idle.
Tomorrow is planned as studio day first job will be to wire in the fan heater.
Kind regards, Colin
rob you are a gem but asking me questions at the moment I simply cannot answer; I've only just got into the studio where at last I'm not under any pressure and already I'm feeling rather overwhelmed with so much information in front of me. Today is very cold again so I've not heated the studio being busy with other things; however good news for a change the new fan heater has arrived and I'll wire it into the studio so with the fan heater and CH radiator on together the studio should warm up quickly encouraging me to venture in; at the moment the radiator struggles to get on top.
I've been using the electronic tuner in order to place my fingers for each note including sharps & flats at least it's much better than guessing and puts my fingers in roughly the correct place; as I gain more experience I'll drop the tuner because even now I'm starting to notice differences in pitch/tone as I practice; I'm also taking a keen interest in reading music because my short term memory is terrible; if I can play from a music score I won't need to worry about memorizing the notes; not the best way but better than not playing at all; I've had to enlarge the score making the notes easier to see and now I'm trying to memorize each note and will just keep practicing; I've got Andy Williams singing "Somewhere my love" on memory stick also the animated YouTube teaching aid giving slow; medium and fast; I've also been practicing timing using a manual metronome which I initially found quite difficult but was soon catching on. Please don't be too disappointed with my efforts after all violin playing is a very interesting long term hobby for me and if I never play tunes correctly I'll not worry; I just enjoy playing for the fun of it; I'll never make an orchestral violinist and I don't want to. I can feel and understand your frustration at my slow progress.
I hope the young lady you decided no longer to teach guitar to isn't put off from still just enjoying making music which would be a shame. There are so many levels to everything and often so many different ways of learning but with the same result; a specialist once told my wife you can visit twelve specialists and get twelve different opinions.
My wonderful wife has spoiled me rotten and now I've got a decent studio with quite a bit of recording kit to play around with much of it still untried but is there ready as I gain experience; I put a very poor YouTube video together just to experiment with my Tascam pocket studio whilst trying to export to YouTube which I found difficult but I did succeed; I don't even care if it's laughed at because at the time I was on a ballistic learning curve; the only way to fail at something is not to try.
I've got a floor microphone stand on order from Thomann recommended by a forum member for my Rode condenser mic; one thing I did notice regarding my Yamaha YEV violin was the original short cable with angled connector to my Line 6 relay sounds quite a bit different to the new same length cable but with straight connector.
I've started reading "Violins for Dummies" but am still on basics; I'm learning for my own enjoyment not to impress anyone; we have friends visit and they never ask as to how I'm getting on with my violins so I never mention them; I'm 75 with almost 60 years of heavy work behind me; I've no intention of stopping learning and be idle.
Tomorrow is planned as studio day first job will be to wire in the fan heater.
Kind regards, Colin
rob aylestone
Moderator
I just worry that you are doing things a bit 'oddly'? Placing your fingers with the tuner is perhaps good the first day or two, but you must learn the aural sound of being in tune, or not. Some people even stick coloured fret lines on the neck to show where the fingers need to be. Where frets would be if violins had them.
One thing surprised me - cables don't sound different. If one of your cables sounds different, something happened? Right angle and straight make no differences? Dodgy cables do? If you post youtube links we can perhaps do the tips and suggestions as responses to things. Maybe if we could see your fingers and hear the results we can move you forward. I just wonder if you have got so engrossed in some aspects, you're not making progress and progress in music is vital. Lack of progress really prevents growth.
I suppose I'm just trying to imagine how I would feel if it was me. I want to progess faster in everything I do. The idea of playing the same piece for an hour and a half would be something killing any passion I had. A teacher would suggest spending ten minutes on this then ten minutes on that - they'd break the song into phrases so you get the pitching and timing correct, then when that phase is solid, move on. Maybe musically 8 bar chunks, maybe 16? You've a lot to master - pitch, phrasing, muscle memory and stamina - plus your music reading skills!
One thing surprised me - cables don't sound different. If one of your cables sounds different, something happened? Right angle and straight make no differences? Dodgy cables do? If you post youtube links we can perhaps do the tips and suggestions as responses to things. Maybe if we could see your fingers and hear the results we can move you forward. I just wonder if you have got so engrossed in some aspects, you're not making progress and progress in music is vital. Lack of progress really prevents growth.
I suppose I'm just trying to imagine how I would feel if it was me. I want to progess faster in everything I do. The idea of playing the same piece for an hour and a half would be something killing any passion I had. A teacher would suggest spending ten minutes on this then ten minutes on that - they'd break the song into phrases so you get the pitching and timing correct, then when that phase is solid, move on. Maybe musically 8 bar chunks, maybe 16? You've a lot to master - pitch, phrasing, muscle memory and stamina - plus your music reading skills!