I`m nearing the end of my first week of playing violin. I`m loving every second and have been putting in several hours a day. I realize that producing a clear tone consistantly can come from nothing but practice, practice, practice, but I`m wondering on average, how long did it take most of you to get past the "squeaky stage" where you could play clear tones consistantly?

For me, I still didn`t play a completely clear tone until a pretty long time after I had stopped squeeking. I got to a stage where, to bluntly put it, I was dragging the bow across the string, instead of really pulling the string and getting a clear tone. In the past several months, with the help of my private teacher, I have definitely improved the clarity and "openness" of my tone. Now, I`m actually figuring out that some of it was partly due to the fact that my violin is a very "closed" instrument, even my teacher is saying that. But, I think of it, in a way, as a good thing, b/c in order for me to get a clear tone out of it, my technique had to be pretty darn good, and I was going to stop at nothing to get a clear sound out of it.

Anyway, I`ll stop babbling. It took me about 1-3 months to get rid of the squeeks. I had started a year ago May, and I remember when I got to school orchestra, my tone was not squeeky. You, as an adult, with as much practice as you say you are doing, should see noticeable progress.

-Tim

Thanks Tim, I do notice improvement in different ways every time I play, but as with all beginners, it is hard to stay consistant. I can get through a tune clearly one time and think "now I`ve got it!" Then I go to play it again and "SQUWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!" and I`m working hard to pay close attention to the subtle little things and figure out what went right and what went wrong and why, as well as to develope a "feel" for the tone.
Can you please clarify the difference between "dragging" the bow across the string and "pulling?" the bow across the string?

I think he meant that he uses more arm weight/force to get a good bite on the strings. And thus it felt like pulling. He`s working his arms this time, but not the first time round. Previously he wasn`t using the required amt. of strength.

DW has most of what I ment. I wasn`t squeeking, but some words to describe my tone would include thin, weak,empty, spread out, and dull.

My bowing technique was not very developed at all, and the weak tone was only one "symptom" of this. My bowing wasn`t straight, not close enough to the bridge, and lacked the control I have now. My teacher helped me by showing my how to "glue" the bow to the string and keep it in one place. The extra force, like DW said, really helped my tone come out. The major step, I think, was bringing the bow close to the bridge. I find that just out of feel, when I am playing as loud as possible, I get too close to the bridge and have to back off a little.

My teacher explained it this way. When babies begin to walk, they barely bend their knees at all, and look very stiff. The muscles aren`t completely developed. That`s what a beginner`s playing is like. Until the muscles really develop (and we`re talking almost micro-muscles), it is hard to relax and have a steady flow of sound. Long-term practice and a little focus will help immensly, and it sounds like you`re on the right track.

-Tim

Claire

We`re not too far apart in our learning (about 6-7 weeks and two lessons for me). I still get an odd squeak but, the percentage of clearer (nb clearer, not clear) notes is rising . My bowing is getting smoother and my note finding is better.

For a short while today, I was able to forget my bowing and fingering and concentrate on playing the tune. OK, so it was only a short time but, I suppose it`s like the first time you manage to change gear and take a bend without having to consciously think about it. Who`s feeling smug but, I`m sure it will get it`s own back in the near future.

In my previous life I never worked on `technique` (was never taught to us, in our group lessons). I`ve been looking through the technique book I bought myself...and let me tell you, I suck. For example, I can`t do an arpeggio properly at all - past the Grade 1 level - never mind the harder bowing, etc.. Wonder if I should spend time working on the studies in this book, or just concentrate on the music - no matter what `technique` I use?

Wow, this has been tremendously helpful! I`m noticing a lot of improvement when I do a "marathon practice" and just work, work, work on producing a clear, even tone, concentrating on each aspect of my playing one by one- finger positions on the keyboard, proper position of my left hand, holding the bow properly, drawing the bow in a straight line across the strings, pressure of the bow on the strings, drawing the right distance across the strings and the angle of the bow so that I hit the right string without brushing the others. I`ll be glad when I reach the stage where all of this comes more naturally and I can focus on the piece!

As another beginner (and with no intention of double entendre) keep your bow strokes slow and long. I`ve found I have problems when I try and change direction too quickly.

...LOL...it sounds like the start of a song...


...`keep your bow strokes slow`...

;-)

LOL, now I could think up SO many terrible second lines to that!!!

I`m all ears! Fire away! Someone can come up with a little music, and we`ll have an original on our hands!

Honestly, I got past my squeaky stage in about.. five days I think. I picked it up and it was like, laaaaa! I knew it was going to be my new favourite instrument. I play piano and teach music, and play guitar (electric and acoustic) and alto sax, trumpet, clarinet, bass guitar (not very well) and that`s it apart from tinkering on other things. Musical background is a plus in the squeaky department, definitely.