This will really help me.
Q: I have trouble practising in my busy life as I play two instruments. My violin exam is coming up in 2 weeks and i stiil get stuck on a G major arpeggio and G major scale slurred bows, (cut me some slack, its only my first violin exam. Can you give me some tips about the things I have trouble with or how to fit more practise in.
I am doing my exam with associated board.

Q: I get really sweaty when playing the violin in my lessons in front of my teacher, even though she has been teaching me for 3 years, I still get nervous around her. Can you help.

Q: My tuning is always flat on the first note of each peice then it gets too sharp. Can you give any tips?

Q: Do you think I am going well on the violin even with these problems?

Please, please, pleaserespond!
rdec

Sorry, I do not play violin. I cannot answer those questions.

wish i could help ya....but i don't think i could possibly ever play the violin...but i admire you!!

Answer to Q1:
I find number of times you practice can be more important than how long you practice. To improve your G arpeggio and G scale I suggest you play the scale and arpeggio slowly twice in the morning and twice in the evening. The next day take it a little quicker, but only as fast as you know you can do it without mistakes (even if that is taking it 2 seconds per note).

Practicing it any more than that and making mistakes will only teach you to do it the wrong way. So,do it slowly, decisively, twice in the morning and twice in the evening.

Answer to Q2: You get really sweaty and nervous in front of your teacher probably because you are insecure about something. Try to understand and realize she is there to help you learn more about the violin. You are probably afraid to make a mistake; but this is the perfect time to make the mistake - because she can fix it. Try asking her when you make a mistake if she knows why people make that kind of mistake. Trying being prepare at your lessons, if you didn't have time to practice tell her that you didn't practice very much this week and ask if she will walk you through how to practice this piece correctly.

Not enough teachers ever teach their students how to practice. If they do they seldom do it more than once, yet they have students practice scales constantly. I do review how to practice with my students. And I always ask them how much they practiced this week - not to make them feel bad, but because most of them are very busy and if I know how much they did or didn't practice then I know what to expect and then I can help them practice the piece, etude, or whatever and learn something from the lesson.

Another thing on getting nervous. Music is an enjoyable activity. People you play for love to listen even if you're not Izak Pearlman. They really do and that don't worry about a little mistake here and there. So, relax and enjoy when you play. Try not to over think things. Meditate a little before hand - breathe slowly through your nose (really slowly) until you are only thinking about your breathing and you are relaxed and calm - then play and be happy and joyous about it.

Answer to Q3: Tuning. Practice - on violin this is a long time project. We generally go sharp after we start playing because our arms get tired and fatigued very quickly causing our elbow to drop down and pull back towards the body resulting in the hand moving up on the finger board. You need to develop strength in your left arm and learn consistency. This is learned by repetitiveness. Get a tuner and make sure you start on pitch. Then check it every staff to get you to keep your left hand in position on the finger board.

Answer to Q4: Do I think you are doing well? If you have been playing for 10 years I would have some concerns. If you have been playing only 1 year I think you are doing fine. The most important question is do you like, or are you going to like playing the violin. If this is simething you want to do then by all means keep it up and enjoy what you are doing.All these problems are easily corrected.

Quote from Ronny Romm (Canadian Brass founder and trumpet player extraordinaire). "We are all fantastic musicians. Some of us just aren't there . . . .yet."

It's not meant to be easy, but the challenges are emant to be fun.

I play three instruments. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE TIME TO PRACTICE! as soon as you say your "too busy" to practice, that means your not truely commited. You need to make time to practice.

You should always get nervous in front of people. infact,it is scientificly correct that stage-nervousness can actually help you in your performance.

Hope this helped!
-mrviolin : )

The last reply did not help at all! 'You are not commited,' well, I am, and i go to orchastra 3 times a week, am in a band and need to do thixs thing called 'homework'

I am currently playing viola, piano and mandolin. I find that no matter how much I practice, I feel that I am neglecting at least one of my instruments! I tend to practice more on the one I need for the moment. Example...usually I practice piano more because that is what I play in my church, however if I am playing quartet for an upcoming wedding, I would practice viola more, etc. It can be very hard!

Good news is that i play piano and violin! Getting sweaty with the violin is not good. I also do not like to make mistakes in front of my teacher but i try to remember she isn't there to criticize me, she is there to help me. If you can try to play your exam in front of people besides your teacher you will get used to people wathcing you play. You will become more comfortable playing and when you have to take the real exam, people watching you won't scare you. If you get the butterflies (i do) just breathe and tell yourself, "I am good at this, and i will do good" and forget all the people around you. When i play my violin in front of people all i do is stare at the fingerboard and i forget people are even there! All i can say is practice and try and get used to playing in front of people by playing in front of family or friends. And when you have the exam, breathe, and forget the people are even there! Hope that helps, if you need anymore help, just message me