Hey all, I've just started taking violin lessons 3 months back. I'm usually only free to practice at night but wouldn't want to disturb others.

Anyone knows where I could buy a violin mute? Somewhere near Kepong or Subang area?

Thanks so much guys, I'll be sure to check that violin store in Sri Hartamas. Hopefully I can get a rubber mute or a metal one like my teacher's

Hey, since we're all string lovers here, just wondering if you guys have heard of Vitamin String Quartet.

They are a band who plays a diverse range of instruments but focuses mainly on strings such as viola and violins.

They play songs from other artists such as goo goo dolls, nickleback, yellowcard even paramore and my chemical romance.

Check them out on youtube and see what you think My current favourite is Hoobastank - The Reason

Haha, looks like you're the same as me. I just started learning the violin 3 months back from zero and I'm 24. I am free during the weekends only as I have to work. I try to practice everyday but before 10 pm (neighbours need sleep ya know?), never did get myself to buy the violin mute. But for myself I have no interest in playing for an orchestra, my goal is to be able to play songs such as those you hear on the radio on the violin

I bought mine for RM300. I'm learning at The Guitar Store in Damansara Perdana. Beginners course is RM100/month with 30 minutes per session.

Hey, guys. Just wondering if you guys use a shoulder rest to play violin.

Playing without the shoulder rest supposedly makes the sound nicer right? What is good about playing with and without the shoulder rest?

Thanks guys for your replies . I was just wondering if I were going to play without the shoulder rest might as well start practicing from now. However, apparently it seems that many violinist do play with the shoulder rest nowadays.

I guess it is also troublesome for me personally because my violin case is not able to fit the shoulder rest inside and I have to carry it separately.

Haha, I've been taking classes since February. Interesting is an understatement

Well, it is one of the hardest instrument to learn. Change in humidity and bow direction and pressure would also affect the tone.

I was just like you! Started with the violin with no musical background. Only that I was 24 years old

[QUOTE][quote=storm04,Nov 26 2009, 12:31 PM]
ha ha very funny...

anyway thanks for the advise.... i'll just stick to the strings until they snap...[/QUOTE]

But... if your g-string snaps... Why... you'd be naked!

I too just started learning violin with no musical background whatsoever. I guess I don't really know if the intonation is perfect as long as it sounds right. The intonation will also depend on how perfectly tuned the violin is as well.

For tuning the violin I haave to rely on a tuner. While playing... well there is always my pretty teacher there to guide me

A little out of tune is ok I think. Only trained ears can really tell the difference. Or unless there's something really wrong like when the violin peg slips and then even I notice the difference in tune. The greatest challenge for me is the timing/rhythm. Little ice is right about not playing with the tuner. I also tried playing with the metronome on for rhythm and can't seem to be able to follow at all even with slower beats. In the end I just gave up on it and just try my best to count without the metronome.

Memorizing notes just need practice. I also stall sometimes wondering what note is it.

Don't give up!

Btw anyone knows a way to deal with peg slips? I know, I know my violin is cheap. Certain room temperatures also seems to cause it to slip more often.

Block fingering vs independent fingering which is better? (Are the terms right?)

Block fingering - Where you put down all fingers at once to get a note
Independent fingering - Where you use only one finger to get a note

Hmmm, right now I'm always playing with independent fingering. I feel that it is more efficient to just hold down one finger instead of more. However, I would think that there are certain songs that would be more efficient to have block fingering. Is there anyone who mixes independent and block fingering while playing?

What a stange question. What are you thinking to do with your instrument?

Same question I asked when I first started. I wanted to practice violin at night but afraid to disturb others. The shop at Sri Hartamas is selling. However, if you're just looking to practice the shop owner said you can just use a normal clothes peg and peg it near the bridge and it will function like a mute. So in the end I didn't bother with the mute, I'm just playing in my room and I didn't get any complaints so far (before 10.30 pm of course ). No need to crack your head thinking about rubber or metal mutes amd which design is better.

Heh, I broke mine before too.

Speaking of strings, I've changed all to the metallic type after my e-string broke. It tends to rust and doesn't sound as warm. What are the types other than metal and what are the affordable brands? Dominant seems kinda expensive for a beginner.

But we can't hop into a BMW learning how to drive. What if we hit something?

Hey guys,

It has been a year and a half since I first started learning violin and I feel that I'm making very slow progress. I started without any musical background and jumped straight into violin.

My first teacher was good as she had played in an orchestra before. She was very strict but whenever she shows an example she plays really well. I noticed that she adds a little vibrato at the end of long notes. She has her own violin.

My new teacher is young and makes mistakes. I know nobody is perfect, just sometimes she is not very convincing with her violin practical and theory. She prefers to show an example by using the piano instead. She is also quite strict but we can go over the same piece for 3 weeks.

I now still only know the first postion and only played pieces on G, D, A majors. Am I going too slow? Is it because there was a change in teacher which slowed things down? What is your opinion on a good teacher? Strict, linient?

Btw, I would like to know how you would answer to this question.
"Why is there no E# and B#?"

Haha, yes I know that. Just like my new teacher. She just says E# is F and B# is C. Then she shows me the piano and that black keys for the semitone is not there. But she could never give a reason why. It's funny when I ask my grade 8 friends as well. It is as if the question never even occured to them. They just say that's the way it is.

But why is that so? Just curious as to why E and B, why not some other random note? Why the sudden gap in the semitones there?

I suppose there should be a very complex explanation involving diatonic, chromatic, whole tone, pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic, and whatnot which is probably best left unknown to a beginner. So ok, I guess I can just accept it without reason.