Just came across this thread.

I play the violin semi professionally for some time now, and played for various private and open functions, normally in quartet setting. But now seldom play loh cause I'm focusing on pop music productions (mainly chinese industry). Almost never practice my violin now play like sh*t already...

This post has been edited by pigcat: Feb 11 2008, 05:28 PM

Thanks for adding me to the list!

Nope I'm not audio engineer, I'm a full time (also free lance) music arranger now.

I have a friend who's MPO player, a Romanian, and his skill is like... then I look at my playing...

This post has been edited by pigcat: Feb 12 2008, 01:22 PM

Heh if you've watch perlman play bumble bee on cello you'll fainted, that guy is really multi talented...

Actually I learned vibrato in the very early stage, my teacher tought me a very useful way of doing it, it's the finger join excercise to "free up" the joins (hard to describe in words, though). Quite easy, i'll say, due to the method. My vibrato is the finger join way, which is the most traditional way. Have heard people talking about other way but I haven't really seen it in person.

Just wondering you guys/gals who play the violin, is that your primary instrument? I pickup violin quite late but my primary instrument is piano anyway.

Wrist vibrato is the IMHO the "correct" one. Minimum movement is essential, save the hand movement for shifting instead.

Just thought of bump this thread a bit haha...

There're several chamber music going on MPO, have a look. Ticket very cheap only RM10, there're few interesting chamber pieces coming up so be sure to book ticket early! I went for the Beethoven violin sonata and Mendelson string quartet, nice!

If you're looking for private teacher, you can try to get in touch with orchestra players. DBKL, RTM, NSO, all teach and charge the fees per class. Be prepared that lowest rate of one class (45mins to 1hour on instrument only) is RM50, and some charge as high as RM120 or even RM200 (of course that's super profesional) per hour, usually regardless of what grade you are.

Best if you ask your teacher to help you out, but actually not really the best depends on your teacher (as some teacher will potong you with overpriced instruments cause he want to earn). But luckily my teacher is kind enough to happily bring nice instruments for me.

If you're serious about learning violin, you can always buy violin around RM1500 which you have a better sound to start with as the RM300 violins (some) has really harsh/thin sound. Don't worry about the resale value, violin generally has high resale value, with care from owner you can resale your violin virtually at same price you bought, and sometimes more cause violin's sound quality will increase over the years of usage.

Instruments available at Euro music is pretty nice.

Violin is very difficult to learn without a proper tutor, you definitely need a teacher to teach you and you'll learn way more quickily than having to do hair tearing trying to figuring out basics. Most importantly, you'll always ask yourself a question - am I doing the right thing?

Also it's advisable to learn some theory at least until grade 3~5 (which covered all the useful stuffs). I stopped at grade 5 anyway...

Gratz to your wonderful purchase! Yeah Vivian is a very helpful and nice person!

Yes it's always possible for cheaper violin to sounds loud and rich, as violin is made of wood by hands (even they're made from so-called factory). And you're lucky that you've got a violin player to choose and test for you! Normally customer will be blur blur and buy violin which they don't have much idea of the potential of the violin.

You'll need a tuner to check the tuning of all 4 strings. But when you've advanced to certain level you can start to learn tuning the A string using the tuner, and tune the rest following the A strings (that's the note that the whole orchestra will check when tuning).

Some care about violin and what you should/shouldn't do:

1. Wipe the white powder after each use (the powder is the rosin on your bow, they'll drop on the violin when playing). They're acidic so you have to wipe them off with dry cloth everytime or else they'll stick there forever and hard to clean. Oh and do not apply too much rosin to the bow hair, just can make sound with ease without powder coming out then ok.

2. Try not to mess around with the bridge and the soundpost (the wood stick inside the body which you can see from the "f" hole). The bridge is not glued and it'll fall down if all the strings are loosen at once, and without top pressure, the wood stick inside will also fall down as it's not glue'd too, without the stick your violin will sounds horrible, and it need a pro to set it up, slight changes in position will cause the sound to change dramatically. If it really happened to your violin, bring back to Euro Music as the owner Calvin will fix it cause he's also string instrument repairman.

3. Change the strings one by one, reason as mentioned above.

4. Always loosen the bow after use, or else the tension will damage the wood stick and it'll lose its curve and will feel dead when playing.

5. Do not have the shoulder rest set too narrow to clamp the body too tight, it'll damped the sound and responsiveness.

6. Do not leave your violin in a hot environment! The painting of the violin will melt and worse the glue that hold the wood pieces will come off.

I think that's about it, try not to knock your violin to cause nicks and dings so you can always sell it off in the future for higher value.

This post has been edited by pigcat: Mar 27 2008, 03:20 PM

Unless your teacher know what he/she's doing, or else it'll get worse.

If your teacher know what to do, he/she'll probably loosen the strings one by one, and use a pencil and apply it on the groove on the bridge. It act like a lubricator, so when the strings are tighten again the bridge won't be pulled towards the scroll, and with the lubrication you can simply pull the bridge slightly without the need of loosen the strings.

That said, if there's no problem, better not touch it, as strings instruments are very delicate and fragile instruments (I learned the hard way lol!). Best bring back to Euro music to fix it.

It'll take quite some time for your finger to get used to playing instruments. Just like the very first time you hold a playstation joypad and trying to perform some moves in games. How long it'll take is individual dependent, just be patient, and practice is the only way to overcome the problem.

By the way mind to tell what's your age?

I've officially quitted playing violin, so kimmie you shall remove my name from the list.

Also I've quitted LYN, so this is my last post here.

Buh bye...