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 Violin One on One

Introduction to the Violin

Violin vs Fiddle

Violin vs Viloa

Huminity and Violin

The Right size Violin for Children

 Parent's Guide to Music Lessons

How can I get my child to practice?

When Should Children Start Music Lessons?

Children and Music Talent

What Instrument to choose?

Finding a Music Teacher

Finding an Instrument

Once Lessons Have Begun

Guide to Great Music Practice

Interduction

STEP 1 - Set Goals

STEP 2 - Set Practice Time

STEP 3 - Warm Up

STEP 4 - Work on It

STEP 5 - Cool Down

STEP 6 - Evaluate

 Music Know how

Music Business Knowhow

Avoid being Nervous

Good intonation in string playing

Music Teacher and Shops

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A Guide to Great Music Practice

STEP 4 - Work on It

You know how to set goals, set practise times and warm up, now we talk about the importance to Work on It.

Once you are warmed up, get out the hard stuff and work on it. Some tips for improving as fast as possible:

  • Don't practice it wrong! Don't play wrong notes, leave notes out, or play wrong rhythms. This just teaches you to play it wrong.
    If it's too difficult to play right, slow it down enough that you can play all the notes in rhythm, correctly, no matter how slow this is.
    When you can play it correctly slowly, start speeding it up, but never practice it at a speed that you can't handle.

  • Don't just play through your music.
    Skip the easy parts; they're easy!
    Find the hard parts, slow them down, and practice them until you can play them right at the right tempo.

  • If there's something you just can't play at all (a high note, for example), make it part of your warm-up.
    Find an exercise that makes it easier to get to that note (or to double-tongue, or to do that giant slur) and do it every day the easy way. Eventually it will start showing up in the harder music, too.

Now read STEP 5 - Cool Down

Catherine Schmidt-Jones attended Rice University, completing a B.A. in chemistry as well as the B. Music and M. Music. Currently teaching brass and guitar privately. Further information can be found at connexions.

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