Questions About Online Resources
Some friends and I have had recent long conversations about how to classify online news and help groups. Beyond a teacher, a fiddle rich environment, and things that are given freely, or have been proven worthwhile value wise, we agree that there is a definite sleaze factor.

We also agree generally that nearly all sites or spaces supposedly supporting violinists should really be avoided. Or, at least approach these spaces with one's virtual armor on perhaps considering some basics described here, expecting this sleaze factor. Below are some of the aspects of this sleaze factor.

The Elegant that seems elite--keyword seems--group It does not take long looking beneath the surface to see that even though some of these sites have seemingly valid sponsors, below the surface is an economic agenda, and often a political agenda--most often economic however. The professionalism over time exposes itself however if you linger and listen, as one's instinct matures through observation.

Political means here, a sophisticated way to color and wrap economic agendas in today's online world, and sometimes simply political as well. These sites can seem quite sophisticated. A very accomplished teacher clued me in to the nature of these sites, and let me learn for myself. And, I did.

Various users will feign being experts and helping, often getting some sense of satisfaction that is simply a strange remnant from earlier days of the internet. Most often these neo-trolls(a definition in a moment), are actually pretty bizarre people who will most often do more harm than good. This fact is very important to remember if you are finding your own way. Do not rely on online violin groups for information without reliable support, unless you have a lot of time to experiment on your hands..

These groups can be very sophisticated in ways, but if you do your research you can find that often members of these groups actually have stakes sometimes directly, with the sponsors. Then sometimes, many are just misleading users directly for other types of sales, from online auction site solicitations and strings, to bows and accessories. Unless you are versed in open-air market haggling, you will likely be misled in these places, and sometimes without even having known it..

Sometimes there are some in these groups with good intentions, but in reality, one is most often turned back upon their own ingenuity and resources, and their seeking in these places are more an exercise answering one's own questions. There are simply no real short-cuts, as applied to getting basic competency in violin--a good starting point.

The Public domain type site (think various web-based groups, an example maybe being the non-existent: mygroups.com) that are a front for selling something like student violins You may get a few warm fuzzies in apparently friendly ways (keyword:apparently)in these types of groups, but they generally offer poor, and sometimes damaging advice as well--actually very often damaging. So if you want warm fuzzies and welcomes, they are ok, but know what you are getting in to. And please please, verify any advice you receive in these places five times... Better yet, just don't!

The Physics Group There are sometimes groups that start out from a very good place, but like a law of physics about systems of anything, become much less a good place over time. There are simply undeniable dynamics of the internet that make the best efforts become disorganized and often somewhat dysfunctional. These groups truly start, 'from a good place', but the nature of the internet is alot more powerful than the best intentions for the time being. Change however, will re-empower over the next few years, those who wish to create moderated communities with open standards. But there will be real people doing real work, in the process.

The copyright thief group Only by invitation, users get to join these types of groups, where illegal file sharing is rampant. Personally, my violin experience comes from a good place in my life, and I intend to keep it that way. But, to each their own. Suzuki International(tm), has very interesting things to say about copyrights. Many members in these actually appear in other types of groups described here--I 'know' these things.

The shallow but useful group These groups often have some pretty nice things, but quickly get around to the storefront. Plain and simple.

neo-troll, is a sophisticated online character who has taken the original idea of an online troll to another level. They can exist for various reasons, and like a traditional troll, their colors change as they need to to underwrite the various roles they play. Sometimes these characters seem quite sophisticated, as do the sites they not only live on, but are supported through... If we were talking face to face, I'd show you examples of each of all these examples.

These new online characters, can be supporting their own bizarre personality, and they can like an animal that changes colors, morph into selling things at random based on some supposed authority, most often self-assigned authority. Or they can be underwriting an illusion of authority often quite haphazardly. Some groups out there directly support these types of personalities creating an online adventure game type environment--trust me, I know this. Time takes care of most things!

For those who may be wondering, a traditional troll, was a character that was born in the first usenet groups that were not web based, most often ruining the intents and purposes of these early groups because of first, the impersonal nature of the internet then, and simply poor behavior in general.


There are a few things that will be shared over time in the Resources I Use Section(see main links), But, please be careful as you learn about your violin, so that you can have a good violin experience. The interconnected world is very compelling, and you may like to listen to yourself express yourself--we all do. But at least know what you are getting in to in these online 'spaces'.

And finally notice if you will, that often new things like sites that creates networks of friends and so forth, last smaller and smaller amounts of time today before the sleaze starts to find it's way in. So you see, networking groups and such, and those that are very focused on specific areas, are basically the home-grown perpetuated variety. Know this, and express on.

Historically, the traveling potion salesman type characters that becomes the "Wizard of Oz" are the counterparts of many of these online spaces. Open a space, and it will be filled--it's a law of the jungle--it's called, 'There's nothing for free'.

Finally, thanks to all of you who helped form the content of this conversation recently. Your experiences helped me too! And for those who have asked, 'no--you cannot download the internet'.

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Essential Help Only Please
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External Links Open in New tab--or--Window


Some of the World's Best Practice Advice: Hilary Hahn(new tab--or--window)

The below 'online' tuner is at around a444 but adequate.
Tune your Fiddles!(new tab--or--window)

I've used this 'online' Metronome for years.
Metronome Online(new tab--or--window)

Here is a link to one of the most comprehensive online musical term dictionaries I've seen to date. The terms such as ritardo, leggero when they present themselves in my program are always there. Though for classical guitar, the terms are pretty much universal. Musical Terms(new tab--or--window)

What might some master violinists and teachers feel about practicing and success? Frederick Marten(new tab--or--window)

An Essay for finding one's way: What's in a Structure:The Big Picture-Building Your Own

An Essay to tweak your Efficency: Making Learning Efficient

Instrument Maintenance, Bow Maintenance and Strings
While I'm guessing you are already on a violin journey(yes I know about guessing), some potential helpful basic information care information might be: (there are a couple links and searches as well)
The Instrument
--keep your instrument away from too much heat/cold
--make sure the case is latched before transporting
--you can make your own room humidifier easily if your violin can be on a safe open extra bed, or a truly safe place, by placing a roll of paper towels standing vertical in a generous size pot of 'cool' water, with a small fan blowing down very close to the water surface and paper towels. Wicks on humidifier unless one has a humidifier that does not use wicks are too cost prohibitive. The point is, I like my violin to breath, in a well humidified room; and, I do not place the instrument near the pot of water and fan. One luthier suggests relative humidity for a violin's wood falls between 44%-55%...
--with a very soft 'lint free' cloth, wipe your strings and instrument 'every' time you play, even a few notes or minutes.
With all that said, it is easy to find other information about Taking Care of your violin(new tab--or--window) by doing a google search.

The Bow
Though I wash my bow hair in mild diluted baby shampoo 'very occasionally' it is a personal decision, and the bow was less than 300.00. There is also a way keep the hairs better separated using toothpicks while it is in the case I'll share later, but ,here is some more basic information on:
taking care of the bow(new tab--or--window)

Parts of the Violin
Parts of the violin(new tab--or--window)

Strings
I will not suggest a string source, but I use Thomastik Dominants, and get them for around 35.00 per set, and shipping is included, so that you can have a standard. So do your own shopping for Affordable Strings(new tab--or--window) and do share the wealth if you find a better price.

Albert Justice
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What's in a Structure:The Big Picture

What's in a structure? For particularly adult beginning students but everyone in some way, are the questions where do I start, what is next and maybe what is really important? I'll try and give you some thoughts on some of these things. But the most important thing to take away from this essay, is what is in 'my/your' structure.

Within Todd's videos and Kurt Sassmannhaus's Violin Masterclass online, is a major lesson in violin, and a snapshot of the structure of basic violin. This lesson shows basically how one's violin experience might evolve, from holding the bow to playing advanced bow strokes. So, begin there, building your basic structure, perhaps without (though not likely) having touched a violin. There is more however, even at a basic level--and it involves you personally.

If you will take the time to read Frederick Marten's paper(the link is in Fiddlers Cove Help Section), you can be very well on your way to understanding the many ways of looking at violin, the bigger picture perhaps of a structure. The Martens paper is quite involved, but well worth visiting and revisiting over time. And the breadth of everything related to playing violin makes a good understanding of the big picture maybe more desirable than on other instruments.

The next things that are most important are drive and work ethic. So you will have to address discipline and persistence in the very basic levels of this structure. You see, part of a structure includes a kind of discipline many simply do not have, and must therefore find every creative way to stay motivated possible. For this reason alone, Fiddlers Cove will address this enrichment directly in coming weeks.

Given all this, one can get a feel for progress through Violin Masterclass Graded Repertoire sections. But, also remember the most important structure things are already implied in the order of Todd's videos, and especially the order of Masterclass Kids and Masterclasses at Kurt Sassmannhaus's site. And then more enrichment... Lots of enrichment!

Am I playing just for personal pleasure, or am I a true ham? Do I wish to play to be a part of a group, or just to play period. Learn the language, find the discipline, be flexible but persistent, be stable and know where you want to go, and define at first basic goals.

Then as progress happens revisit goals--but keep it simple a first. It is better to play one song beautifully and elegantly than a hundred poorly, though playing a hundred actually back-colors the one. Know thyself, know the language, have plenty of reality checks from understanding the broader world of violin then go at it. Make 'your' structure 'your' violin experience.

This structure, in my wordy ways, is basic to teaching yourself to teach yourself. Good luck!

Albert Justice

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What can I do to make my learning Efficient: Universal, but Adult Focused?
An awkward Beginning

Let me begin by saying this essay will not make a lot of sense unless having read "What's in a Structure", in the Fiddler's Cove Help Section". So you know the basic language of violin, and are fueled with developed discipline, flexibility and direction because you have a feeling for where you wish to go with your violin experience?

Somewhere out there between the austere: "you must have lessons", and traditions where music may be rich and available, is a sensible realism. I personally advocate teachers for beginners, because I wish to learn as formally as possible for a very long time myself. But, in the words of someone a lot smarter than myself, "there are many paths up the hollow, some are just more steep".

My goal in this essay, is to help you find paths that are not so steep in the beginning. Begin with Hilary Hahn's essay on slow practice, and breath it like a deep meditation--it's linked in the help section. Start with very basic tone production to begin with, and posture--and mean it. Simon Fischer agrees that appropriate slow practice, is everything.

It is safe to say that for anyone learning violin, the first level of understanding is focused on simply getting comfortable with the instrument. And of course beginning to learn to use the bow, and to know what notes are on the fingerboard are part of the early experience of playing. This awkward stage is true for any student, but especially so for adult students. I'm well into my third year, and still feel awkward.

So help your teacher if you have one by asking that a lot of your early lessons focus on posture as much as possible(more on this later), and just very solid basics. Your teacher's views on posture especially if an adult, you should actually understand before learning with them, if you choose this path. I personally hope you do. Incidentally, I cannot overemphasize how important it is to persist through the awkward stage.

So you may or may not have found a teacher (essay forthcoming), you understand and fully accept the awkward stage, you sort of know where you want to go, so what's next? There are several basic sets of skills you will need to refine your playing ability.

These basic skills, are detache bowing, martele bowing, detached bowings and articulation as examples. Save the more advanced bow strokes and articulations (double stops and etc.) for later. And strive for progress in these very basic ways--you will be very happy later that you did.

Part of efficiency is routine consistent effort. While this would seem to be simply discipline, it is more, and effects efficiency in learning directly. Getting beyond the awkward stage, especially in that handling the instrument routinely takes years; but, can be made more expedient with daily practice. Can I play cleanly at the tip? At the frog? Can I play detached notes well at the tip? In the middle? At the frog? Have these basics become second nature without thought?

Violinmasterclass guru Kurt Sassmanhaus uses the image of layering skills, as do others actually. It is the above basic layers of bowing and articulation that makes further layers shine--if one gets that far. Actually, many, do not. I focus on these basic above so intently, because they are key both in the present and in the future to efficiency in learning particularly violin.

And part of that layering mentioned above is handling the instrument. So to help you get yourself off to a good start for later, posture, posture, posture and posture. Are you tall? Are you short? Do you slump when standing relaxed? What about your lower back--is it strong? Your upper body--is it in shape?

I have experienced for reasons I will not bother you with, the importance of posture in all things. And I am one hundred percent certain of posture's role in efficiency, again both now and in the long run. Only by intense focus on relaxed efficient posture, am I addressing 'my' realities. But I found along the way that everyone has their own thing going on, and posture is key to finding 'their' way as well. So what is this sermonizing about posture about?

This sermonizing is about a relaxed straight upper body from the waist, with a relaxed head resting perpendicular lightly, straight on top of the spine's extension, with relaxed shoulders, arms, and both hands addressing the instrument, at all times--particularly for the first many years. And this is only the beginning of efficiency in learning, along with slow practice and the basics mentioned.

And this, is about as far as I can take you with efficiency for the moment. But as I learn, I'll 'go there again'. So, to list the first elements of efficiency: very basic clean bow strokes on every region of the bow, routinely ingrained with relaxed efficient posture, taking one's time to practice slowly build lasting efficiency down the road. Who wants to remain awkward!

Albert Justice

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