Update from the studio, plus an exercise for releasing the shoulder tension

 Hello, there! 

It's been a while since I post here. Lots of things happened to the studio. On the night of the hurricane Ida on Sep. 1st., the studio got flooded very badly that we needed to evacuate. We'd been moved to a temporary location for a while and, just recently settled into the new apartment in the same building on the 3rd floor.

I appreciated all the support messages from my students.

We'll be continuing to do in-person and online lessons.

--

Here's my new violin lesson video. 

I've been noticing that some students play a song and soon after take their instrument off their shoulders and put their hands on them to ease the ache and soreness. 

That's a lot of tension on the shoulders. 

And playing the violin in that state makes you feel dreadful. I know it because I've gone through the pain before. And I want to shout out that that shouldn't be the way it is. Playing the violin can be fun and easy on the body. With the right body stance and the movement. 

I hope this exercise in the video helps to release the shoulder tension.

Violin Tutorial | Puzzle Plank Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy 2)

 Here is a song from Super Mario Galaxy 2. I didn't know this song, but one of my students brought this song to learn, so I made a tutorial for it. Hope you'll enjoy!

I strongly believe that learning and playing the music you are enjoying listening to is one of the most effective way to get better and stay motivated for violin playing. It doesn't always have to be violin music, either. When you listen to music with the intention of wanting to play it on the violin requires your a lot of imagination. And it strengthen your musicality and gives you deeper understanding of music. 

Let's play "Irish Washer Woman" Violin Tutorial

St. Patrick's Day is approaching. I used to play in an Celtic band for a few years and have traveled to many Celtic Festivals and Folk festival in the U.S. It was great to see many people loving the Celtic music and gathering around, playing, singing and dancing. This season always brings me back the fun memory.

In the last blog post, I posted the Irish bow exercise as an intro to learn this Irish jig.

Here is the part 2 of 2 video for "Irish Washer Woman", covering the melody part. 

At the end, you can play with me with a loop backing track that I made.

Have fun!

 

 

 

Irish Jig bow exercise

 St. Patrick's Day is coming up. Here is a tutorial of how to play "Irish Washer Woman" Part 1 of 2.

 

Jig has 6 eighths notes per measure. 

To get a good feel, this warmup bow exercise will help to get ready for learning the melody with the Part 2 video.

Have fun jigging!

How to Play Super Mario 3D World Bowser on Violin

 One of my students is working on this song and here is my play-along tutorial. Have fun!

Five ways to practice "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" variation

Five (+) ways to practice "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". You can warmup with this song for any technical aspect you're working on and make up your own variation.

 1. Yummy yummy cup cakes rhythm 

2. Play on only E & G strings 

3. Long bow with vibrato 

4. Double-stops 

5. Improvise with the chord tones. 

 

 

Easy straight bow exercise. Good-bye sliding bows!

 

 

 [written version] 

When we run, we swing our arms and keep our elbows more like a square shape. 

We feel more comfortable to keep that way. 

When you just started playing the violin, a teacher would say “Keep the bow straight.” 

But at first, almost everyone struggles to move the bow in a straight line. 

The most common issue is the bow is moving in a reversed C shape. 

Because the elbow is keeping the square shape. And the bow slides over the string and you cannot make a good sound. 

In order to move the bow straight, we need to open our elbow around the middle of the bow to the tip. 

But even knowing these facts, moving the bow straight might be pretty challenging at the beginning. 

Also, in general, “straight lines” don’t feel so natural to our body. 

 So, the next exercise might help you if you’re having the issue. 

Imagine to draw a C shape, instead of the reversed C. 

And see if the bow is more straight. 

 I hope this exercise helps you. 

Happy practicing!

How to practice scales efficiently | for Beginner Violinists

 

 

[written version]

 

At every stage of violin practice, we practice scales.

Because scales are the fundamental of all the melodies and extremely beneficial.

This is a tip for the very beginning of the violin study.

Just because it’s written in your book, 

I don’t recommend  jump into playing one octave scale immediately. 

If you are still new to move the bow down and up, 

changing notes at every bow change can be challenging 

and also because the notes pass fairly quickly that 

you might not recognize when you are not playing in tune. 

This ends you up practicing the wrong intonation. 

So, here’s my suggestion.

I use this App, Cleartune.

Click the right side button and you will be able to hear a note of your choice continuously.

Ideally, put your phone connected to a speaker so that you can hear it well.

Let’s play D major scale for example.

Set the note to D. Adjust the octave.

Repeat each note, let’s say, 4 times, and move on to the next note. 

You can do it at your comfortable tempo.

When you are done with 4 times cycle up and down, 

Move on to 3 times per note.

Then, 2 times.

Then, finally, once per note.

During this set, you’re also working on your bow. Make sure the bow is parallel to the bridge.

And the bow is placed in the middle of the bridge and the edge of the fingerboard. Aim to get a beautiful tone.

 

When you complete this, you’re nicely warmed up and ready to dive into whatever you’re working on.

Happy practicing!

How to tune with fine tuners and troubleshooting for beginner violinists

 I often get a question on how to tune the violin at home, so finally made a video about it. I hope this helps to have a smooth tuning experience for beginner violinists!

A creative approach to practicing Bach

 

[written version]

I improvise on the violin as a jazz violinist and am always looking for good devices and phrasings that I can use in improvisation. 

And I sometimes use Classical pieces to get these devices.

For example, I wanted to get better at odd meters,

So here’s how I’ve been practicing odd meters;

Using Bach solo violin pieces.

Let’s take Partita no. 2 D-minor, Giga.

Originally written as 12/8. 

I’m gonna try to play this piece as 5/8 

by shortening the last two beats of every 6 beats into one beat.

You can still look at the original score, but change of the meter should be done in your head.

I recommend using a metronome and setting to 5/8 so that you can keep track with a 5-beat cycle. 

Through this exercise, 

I can develop the stronger sense of the 5/8 feel in my body 

and find out which bowing works well and not.

I can also discover some nice melodic lines and rhythmic motives I can incorporate in my improvisation.

This also helps when I feel stuck with fresh ideas or imagination when I play written music. Changing meters gives a fresh look of melodies that you’re already familiar with. Just like it’s done so many times in jazz.

Try with other pieces. You can also do 7 or 9 meters. Or even 3. 

ex.)

4/4 reduced to 7/8 

6/8 reduced to 5/8 

4/4 reduced to 3/4

I hope this exercise also helps you in some ways.

Let me know how it goes for you in the comments below.

Happy playing!

 

Reality Check?! Practicing scales? Do it the right way!

 

 

 [written version]

I want to talk about the importance of practicing scales.

Well….., 

You might have heard that a million times.

And yes, it IS important to practice scales. 

BUT, 

I want to tell you about a danger that comes with it.

If you practice a scale a million times with wrong intonation, 

Your ear will get used to the wrong intonation.

 

This actually happened to me.

After years of not taking lessons and practicing on my own,

I took a lesson from a person who is a notable violinist whom I respect very much.

He told me straight up, my intonation is off on this note and that.

And I didn’t notice right away.

I went back home and had to listen to the recordings, and I realized that he was right.

Then, I realized that I played the note out of tune so many times

That I couldn’t perceive it as out of tune anymore.

This was a big reality check for me.

And I’m not the only one here,

I’ve witnessed from years of freelancing that

this happens quite a lot among string players.

So, I highly recommend you do a reality check for yourself sometimes.

 

How?

I do that by practicing scales with play-along tracks. 

You can tune in to the play-along’s reference pitches which is a great way to train your ear.

I recommend all my students to practice scales with play-along tracks that I have in this channel. It’s all available for free.

So, please check them out and practice with it and let me know how it goes.

Happy playing!

 

3 ways to care for violin in dry season

 【NEW VIDEO】

For this dry season, here are 3 ways to care for violin.

[written version]

 

I had a question from my student about caring for her violin in winter.

The violin likes the humidity in between 40 to 60%

Not too dry, not too humid.

I highly recommend checking your hygrometer regularly.

My room gets very dry in winter and I need to provide more humidity.

There are three easy ways I can share in this video.

1. Use a humidifier. 

 Make sure the violin doesn’t get wet from the steam.

2. Use a dampit.

 Moisten the sponge inside a dampit. Pat dry it well.

 Put it inside one of the F holes on the violin.

3. Use a humidifier in your case.

    Fill up the water, make sure the lid is tight. Put it in your case.

I have heard from a luthier that a humid environment is often considered to be very bad for violin, but actually dryness is even more dangerous and it could cause crack and seam opening and sorts.

And these repairs can be costly. 

Let’s give your violin some love by providing a nice care in winter and I’m sure your violin will love you back!

Happy playing!