Open Strings Exercises

 I started on open strings exercises, that is to say not touching the strings with my left-hand fingers as I bow with the right hand. From a sheet of music I play on each string the music tells be to bow on: E, A, D or G. This isn't as easy as it seems, more often than not the bow touches two strings making an awful noise. Also too close to the bridge or fingerboard distorts the sound.

Here is some Open String music

1. We are only interested in where the head of the note lies, ignore the direction of the staff.

2, Notice all the notes lie between the lines: denotes open notes

3. Top line 4 crotchets (i/4 notes) on E string. Next 4 crotchets on the A, then 4 on the E, then 4 the D.

4 Next line, 4 below the normal lines on G

There are similar exercises all repeated to train your muscle memory to play on the correct string, properly

AND SO IT BEGINS

 The violin finally arrived on Wednesday 24th August at 6 pm.

It was difficult to open but once inside I was faced with the violin case.

Which had a pocket with carrying straps inside it.

Inside was the Violin and bow, rosin and the shoulder rest I had ordered separately.

A week later I am working my way through an online course with Allison Sparrow, which is going ok. The only problem I have is my left shoulder and upper arm which are very painful (Sodium deficiency and side-effects of medication). This means I can only play for five minutes at  a time, but I still manage 45 - 60 minutes a day in 5 minute bursts  

LEARN TO PLAY THE VIOLIN COMPLETE LESSONS 1 - 3

Learn how to play the violin online in 30 lessons! Guaranteed to take you from a complete beginner to a decent intermediate level.

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