How refreshing to have a tutor who is secure enough to make public her process of mastering a piece! Would that more tutors followed your example. I have just taken up the violin and am on your instructional video number 5 (learning the open string notes). Did fine until line 5, and am taking that one slow, and doing it over and over (until, as you say, I get "sick of it," at which point I can comfortably bring it up to the tempo of your demonstration and play along), as I did with lines 4 and 3. Thank you for reminding me that successful practice doesn't mean "getting through the whole piece" (or lesson) on the first go-round, but does mean feeling confident with one or two lines at a time. Allowing myself those "baby steps of mastery" at a realistic pace makes practicing a joy. What a gift you are to budding musicians such as myself.
Hi Alison, this video was golden! Thank You SO much! Im an older student but found that my practice sessions were just a few run throughs of that weeks piece of music and some scattered scale and arpeggio practice. Starting now, I am taking your suggestions for a practice schedule!! I hope the Capprice is coming along well! -Nelson
All of your videos are great. This practice one is inspirational and let's us expect some hard work but also encourages us to persevere. But the most useful thing to me was to see that even for Allison with all her experience and skill, when she started to learn a new piece, she didn't play it straight off. She had to take it slowly, line by line, and patiently repeat them over and over again. I won't forget this when I practice in future.
I'm actually learning the ukulele and I found this immensely useful. Thanks a lot. I never see guitar or ukulele teachers airing their "dirty practice laundry" to demonstrate what it takes. They just show some piece they've already mastered 20 years and don't demonstrate anything that relates to what any student is going through.
I love your teaching style and your voice. I was classically trained as a child by my dad...hence as a pre teen I quit (I should have had a teacher other than a strict parent!)...however, at 60 I've picked it up again and remember how to read music and my scales/arpeggios. Puts me in a strange place of accepting I am a beginner and must commence playing/practice as one. Also with a severely arthritic left pinky, I am courting a set of challenges to overcome. Just halfway through this first session, I've already learned how to actually have effective practice sessions. Thank you, you are quite lovely!
Ave Guevara I am 67, and had violin lessons in the 60’s and 70’s. Now I have medical issues with arthritis, and learning more from Alison. She is inspiring, and motivating to me back as a beginner!
I'm learning to play the tenor saxophone, and your video on the principles of practice have helped me a lot. Thank you. Going to watch more of them now, as I have a keyboard collecting dust upstairs!
both! I count out loud in my head and i have my inner metronome that comes from many years of counting in my head and actually playing to a real life metronome.
I play the accordion and your suggestions are spot on and very encouraging. Irregardless of the instrument you play you set a strong foundation on practicing. I commend you for sharing such a important aspect in learning to play an instrument. I will make it a point to take your suggestions and apply them for myself. Thank you very much. Looking forward to watching your other videos and sharing this one with others.
I just want to say thank you!! I've just purchased my Stentor II and I'm slowly going through your learning lessons. I've printed up the material and am doing my homework every day. I'm really enjoying myself, and am learning so much from you! I feel like I need to write you a check for your youtube material that I have found so valuable! Kudos to You!!!
I could do more piano, but then I fear they will be for the sake of it and really rubbish and not focussed enough etc etc. If you do have any piano suggestions, then please do let em know as Im happy to take requests :))
It is great to hear a tutor explain, that a short burst of practice is better. One can only remember the first 20-30 minutes of a lesson, before they start to become board of it. :) Great videos.
I just found your vid, but you are a breathe of fresh air in your teaching techniques, your accent to my American ears keep me engaged as well. thanks for sharing how you practice.
Last week I started learning guitar and I find these practising tips really working for me. I watched many videos on how to practise effectively, and this video by far the best one.
I like the rule. Practice until you have achieved something. Rather than a time limit. Really like that. I watched the video again. Just got that. Second time. I love your own demonstration. Your own learning. I think I do that. but now I will do it deliberately. Over and over. Test my finger distances. Play around with a section at a time until I get it. Slow to fast. Don't apologize. it show that even an experience instructor starts in the same way as us beginners. Love this. Great vid.
I'm glad there is a wonderful professional violinist like the online piano and violin tutor who proves my point about practice, practice, practice makes perfect. Thank you, online piano and violin tutor your advice is great and much appreciated:) Keep up the great work, looking forward to more wonderful videos from you.
Thank you for the encouragement. I'm afraid that I've let my practice habits fall off for wont of learning more music. You've reminded me how important it is to just "stick to the basics". sometimes I think we get too comfortable with the mundane business of repeating things over and over but, it is how I suppose we learn.
Oooh! I've never thought of breaking the piece into lines for some reason. I usually just do the individual notes i struggle with over and over. But this is brilliant! Thank you so much for this.
Hi, what i mean is that music is something one learns and it goes in subconsciously. Its why musicians are able to play music they havnt played for years if its a piece they have spent a very long time on. Im not saying to not focus, I simply mean: 'beginner musicians practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they never get it wrong' . I dont mean literally not to think whilst playing, of course you need to think, but i guess i mean 'thinking' in terms or whats coming next
i am such a procastinator i put this video off for two months before i watched it.but i regret it because this is some really good tips and hopefully i will structure myself too start tomorrow. thankyou
Thank you - I have gotten a lot of stick for doing this video, but its raw and its the truth!! I dont understand why people think I/we professional musicians dont have to learn music like everyone else, or that we cant make a single mistake when learning a new piece of music!!
its a bit like a magician showing how the trick is done , then everyone else can learn and do the trick..you practice we practice , never seen that approach to teaching , your head and shoulders above the rest.:)
I think its fantastic that you are showing how you practice as a proffesional. The violin is a concept I cant get my head around, as there are no frets to guide you. I have played the guitar for years and years, can read tab but not music and you have given me inspiration at 40 to learn! My boss plays the piano for a church and gives lessons. She would practice on a Sunday and sound like an Angel. Then she would sing and sound like hilda ogden from corrie. So we cant have it all! I have learned more in the last week about reading music than I ever could before. So thank you for your insight, you are brilliant!
Thank you I've gotten so frustrated with piano, but now i know what to do. Im also going to start playing violin, so now i know the attitude i need to have when practicing.
Thank you so much. I have always thought because music came naturally to me ,that practice time should come easy. Wrong. I became flustrated that I couldn't 'nail' a piece the first day I got it. Needless-to-say I would start at the beginning and play it through time and again but always fearing the hard sections when I came to them. How wonderful to find I'm not a bad musician, just an under-trained one. God Bless. Throughly enjoy your videos.
Thanks, Allison! I love your videos. I'm learning a lot from them. I am just a beginner in violin. I'm a pianist but I always find it hard to play difficult passages and it makes me frustrated and feel like I'm not really good. This video is really encouraging. I'm inspired to push myself more (to perfection).
Lol I am falling in love with the way you teach is simple and efficient, to the p. I oint without bs- . I FOUND that some times is the only way to go however do you practice what you preach. The teacher has to be practicing more then the student to be better. Some students are better then the teachers. In my book you are the best
Hey, I just want to say thank you. I've wanted to play piano for a really long time. I can't afford lessons at the moment and this is incredibly helpful. Thank you again so much.
thanks - its because I dont take any crap from students = especially those who have not practiced lol. I also like to keep standards sky high and 'nothing is ever good enough' attitude to keep the student working ad striving toward perfection (all in a good way you understand - im not literally beating them down mentally or anything!) My students secretly love the way i teach them as they all achieve high exam marks as result!
This helps me understand better about what I should be looking for in my practice sessions- Nail it first, THEN move on to the next part. Thank you! I am always in such a hurry. Got to slow down...
The practicing of each line on a song makes so much more sense. I have usually practiced songs all the way through, but have problems with certain shiftings. This will help correct the mistakes. I'm 45, getting back into playing the violin. I played in Orchestra when I was about 10 years old, but didn't like practicing. I love to practice now! Love your videos and the tips have helped.
thank you. it has helped me so much. i have started to play. i am 46 and i am starting the violin.. my fingers hurt but that is par for the course. thank you for your tips.
Thank you so much for the video Alison! I literally took 2 pages of notes :P That memory thing you were talking about is "procedural memory" and its what makes driving, and playing subconscious. It is the reason why you'll see musicians who have suffered brain damage not be able to remember their name or family members (declarative memory), but still be able to play their given instrument because the procedural memory is still intact. Thank you again
I'm a guitar player and this video was very valuable to me because it reinforced my perspective on practicing, especially coming from a teacher. This was a great video, thank you! :)
Thank you so much, I'm a beginner and I was getting bored and kinf of frustrated of practicing the piece all over at once and not getting it right, you've showed me a much better way to do it and I'm gonna put that onto practice of course! :)
Allison you are amazing... Seriously... Twinkle twinkle my first week with the violin..... Amazing grace as well (though not as good). Still this video lets me know its supposed to be a time killer... Seriously I hope I have what it takes... Thanx again...
I played drums from the time I was 6 until I was 21 and had to quit playing due to my 19 month old daughter passing away and having to sell my drum kit to pay for her funeral because she was born sickly and no insurance company would insure her. It also took my desire to play as well. I practiced a lot when I played. I'm getting a violin and plan on practicing as much as I can every day. But you're right, folks seem to think you can sit down and just automatically know how to play a song lol. I love your channel look forward to learning once I get my violin. Would love to hear a video of you playing this song now.
helped a lot thank you! my dad brought me a violin in 4th grade id never practice im a sophmore in college and i really wished i wouldve knew how to practice and get better and that i didnt give up this video made realize how much music doesnt just magically happen and takes hard work and diligence
The problem I see here is that from a psychological standpoint, most learning curves are negatively accelerated - which means you learn faster in the beginning and more slowly later on, because the amount of additional skill you can aquire shrinks the more you have already learned. Eventually you'll reach the point where the learning curve is so close to flat that you will not necessarily feel a decisive improvement after a single practice session, but only over the course of perhaps a week or even a month. I remember starting out on the guitar; getting to change between open chords took about a month, that was comparatively quick - sweep picking however probably took several years before it got even close to being precise. Similar for singing - you'll get most people into their lower passagio pretty quickly (roughly up to f#4 for men / c#5 for women), but everything above that will take considerably longer.
This is the first time I have visited your videos. This one was very helpful to me as an instructor. I don't use cookie cutter formulas to each with but this is the best of both worlds allowing me the freedom to ramble in my approach with a long form of controlled practices. This is good. Thanks
Dear Teacher: WOW! Great teaching. I am older I started the violin when I was 10 and learnt 1st, 3rd, & 5th positions. Later in my 20's I sold the violin. In 2006 I bought one again. I reviewed everything I learned and taught myself the 2nd, 4th, and now I am working on the 6th position. I can only give myself about 1/2 hour an day, maybe on weekends an hour. I work a full time job and also have a hobby of photography so I don't have a lot of time. I tried giving up the violin, but I keep pulling it out of the closet. One thing I learned from your video is to not play a whole piece through, you say you should break it up and work on certain areas that need working on. Maybe that would help me progress faster. I am using 4 lesson books, I play one piece in each book, maybe I could break it up and practice in one area. I am playing: Wohlfahrt 60 Etudes Book 2 on #54; Melodious Double-stops #21 (that is a hard one to get the fingers to twist in a tight area); Introducing The Positions Vol. 2 Sixth Position Etude in G by Ries, page 30; Developing Double-Stops page 30 Etude in F by Sitt (1st, 2nd, & 3rd pos.) If you were me how would you practice from these books? Lonnie
I haven played these ones. I have done different ones however. Its really hard to say how to practice them as I practice very differently to the next person. At this sort of level should should have some idea of what feels right and wrong, but if you want a generic answer, then 2 hours per day on these sort of exercises before your main practice I guess.
This video reminds me of an important quote from G.K. Chesterton, I encountered when I first picked up the guitar again as an adult: "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly." (In hopes of becoming better.) The perfectionistic "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well" was an utter discouragement to practice, for me at least. I applaud your willingness to show yourself working on something which is a real challenge for you in front of "God and everybody" or at least the whole of the internet. I tend to play the whole thing. Over and Over and Over again, resulting in hours spent but rough spots still not all that much smoother. . . Not at all efficient. Restarting on the fiddle, I'll try breaking things down.
Thank you so much for this Video!!! As a relative beginner on the violin (5 years and counting) it was great for me to see the process that someone who is an advanced player goes through when learning a new piece... it was refreshing to know that all players of the violin go through the same process when learning new music and thank you so much for the great tips on practicing. As an adult learner I am very hard on myself and get very frustrated sometimes so this video made me feel a lot better about the process I have been going through. I love your videos, you seem to address so many of the questions I have had since I began playing. Thanks again :D
Guess this is my second comment on this video. I can't help but post another comment just to tell you how brilliant a teacher you are! I am amazed at your ability in explaining your thoughts so crisply and effectively. These tips are very useful.
You make so much sense thank you again play it till your sick then a few more times playing it sucks to you but the listener will like it in the end your the best
Keep up the awesome videos. I'm new to violin, and your videos help loads. As you know from a previous comment, I started right from not knowing how to rosin a bow, and now I am practicing a simple peace. (Amazing grace.) And that's simply because it popped in to my head, and I guessed the notes. This video helps loads with practice, not just for the violin, but for guitar too.
I like your method of not going on until a piece is perfect. I have had music teachers over the years. The first was on the piano and then later on the flute. They both let me go on to the next piece even though there were mistakes still on the present piece. I never really got a good sense of accomplishment that way or felt I had really mastered it. Also, no one ever told me how to practice; line by line. I always played through the piece several times. Maybe I'd stop at the difficult parts and play them a few times, but never enough times. Anyway, this has been very helpful and should help a lot as I learn the violin.
i`m getting withdrawal symptoms from not playing today as violin is all boxed up ready to go back, my practising was an hour every morning on your open strings set... but when I get new violin back i`ll start once again from the start n spend probably another week at hour a day getting through all those then onto first two of 1st finger sets... so really cant wait for this to all be sorted n have my practise back.
Allison, Thank you for all you give in your wonderful videos. i am just taking up the violin and would like to learn the violin part from Moby's "FLOWER." It's short, easy and doable, just need the notes. Again, thanks.
Lol, it is funny to find a teacher who have the same experience. I think your entusiasm of teaching shines through and it makes your student like you more. Nothing like a boring teacher. But I know the experience of frustration when students don't practice, that is the worst. But I think to be a great teacher you have to be a great motivator first of all.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I got so much from it, you wouldn't believe. There are not many teachers out there that are willing to share the practice process as it applies to them, it was so inspiring to know how this is for professionals too.
Bob Edwards totally. I have nothing to hide and I always like to show you all how it works for me too; and its no different. There isnt anything magical I do that you folks dont do. Its all the same :))
Been watching your Vids Alison and must say they are spot on, and i am considering doing my own video learning blog Thanks for spending the time to helping me and i expect loads of others to play and improve on the Violin. Your a star,
Hi, thanks for this video... I started playing the violin a year ago at age 25, I've learned so much the past year, but I keep doubting myself, doubting my practising techniques - so this was very reassuring. I'm at a beginners level, just learning a 1.20min version of Canon In D - my brain cannot handle all the information so I usually leave my violin laying on the bed, picking it up 4-5 times a day playing for 10+ minutes and put it down - I've found this quite helpful :) TY for videos :)!
Thank you for your help. I am just starting to learn to play the violin and what you said to play the first line till you are sick of it and then the next line. Good idea! Thanks for your help!
Great. This is a subject that could be talked about way more for the benefit of people (including myself) getting stuck. I've been lucky enough in the past to be payed to play music, but there have been plenty of times when I wondered if I would ever get anywhere. My top tips - learn pieces that really inspire you, and keep looking until you find them. Keep learning new things. One you've learned something, keep at it until you can play it with feeling.
Thanks for your advice. I'm working on grade 3 at the moment on piano . only played for the last three years. Everything seems to take an age to learn! I drift off into my own improvisation. Or start working on piano arrangements of songs that I wrote on guitar 25 years ago. I forget that if I learn properly I will make better arrangements later. Although classical training prob. Is not great for pop/folk/rock. I'm 48 so I will never be great but I'd like to sound listenable by my mid fifties.
Thanks so much, Alison....I'm going to start breaking down passages into manageable bits. I'm sure I'll see a lot more progress that way. On another note [pardon the pun] it would great to have a video sometime on how to go about playing by ear and/or memorizing a piece of music. Although I can tell when my intonation is 'off', I have a big problem with identifying where notes are on the strings by sound alone.[in other words, I'm chained to my sheet music] Thanks!
....if you have to 'think' to hard about whats coming next and what fingers and what you are doing etc etc, you need to practice until all that goes away. Its really really hard to explain typing, but i hope i make sense? Alison
I so enjoyed your lesson! I can't speak for anyone else but having a structured practice schedule is an immense help. I haven't had the benefit of a teacher so I simply don't have a reference point for much of this and so consequently I never feel as though I am progressing. Also it is refreshing to know that the pursuit of musical excellence is hard for us all. Would you post the practice sheets so that I can make copies? Thank You!
its fine - im not offended. You are entitled to your opinion and Im always looking to improve my videos etc. The trouble with this though is that there are SO many more things and aspects of playing the violin than the piano that can be covered in videos, that cannot on the piano. Piano videos are also sometimes harder to do to reach out to many thousands of people without losing the information and making it too generic hence why there are a lot less piano videos I have done.
Excellent video! ! It really does put the emphasis on practice with a focus and goal in mind! I like how you included beginner and advanced techniques to use and that you put yourself out there like the rest of us. It shows that you are a down to earth instructor without a God complex. Keep posting more videos and thank you for doing so!
I am a martial artist and I know exactly what you mean by not thinking to hard about it. The music in this case and the instrument become apart of you so it is like second nature when you play a particular piece. You just know how it flows in a technical sense and once that happens you can begin to make it your own. Same in martial arts. Also no matter how good we get we will always make little mistakes or big mistakes, That is why you should never cease in practicing.
I very much enjoyed getting some insight to how a pro goes about practicing! Often i feel like i'm just being a poor student because things don't come together very well, but i'm starting to see that it's probably just me being extremely perfectionistic and in the end i just get very frustrated at myself. Seeing how you worked through a bit your piece one bar at a time, helped me see what should be realistic expectations on my part! Thanks!! :D I wanted to see some piano practicing though :D
Helpful I would think especially for classical musicians but doesn't necessarily apply to the electric guitar where repetition can be your enemy and you're not trying to nail it the same every time, but the idea of hours with your fingers on strings/keys and being inspired to play I wholeheartedly agree with. Also I would say learning pieces that light you up is very important
Hi, I dont have any on a sheet - i just chose at random. I suggest if you re a beginner, you stick to C Major, G Major, D Major, A Minor and D Minor. I have a video on them. I think its lesson 2 or 3 of my 10 course piano lesson videos. Sorry - YT wont let me link anything here. Hope that helps...
I have found that buying a small music note book worked for me,so I can record what I have done, how long for and how regularly.Also anything im not happy with I remind myself in capitals..lol all good fun :) I have been pulling your exercises to pieces aswell,, taking bits n practising them over n over,then working from the beginning etc etc.. it bloody works ..:)
Thanks for the advice! I just switched to a higher level orchestra in my high school, the difficult's really increased, and the pressure's really on to learn all the new pieces really quickly, which is hard since there are so many. Hopefully it helps!
Hi Allison I'm a beginner can you tell me what scales you have on that practice sheet. I am trying to make some so I can mark them off everyday. Thank you I love your videos.
Just managed to get through grade 6, and now beginning on grade 7, much more difficult, but your comments make a lot of sense, I will try to make charts as they seem the right way to go. I am 74, and have waited a lifetime to learn piano, only niggle, rather you concentrated your examples on the piano as the violin not the sound I find pleasant, sorry only a personal preference.
I am very new to this. I really like your videos and am trying to teach myself some basics of playing violin. I have a stentor 1500. One thing I noticed that whenever I change the note with my left hand the bowing direction with my right hand wants to change too. In other words they are not independent of each other. So I thought of practicing the scales with alternate bowing (I.e. each time I change the note I change the bowing direction) is that the right way to do? Is there any exercise specially designed for hand independene?
+Dipankar Biswas As a beginner, my advice would be to play one bow per note. It up to you of course, but i would personally NOT advise trying 2 notes to a bow etc as its complicated enough just to get to grips with the violin as a newbie.
How refreshing to have a tutor who is secure enough to make public her process of mastering a piece! Would that more tutors followed your example. I have just taken up the violin and am on your instructional video number 5 (learning the open string notes). Did fine until line 5, and am taking that one slow, and doing it over and over (until, as you say, I get "sick of it," at which point I can comfortably bring it up to the tempo of your demonstration and play along), as I did with lines 4 and 3. Thank you for reminding me that successful practice doesn't mean "getting through the whole piece" (or lesson) on the first go-round, but does mean feeling confident with one or two lines at a time. Allowing myself those "baby steps of mastery" at a realistic pace makes practicing a joy. What a gift you are to budding musicians such as myself.
D Alp exactly what im here to achieve with this channel and glad I have helped you :))
Don't practice until you finally get it right... Practice until you can't get it wrong.
Now that's a good adage - will do! : )
Good advice.
Hi Alison, this video was golden! Thank You SO much! Im an older student but found that my practice sessions were just a few run throughs of that weeks piece of music and some scattered scale and arpeggio practice. Starting now, I am taking your suggestions for a practice schedule!! I hope the Capprice is coming along well!
-Nelson
All of your videos are great. This practice one is inspirational and let's us expect some hard work but also encourages us to persevere. But the most useful thing to me was to see that even for Allison with all her experience and skill, when she started to learn a new piece, she didn't play it straight off. She had to take it slowly, line by line, and patiently repeat them over and over again. I won't forget this when I practice in future.
I'm actually learning the ukulele and I found this immensely useful. Thanks a lot. I never see guitar or ukulele teachers airing their "dirty practice laundry" to demonstrate what it takes. They just show some piece they've already mastered 20 years and don't demonstrate anything that relates to what any student is going through.
I love your teaching style and your voice. I was classically trained as a child by my dad...hence as a pre teen I quit (I should have had a teacher other than a strict parent!)...however, at 60 I've picked it up again and remember how to read music and my scales/arpeggios. Puts me in a strange place of accepting I am a beginner and must commence playing/practice as one. Also with a severely arthritic left pinky, I am courting a set of challenges to overcome. Just halfway through this first session, I've already learned how to actually have effective practice sessions. Thank you, you are quite lovely!
good luck, you are an inspiration
I wish you the best of luck!
How is your playing now
Have you tried using your third finger in place of your fourth?
Ave Guevara I am 67, and had violin lessons in the 60’s and 70’s. Now I have medical issues with arthritis, and learning more from Alison. She is inspiring, and motivating to me back as a beginner!
I loved hearing that even professionals must practice. I also love the quote that Practice makes permanent, and only perfect practice makes perfect. 😅
I'm learning to play the tenor saxophone, and your video on the principles of practice have helped me a lot. Thank you. Going to watch more of them now, as I have a keyboard collecting dust upstairs!
both! I count out loud in my head and i have my inner metronome that comes from many years of counting in my head and actually playing to a real life metronome.
I play the accordion and your suggestions are spot on and very encouraging. Irregardless of the instrument you play you set a strong foundation on practicing. I commend you for sharing such a important aspect in learning to play an instrument. I will make it a point to take your suggestions and apply them for myself. Thank you very much. Looking forward to watching your other videos and sharing this one with others.
I just want to say thank you!! I've just purchased my Stentor II and I'm slowly going through your learning lessons. I've printed up the material and am doing my homework every day. I'm really enjoying myself, and am learning so much from you! I feel like I need to write you a check for your youtube material that I have found so valuable! Kudos to You!!!
I could do more piano, but then I fear they will be for the sake of it and really rubbish and not focussed enough etc etc. If you do have any piano suggestions, then please do let em know as Im happy to take requests :))
thank you for your kind words - it really is appreciated :)
It is great to hear a tutor explain, that a short burst of practice is better. One can only remember the first 20-30 minutes of a lesson, before they start to become board of it. :) Great videos.
I just found your vid, but you are a breathe of fresh air in your teaching techniques, your accent to my American ears keep me engaged as well. thanks for sharing how you practice.
Last week I started learning guitar and I find these practising tips really working for me. I watched many videos on how to practise effectively, and this video by far the best one.
I like the rule. Practice until you have achieved something. Rather than a time limit. Really like that. I watched the video again. Just got that. Second time.
I love your own demonstration. Your own learning. I think I do that. but now I will do it deliberately. Over and over. Test my finger distances. Play around with a section at a time until I get it. Slow to fast.
Don't apologize. it show that even an experience instructor starts in the same way as us beginners. Love this. Great vid.
You are a motivator ! You got lots of energy and talent! God Bless you, Ma'm!
I'm glad there is a wonderful professional violinist like the online piano and violin tutor who proves my point about practice, practice, practice makes perfect. Thank you, online piano and violin tutor your advice is great and much appreciated:) Keep up the great work, looking forward to more wonderful videos from you.
Thank you for the encouragement. I'm afraid that I've let my practice habits fall off for wont of learning more music. You've reminded me how important it is to just "stick to the basics". sometimes I think we get too comfortable with the mundane business of repeating things over and over but, it is how I suppose we learn.
Oooh! I've never thought of breaking the piece into lines for some reason. I usually just do the individual notes i struggle with over and over. But this is brilliant! Thank you so much for this.
Hi, what i mean is that music is something one learns and it goes in subconsciously. Its why musicians are able to play music they havnt played for years if its a piece they have spent a very long time on. Im not saying to not focus, I simply mean: 'beginner musicians practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they never get it wrong' . I dont mean literally not to think whilst playing, of course you need to think, but i guess i mean 'thinking' in terms or whats coming next
i am such a procastinator i put this video off for two months before i watched it.but i regret it because this is some really good tips and hopefully i will structure myself too start tomorrow. thankyou
How much have you progressed
😄
the practice you did for yourself was most excellent , not many musicians would be brave enough to do that .
Thank you - I have gotten a lot of stick for doing this video, but its raw and its the truth!! I dont understand why people think I/we professional musicians dont have to learn music like everyone else, or that we cant make a single mistake when learning a new piece of music!!
its a bit like a magician showing how the trick is done , then everyone else can learn and do the trick..you practice we practice , never seen that approach to teaching , your head and shoulders above the rest.:)
How fascinating! Thank you very much for the extra bit of knowledge - I shall remember that! Every day is a school day as they say! Thanks Alison
You've really helped me! Thanks for making this video!
I think its fantastic that you are showing how you practice as a proffesional. The violin is a concept I cant get my head around, as there are no frets to guide you. I have played the guitar for years and years, can read tab but not music and you have given me inspiration at 40 to learn! My boss plays the piano for a church and gives lessons. She would practice on a Sunday and sound like an Angel. Then she would sing and sound like hilda ogden from corrie. So we cant have it all! I have learned more in the last week about reading music than I ever could before. So thank you for your insight, you are brilliant!
Thank you I've gotten so frustrated with piano, but now i know what to do. Im also going to start playing violin, so now i know the attitude i need to have when practicing.
Thank you so much. I have always thought because music came naturally to me ,that practice time should come easy. Wrong. I became flustrated that I couldn't 'nail' a piece the first day I got it. Needless-to-say I would start at the beginning and play it through time and again but always fearing the hard sections when I came to them. How wonderful to find I'm not a bad musician, just an under-trained one. God Bless. Throughly enjoy your videos.
Thank you very much for this. It is very useful advice.
Thanks, Allison! I love your videos. I'm learning a lot from them. I am just a beginner in violin. I'm a pianist but I always find it hard to play difficult passages and it makes me frustrated and feel like I'm not really good. This video is really encouraging. I'm inspired to push myself more (to perfection).
Lol I am falling in love with the way you teach is simple and efficient, to the p. I oint without bs- . I FOUND that some times is the only way to go however do you practice what you preach. The teacher has to be practicing more then the student to be better. Some students are better then the teachers. In my book you are the best
Hey, I just want to say thank you. I've wanted to play piano for a really long time. I can't afford lessons at the moment and this is incredibly helpful. Thank you again so much.
thanks - its because I dont take any crap from students = especially those who have not practiced lol. I also like to keep standards sky high and 'nothing is ever good enough' attitude to keep the student working ad striving toward perfection (all in a good way you understand - im not literally beating them down mentally or anything!)
My students secretly love the way i teach them as they all achieve high exam marks as result!
This helps me understand better about what I should be looking for in my practice sessions- Nail it first, THEN move on to the next part. Thank you! I am always in such a hurry. Got to slow down...
The practicing of each line on a song makes so much more sense. I have usually practiced songs all the way through, but have problems with certain shiftings. This will help correct the mistakes. I'm 45, getting back into playing the violin. I played in Orchestra when I was about 10 years old, but didn't like practicing. I love to practice now! Love your videos and the tips have helped.
thank you. it has helped me so much. i have started to play. i am 46 and i am starting the violin.. my fingers hurt but that is par for the course. thank you for your tips.
Thank you so much for the video Alison! I literally took 2 pages of notes :P
That memory thing you were talking about is "procedural memory" and its what makes driving, and playing subconscious. It is the reason why you'll see musicians who have suffered brain damage not be able to remember their name or family members (declarative memory), but still be able to play their given instrument because the procedural memory is still intact.
Thank you again
Thank you for sharing your concept, system is key!
I'm a guitar player and this video was very valuable to me because it reinforced my perspective on practicing, especially coming from a teacher. This was a great video, thank you! :)
Thank you so much, I'm a beginner and I was getting bored and kinf of frustrated of practicing the piece all over at once and not getting it right, you've showed me a much better way to do it and I'm gonna put that onto practice of course! :)
Allison you are amazing... Seriously... Twinkle twinkle my first week with the violin..... Amazing grace as well (though not as good). Still this video lets me know its supposed to be a time killer... Seriously I hope I have what it takes... Thanx again...
thanx for your teaching,, i like violin and am keeping learning,, am from Tanzania...be blessed
I have 2 videos on memorizing - they may be coming out soon....
I played drums from the time I was 6 until I was 21 and had to quit playing due to my 19 month old daughter passing away and having to sell my drum kit to pay for her funeral because she was born sickly and no insurance company would insure her. It also took my desire to play as well. I practiced a lot when I played. I'm getting a violin and plan on practicing as much as I can every day. But you're right, folks seem to think you can sit down and just automatically know how to play a song lol. I love your channel look forward to learning once I get my violin. Would love to hear a video of you playing this song now.
helped a lot thank you! my dad brought me a violin in 4th grade id never practice im a sophmore in college and i really wished i wouldve knew how to practice and get better and that i didnt give up this video made realize how much music doesnt just magically happen and takes hard work and diligence
Thank you for sharing your struggle with the piece. It was actually very encouraging to see, and to watch how your approached it.
The problem I see here is that from a psychological standpoint, most learning curves are negatively accelerated - which means you learn faster in the beginning and more slowly later on, because the amount of additional skill you can aquire shrinks the more you have already learned. Eventually you'll reach the point where the learning curve is so close to flat that you will not necessarily feel a decisive improvement after a single practice session, but only over the course of perhaps a week or even a month.
I remember starting out on the guitar; getting to change between open chords took about a month, that was comparatively quick - sweep picking however probably took several years before it got even close to being precise.
Similar for singing - you'll get most people into their lower passagio pretty quickly (roughly up to f#4 for men / c#5 for women), but everything above that will take considerably longer.
Lol I am falling in love with the way you teach is simple and efficient, to the p. I oint without bs- . I FOUND that some times is the only way to go.
This is the first time I have visited your videos. This one was very helpful to me as an instructor. I don't use cookie cutter formulas to each with but this is the best of both worlds allowing me the freedom to ramble in my approach with a long form of controlled practices. This is good. Thanks
Started learning on my own around 2 months ago... Amazing tips! I did everything wrong... Time to get to work and do it right now! :D
Thank u very much for tips I'll re structur myself to I just realised I've been practicing wrongly thank u thank u
Dear Teacher: WOW! Great teaching. I am older I started the violin when I was 10 and learnt 1st, 3rd, & 5th positions. Later in my 20's I sold the violin. In 2006 I bought one again. I reviewed everything I learned and taught myself the 2nd, 4th, and now I am working on the 6th position.
I can only give myself about 1/2 hour an day, maybe on weekends an hour. I work a full time job and also have a hobby of photography so I don't have a lot of time. I tried giving up the violin, but I keep pulling it out of the closet.
One thing I learned from your video is to not play a whole piece through, you say you should break it up and work on certain areas that need working on. Maybe that would help me progress faster. I am using 4 lesson books, I play one piece in each book, maybe I could break it up and practice in one area.
I am playing: Wohlfahrt 60 Etudes Book 2 on #54; Melodious Double-stops #21 (that is a hard one to get the fingers to twist in a tight area); Introducing The Positions Vol. 2 Sixth Position Etude in G by Ries, page 30; Developing Double-Stops page 30 Etude in F by Sitt (1st, 2nd, & 3rd pos.) If you were me how would you practice from these books? Lonnie
I haven played these ones. I have done different ones however. Its really hard to say how to practice them as I practice very differently to the next person. At this sort of level should should have some idea of what feels right and wrong, but if you want a generic answer, then 2 hours per day on these sort of exercises before your main practice I guess.
I heard a good quote once. 'Don't practice what you can do, practice what what you can't do'. Similar to what you are saying.
This video reminds me of an important quote from G.K. Chesterton, I encountered when I first picked up the guitar again as an adult: "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly." (In hopes of becoming better.) The perfectionistic "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well" was an utter discouragement to practice, for me at least.
I applaud your willingness to show yourself working on something which is a real challenge for you in front of "God and everybody" or at least the whole of the internet.
I tend to play the whole thing. Over and Over and Over again, resulting in hours spent but rough spots still not all that much smoother. . . Not at all efficient. Restarting on the fiddle, I'll try breaking things down.
Thank you so much for this Video!!! As a relative beginner on the violin (5 years and counting) it was great for me to see the process that someone who is an advanced player goes through when learning a new piece... it was refreshing to know that all players of the violin go through the same process when learning new music and thank you so much for the great tips on practicing. As an adult learner I am very hard on myself and get very frustrated sometimes so this video made me feel a lot better about the process I have been going through. I love your videos, you seem to address so many of the questions I have had since I began playing. Thanks again :D
Guess this is my second comment on this video. I can't help but post another comment just to tell you how brilliant a teacher you are! I am amazed at your ability in explaining your thoughts so crisply and effectively. These tips are very useful.
You make so much sense thank you again play it till your sick then a few more times playing it sucks to you but the listener will like it in the end your the best
Keep up the awesome videos. I'm new to violin, and your videos help loads. As you know from a previous comment, I started right from not knowing how to rosin a bow, and now I am practicing a simple peace. (Amazing grace.) And that's simply because it popped in to my head, and I guessed the notes. This video helps loads with practice, not just for the violin, but for guitar too.
I like your method of not going on until a piece is perfect. I have had music teachers over the years. The first was on the piano and then later on the flute. They both let me go on to the next piece even though there were mistakes still on the present piece. I never really got a good sense of accomplishment that way or felt I had really mastered it. Also, no one ever told me how to practice; line by line. I always played through the piece several times. Maybe I'd stop at the difficult parts and play them a few times, but never enough times. Anyway, this has been very helpful and should help a lot as I learn the violin.
i`m getting withdrawal symptoms from not playing today as violin is all boxed up ready to go back, my practising was an hour every morning on your open strings set... but when I get new violin back i`ll start once again from the start n spend probably another week at hour a day getting through all those then onto first two of 1st finger sets... so really cant wait for this to all be sorted n have my practise back.
Allison,
Thank you for all you give in your wonderful videos. i am just taking up the violin and would like to learn the violin part from Moby's "FLOWER." It's short, easy and doable, just need the notes. Again, thanks.
Lol, it is funny to find a teacher who have the same experience. I think your entusiasm of teaching shines through and it makes your student like you more. Nothing like a boring teacher. But I know the experience of frustration when students don't practice, that is the worst. But I think to be a great teacher you have to be a great motivator first of all.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I got so much from it, you wouldn't believe. There are not many teachers out there that are willing to share the practice process as it applies to them, it was so inspiring to know how this is for professionals too.
Bob Edwards totally. I have nothing to hide and I always like to show you all how it works for me too; and its no different. There isnt anything magical I do that you folks dont do. Its all the same :))
Been watching your Vids Alison and must say they are spot on, and i am considering doing my own video learning blog
Thanks for spending the time to helping me and i expect loads of others to play and improve on the Violin. Your a star,
This is great if you're self-learning and are a little on the broke side! Thanks!
Many thanks, a great help.
Hi, thanks for this video...
I started playing the violin a year ago at age 25, I've learned so much the past year, but I keep doubting myself, doubting my practising techniques - so this was very reassuring.
I'm at a beginners level, just learning a 1.20min version of Canon In D - my brain cannot handle all the information so I usually leave my violin laying on the bed, picking it up 4-5 times a day playing for 10+ minutes and put it down - I've found this quite helpful :) TY for videos :)!
Thank you for your help. I am just starting to learn to play the violin and what you said to play the first line till you are sick of it and then the next line. Good idea! Thanks for your help!
The concept of beauty has been perfected on you. Thk God x alawed me to this.
You're a heavenly angel who came to this world. You look amazing, blessing
Great. This is a subject that could be talked about way more for the benefit of people (including myself) getting stuck.
I've been lucky enough in the past to be payed to play music, but there have been plenty of times when I wondered if I would ever get anywhere. My top tips - learn pieces that really inspire you, and keep looking until you find them. Keep learning new things. One you've learned something, keep at it until you can play it with feeling.
I really like that you think a lot like me when I teach. I think you have a lively personality after having seen a lot of your videos.
Wow, this video really helped me find where I had gone wrong in my practice, now I just need more Practice ! ! ! Thank You ! ! !
Thanks for the tips. I need to work on smaller areas and work those out in more detail.
Thanks for your advice. I'm working on grade 3 at the moment on piano . only played for the last three years. Everything seems to take an age to learn! I drift off into my own improvisation. Or start working on piano arrangements of songs that I wrote on guitar 25 years ago. I forget that if I learn properly I will make better arrangements later. Although classical training prob. Is not great for pop/folk/rock. I'm 48 so I will never be great but I'd like to sound listenable by my mid fifties.
Thanks so much, Alison....I'm going to start breaking down passages into manageable bits. I'm sure I'll see a lot more progress that way.
On another note [pardon the pun] it would great to have a video sometime on how to go about playing by ear and/or memorizing a piece of music. Although I can tell when my intonation is 'off', I have a big problem with identifying where notes are on the strings by sound alone.[in other words, I'm chained to my sheet music] Thanks!
....if you have to 'think' to hard about whats coming next and what fingers and what you are doing etc etc, you need to practice until all that goes away. Its really really hard to explain typing, but i hope i make sense? Alison
thanks for this video. very encouraging for those struggling to start. beautiful
Thank you Alison! I ordered it. Now to get to work!
Great video. It works for any instrument...thanks
I so enjoyed your lesson! I can't speak for anyone else but having a structured practice schedule is an immense help. I haven't had the benefit of a teacher so I simply don't have a reference point for much of this and so consequently I never feel as though I am progressing. Also it is refreshing to know that the pursuit of musical excellence is hard for us all.
Would you post the practice sheets so that I can make copies? Thank You!
+Will Parsee its been added under the video, but here is the link: goo.gl/0PMR5C
its fine - im not offended. You are entitled to your opinion and Im always looking to improve my videos etc. The trouble with this though is that there are SO many more things and aspects of playing the violin than the piano that can be covered in videos, that cannot on the piano.
Piano videos are also sometimes harder to do to reach out to many thousands of people without losing the information and making it too generic hence why there are a lot less piano videos I have done.
Thanks very much for your wonderful practicing tips. This kind of confirmed how i have been practicing as a hobbiest. 👍🏽😊
Excellent video! ! It really does put the emphasis on practice with a focus and goal in mind! I like how you included beginner and advanced techniques to use and that you put yourself out there like the rest of us. It shows that you are a down to earth instructor without a God complex. Keep posting more videos and thank you for doing so!
I am a martial artist and I know exactly what you mean by not thinking to hard about it. The music in this case and the instrument become apart of you so it is like second nature when you play a particular piece. You just know how it flows in a technical sense and once that happens you can begin to make it your own. Same in martial arts. Also no matter how good we get we will always make little mistakes or big mistakes, That is why you should never cease in practicing.
I very much enjoyed getting some insight to how a pro goes about practicing! Often i feel like i'm just being a poor student because things don't come together very well, but i'm starting to see that it's probably just me being extremely perfectionistic and in the end i just get very frustrated at myself. Seeing how you worked through a bit your piece one bar at a time, helped me see what should be realistic expectations on my part! Thanks!! :D I wanted to see some piano practicing though :D
Helpful I would think especially for classical musicians but doesn't necessarily apply to the electric guitar where repetition can be your enemy and you're not trying to nail it the same every time, but the idea of hours with your fingers on strings/keys and being inspired to play I wholeheartedly agree with. Also I would say learning pieces that light you up is very important
Hi,
I dont have any on a sheet - i just chose at random. I suggest if you re a beginner, you stick to C Major, G Major, D Major, A Minor and D Minor. I have a video on them. I think its lesson 2 or 3 of my 10 course piano lesson videos. Sorry - YT wont let me link anything here. Hope that helps...
This video was pretty helpful especially with playing the first line multiple times instead of the whole thing at once
Merci for this. Yes it was helpful, speaking from a beginner's standpoint.
Great video! You chose to learn maybe the most difficult piece for violin. How well are you playing it now, after 2 years?
I have found that buying a small music note book worked for me,so I can record what I have done, how long for and how regularly.Also anything im not happy with I remind myself in capitals..lol all good fun :)
I have been pulling your exercises to pieces aswell,, taking bits n practising them over n over,then working from the beginning etc etc.. it bloody works ..:)
Thank you!
Thank you so much. This video motivates me to practice more. You are such an excellent teacher.
Thanks for the advice! I just switched to a higher level orchestra in my high school, the difficult's really increased, and the pressure's really on to learn all the new pieces really quickly, which is hard since there are so many. Hopefully it helps!
I have videos already of the grade 1 and grade 2 scales and arpeggios, but i will see what i can do about uploading them in mp3.
So hard to concentrate when my teacher is so beautiful . I love your videos too. Thank you
You are beautiful and your videos are fantastic. I am am a self taught pianist and your videos have taught me so much!! Thank you !! :-)) xx
Hi Allison I'm a beginner can you tell me what scales you have on that practice sheet. I am trying to make some so I can mark them off everyday. Thank you I love your videos.
Just managed to get through grade 6, and now beginning on grade 7, much more difficult, but your comments make a lot of sense, I will try to make charts as they seem the right way to go. I am 74, and have waited a lifetime to learn piano, only niggle, rather you concentrated your examples on the piano as the violin not the sound I find pleasant, sorry only a personal preference.
Julie Harris t
Your comment really inspired me! How did grade 7 go?
I am very new to this. I really like your videos and am trying to teach myself some basics of playing violin. I have a stentor 1500. One thing I noticed that whenever I change the note with my left hand the bowing direction with my right hand wants to change too. In other words they are not independent of each other. So I thought of practicing the scales with alternate bowing (I.e. each time I change the note I change the bowing direction) is that the right way to do? Is there any exercise specially designed for hand independene?
+Dipankar Biswas As a beginner, my advice would be to play one bow per note. It up to you of course, but i would personally NOT advise trying 2 notes to a bow etc as its complicated enough just to get to grips with the violin as a newbie.