A fascinating insight into how the best teachers work with beginners. With the typical teacher, I think there's a lot of focus on outer form - do this, do that, do it the way I tell you. The better teachers seem to focus more on helping you experiment and explore - to find your own way to freedom and dynamism on the instrument. There's more focus on how it should feel rather than what it should look like. And they return again and again to the basics, while many students are too quick to rush off and try advanced techniques before they have the foundation to do them well. And Nicola is such a warm, honest and unpretentious teacher - very inspiring!
It's so refreshing to find violin tuition on UA-cam that tells it like it is, instead of promising instant results with little effort. Keep up the great work!
OK... I don't mean to be contrary here (and this is a bit off-topic), but what the heck does "tell it like it is" even really mean? This phrase is so irritating since it implies some "absolute truth" exists. I hear this term all too often, particularly in reference to political "characters" or to loud-mouth individuals who constantly blurt out their unsolicited opinions. Is there some "Big Book of What Is" out there somewhere that we can access to help guide us through life? Please send me the Amazon link to this book, if you have it.. I would have been so much more comfortable with your first sentence if you had worded it something like, "It's so refreshing to find a violin tutor on UA-cam that doesn't try to minimize the effort required to progress on the instrument", rather than promising instant results with little effort."
I just love your happy persona and humor. Of course your instruction is great, very helpful, and so unlike any thing else I have found. Please, please keep doing it!!
I quite conservatory about 20 years ago and was right at the stage you talked about in your first video where I was skilled but effortful in my playing. I am now going back to working up my repertoire and my perspective on my own playing is so different. I always practiced in a bit of a stressed out way (hours a day) and my playing always lacked a certain effortlessness. The stress was in my mind and body. I can completely relate to your target audience for these videos. I am a mother of three young children (not a lot of personal time) and these videos are just what I've been looking for! Thank you so much for putting in the effort to do this.❤️
I just love listening to her voice(such nice Scottish accent) and her laughter, smiles etc. It is like fresh air, joyful song.. Thank you and God bless.
Love that idea of playing in a" whisper" so you can navigate the finger placement. Thank you for lesson 1 and also 2 . I've just made a plan to do this for one month .wish me luck ..
I AM LOVING THESE VIDEOS!!!!! You’re so thoughtful and kind to share with us all!! I am taking everything you said in to my own practice 🙏🏼 thank you for teaching me 🙏🏼. Shannon W. In Texas
Well, finally finally by the grace of God, I now have Guilliam ROSIN Nicola! I played some sea faring sounding stuff and so far I like the ROSIN real well. It is the dark amber and spreads really well. It makes the e string sing. The a is a little held back but if .you push it It too will sing. My bows are dirty and will need to brush them out. So far I. Like the P. Guillaume ROSIN, it's incredibly difficult to obtain but this highest of fine ROSIN emanating from Belgium may just be what I was looking for. Thanks for recommending and. Bye
I'm so happy you're doing this! This series is the most valuable information I have found that is helping me improve! (Started playing in December.) I look forward to watching each new episode.
these exercises and those in your previous video Left hand part 1 have been wonderful to implement into my daily practice with positive result. Thank you!! I also found that through focusing on releasing tension in the four fingers my thumb also relaxed and that has helped combat arching of my thumb I mentioned to you previously. Good luck in your practicing of lots of notes :-) X
Hi Leah! I am a professional dog groomer and for over 25 years have had to use my left thumb and wrist as an anchor to hold dog’s faces down so I do not accidentally injure them. Niki has helped me find a balance of control and relaxation in order to not strangle my poor violin! Lol
"Etcetera" lol 😂... That's sometimes how I feel practising Schradieck. I'm with you totally Schradieck is a brilliant book! (Book 1 anyway) I cant say I've seen or come across books 2 and up, will have to jump on the googler.. thanks for the vid and keep up the great work 😉 😊
Dear Nicky, Allow me a question: How do you achieve that your left hand does not get tired when you need to project an intense flow of sound in fast passages? Thank you for your help, it is very kind of you.
Have a beautiful day teach,gotta get to my meeting, I practiced The theme from Masterpiece Theater earlier,I just made it up as I went along with different variations. I PLAY BY EAR, HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK WITH READING MUSIC. WILL BE GETTING A METRONOME HOPEFULLY, BUT WITH THESE EVA PIRAZZIS, I FEEL LIKE I CAN CONCORE THE WORLD. BLESS YOU NICOLA ,AGAIN MY HEARTFELT THANKS! , YOURS C.E. USA
Thanks for the new video! I have been doing the Schradieck No 1 every day so good to have new ways of looking at them instead of just playing through from first bar to the last. Just wondering in the demonstration you showed on how it applies to Repertoire, what would you say the final performance mechanism of the fingers should be? Are they more likely the first exercises with the finger dropping or more like the second exercises where the fingers are close to where the next few notes are going to be? Or is the idea that you want the fingers to be as close to the next few notes but still been able to drop the fingers fast for better articulation? I am working on Gigue from Bach Partita no 2, and I hope your future videos can discuss coordinating left and right hand for fast passages with string crossings.
I would be very interested to hear what you might think of the late Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland who in a way did it ALL wrong. Of course it is a totally different genre. I love your lessons! Your respect for players like Ally Bain is really refreshing.
It really helps me a lot!!! If I can only share my video of this exercise just to show that it really helps me! Thank you so much, You are really great and lovely
Boa noite Nicoli, você é uma super profissional e como pessoa você é muito simpática, sou brasileiro e fiquei muito contente pela legenda em português. Tenho 69 anos e a dois meses comecei a estudar violino, aprendi muito contigo. Meus parabéns, God bless you alot.
As an older beginner, 63, I’m finding your tips to be very helpful. I’ve watched hundreds, I think or it seems like, of tutorials as I’m self taught and I’m really enjoying doing your exercises and seeing the difference it does make! Thank you Nicky :)
thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us beginners. One question I have is related to having big hands and the difficulty it creates to be able to do the exercises as the fingers would be one on top of the other to achieve the right notes, is there a way to overcome such issue?
Hi Nicky, thanks for these wonderful tips. Please can I ask, how long should I practice these exercises for? 6 months, everyday? Or a few times a week for a longer time? Thank you so much! 😁
Hello! Thank you for the series, I'm loving it. I tried the exercise part I and didn't find boring at all! First because I have to keep so focused on my movements and sensations that I don't have time to be bored. Second, because it's short. I try to do only for the time I'm focussed, not longer so I don't do something I'm not aware of. Third, because it works almost immediately! So how can I be bored with something like that? Also, I'm testing to do Schradieck 1 in all 4 strings, starded with A, now doing G (cause I feel my elbow gets lazy to take my hand there once in a while...). I have one question though: how to know when it's time to go to the next level (from no-bow to bow, from 8 to 16 and so on)? And how to help this transition with students?
Hai Nicky, thanks for your nice videos. For long time I am wondering about the form or the frame of the hand in combination with the fact, that the hand or the wrist shouldnt be stiff. I kind of keep it quite stiff in order to not change the position of the fingers. But some people said to me, that my elbow is turned in too much and yes, it feels quite tensed. I do this, to make the fourth finger comfortably reach the tone without touching another string. But I wonder, how much motion in the hand and wrist is allowed to make it easier for the fingers to reach the tone and if that could replace the intense elbow turning. Thank you very much and happy christmas :) Maybe someone else has an interesting answer: Feel free to reply
i like this very gentle way of teaching. Ohhh, its not "teaching". its better called "showing something" (better word). Thank you very much for the videos.
I notice you don't pronate your left/fingerboard hand to allow your pinky to bend or curl more. Many instructors mention turning your hand to better support the 4th finger. You have nice long fingers but you seem to be on the edge of a flat knuckle. Just wondering 🤔 BTW, love all your videos. I'm a new learner at 61 and am bingeing on your channel. 👍👍👍👍👍
Could I get feedback on: would it not be more feasible to start with 8 bpm, then speed up by increments of, say, 5 bpm rather than doubling up from 8 bpm, then 16, then 32 etc. I'm finding the jump from 16 to 32 nigh on impossible! Thanks for any feedback.
I see that you rise your fingers very high..I think,or I feel,that they must let them Fall lightly on the string, elastically..but not like a heavy stone!What about the different rythme patterns,you use them and with this articulation?Thank you!
Nicola is a fantastic violinist and a BRILLIANT teacher!!! BRAVA, and thank you so much!
A fascinating insight into how the best teachers work with beginners. With the typical teacher, I think there's a lot of focus on outer form - do this, do that, do it the way I tell you. The better teachers seem to focus more on helping you experiment and explore - to find your own way to freedom and dynamism on the instrument. There's more focus on how it should feel rather than what it should look like. And they return again and again to the basics, while many students are too quick to rush off and try advanced techniques before they have the foundation to do them well.
And Nicola is such a warm, honest and unpretentious teacher - very inspiring!
Oh my gosh! That make so much sense.. to be ready to position your left hand and wrist for the upper register! Thanks Nikki!!
It's so refreshing to find violin tuition on UA-cam that tells it like it is, instead of promising instant results with little effort. Keep up the great work!
OK... I don't mean to be contrary here (and this is a bit off-topic), but what the heck does "tell it like it is" even really mean? This phrase is so irritating since it implies some "absolute truth" exists. I hear this term all too often, particularly in reference to political "characters" or to loud-mouth individuals who constantly blurt out their unsolicited opinions. Is there some "Big Book of What Is" out there somewhere that we can access to help guide us through life? Please send me the Amazon link to this book, if you have it..
I would have been so much more comfortable with your first sentence if you had worded it something like, "It's so refreshing to find a violin tutor on UA-cam that doesn't try to minimize the effort required to progress on the instrument", rather than promising instant results with little effort."
I don't know who promised insta results xD i think you just want her to msg you lol
@@markvobic7106 Lot's of amateur videos actually do
We are all blessed to have you here!
It’s working Nikki! Yay! I’m getting better!❤️
I just love your happy persona and humor. Of course your instruction is great, very helpful, and so unlike any thing else I have found. Please, please keep doing it!!
I quite conservatory about 20 years ago and was right at the stage you talked about in your first video where I was skilled but effortful in my playing. I am now going back to working up my repertoire and my perspective on my own playing is so different. I always practiced in a bit of a stressed out way (hours a day) and my playing always lacked a certain effortlessness. The stress was in my mind and body. I can completely relate to your target audience for these videos. I am a mother of three young children (not a lot of personal time) and these videos are just what I've been looking for! Thank you so much for putting in the effort to do this.❤️
I just love listening to her voice(such nice Scottish accent) and her laughter, smiles etc. It is like fresh air, joyful song.. Thank you and God bless.
Love that idea of playing in a" whisper" so you can navigate the finger placement. Thank you for lesson 1 and also 2 . I've just made a plan to do this for one month .wish me luck ..
Thank you, Nicky, for sharing your valuable knowledge of the violin!
I'll TOTALLY be watching!
Thank Nicky!💖💖💖 I learn a lot with yours videos!
I AM LOVING THESE VIDEOS!!!!! You’re so thoughtful and kind to share with us all!! I am taking everything you said in to my own practice 🙏🏼 thank you for teaching me 🙏🏼. Shannon W. In Texas
this is the coolest violin classes i've found online, thanks Niki please keep it up i need to improve :))))
Thanks a lot Nicky with this second part of Back to More Basics, really useful exercises, indeed.
Love this, as all, you are a fine teacher. When I grow up I want to play almost as well as you!
Thank you mate relax stay calm,enjoy the moments 🙏
Amazing. 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌
What a fantastically informative video! I'm going to share this with ALL of my violin and viola students.
"Keep watching or don't" lol, I think I'll keep watching and working with everything you say.
Thanks Nicky - great video again. Looking forward to seeing you in Oxford.
So enjoying these videos! Thank you Nicola! X
I am so grateful for these videos. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us!
Well, finally finally by the grace of God, I now have Guilliam ROSIN Nicola! I played some sea faring sounding stuff and so far I like the ROSIN real well. It is the dark amber and spreads really well. It makes the e string sing. The a is a little held back but if
.you push it It too will sing. My bows are dirty and will need to brush them out. So far I. Like the P. Guillaume ROSIN, it's incredibly difficult to obtain but this highest of fine ROSIN emanating from Belgium may just be what I was looking for. Thanks for recommending and. Bye
Thank you very much for these videos! Love your playing very much! ❤
Congratulations on the video Nicky, I loved the tip
A hug from Brazil 😀
I'm so happy you're doing this! This series is the most valuable information I have found that is helping me improve! (Started playing in December.) I look forward to watching each new episode.
This lesson was simply excellent!
Thank you Nikki!!
these exercises and those in your previous video Left hand part 1 have been wonderful to implement into my daily practice with positive result. Thank you!! I also found that through focusing on releasing tension in the four fingers my thumb also relaxed and that has helped combat arching of my thumb I mentioned to you previously. Good luck in your practicing of lots of notes :-) X
Hi Leah! I am a professional dog groomer and for over 25 years have had to use my left thumb and wrist as an anchor to hold dog’s faces down so I do not accidentally injure them. Niki has helped me find a balance of control and relaxation in order to not strangle my poor violin! Lol
Another excellent practical tutorial. Thank you so much! Nicola, truly an inspiration. Rajeeve NZ
It's so good. I will start practicing and hope I will improve my left hand and right hand. coordination... coordination..
Thank you dear nicola ❤
"Etcetera" lol 😂... That's sometimes how I feel practising Schradieck. I'm with you totally Schradieck is a brilliant book! (Book 1 anyway) I cant say I've seen or come across books 2 and up, will have to jump on the googler.. thanks for the vid and keep up the great work 😉 😊
Dear Nicky,
Allow me a question:
How do you achieve that your left hand does not get tired when you need to project an intense flow of sound in fast passages?
Thank you for your help, it is very kind of you.
Thank you, Nicky. These videos are just great! :-)
Have a beautiful day teach,gotta get to my meeting, I practiced The theme from Masterpiece Theater earlier,I just made it up as I went along with different variations. I PLAY BY EAR, HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK WITH READING MUSIC. WILL BE GETTING A METRONOME HOPEFULLY, BUT WITH THESE EVA PIRAZZIS, I FEEL LIKE I CAN CONCORE THE WORLD. BLESS YOU NICOLA ,AGAIN MY HEARTFELT THANKS! , YOURS C.E. USA
hello, thanks again, you are incredible !
Thanks for the new video! I have been doing the Schradieck No 1 every day so good to have new ways of looking at them instead of just playing through from first bar to the last. Just wondering in the demonstration you showed on how it applies to Repertoire, what would you say the final performance mechanism of the fingers should be? Are they more likely the first exercises with the finger dropping or more like the second exercises where the fingers are close to where the next few notes are going to be? Or is the idea that you want the fingers to be as close to the next few notes but still been able to drop the fingers fast for better articulation? I am working on Gigue from Bach Partita no 2, and I hope your future videos can discuss coordinating left and right hand for fast passages with string crossings.
Amazing, thank you :)
I would be very interested to hear what you might think of the late Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland who in a way did it ALL wrong. Of course it is a totally different genre. I love your lessons! Your respect for players like Ally Bain is really refreshing.
Thankyou so much.
Love your intro, it’s so cute
Thank you for your video ! Would you be able to do a video on how to expand scales and the double stops like 3rds and 10ths?
These videos are incredible! Is there any play to release them on DVD?
It really helps me a lot!!! If I can only share my video of this exercise just to show that it really helps me! Thank you so much, You are really great and lovely
Fabulous thank you
Your are the Best Nicola! Do you recomend us to practice this with metronome ?
Thank you from nt Australia
Boa noite Nicoli, você é uma super profissional e como pessoa você é muito simpática, sou brasileiro e fiquei muito contente pela legenda em português. Tenho 69 anos e a dois meses comecei a estudar violino, aprendi muito contigo. Meus parabéns, God bless you alot.
thanks again niki! greeting from bali island
As an older beginner, 63, I’m finding your tips to be very helpful.
I’ve watched hundreds, I think or it seems like, of tutorials as I’m self taught and I’m really enjoying doing your exercises and seeing the difference it does make!
Thank you Nicky :)
thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us beginners.
One question I have is related to having big hands and the difficulty it creates to be able to do the exercises as the fingers would be one on top of the other to achieve the right notes, is there a way to overcome such issue?
Hi Nicky, thanks for these wonderful tips. Please can I ask, how long should I practice these exercises for? 6 months, everyday? Or a few times a week for a longer time? Thank you so much! 😁
Hello! Thank you for the series, I'm loving it. I tried the exercise part I and didn't find boring at all! First because I have to keep so focused on my movements and sensations that I don't have time to be bored. Second, because it's short. I try to do only for the time I'm focussed, not longer so I don't do something I'm not aware of. Third, because it works almost immediately! So how can I be bored with something like that? Also, I'm testing to do Schradieck 1 in all 4 strings, starded with A, now doing G (cause I feel my elbow gets lazy to take my hand there once in a while...). I have one question though: how to know when it's time to go to the next level (from no-bow to bow, from 8 to 16 and so on)? And how to help this transition with students?
Love you Nikki no other Master violin play it does this you're the only one love you Nikki
keep watching forever!
Amazing
May U demonstrate the form the left hand when practicing 3 OCTAVE SCALES?
@4:04 : I can do that, easy!
@4:17 : That might take some time
@4:22 : well... f*@k me!
Hai Nicky, thanks for your nice videos. For long time I am wondering about the form or the frame of the hand in combination with the fact, that the hand or the wrist shouldnt be stiff. I kind of keep it quite stiff in order to not change the position of the fingers. But some people said to me, that my elbow is turned in too much and yes, it feels quite tensed. I do this, to make the fourth finger comfortably reach the tone without touching another string. But I wonder, how much motion in the hand and wrist is allowed to make it easier for the fingers to reach the tone and if that could replace the intense elbow turning. Thank you very much and happy christmas :) Maybe someone else has an interesting answer: Feel free to reply
Hi everyone, I'm back, with- with me!!
:D @NicolaBenedettiOfficial great intro! #introsForever
i like this very gentle way of teaching. Ohhh, its not "teaching". its better called "showing something" (better word). Thank you very much for the videos.
If only I had fingers like yours🙃
What shoulder rest do you use?
I want to play like you!
I notice you don't pronate your left/fingerboard hand to allow your pinky to bend or curl more. Many instructors mention turning your hand to better support the 4th finger. You have nice long fingers but you seem to be on the edge of a flat knuckle. Just wondering 🤔
BTW, love all your videos. I'm a new learner at 61 and am bingeing on your channel. 👍👍👍👍👍
Could I get feedback on: would it not be more feasible to start with 8 bpm, then speed up by increments of, say, 5 bpm rather than doubling up from 8 bpm, then 16, then 32 etc. I'm finding the jump from 16 to 32 nigh on impossible! Thanks for any feedback.
I see that you rise your fingers very high..I think,or I feel,that they must let them Fall lightly on the string, elastically..but not like a heavy stone!What about the different rythme patterns,you use them and with this articulation?Thank you!
Boa noite tudo bem? excelente as tuas aulas, só que não entendo Inglês ainda, sou brasileiro,
What rosin do you use please?
John Moss it’s P Guillaume and it’s on Amazon
Hey 👋.... I would like to share y Vibrato clip wit you... how do I send it? Is there a Facebook page ? Kindly let me know
Her: for the younger students they must be all bored and thinking that they dont want todo this
Me: i agree with you
Can you teach me to play vibrato?
What a talented and beautiful woman.
She is so sweet omg 😍
Her: 64 notes one bow
Me: CHILLLL, calm down gurl
Hmmmm 64 notes in one bow? Not for me...