Hello Samira! Thank you very much, I'm delighted that you have found the videos helpful! Please let me know if there's anything I can help you with, ok? Take care and keep going! Mary💗
Hola Mary! Habitualmente comienzo con escalas...últimamente con la escala de Sol Mayor, tres octavas con cambio de posición... Y me encanta tu idea de intentar tocar siempre con musicalidad...también las escalas 👏👏👏👏👏 Tu práctica de ir subiendo semitonos es nueva para mí y también la incorporaré a mi estudio diario...si consigo relajar y no presionar será un gran progreso😅 Mil gracias Mary y un gran abrazo desde Madrid hoy con mucho viento, lluvia y frío, casi parece invierno 🌧☂️💜🎶💚🎻🤗🤗🤗
Hello Lola! What a great way to warm up, with a three octave g major scale - I'm very impressed! As for going up by semitones, I must admit I found this very trying when I first started doing this regularly...but the more I've warmed up like this, the more I've been able to let go, and getting plenty of benefits all up my left arm too. Practice is a funny thing, isn't it? Scales and studies I used to abhor I just love now...I wonder if you're the same? We're being rewarded after a very wet summer with a beautiful sunny autumn here in Scotland. It's so mild lots of wild flowers have come out again; ragged robin, daisies, buttercups, geraniums...Florence and I were in the forest today and I spent a long time looking at the shafts of sun on the mossy forest floor...so beautiful and so peaceful. Lola, take care and stay cosy as winter starts drawing in. A huge hug! Mary ❤
@@violinstudiowithmaryv Hola Mary! Nunca me he aburrido haciendo escalas 😅 al contrario, cuando una escala está bien afinada y se toca con musicalidad es bellísima...Toda la música son escalas y más escalas😊 Me alegra leer sobre tus paseos en ese bosque tan hermoso, lleno de vegetación y de flores, junto con Florence! Que lo sigáis disfrutando! Abrazos para ti y para Florence!🤗💚🐶💜🍁
Hi Mary. I have always struggled with the warming up method. I will incorporate this method into my daily practice. I have written a comment on your last video ‘Vibrato Trills Are The Great Cure For Violinists’ Left Hand Tightness'. Please read on. Your advice has helped me to play well. Shin😊
Hi Shin, Thanks for alerting me to your previous post in the 'Trills' video which for some reason I missed, but I'm very glad I saw it...I hope that you will continue to experiment and make important discoveries that will bring you solutions and comfort. Take care! Mary ❤
Hello Shin! For some reason your comments have not appeared in the 'trills' video, so just in case you didn't see my reply, here it is...... Thank you very much for these details...it's clear to me from your description that your problems stem from more fundamental issues; whether your shoulder rest is correctly set up, and whether the violin position is correct in relation to your arm's natural function...you see, the left arm must be given the opportunity to act naturally at all times. If, for example, your violin is positioned too far to your left then that puts an immediate strain on everything in the left arm, from the shoulder to the tips of the fingers. Please watch these videos to see if you recognise these issues in your own set up; ua-cam.com/video/WgVPEJEK0fY/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/pHrZAd2uPjs/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/bnYVYUbpzgs/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/bmnGdGx8090/v-deo.html I think your difficulties in putting your fingers down easily and naturally stem from your over-extended arm position, which in turn stems from a violin position which doesn't relate properly to your shoulders and arms... Violin playing comfortably is just like a puzzle where all the parts fit together, but one part affects the others. Staying experimental, just as you are doing, is the best choice you can make, especially when you have long standing habits - they need to just wither from underuse as new, healthy habits take over, powered by your new and exciting discoveries... And it's a great idea to murmur to yourself to bring thoughtfulness and observation into your experiments...I love it! I wish you all the best and take care. Mary❤
I love your tutorials! Thanks so much for them! As an older beginner violin player I was surprised with the shoulder, neck and back "pain" caused by tightness! I've been experimenting with using a strap laced under the violin tail piece, passed over the top of my left shoulder then up and under the right arm (actually using an old belt) for this. After attached, you need no "head/chin pressure" on the chin rest. The strap holds the violin up in place. It seems to eliminate head and neck tightness. Are you familiar with this and would you recommend using this while practicing? I don't want to become dependent on it. It functions sort of like guitar players straps when they stand up while playing.
Hello Stephen! I'm delighted you like my videos, thank you very much for letting me know! I've seen people on UA-cam using these straps and I must admit that personally I'm horrified as it seems to me that it's just a bad substitute instead of learning how to hold the violin properly... There's a balance that's needed between the head and the left hand that once achieved, gives a touch and feel to violin playing that is unsurpassed. For centuries as the violin has developed and changed, the relationship of the head and the hand has remained the foundation for the violin, and you miss out on this basic technique if you simply strap the violin to you instead of learning how to hold it and experience the freedom and subtlety of achieving balance. BUT you did mention a lot of pain from squeezing, and I agree that any pain is extremely aggravating and unwelcome...but again squeezing and pain are not necessary or predestined on the violin if you patiently spend time learning good techniques. I hope you don't mind my response, but of course I'm certain you will do exactly what feels right for you, as you should! Take care. Mary💗
Hello Mary. Thank you for introducing your four videos. I have seen many of your videos, but the fourth one, Good Posture Should Lead To Comfort On The Violin, is new to me. It was very good. Every time I practise I realise that a natural posture is really a ‘natural’ posture. When faced with a way of playing that I am not comfortable with, I consciously and deliberately put a lot of effort into it. It seems that the pressure and pain caused by that intentional force makes me feel strangely secure. Is that a habit? I have watched a lot of your videos, and I have found that you have a habit of doing things in a way that is very comfortable for you. I forget the title of the video, but in that video you state that you should ‘keep your head up high, the back of your neck straight and your chin pulled back’. When I became aware of that posture, my spine lengthened, my legs stood firm, there was no longer a weird left-right tilt, I could breathe easier and my vision widened. Amazing. I feel that to do it naturally means to plan and execute it deliberately. I am learning philosophy from playing the violin. Playing an instrument is really deep. Shin😊
Hello Shin! Thank you very much for this information about your discoveries about habits and posture... You are correct that the feeling you have of security caused by pressure and pain is a habit and perhaps also a need and a belief that one must make an enormous effort to do something worthwhile and enjoyable, and so the effort and even pain are validated... But if you think about it, the effort it takes mentally and physically to learn how to deliberately let go and be natural and relax is also an enormous effort, but it's just in the opposite direction. So you need to continue proving to yourself in many creative, openminded ways that you can play in natural positions without clenching and straining. You're already doing a very good job of experimenting and convincing yourself bit by bit to trust yourself to play without that familiar tightness. Tightness contains within it much doubt and fear, doesn't it?... So tucking in your chin seems to be great for you! I'm delighted by what you said especially about your breathing and your vision; splendid indeed!! Sometimes a tiny thing can unlock a lot, including joy, which is so important and precious when it comes along... Thanks again, Shin, and take care. Mary💗
You're good, Mary!
Thanks for posting. 🎶🌟👍
Hello! Thank you very much! Mary💗
Very useful recommendations ! Thank you so much !
From Iran 🌹💖
Hello! I'm so glad you found the video useful. Lovely to hear from you in Iran!
Take care. Mary💗
Thanks Mary , from France , very nice
Hello! Thank you very much! Mary💗
You have helped me so much, Mary , thank you, thank you so much❤❤
Hello Samira! Thank you very much, I'm delighted that you have found the videos helpful! Please let me know if there's anything I can help you with, ok? Take care and keep going! Mary💗
Thank you for sharing, Mary.
Hello! Thank you! Mary ❤
Hola Mary! Habitualmente comienzo con escalas...últimamente con la escala de Sol Mayor, tres octavas con cambio de posición... Y me encanta tu idea de intentar tocar siempre con musicalidad...también las escalas 👏👏👏👏👏 Tu práctica de ir subiendo semitonos es nueva para mí y también la incorporaré a mi estudio diario...si consigo relajar y no presionar será un gran progreso😅 Mil gracias Mary y un gran abrazo desde Madrid hoy con mucho viento, lluvia y frío, casi parece invierno 🌧☂️💜🎶💚🎻🤗🤗🤗
Hello Lola! What a great way to warm up, with a three octave g major scale - I'm very impressed!
As for going up by semitones, I must admit I found this very trying when I first started doing this regularly...but the more I've warmed up like this, the more I've been able to let go, and getting plenty of benefits all up my left arm too.
Practice is a funny thing, isn't it? Scales and studies I used to abhor I just love now...I wonder if you're the same?
We're being rewarded after a very wet summer with a beautiful sunny autumn here in Scotland. It's so mild lots of wild flowers have come out again; ragged robin, daisies, buttercups, geraniums...Florence and I were in the forest today and I spent a long time looking at the shafts of sun on the mossy forest floor...so beautiful and so peaceful.
Lola, take care and stay cosy as winter starts drawing in. A huge hug! Mary ❤
@@violinstudiowithmaryv Hola Mary! Nunca me he aburrido haciendo escalas 😅 al contrario, cuando una escala está bien afinada y se toca con musicalidad es bellísima...Toda la música son escalas y más escalas😊 Me alegra leer sobre tus paseos en ese bosque tan hermoso, lleno de vegetación y de flores, junto con Florence! Que lo sigáis disfrutando! Abrazos para ti y para Florence!🤗💚🐶💜🍁
hey cheers for the help today mate, this was actually really useful for me! thanks mate.
Hello! Thank you very much, I'm delighted you found it useful. Mary ❤
Hi Mary.
I have always struggled with the warming up method. I will incorporate this method into my daily practice.
I have written a comment on your last video ‘Vibrato Trills Are The Great Cure For Violinists’ Left Hand Tightness'. Please read on. Your advice has helped me to play well.
Shin😊
Hi Shin,
Thanks for alerting me to your previous post in the 'Trills' video which for some reason I missed, but I'm very glad I saw it...I hope that you will continue to experiment and make important discoveries that will bring you solutions and comfort.
Take care! Mary ❤
Hello Shin! For some reason your comments have not appeared in the 'trills' video, so just in case you didn't see my reply, here it is......
Thank you very much for these details...it's clear to me from your description that your problems stem from more fundamental issues; whether your shoulder rest is correctly set up, and whether the violin position is correct in relation to your arm's natural function...you see, the left arm must be given the opportunity to act naturally at all times.
If, for example, your violin is positioned too far to your left then that puts an immediate strain on everything in the left arm, from the shoulder to the tips of the fingers.
Please watch these videos to see if you recognise these issues in your own set up;
ua-cam.com/video/WgVPEJEK0fY/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/pHrZAd2uPjs/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/bnYVYUbpzgs/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/bmnGdGx8090/v-deo.html
I think your difficulties in putting your fingers down easily and naturally stem from your over-extended arm position, which in turn stems from a violin position which doesn't relate properly to your shoulders and arms...
Violin playing comfortably is just like a puzzle where all the parts fit together, but one part affects the others.
Staying experimental, just as you are doing, is the best choice you can make, especially when you have long standing habits - they need to just wither from underuse as new, healthy habits take over, powered by your new and exciting discoveries...
And it's a great idea to murmur to yourself to bring thoughtfulness and observation into your experiments...I love it!
I wish you all the best and take care. Mary❤
I love your tutorials! Thanks so much for them! As an older beginner violin player I was surprised with the shoulder, neck and back "pain" caused by tightness! I've been experimenting with using a strap laced under the violin tail piece, passed over the top of my left shoulder then up and under the right arm (actually using an old belt) for this. After attached, you need no "head/chin pressure" on the chin rest. The strap holds the violin up in place. It seems to eliminate head and neck tightness. Are you familiar with this and would you recommend using this while practicing? I don't want to become dependent on it. It functions sort of like guitar players straps when they stand up while playing.
Hello Stephen! I'm delighted you like my videos, thank you very much for letting me know!
I've seen people on UA-cam using these straps and I must admit that personally I'm horrified as it seems to me that it's just a bad substitute instead of learning how to hold the violin properly...
There's a balance that's needed between the head and the left hand that once achieved, gives a touch and feel to violin playing that is unsurpassed.
For centuries as the violin has developed and changed, the relationship of the head and the hand has remained the foundation for the violin, and you miss out on this basic technique if you simply strap the violin to you instead of learning how to hold it and experience the freedom and subtlety of achieving balance.
BUT you did mention a lot of pain from squeezing, and I agree that any pain is extremely aggravating and unwelcome...but again squeezing and pain are not necessary or predestined on the violin if you patiently spend time learning good techniques.
I hope you don't mind my response, but of course I'm certain you will do exactly what feels right for you, as you should! Take care. Mary💗
Hello Mary.
Thank you for introducing your four videos. I have seen many of your videos, but the fourth one, Good Posture Should Lead To Comfort On The Violin, is new to me. It was very good. Every time I practise I realise that a natural posture is really a ‘natural’ posture. When faced with a way of playing that I am not comfortable with, I consciously and deliberately put a lot of effort into it. It seems that the pressure and pain caused by that intentional force makes me feel strangely secure. Is that a habit?
I have watched a lot of your videos, and I have found that you have a habit of doing things in a way that is very comfortable for you. I forget the title of the video, but in that video you state that you should ‘keep your head up high, the back of your neck straight and your chin pulled back’. When I became aware of that posture, my spine lengthened, my legs stood firm, there was no longer a weird left-right tilt, I could breathe easier and my vision widened. Amazing.
I feel that to do it naturally means to plan and execute it deliberately. I am learning philosophy from playing the violin. Playing an instrument is really deep.
Shin😊
Hello Shin! Thank you very much for this information about your discoveries about habits and posture... You are correct that the feeling you have of security caused by pressure and pain is a habit and perhaps also a need and a belief that one must make an enormous effort to do something worthwhile and enjoyable, and so the effort and even pain are validated...
But if you think about it, the effort it takes mentally and physically to learn how to deliberately let go and be natural and relax is also an enormous effort, but it's just in the opposite direction.
So you need to continue proving to yourself in many creative, openminded ways that you can play in natural positions without clenching and straining.
You're already doing a very good job of experimenting and convincing yourself bit by bit to trust yourself to play without that familiar tightness. Tightness contains within it much doubt and fear, doesn't it?...
So tucking in your chin seems to be great for you! I'm delighted by what you said especially about your breathing and your vision; splendid indeed!!
Sometimes a tiny thing can unlock a lot, including joy, which is so important and precious when it comes along...
Thanks again, Shin, and take care. Mary💗