Just found your channel. Great videos! I've watched 3 so far. Going to have a field day going through the rest. As the other commenter said, love the way you teach! Personable.
Hello! So I've been playing for about 6 yrs now self taught. Lefty with upside down right handed violin(weird I know) and I've noticed I had the bow change issue and haven't been able to fix it. Thanks for the video, now I have a few exercises to practice 😀
This video helped me to get better at smooth bow changes! It still feels clumsy to use my fingers to move the bow, but I notice it's improving and it's starting to sound better.
After playing violin for over 45 years {as very serious hobbyist}, I finally discovered a well kept secret which professional violinists use [which I 'can' understand, to a degree, why they don't tell the general public]. The professional violinists have their ''bridge'' filed down very thin at the 'top' of the bridge {right under the strings} so as to give maXimum connectivity of the vibrating string down to the body of the violin ((remembering that the left foot of the bridge is sitting right above the ''bass-bar'' which conducts the vibrating sound [primarily] of the G-, and D-strings)), thus [sort of] ''Super-Charging'' the acoustical vibrations of the ''echo-chamber'', which izz the body of the violin, after all. Now, why would professionals, primarily luthiers 'and' just violin sales people, keep this a secret, ...because, then, every violinist from beginner to ['almost'] professional will want this ''thinner-edged'' bridge treatment, to0. This ''thinner-edged'' bridge will almost always, if you're not a real professional violinist, break all too often, because 'we', non-professionals, do not know how to (a) play soft enough, fast enough and, thus, not break the bridge every time we play on it. Plus, (b) this izz a very expensive co$t to have a bridge carved and re-placed for your violin every time you break the bridge, so for us 'mere mortals'; i.e. non-professionals, it's 'actually' better to have the standard thicker bridge, so we don't have to make numerous and time-wasting trips to our luthiers {as we 'wait'} for our new bridge to be carved and fitted. => FYI
I love your channel! I recently am watching your Mozart-related content as I am playing the 2nd movement of the E Minor Sonata and I want to create a more authentic sound.
Ms. Joy, if you still have plenty bow length when changing a note, should you also change bow direction. Or, just run out the bow direction to play the new note? Then change bow direction for a follow up note. Christmas 2021
Dear Leedogg, my belated merry Christmas to you! One can change the bow direction regardless of the available bow. Also if you run out of the bow, please feel free to change the bow to continue the tone and the music. The musical lines and phrasing is a top priority when it comes to bow directions. Happy music making!
Sorry , my typing went a little awry. I am trying to improve my sound quality .... it irritates me so.....thank you for your help. I guess patience and practice are the answer. You are an amazing teacher. Bren.
I like the way you teach, you're very funny. Do you know a way to play with more personal security when you are in front of a public? I consider myself a violinist with a sense of "Bravura", but when I play in front of others, I look like a scared cat and I sweat a lot. Thanks for your videos it's very nice to meet you!
Maybe slowly growing into it, by first playing in front of family members and then slowly increasing the audience. I'm not a bit nervous, because it happened that way in my childhood: My family - school - worships in church..... Audiences were slowly increasing from clubs to small hall to big halls. In my 20s I played even live jazz trombone solo on public radio and in my 30s on TV. I was never nervous. The soloing also came slowly: at high school it was a Dixieland band, I was the only trombone in it but I wasn't alone. Later I was the only melody instrument with guitar, bass and drums in the background. I was not realizing the water getting hotter like some say about the frog in a cooking pot. I'd say, playing for friends and relatives as much as possible. If you're not nervous when playing on Grandma's birthday, you might play for friends on a bigger party, with possibly a couple people you haven't met before.
I've been a street performer for some time (guitar and violin). A good exercise to do is just play in public places. I once played in a shopping mall until I got asked to stop (I didn't have permission to play there), but that's okay. People enjoyed it and I had fun doing it. I'd suggest doing something like that. At first, I was unsure about doing it, but afterwards, I felt okay.
Hi Daniel, Near the frog the pinkie becomes more active compared to the tip, however the middle finger and the ring finger are also still quite active. Happy practising!
new violin student here. How do i keep my bowing hand from cramping up? I finally was able to hold the bow properly, I cand get a better sound now. only problem is the bows weight hurts my hand.
Hi Rob, when one is holding the bow too strongly, it can have such issues. Here is a video which might be helpful to you. Happy practising! ua-cam.com/video/GOG3i61aNa4/v-deo.html
Hello, Thanks a lot for your amazing videos. I have a really big QUESTION to ask you: If I STRAIN my neck, shoulders and back a lot every time I play the violin, and I do not BREATHE properly, how can I manage to relax with my violin and breathe well ?. Thanks a lot for your time.
I know how to tell if the bow is straight without mirror, you look at the angle the bow hairs and string make when touching, it should be a 90 degree angle always. But how do you know if it's 90 degrees for A and E string? Look at the bridge, even though it is rounded you can see how 90 degree angle should look from playing perspective.
I actually find that the biggest obstacle with bowing and tone quality in beginners is, paradoxically, poor intonation. Left-hand technique. Not bow-hand technique. Most of us are right-handed, and the mechanics of bowing are actually fairly basic. Sound production, if the bow hold and everything are setup right, is a fairly intuitive response to what the ears are hearing. But what I have seen is if the intonation is weak or the left-hand insecure in a passage, the brain and ear completely stall and shut down in directing the bow arm in producing beautiful tone. And furthermore, sympathetic vibrations not just from the fundamental but also the overtones in a note turn the entire instrument into a sounding board, not just the string being played. The weaker the intonation, the damper these sympathetic vibrations. These vibrations further inform the ear which further informs the bow arm which further feeds the overall resonance. It is an entire system that works together. To try to divorce bow technique from left hand technique and intonation is a huge mistake. But what I find lacking in early stage violinists ACROSS THE BOARD is a lack of commitment to intonation. Never practice faster than you can play in-tune, always use a metronome, double check pitch constantly with an electric keyboard (or piano phone app), audiate in your head or sing the solfege of the notes you're playing, work on exercises that reinforce repeated patterns and security in intonation, and the right/bow hand will follow. Keep a check on all the things that go into bowing technique, but you have to have a pitch to produce sound on in the first place.
the vibrato technique is the same for all types and sized of hands. I've already made some videos about it and on my Patreon there will be the entire vibrato course available soon. Here is how to Search for Specific Videos in my Channel: ua-cam.com/video/4NPAg2qiuQE/v-deo.html
Thank you very much Joy Lee!! it hepled a lot. but i have a problem. i am very scared at playing violin infront of a people or my family who pretend not to hear. i actually dont know how to play a song but i only do the Suzuki books. any tips for me to play a melody? i actually got inspired by playing your violin and i started playing 1year ago NOTE: im 12 yrs old PLEASE GIVE ME TIPS
Thank you for the lesson - does it make a difference whether I extend my fingers and thumb when I'm doing an upbow instead of a down? Can I do the same for coli motion?
Hi Mathew, when we are near the tip of the bow, the right thumb and the index finger can be straight ( not curved) as the right hand is far from the tip. For Colle, the fingers should move from curved to straight back and forth as this stoke is done by finger joints only, Happy violin playing!
I have a solo soon, my first solo actually. Playing Gavotte. And it's all good except for...actually there's a lot of problems and I was wondering if you'd be able to help me with these? First off, I have to quickly go from the D string to the E string, and whenever I do it lands on the E string really roughly from going so fast, but when I do it slow it hits the A string too. Actually I guess that was the only problem. If you can help me with this, it'd be greatly appreciated.
My teacher was so stuck in how i keep my hand on the bow, she was obsessed to correct it we even couldn t progress dung hours of lessons. İ was so sick of it and saying i am comfortable with that don t feel nervous to keep it tight.. she simply didn t allow me to proceed.. she ruined all my enthusiasm
Hi Sigma, thanks for your feedback. The background noise is my air conditioner. I'm sorry about that. It was such a hot day, and I had to run the AC. I'll try next time to improve overall sound quality:)
You're either a professional actress as well, or you're a huge talent in acting. I hope, if you're playing violin on stage, that you're also speaking to the audience, because you really must show that talent as well. Your facial expression is simply wonderful, interesting and funny. All what you do is not put on a bit, you're natural and honest. If you perform with a quartet and explain what you're playing to the audience. people will enjoy it - even if you talk about the most boring bio of an ancient composer. There are many-many stupid violin players in the world which should just shut up as much as they can. You are so whip-intelligent, that it's your duty to speak up.
Guys DO NOT SKIP the ads , this is the least we could do to help teacher Joy aside from sharing her videos. ❤
Wow, thank you so much for your kind support!
Thank you Mr Mustapha and Casablanca moroco.
Violin Queen thank you
Thank joy for your work.
Keep up the good work. 🎉
Thank you so much ❤❤❤
Great violin tuition video Joy, as always. Thank you. I learnt a lot on bowing technique that I did not know.
Thank you so much !
I wish you were my violin teacher. I like your teaching style that is clear and fun. Thank you
I can be your violin teacher. I teach via skype, hangouts or facetime
Thank you very much for your teaching method! Regards
You are welcome! Thank you also!
This one was perfect for me right now.
Valuable information, great teaching... I can say the best teacher.. simply superb..
So nice of you! Thanks Dinesh!
Nice techqnic of bowing m impress n its improve my bowing thanks GODDESS OF BEAUTY
Thanks! This will help me a lot, Joy.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you also Francis!
Just found your channel. Great videos! I've watched 3 so far. Going to have a field day going through the rest. As the other commenter said, love the way you teach! Personable.
thank you so much !!
Terrific, Joy! Really helpful!
So glad to hear that Melissa. Thank you also!
Thanks شكرا
You're very welcome and thanks also! Happy practising!
Excellent video Joy, thank you it was very helpful. Rajeeve NZ
Thank you so much
Hello! So I've been playing for about 6 yrs now self taught. Lefty with upside down right handed violin(weird I know) and I've noticed I had the bow change issue and haven't been able to fix it. Thanks for the video, now I have a few exercises to practice 😀
This video helped me to get better at smooth bow changes! It still feels clumsy to use my fingers to move the bow, but I notice it's improving and it's starting to sound better.
I am very glad to hear
After playing violin for over 45 years {as very serious hobbyist}, I finally discovered a well kept secret which professional violinists use [which I 'can' understand, to a degree, why they don't tell the general public]. The professional violinists have their ''bridge'' filed down very thin at the 'top' of the bridge {right under the strings} so as to give maXimum connectivity of the vibrating string down to the body of the violin ((remembering that the left foot of the bridge is sitting right above the ''bass-bar'' which conducts the vibrating sound [primarily] of the G-, and D-strings)), thus [sort of] ''Super-Charging'' the acoustical vibrations of the ''echo-chamber'', which izz the body of the violin, after all.
Now, why would professionals, primarily luthiers 'and' just violin sales people, keep this a secret, ...because, then, every violinist from beginner to ['almost'] professional will want this ''thinner-edged'' bridge treatment, to0. This ''thinner-edged'' bridge will almost always, if you're not a real professional violinist, break all too often, because 'we', non-professionals, do not know how to (a) play soft enough, fast enough and, thus, not break the bridge every time we play on it. Plus, (b) this izz a very expensive co$t to have a bridge carved and re-placed for your violin every time you break the bridge, so for us 'mere mortals'; i.e. non-professionals, it's 'actually' better to have the standard thicker bridge, so we don't have to make numerous and time-wasting trips to our luthiers {as we 'wait'} for our new bridge to be carved and fitted. => FYI
good channel thanks, we try to understand the language as we can .
Thanks and welcome Mouleyahmed!
I love your channel! I recently am watching your Mozart-related content as I am playing the 2nd movement of the E Minor Sonata and I want to create a more authentic sound.
Thank you very much Champ! Mozart challenges us and makes us a better musician. I wish you lots of wonderful music making with Mozart!!
@@JoyLeeViolin Thank you!
Thank you, Joy! 🌷
Love the finger joint exercise towards the end
Glad to hear that Claudius! :)
Great, Thanks!
You're welcome :)
This is so helpful, thank you
You're most welcome Steverino! Thanks as well :)
haha found you again
I love you sensei😍😍😍
I am using the break in lessons to try try try to improve my sougng
Ms. Joy, if you still have plenty bow length when changing a note, should you also change bow direction. Or, just run out the
bow direction to play the new note? Then change bow direction for a follow up note. Christmas 2021
Dear Leedogg, my belated merry Christmas to you! One can change the bow direction regardless of the available bow. Also if you run out of the bow, please feel free to change the bow to continue the tone and the music. The musical lines and phrasing is a top priority when it comes to bow directions. Happy music making!
awesome teacher.completely different from others.
Thank you very much!
Sorry , my typing went a little awry. I am trying to improve my sound quality .... it irritates me so.....thank you for your help. I guess patience and practice are the answer. You are an amazing teacher. Bren.
Você é ótima explicando, ótimo vídeo. Muito Obrigado.
Muito obrigado por essas palavras amáveis David!
I like the way you teach, you're very funny. Do you know a way to play with more personal security when you are in front of a public?
I consider myself a violinist with a sense of "Bravura", but when I play in front of others, I look like a scared cat and I sweat a lot.
Thanks for your videos it's very nice to meet you!
Yohan, Thanks for your kind words. I'll make a video about it.
Maybe slowly growing into it, by first playing in front of family members and then slowly increasing the audience. I'm not a bit nervous, because it happened that way in my childhood: My family - school - worships in church..... Audiences were slowly increasing from clubs to small hall to big halls. In my 20s I played even live jazz trombone solo on public radio and in my 30s on TV. I was never nervous. The soloing also came slowly: at high school it was a Dixieland band, I was the only trombone in it but I wasn't alone. Later I was the only melody instrument with guitar, bass and drums in the background. I was not realizing the water getting hotter like some say about the frog in a cooking pot. I'd say, playing for friends and relatives as much as possible. If you're not nervous when playing on Grandma's birthday, you might play for friends on a bigger party, with possibly a couple people you haven't met before.
I've been a street performer for some time (guitar and violin). A good exercise to do is just play in public places.
I once played in a shopping mall until I got asked to stop (I didn't have permission to play there), but that's okay. People enjoyed it and I had fun doing it. I'd suggest doing something like that. At first, I was unsure about doing it, but afterwards, I felt okay.
Great job what volin you have and strings we need to know and carry on great job
Thanks Wayne. I am playing a modern french violin and here is a video about the strings I use. ua-cam.com/video/uqRYrE-oB0c/v-deo.html
Thanks topia : ) im korean violinist! i appreciate your advice 😄
Thank you so much !
May I know when you reach the frog, the pinky will take over the control right? From index to pinky.
Hi Daniel, Near the frog the pinkie becomes more active compared to the tip, however the middle finger and the ring finger are also still quite active. Happy practising!
new violin student here. How do i keep my bowing hand from cramping up? I finally was able to hold the bow properly, I cand get a better sound now. only problem is the bows weight hurts my hand.
Hi Rob, when one is holding the bow too strongly, it can have such issues. Here is a video which might be helpful to you. Happy practising! ua-cam.com/video/GOG3i61aNa4/v-deo.html
Hello, Thanks a lot for your amazing videos. I have a really big QUESTION to ask you: If I STRAIN my neck, shoulders and back a lot every time I play the violin, and I do not BREATHE properly, how can I manage to relax with my violin and breathe well ?. Thanks a lot for your time.
I will be happy to make a video but It will take me a few weeks. thank you for your question
I know how to tell if the bow is straight without mirror, you look at the angle the bow hairs and string make when touching, it should be a 90 degree angle always. But how do you know if it's 90 degrees for A and E string? Look at the bridge, even though it is rounded you can see how 90 degree angle should look from playing perspective.
thanks, I will make a video
Joy Lee Wow you're welcome, I'm glad my comment is useful enough for you will make a video! :D
I actually find that the biggest obstacle with bowing and tone quality in beginners is, paradoxically, poor intonation. Left-hand technique. Not bow-hand technique. Most of us are right-handed, and the mechanics of bowing are actually fairly basic. Sound production, if the bow hold and everything are setup right, is a fairly intuitive response to what the ears are hearing.
But what I have seen is if the intonation is weak or the left-hand insecure in a passage, the brain and ear completely stall and shut down in directing the bow arm in producing beautiful tone. And furthermore, sympathetic vibrations not just from the fundamental but also the overtones in a note turn the entire instrument into a sounding board, not just the string being played. The weaker the intonation, the damper these sympathetic vibrations. These vibrations further inform the ear which further informs the bow arm which further feeds the overall resonance. It is an entire system that works together. To try to divorce bow technique from left hand technique and intonation is a huge mistake.
But what I find lacking in early stage violinists ACROSS THE BOARD is a lack of commitment to intonation. Never practice faster than you can play in-tune, always use a metronome, double check pitch constantly with an electric keyboard (or piano phone app), audiate in your head or sing the solfege of the notes you're playing, work on exercises that reinforce repeated patterns and security in intonation, and the right/bow hand will follow. Keep a check on all the things that go into bowing technique, but you have to have a pitch to produce sound on in the first place.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, for sure intonation plays a very important role in a nice violin playing. Happy music making!
Hi Ms. Joy! I just want to ask how to do vibrato if you have small fingers? It’s really hard for me.
the vibrato technique is the same for all types and sized of hands. I've already made some videos about it and on my Patreon there will be the entire vibrato course available soon. Here is how to Search for Specific Videos in my Channel:
ua-cam.com/video/4NPAg2qiuQE/v-deo.html
Thank you very much Joy Lee!!
it hepled a lot. but i have a problem. i am very scared at playing violin infront of a people or my family who pretend not to hear.
i actually dont know how to play a song but i only do the Suzuki books.
any tips for me to play a melody?
i actually got inspired by playing your violin and i started playing 1year ago
NOTE: im 12 yrs old
PLEASE GIVE ME TIPS
ua-cam.com/video/q6wUQNdoCLY/v-deo.html
Thank you for the lesson - does it make a difference whether I extend my fingers and thumb when I'm doing an upbow instead of a down? Can I do the same for coli motion?
Hi Mathew, when we are near the tip of the bow, the right thumb and the index finger can be straight ( not curved) as the right hand is far from the tip. For Colle, the fingers should move from curved to straight back and forth as this stoke is done by finger joints only, Happy violin playing!
I have a solo soon, my first solo actually. Playing Gavotte. And it's all good except for...actually there's a lot of problems and I was wondering if you'd be able to help me with these?
First off, I have to quickly go from the D string to the E string, and whenever I do it lands on the E string really roughly from going so fast, but when I do it slow it hits the A string too.
Actually I guess that was the only problem. If you can help me with this, it'd be greatly appreciated.
thanks but unfortunately it's very hard without seeing you and testing things out. Do you have a teacher? I also do skype lessons.
Topia Violins. Com gostaria saber como inicia o do Ricochet
did you use the search function on my channel "?
A thing which helps a lot To ring like a pro , is to have The necessary money to buy a professional violin too :)
that certainly helps a lot
My teacher was so stuck in how i keep my hand on the bow, she was obsessed to correct it we even couldn t progress dung hours of lessons. İ was so sick of it and saying i am comfortable with that don t feel nervous to keep it tight.. she simply didn t allow me to proceed.. she ruined all my enthusiasm
Nice video. The audio is... Abit too echo -e... Doesnt sounds quite right...
Hi Sigma, thanks for your feedback. The background noise is my air conditioner. I'm sorry about that. It was such a hot day, and I had to run the AC. I'll try next time to improve overall sound quality:)
Hi Joy, where can I reach you? Do you have an email address?
Dear Irma, yes. Please send me an email to "topiaviolins@gmail.com"
is it with shoulder rest or without it
it depends on the player, I have a video about shoulder rests if you are interested
You're either a professional actress as well, or you're a huge talent in acting. I hope, if you're playing violin on stage, that you're also speaking to the audience, because you really must show that talent as well. Your facial expression is simply wonderful, interesting and funny. All what you do is not put on a bit, you're natural and honest. If you perform with a quartet and explain what you're playing to the audience. people will enjoy it - even if you talk about the most boring bio of an ancient composer. There are many-many stupid violin players in the world which should just shut up as much as they can. You are so whip-intelligent, that it's your duty to speak up.
that is such a nice comment from you, thank you so much, I will take your advice !!