For this edition of Frequently Asked Questions, I thought I would focus on a few general inquires I am often asked in regard to learning violin.
Do you have a burning questions you would like answered? Send me a message and I may include it on the next edition of FAQs!
Read MoreThese strategies were written by Stefan Hersh, Artist Faculty of Violin at Chicago College of Performing Arts. While the audition strategies were originally written by Professor Hersh in reference to orchestral auditions, they are useful for any and all audition settings.
Read MoreQ. How often should I rosin my bow, and how do I tell when it needs rosin?
A. The answer to this question depends on how often you play your violin. I typically tell my beginning students to rosin their bows one to two times a week. More advanced students will most likely want to rosin their bows more frequently. To answer the second question, if you are a more advanced player you will be able to tell by how the bow responds on the string if you need more rosin or not. For less experienced players, I suggested that they hold the bow and look directly down the bow hair.
Read MoreFor this month's blog post, we are excited to sit down for a conversation with violinist Zachary Peterson. Zachary is a longtime friend and colleague, who is currently finishing up his two year tenure with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. The Civic was first founded in 1919, and is the official training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It offers young musicians the opportunity to develop their orchestral and musical skills by working with musicians and conductors from the Chicago Symphony, as well as guest artists from around the world. We sat down to ask Zachary a few questions about his experiences of playing with, and auditioning for the Civic Orchestra.
Read MoreBuying your first violin can be an exciting yet daunting experience. Whether you are purchasing your first quality instrument after years of renting, or upgrading your original investment to a higher end instrument, there is often a never-ending list of questions that come along with the decision to buy. Where do you go, what do you do once you get there, and how do you know if a violin is right for you?
Read MoreAt one point or another, it has happened to all of us. You work hard on your repertoire all week putting in extra hours to perfect it, then you go into your lesson and everything falls apart. As you play, your frustration builds and you try in vain to assure your teacher that you have in-fact been practicing diligently all week. Leaving your lesson, you worry that all your hard work was for nothing, and you feel a sense of disappointment that the positive experience you were hoping for turned into such a struggle.
Read MoreMetronome, that nine letter word that strikes fear (and slight annoyance) into the hearts of students everywhere. At some point throughout your studies you’ve probably been told that you need to use a metronome. You go home, turn it on, and after about five minutes you have the urge to throw it out the window. So, how do you use a metronome to effectively help you in practice?
Read MoreAh practicing, that necessary yet often dreaded task that comes along with learning an instrument. You’ve probably been told throughout your musical studies that it is important to practice several days a week for a set amount of time, but it seems there is a bit of a mystery surrounding exactly what you should be doing during your practice time. So with school, homework and other extra curricular activities all demanding your time and attention, how do you make the most of your practice time?
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