Me Playing Stuff

J. Lee had asked me to post something performed by myself here on YC, so I figured I'd make a thread for the purpose. I've been 'studying' Brahms' 1st Hungarian Dance for a couple of days just for fun, and decided to record that first (no accompainment, unfortunately. I have no pianist to play with me and I'm a complete disgrace playing with things like MIDI.)

My biggest problem on this rec. is definitely spiccato, which I haven't studied since... July last year. lol. I could commit a few hours to it and get myself back on track - so I should be making a new rec. of this some time in the future.

So yeah, this is the technically unpolished me (I'm not the kind of person to practice more than 2 hours a day to begin with, unfortunately) though playing this kind of stuff is still fun. Enjoy (or not.)

Hungarian Dance - YC Take.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Ooh, nice. =]

Definitely got me beat in the violin department... how long have you been playing? Can't wait to hear this with the accomp., sounds empty now. Interesting hearing it alone, though. I liked the cute little harmonic in the middle of that decending passage, but I think that whole passage needs to go a little quicker, sounds like you're not sure of the notes yet - which may be true. *shrug*

I definitely liked the sliding into the positions, adds a nice strong attitude to it. :) I need to find this somewhere and try to play it. Thanks for sharing this!

Ooh, nice. =]

Definitely got me beat in the violin department... how long have you been playing? Can't wait to hear this with the accomp., sounds empty now. Interesting hearing it alone, though. I liked the cute little harmonic in the middle of that decending passage, but I think that whole passage needs to go a little quicker, sounds like you're not sure of the notes yet - which may be true. *shrug*

I definitely liked the sliding into the positions, adds a nice strong attitude to it. :) I need to find this somewhere and try to play it. Thanks for sharing this!

Thanks :)

I've been playing for 11 years (since I was 4) but only very recently became even moderately serious about it.

As to the passage which is too slow: I'm perfectly sure of the notes - playing them is the problem :P spiccato, more specifically. With study I can play it fast. I'll get to that.

I got this off virtualsheetmusic.com.

Tomas, you're a really great player already at 15. You're musical, your intonation is really good, your shifts are clean and accurate, and you control your vibrato rather than it controlling you (I don't believe that every single note should have exactly the same vibrato, contrary to what has often been taught in some schools of playing). You may find that you are very much in demand to play in chamber music when you get to university...don't know if you'd be into that, but your playing approach seems right for it. I'd certainly enjoy playing quartets with you! You seem to be pretty realistic about what your shortcomings are, few though they be. I hope you continue to be passionate about playing the violin, because it sounds like you're a natural.

I know... that WAS good for your age. You're only fifteen? I didn't know that. You'd probably get concert master in my local youth orchestra easily. I hate all you little twirps that started 10 years before I did. :P

I'll send you a line if I ever need a violin solo recorded. :shifty:

[...] and you control your vibrato rather than it controlling you (I don't believe that every single note should have exactly the same vibrato, contrary to what has often been taught in some schools of playing).

Certainly not what I was taught :) my teacher believes any good violinist must have many kinds of vibrato, and I agree with him. You can thank him for wacking my head with all those vibrato exercises for me to get it decent.

You may find that you are very much in demand to play in chamber music when you get to university...don't know if you'd be into that, but your playing approach seems right for it.

And meanwhile here I am with my Wieniawski and Bruch concerti :D (which are far more well prepared than that little piece - I should record Wieniawski's 2nd concerto some time. I'm also familiar with Mozart's G Major, studied it for 3 years.)

I'd certainly enjoy playing quartets with you! You seem to be pretty realistic about what your shortcomings are, few though they be. I hope you continue to be passionate about playing the violin, because it sounds like you're a natural.

It saddens me, though. I'm well aware that if I studied what my teacher demands of me (4 hours, but I think I could use a little more just in case) many of those shortcomings wouldn't exist. I used to have no spiccato a year ago: studied it very intensely with my teacher, and 6 days later I was doing Paganini's Moto Perpetuo. Since I'm stupid I never bothered to study it again and now I'm back at the beginning.

The fact I managed to be a soloist touring Italy at 8 - with no studying whatsoever, since I never bothered with it and even nowadays still don't to a certain extent (though I'm aware it's wrong) - pleases and angers me at the same time, because I know that no matter how much talent I may have, it's not worth it without serious commitment.

Much better then what I expected, you have a good voice with the violin. Congrats :)

Today I recorded the first minute of the solo part of Wieniawski's 2nd violin concerto, which I studied for a couple of months until June. I think overall it sounds better than the hungarian dance I've posted, although Corbin the Violist, for instance, has pointed out that it is not very musically convincing - which might be true.

Here it is: beginning of wieniawski 2.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Damn, I can't get box.net to play the file. Maybe it's my WiFi. I dunno...I'll check tomorrow.

M D -

Please get more serious about your playing!! You have as Graham said very good intonation, phrasing and nice variety of articulations which you use with good control (which is related to the vibrato compliment but in a broader sense). What I also hear and this is what makes your playing precocious -- you play with great ease, no unnecessary tension.

Now, I realize the Hungarian was rough but my general impression if we take the visual arts - was looking at a beautiful painting through a slightly imperfect glass - creating some small blurriness in some areas.

Listening to the Weiniawski, I hear a much clearer attack and release, so I hear you have practiced it. Suggestion - the only small step left is to give the music some breathing room. That is ask yourself what is the largest phrase? What is being done do it? My organ teacher always tells me that I have much more time than I think when approaching the restatement of a subject or theme. It may seem like you are pausing too long but you are not. I'd also suggest varying your vibrato a little more often (just a little) for more 'color" and refreshing the recurring and beautiful rising opening motif of the melody -- think of it as breathing in before singing to a tender love song to your lover and thinking of all the different little ways you say "I love You" to him or her. These are tiny suggestions which would give your performance an extra vividness and individuality.

Overall extremely impressive, I wish I could play the keyboards with the relaxed control and ease of shading and articulation as you do at your age. Maybe if you play for some weddings professionally solo or with a group or even join a church that hires musicians regularly it will motivate you to put just that extra 1/2 hour or even hour a day of SMART practicing and really reveal your vast potential!!! Great job.

Thanks a lot for the detailed response :)

M D -

What I also hear and this is what makes your playing precocious -- you play with great ease, no unnecessary tension.

If only that were true... it might not appear to be on the recording, but in fact one of the things my teacher insists on the most is my awkward tension while playing, especially in the right arm.

Now, I realize the Hungarian was rough but my general impression if we take the visual arts - was looking at a beautiful painting through a slightly imperfect glass - creating some small blurriness in some areas.

Suggestion - the only small step left is to give the music some breathing room. That is ask yourself what is the largest phrase? What is being done do it? My organ teacher always tells me that I have much more time than I think when approaching the restatement of a subject or theme. It may seem like you are pausing too long but you are not.

That is where my lack of practice truly becomes noticeable. Since I've never developed my technique nearly as much as I should, whenever I play I always focus a lot on intonation and bow pressure (things which would be more instinctive if I studied more.) Since I have to focus so much on those things, I can't afford to think of the musical line itself. I see that as one of my biggest flaws.

I'd also suggest varying your vibrato a little more often (just a little)

Absolutely. I have more than one vibrato, but mixing them is something I find to be far harder.

Maybe if you play for some weddings professionally solo or with a group or even join a church that hires musicians regularly it will motivate you to put just that extra 1/2 hour or even hour a day of SMART practicing and really reveal your vast potential!!! Great job.

For some reason my mentality seems to be developing, and I feel I will put more serious commitment on the violin this following year. Nevertheless, my teacher's yelling continues to be a wonderful incentive, if not for the wrong reasons. :P

M-D -- One thing that will help with musical line and one thing I need to work on as I suffer some of the very things you do -- Memorize your music. Also, conduct your scores away from the violin. The latter has helped me alot -- I just don't do it enough but I will tell you this if the bar is 4/4 but the beat is whole or half notes -- conduct it! Then before you play conduct the half or whole note. If you have say a fast 3/8 conduct the whole bar and do the same thing -- it is amazing how well you will play. Try this first with your teacher (this will also give you an idea of the breadth of his or her musical training )

PS - BTW - I am surprised you play with unnecessary tension! Again doesn't seem so.

PSS Note when first studying a piece and getting up to speed you may need to conduct the quarter or smaller beat but do determine the larger pulse and try small sections. Trust me this does work used judiciously and it makes practice a little more fun --- you can go outside to a cafe on a nice day and study your music.

You mentioned the sound of your violin in another post, and i couldn't help but take a listen.

The Hungarian Dance was very good. That violin is beautiful. (I am tired of playing on my crappy rental... <_<...)

I kind of find myself in a similar situation as you... I have played for several years (not quite 11..), and due to a lack of interest, and personal instruction, my current level of play has been stunted. You are much better than I, but what we have in common is a more lived interest in the instrument lately. Its amazing how much improvement is made when you actually apply yourself fully.

anyway... enough rambling...

That was very nice.:thumbsup: You have made me even more anxious for my own instrument too..

Ah...got the Wieniawski to play. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

I can't really add anything more than I've already said, and certainly no more than composerorganist's insightful commentary.

Take a deep breath, Tomas, relax and let it flow. You're a gifted player. And composer. And writer. :D

M-D -- One thing that will help with musical line and one thing I need to work on as I suffer some of the very things you do -- Memorize your music.

This I always do. The problem is that while memorizing notes is easy for me, fingerings, and above all bowings, I never memorize as well due to my unfortunate lack of commitment. I must work on that.

Also, conduct your scores away from the violin. The latter has helped me alot -- I just don't do it enough but I will tell you this if the bar is 4/4 but the beat is whole or half notes -- conduct it! Then before you play conduct the half or whole note. If you have say a fast 3/8 conduct the whole bar and do the same thing -- it is amazing how well you will play. Try this first with your teacher (this will also give you an idea of the breadth of his or her musical training )

Interesting. Usually I just rely on the metronome (usually = when I bother.) which gives me the ability to gradually speed it up as I study it. Might give that a try though, and mention it to my teacher (whose musical training I don't doubt: he studied for a decade in Moscow with the best teachers, became concertmaster of Portugal's most prestigeful orchestra, toured the entire world in both orchestras and as soloist, and even recorded the Grieg violin sonatas.)

PSS Note when first studying a piece and getting up to speed you may need to conduct the quarter or smaller beat but do determine the larger pulse and try small sections. Trust me this does work used judiciously and it makes practice a little more fun --- you can go outside to a cafe on a nice day and study your music.

I thought fun practice was an oxymoron :P

Ah...got the Wieniawski to play. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

I can't really add anything more than I've already said, and certainly no more than composerorganist's insightful commentary.

Take a deep breath, Tomas, relax and let it flow. You're a gifted player. And composer. And writer. :D

Thanks! I has a sad, though... just practiced tenths (slowly, carefully and metodically) for 90 minutes, and they're as out of tune as always.

Hi there. Doing a massive bump on this thread, since I gave a recital on October 25th and finally got the audio files.

Here's Achron's Hebrew Melody. Enjoy.

Melodia Hebraica.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Bump? :P no one commented on this one.

Well, you know what I thought. It's some of your best playing.

Thanks :) you had asked if my teacher is jewish. He's not: the klezmer style is something I do myself and enjoy very much, though my teacher definitely does not.

My view of music and violin playing is different. He's a firm believer in the modern school. I admire the musicianship of old greats such as Kreisler and Elman, which he finds 'cheesy' and 'd

I'm afraid I'm not even aware of "The Modern School." No doubt I've heard it, but I just didn't know it for what it was.

Who are some proponents/practitioners of the "Modern School?"

Very nice! I enjoyed listening to your playing. You have a wonderfuly sensitive style of playing. Do you consider yourself equaly gifted with technique and sensitivity, or were you more of a natural with one over the other while having to really grow in the next through your teacher?

I had to ask because as a piano teacher I have had some very gifted piano players pass through my studio over the years who could play with any passages and technical hurdle with much ease but trying to pull the sesitive musician from within them was sometimes more work than I wanted :P

I'm afraid I'm not even aware of "The Modern School." No doubt I've heard it, but I just didn't know it for what it was.

Who are some proponents/practitioners of the "Modern School?"

Every single professional violinist you listen to nowadays :P and above all the famous ones active today.

happy birthday M! big 16 woo!

wow I thought you were much older than 16..

man your 13 days older than me :( oh well :P

but you are a REALLY good violinist- that is one reason I thought you were older! Seriously, I've never.. -except for Vennesa-Mae or whatever- play that good at 15. Congratz man.

Very nice! I enjoyed listening to your playing. You have a wonderfuly sensitive style of playing. Do you consider yourself equaly gifted with technique and sensitivity, or were you more of a natural with one over the other while having to really grow in the next through your teacher?

I had to ask because as a piano teacher I have had some very gifted piano players pass through my studio over the years who could play with any passages and technical hurdle with much ease but trying to pull the sesitive musician from within them was sometimes more work than I wanted :P

I feel that while I have some talent regarding both, I need plenty of work and guiding in the two fields from my teacher.