But first, a riddle:
What do hummingbirds, radio frequencies, and good musicians all have in common?
Answer below!
Red Desert Violin is approximately one year old this month. I set out to provide a good source of information for violinists of all shapes and sizes, with a special focus on the adult beginner.
One of my goals was to offer online violin lessons for those who struggle to find an in-person teacher. Those lessons are up and running and we have a wonderful group of students.
My next goal is to create an e-mail newsletter that sends valuable violin practice tips to your inbox approximately every month.
Issue #1 is ready and it’s all about rhythm. That’s the answer to the riddle! Hummingbirds, radio frequencies, and good musicians all have an impeccable sense of internal rhythm.
If you don’t have it, you might not even know it. My best friend growing up was a lousy singer. Couldn’t carry a tune if it were bolted to his head. But he sang his heart out when the occasion called for it. You might be playing and tapping your heart out and be completely out of step. And if that’s the case, the best metronome in the world won’t help you.
But my newsletter will! It will give you concrete practice ideas you can use right away to develop that internal rhythm.
And the next issues, spread out over a year, will give the beginning adult practical, hands-on practice tips that I guarantee will improve your playing and practice time effectiveness.
How To Sign Up
If you already signed up for my Ultimate Violin Practice Guide, you do not need to sign up again. The first issue of the newsletter will be sent to you automatically (it might take up to 30 days after you signed up).
If you did not sign up to receive my Ultimate Practice Guide, you can get it and the practice tips newsletter, for free, by entering your name and email address below. The first email will tell you how to download your Practice Guide, and then the Rhythm issue of the newsletter will follow in about 10 days. We don’t spam or sell email addresses, ever. And you can easily unsubscribe at any time.
Ready? Here’s the signup form:
When I was learning the violin (improperly) in the 1940’s and 50’s, the “conservatory” required two lessons weekly. A one hour group lesson for practicing scales and ‘studies’, and a half hour dreaded private lesson .. but still there was a problem …. us dumb kids in those days didn’t know how to ‘practice’ at home and we blundered through. The teaching methods were moronic, like Bang/Auer.
Thank God for Suzuki and enlightened teachers like yourself who can use ‘science’ to solve violinist problems.
Yes, teaching has come a long way since the 40’s! The whole mind-set is different now. Before, it was like broadcasting seeds broadly across a group of students, and whoever “got it” got it, whoever didn’t, just lost interest and dropped out. It’s sad. Now, I think it’s more like each seed gets carefully placed and watered and nurtured.
Did you know that psychologists in the 40’s advised that parents not hug their children more than once or twice per year, as it would spoil their character!!! That was the EXPERT ADVICE!!! Frightening.
Hi Lora, I missed out on both of your last 2 newsletter. I have been having problems with my confuser(computer) and I think both of them got erased. Would you send me those again please. I think this last newsitem was about adult something or other. Thank you for all you do. You are an inspiration.
Hi Rena!
Welcome! I will have Joe send you the links (or an actual copy) of the first 2 newsletters. Working on the next one as we speak! I’m glad you are benefiting from them!
Happy practicing, and see you around! –Lora
Loralyn,
Am loving your you tube vid’s and tips. Thank you so much. I just received my monthly newsletter about Master Rhythm Part 2, would love to have part 1, but didn’t receive it. Could you tell me how to get it. I need all the rhythm help I can get and more.
thanks
Diane
Hi Diane! I would be happy to send you Part 1. (it was just the first issue of my newsletter)…..some day I hope to do a whole series on rhythm…because it’s one of my specialties, teaching rhythm. Look for the newsletter in your inbox. –Lora