r/violinist

This post might be a bit wordy, sorry about that. (I’ve never made a post on reddit, so sorry if my etiquete is off or this is against the rules in any way)

For some context: I am entering my first year of music school (music ed major orchestral track/violin focus) after playing violin for nine years in an underfunded public school music program (lol). I’ve never had any proper private lessons, I did online very inconsistently for about two years and had one lesson with a professor at the college I’m attending back in my sophomore year of hs but that’s about it. I also have never been apart of a “higher level” orchestra (I’ve done Area All State but because of the area I live in, it’s not as competitive as it is in most places and you’re almost guaranteed acceptance. I also never had to audition because they just judged our seating and acceptance based on our NYSSMA solo score). The most high stakes and only audition I’ve done is my college audition which I submitted a video for.

I’m looking for any advice at all regarding my seating test for my college’s symphony. They provided excerpts, which I’ve honestly struggled to learn. Not because of the difficulty or because I don’t know what they sound like (I usually listen to them while working), but because of the free time I’ve had this summer with my job, and I think some sort of mental block. I learned the music for my college audition on my own, so this isn’t my first time and im fairly good at sight reading. I have horrible performance anxiety that severely impacts my playing ability, both on video and in person which isn’t helping how I feel about my seating test either. I’ve talked to my high school orchestra teacher about it a bit but I still feel like I need any and all advice that I can get.

I have a young beginner student (6yo) who is a Taylor Swift fan. We are approaching "twinkle twinkle" and "jingle bells"...still in the early, foundational stage, however, she is making great progress and I am pleased to share that it is clear she is putting in regular, if not daiy practice. So, every lesson she asks me about playing Taylor Swift. I have explained Swift is singer and plays guitar along with a band. Still, I am wondering jf there are songs in Swifts catologue that might have a solid melody that could be played on violin? A transcription would be great....or share some songs I could transcribe for violin that if heard would be clearly identifiable as a Taylor Swift song. I ask because I dont know her music and could use some advice from someone who does!

Greatly appreciate any help! Thanks!

Interested in perspectives from folks who have tackled this monster. Where does it sit in the difficulty level of the major violin concerto repertoire?

Also, does it help to have perfect pitch for this one?

I’m an adult that played for 8 years or so through the end of high school, then didn’t play for 8 years. I was never particularly advanced because I was an extremely lazy and unmotivated kid and was only playing violin because my parents wanted me to. I believe I finished Suzuki book 6. I was doing private lessons once a week for a few years and my local youth symphony. I recently started taking lessons again about 6 months ago.

Coming back to this as an adult, I usually can find time to practice about 3-4x a week about an hour at a time, but I do have 3 jobs and other responsibilities so it can be difficult to find time to practice some weeks.

I guess my question is this:

How much better do you ACTUALLY sound between lessons?

For example, I’m going back through Suzuki book 5 right now and from when I first start going through a piece in one private lesson, to the next week, it really doesn’t sound that much better 😭 Like yeah when I first look at a piece with my teacher it’s not good lol (my sight reading, like everything else, could use some work). Then after a week of practicing I can technically “play” the notes, but not up to speed, and my musicality and sound is so bad now. I don’t remember much from when I was younger so I’m not sure how to compare to where I used to be at. How long should it be taking me to sound decent at a piece from Book 5?

I used to play violin from middle to a little past high school, then because of life I stopped. It’s been about 8 years now and I have been thinking about picking it up again,but it’s been quite some time so I’m not sure where to start. For extra context, I’m a stahm right now with a toddler and my husband is the main person working so I don’t know about hiring a private tutor right now. Are there any books or apps anyone recommends? Or if anyone is in the Austin(TX) area, are there any communities you recommend? ( I did check some Reddit threads but I found mainly rock/alternative musicians lol)

Beginner here, just had my first lesson with my first instrument. My teacher tuned the violin and when I went to practice it sounded a little off (probably just me…) so I downloaded a tuning app and one of my strings was a little off. The app said tune higher so I turned it tight (my mistake?) and the string broke. I swear I put the smallest amount of pressure on it, I could not have turned the nut more than 5 degrees. My previous experience tuning instruments is on guitar.

Thank you for your inputs.

So i just got moved from being the outside first violin desk two to the second violin section leader, and i don't know if i got like demoted or promoted in my school orchestra since i have been in first violin for around 4 years in a row (in 2 levels of orchestra)..... what are your thoughts?

Hello! Firstly, I can’t imagine how you do what you do. I am not a violinist but could listen to your rep all day… I have enormous respect for your craft. It’s magic to me.

Question as a fan of violin rep: One of my favorite pieces to hear and see performed is Tzigane by Ravel. I’m curious… was the piece re-edited or reinterpreted around the 1950s/60s? I ask because when I hear the ending on older recordings (for example, the Jascha Heifetz 1955 recording), at the end of the race to finish line, the last three chords are played much slower and are arco instead of pizz, with the chord hanging over the orchestra cutoff (I love this interpretation). I haven’t heard it performed this way since, and was wondering if there was a decided editorial change to the piece, or if something like this is personal preference by the performer. I’m not even sure if it’s customary to change such things as a personal preference (ie. from pizz to arco/drastic tempo changes/etc).

Something I’ve wondered for a while and thought I would finally ask the experts. Thank you for your time and for what you create for those of us who can only adore what you sing! 🥹🎻👏🏻🌹