 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2003-12-29 02:44
Hi all,
My daughter who has been playing the clarinet for quite a while now wants a violin. Of course she wants to continue with her clarinet as her main instrument.
As it turns out she played a violin when she was in 4th grade (she is in 9th now). I had forgotten all about it. It was one of those things, I am a single parent and back then we all had greater responsibility, so I compensated by allowing my kids to do what they wanted (within reason). So, when my daughter handed me a permission slip from the school and said she wanted to play the violin, I just signed it, cut a check for the $20 rental fee, and said, "Go play a violin." She played it for a year then quit. I never asked her why I just respected her decision.
Now fast forward to today. Well, actually 3 weeks ago. We were in Macy's in NYC cloths shopping for her, bouncing between the 3rd and 4th floors when she started (out of the blue) to tell me about her "violin days."
She said that she loved the violin, and she was the best player. I asked her how she knew she was the best? She replied, "Because I was the only one who practiced at home and when the teacher told us to play something, I was usually the only one that could."
So for the $64 question, "Why did you quit?" She told me that the chin rest had a sharp corner due to damage that would hurt her neck. So, why didn't you tell your teacher? She said she did but the teacher said that there were no more violins to give out. I asked her why she didn't tell me, and she said because the teacher couldn't do anything, so I probably couldn't do anything either. (It's amazing how little kids think.)
I asked her if she remembered anything about the violin, after all, it was almost half a lifetime ago for her. It turned out that she remembered everything including the bowing marks on the score and what they meant. So now the ball is in my court.
Of course I had to spend 2 weeks learning about violins myself. It was the only way for me to know the difference between a good one and a P.O.S., how to set it up, etc. So, armed with my new violin knowledge I ordered her a violin, and hopefully it will show up the end of next week. It's an advanced model because I dislike seeing students struggle with poor equipment. No one should have to learn under worst-case scenario conditions. I guess we'll see what happens.
Regards
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-29 03:12
That's about the best way to start a New Year that I've heard in a very long time, Mark. Best wishes to your daughter (and you too, of course).
Happy New Year!
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
|
|
|
|
|
Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2003-12-29 06:05
It is sometimes surprising to hear what people thought when they were children. One of my adult pupils told me that as a little boy he wanted to play the trumpet. When I asked what happened, he said that he was told to go for a try-out (this is at school) but the school was big, he was a new boy - and he couldn't find the right room! He didn't dare to ask anyone for directions so just found his way back to his classroom and kept quiet. What a shame!
Joanna Brown
|
|
|
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-12-29 06:22
Mark: I applaud you. Mark's daughter: I applaud you too.
Regards,
John
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-12-29 11:29
I'm proud of you both! I wish your daughter the best as she ventures into the world of strings again.
Happy New Year!
|
|
|
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2003-12-29 15:17
IMO your daughter is fortunate to have such an understanding and supportive father. Reminds me of my parents when I wanted a clarinet about 44 years ago.
Hans
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2004-01-19 01:07
Hi all,
Well, my daughter has had her violin for about a week and a half. I started her on the basics in order to fill in any gaps in her knowledge and see where she is at.
One thing I bought was a device called "Don't Fret". What it is, is a piece of vinyl that sticks to the fingerboard and shows you where to put your fingers (there no frets on a violin). This helped a lot. She is currently working on proper bowing technique. I placed a large mirror by her practice area so she can check herself.
I also bought her a shoulder rest, replaced the strings with Thomastik-Infeld reds and fit a better bridge. This helped the sound a lot. (Using the strings and bridge that a violin comes with is like using the mouthpiece and reeds a clarinet comes with. It simply isn't done.)
Regards
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Micaela
Date: 2004-01-19 01:33
Sounds great...I hope your daughter is doing well.
Unfortunately, there's another big piece. The real mouthpiece metaphor for violin is the bow. It's extremely important. The usual suggested ratio for cost is 1/3 (the bow should cost about 1/3 of what the violin costs). Also, if your daughter is serious, I strongly suggest at least a few lessons to make sure she doesn't develop bad habits. There are also more advanced techniques such as shifting and vibrato which she probably won't be able to really teach herself. After a while, she should be able to ditch the finger guide (most people just use narrow strips of tape) and play by ear.
And....if she likes listening to violin music get her a CD by some current young violinist like Joshua Bell or Sarah Chang or Gil Shaham or Hilary Hahn (as much as I love Heifetz, someone alive is much more easily accessible at first for someone who isn't overly familiar with classical music). Listening to good playing is a very effective motivator.
Micaela
(clarinetist for 10 years, violinist for 5)
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2004-01-19 03:07
Micaela,
You are right about the bow. I took the precaution of ordering a better bow with the violin. It's made of octagonal shaped pernambuco wood, ebony frog with sterling silver mounting, abalone inlays strung with mongolian horse hair. It's straight as an arrow when relaxed and when tightened. She is using Pirastro "Jade" rosin but I don't think it has enough bite so I ordered the new Thomastik rosin. Most people I talk to like it more than "Jade" for the same reason (more bite).
The book she is using is, "The Art of the Violin" by, Pierre Marie Francois de Sales Baillot ISBN 0-8101-0754-6
Regards
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-01-19 03:47
I've worked as both a professional clarinetist and violist ... "just go for it".
For the record my viola bow is now valued at $16,000 (1920s, silver, mother of pearl) (considerably more than my viola, which is nice, however). A good bow is as important as the instrument.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2004-01-19 04:43)
|
|
|
|
|
Author: marie_marius
Date: 2004-01-19 04:00
Great! I myself play the violin and the clarinet...Have been playing the violin for abt 6 yrs and I have to admit that playing the violin in the beginning was so much tougher than playing the clarinet...With perserverance, everything will be fine![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
Marius
|
|
|
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-19 04:38
Quote:
I took the precaution of ordering a better bow with the violin. It's made of octagonal shaped pernambuco wood, ebony frog with sterling silver mounting, abalone inlays strung with mongolian horse hair. It's straight as an arrow when relaxed and when tightened. She is using Pirastro "Jade" rosin but I don't think it has enough bite so I ordered the new Thomastik rosin. Most people I talk to like it more than "Jade" for the same reason (more bite). Oh my. Now I finally understand what others must feel like when I tell them that I just ordered a Full Boehm Bb clarinet that has silver plating, an adjustable thumbrest, and an articulated G#/C# key. And that I'm also testing/comparing Greg Smith chedeville's and probably two Dave Spiegelthal refaced mouthpieces and will probably one day order an aftermarket barrel (more on this to come after I receive it and pick a mouthpiece)
Honestly though, I played cello throughout elementary and middle school. I thought it was loads of fun, but was forced by the public school system to choose between clarinet or cello. Bummer for me but I like the choice I made (and maybe one day I'll have the time and money to relearn it). However I was too young/inexperienced to understand differences in bows, rosins, etc. Good luck to your daughter!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
|
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2004-01-19 06:28
I'm wondering, Mark, I being a not-so-uncommon curious type guy, how you educated yourself. Knowing practically nothing about strings, and being in a slightly similar situation as you were/are, which (brand) did you choose and why?
- ron b -
|
|
|
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-19 06:36
Perhaps he can tell us of a violin board out there that he used (not uncommon to many parents who come here to learn a little more about clarinets to make a wise decision about their children!) Who knows, maybe there's a www.phlegmy.org out there with tons of string instrument information! (or a www.dopey.org if you wanted to stick with the original reason for www.woodwind.org's trusty mirror)
maybe he went to http://www.bright.net/~hhelser/vioboard.html? (or even if he didn't, maybe they can help you out!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-01-19 12:59
There are hundreds of chin rests available. There has to be one that's rounded off at the correct spot. By all means learn to play the violin, if only to be able to talk while you play. :-).
Yakity Yakity Yak.
Ken Shaw
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Micaela
Date: 2004-01-19 17:38
String board: http://fingerboard.maestronet.com
I haven't been there for a while- you can get some good advice but it isn't nearly as well moderated as this board.
Unlike clarinets, intermediate and advanced violins don't have many major brands. There are some well known makers, some more prolific than others, but the majority of more expensive ($1500- an intermediate violin- and up) string instruments come from smaller companies which are not too well known. The only real way to tell if you're getting quality without playing it yourself and judging (which a beginner can't really do) is to either go with a well respected shop (i. e., not WW and BW or some other band instrument company with some violins on the side) or to buy something from one of the few known makers. Many of the smaller makers are excellent, you just might not know them by name.
Chinese violins lecture: Unlike Chinese clarinets, Chinese violins are not to be universally avoided. They are generally cheaper than European or American instruments. Some are junk (but there's European and American junk too) but many are quality instruments and a great value. I have one myself- it was started in China and finished at a string shop in Rochester, NY. My bow, however, is mid-century German.
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-01-19 18:32
OK, we've got enough messages now about violins on a clarinet BBoard.
|
|
|
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
