I'm a violin player,any tips on getting positions in tune, or on vibrato?!
Question: Let me address the tuning first:
Use a tuner when you practice--try the Korg CA-30. I would focus on tuning first vibrato second as vibrato can mask the true pitch of the note. So, if you're working on a shifting exercise have the tuner hooked up (w/a clip mic unto your bridge) and then just stop in random places to see how on target you are.
In addition--work to get sympathetic vibrations out of all Es, As, Ds, and Gs, on your instrument. Since those are your open strings, if you play those fingered notes in tune, the open string will resonate and vibrate indicating it's in tune (given your strings are in tune!)
People saying, "you just have to hear it", don't understand the process of ear training. Not everyone was born with a fantastic ear--several of us have to work at it.
Next vibrato:
Go into fifth position so that the palm of your hand is on the upper bout of the instrument. Place your 2nd finger on the wood of the instrument and then start the motion at the elbow "hi-fiving" your instrument. When that feels natrual, stay in the same position, and just move the finger over onto the fingerboard (still use 2nd to start). Then come back into 1st position keepig the same motion. When in doubt, go back up into 5th and repeat the process. This gets the arm vibrato going first and then the hand vibrato will come later. I find several students get messed up vibrato by focusing entirely on hand/wrist first! Work 2nd finger, then 3rd, then 1st, then 4th. Make sure nails are cut, you are on your fingertips, and placing one finger at a time.
I do the above things with my middle school orchestra students and playing in tune can be done.
E-mail me if you have any questions or if this doens't make sense!
Answers: Let me address the tuning first:
Use a tuner when you practice--try the Korg CA-30. I would focus on tuning first vibrato second as vibrato can mask the true pitch of the note. So, if you're working on a shifting exercise have the tuner hooked up (w/a clip mic unto your bridge) and then just stop in random places to see how on target you are.
In addition--work to get sympathetic vibrations out of all Es, As, Ds, and Gs, on your instrument. Since those are your open strings, if you play those fingered notes in tune, the open string will resonate and vibrate indicating it's in tune (given your strings are in tune!)
People saying, "you just have to hear it", don't understand the process of ear training. Not everyone was born with a fantastic ear--several of us have to work at it.
Next vibrato:
Go into fifth position so that the palm of your hand is on the upper bout of the instrument. Place your 2nd finger on the wood of the instrument and then start the motion at the elbow "hi-fiving" your instrument. When that feels natrual, stay in the same position, and just move the finger over onto the fingerboard (still use 2nd to start). Then come back into 1st position keepig the same motion. When in doubt, go back up into 5th and repeat the process. This gets the arm vibrato going first and then the hand vibrato will come later. I find several students get messed up vibrato by focusing entirely on hand/wrist first! Work 2nd finger, then 3rd, then 1st, then 4th. Make sure nails are cut, you are on your fingertips, and placing one finger at a time.
I do the above things with my middle school orchestra students and playing in tune can be done.
E-mail me if you have any questions or if this doens't make sense!
You just have to hear it. You'll develope an ear for it the more you play. Playing scales helps.
For vibrato I would go to violinmasterclass.com ; this site helped me a lot. Remember that the vibrato is flat,natural, flat natural...it is never sharp so do not go above the note. Start off slow and work up to a decent speed over a period of weeks.
The wrist vibrato should be practised in the third position before trying it out in the first position. You will find it much easier to learn in the third position. Learn the wrist vibrato first before arm vibrato as it is the most useful.
I am not sure what you mean by "positions in tune" . Are you having problems with intonation ?
You can use any position you want with your vibrato
With third position there is something you must always remember that my teacher told me over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Keep your elbow under, meaning your fingers should be on their tips on the fingerboard, and, though it seems less comfortable, keep your left elbow nice and far counterclockwise. Also, don't let your elbow rest on your side if you're a beginner. That's a bad bad habit. If you keep your elbow under, and your fingers on their tips then when going to third position you will just have to move your hand up until it hits the violin, and your fingers should be in the right general area. : )
You should learn third position before moving on to second pos. then fourth etc.