A Good Thing

We have a little more time today(either no other students or at a later time), so with a little chat here & there with the teacher in between/end of lesson made available, I gained more information again.

For one whom had not thought so, I now begin to truly agree that to play a violin is indeed not an easy task as emphasised by her teacher(whom plays 2 instruments and many a few others in the various music schools). Today's lesson simply strengthen its saying and I'm not sure how I'll be able to guide her at home when it gets too hard for me(since i'm not the one learning so I don't practice like her), lolz. What makes it worse is that the smaller the violin, the tougher it is for one to avoid bowing onto other strings every now and then. One slight 'missed' spot would give u a different pitch. It is definitely not easy, what with the high/low pitch, long/short bow, fast/slow bow, up/down bow, long/short notes, vibrato, etc etc besides the usual 'string notes'(these are merely what I've found out so far, am sure there're alot more).

Ok now, for the main concern - I've told Ms Mok about Renee's 'problem' with pressing on the correct position of the 'B' note when playing from 'E' to 'D'+'C'+'B'(together) notes in the Twinkle song and so, I was surprised to hear her telling Renee "good" when Renee swiftly shifted the finger right back on position(without losing a 'beat') whilst playing(usual test play after its first lesson).

I withheld my surprise and waited til Renee's finished the whole song before I informed Ms Mok that Renee started this finger shifting yesterday, after I've asked her to try and find a way to correct herself(since my ways din work for her - like asking her to place her thumb higher like most kids, etc). Her answer caught me off-guard. I had thought that she'd surely say ya, it's not proper and she has to try and place all 3 fingers correctly but instead, she told me that it's inevitable for beginners to have this problem and that Renee's 'solution' is actually good(well, I guess for the time being rite?).

Whilst talking, Ms Mok commented that Renee's bowing had improved quite a bit and one reason for the above problem is that she's nervous(hmmm, she did seem to play better when she first started on this song, til she tried to better herself) and thus, tend to grip the violin too hard when she play '3 fingers' note. But overall, after having heard her played the song, she complimented that Renee's doing pretty well, after just 1 week. I shall however, not go onto details on how she found it so, especially her last comment when we were about to leave, heee(this is just for records' sake, so I can remind myself about her progress).

On the topic of the instrument, although one knew that the quality of a violin and even its bow affects one's playing but she still doesn't encourage buying an expensive one for young children change their set very very fast. Citing herself as an example, she had started on a full size one and she's already changed 5 already. But I guess I might take this matter with her again when it's time for Renee to change her current one(to see what's the best alternative for an ok but not too ex one).