great song! I'm a viola player and i learned this song a while back but i had some trouble with the pizzicato at the end. how do you get into the position quickly?
good job dude! i have this song for my solo in solo and ensemble. I have trouble around pick up to measure 36 through measure 46. any advice? Solo and ensemble is in about 3 weeks. SOOO NERVOUS!!!
Rock on dude! Violas are the absolute best. Better lower tone. I consider it like a humming rythym(viola) to a scream(violin) How long have you been playing?
Thanks for watching. It's so important to know what a piece sounds like before learning how to play it. Listening is a critical and easy step that is often ignored by teachers and students. Before learning a piece, you should have it memorized in your mind, just like you would have your favorite pop or movie tune memorized. If you do this you'll save a lot of time learning to play it because you won't practice mistakes and then have to fix them.
Many teachers and students skip this step. What happens is that the student practices mistakes and has to wait until the lesson for the teacher to point them out. It's difficult to correct the mistakes because they have been practiced. It's twice as hard to fix something than it is to learn it correctly the first time. If the student doesn't practice mistakes, lessons can be focused on developing skill rather than fixing mistakes - positive instead of negative.
man you are awesome, i am playing this exact song, on MY viola, for solo fest. im good (not as good as you) but i have problems at 0:36 idk, its just that i have i huge problem with repeating notes for that amount of measures.
What kind of problem do you have? Many students have trouble repeating the correct number of times. If this is so, the advice I have is the following: 1) Listen to the Suzuki CD a lot. As a general rule, you should listen to the CD of the book you are working on at least once per day (listening can be done as background). Before you begin to learn a piece on the instrument, you should already have it memorized in your mind.
@Bratschenmeister Thanks for the advice! It actually helped me a lot. My final grade was a 26 out of 28. Since apparently according to my teacher there arent a lot of violas atleast in NY so I automatically qualified for Allstate. Thanks again! :)
Think - How do you know how to sing "Happy Birthday" or the national anthem? It's because you've heard it over and over again. Make your repertoire pieces easy in your mind before you begin to practice. Sing the piece from memory. 2) At passages like 0:36, do not count the individual notes. Instead feel the groupings. Determine when the pattern changes. Is it on a strong beat or a weak beat. If you have to count, count in groups like measures or beats not individual notes. Good luck.
also, I was wondering if you had any tips for better intonation, my violin just (or me) can't get it right...:P I just got my bow re-haired, my string replaced, and a mute, but I just can't get it to sound very good.
Intonation is usually the player's fault, but there are a few things you should check on the instrument. First of all, before you play, make sure the instrument is in tune. Secondly, make sure the bridge is on straight. You can check by making sure the G and E strings are the same length. Just take a tape measure and measure length of each string between where it touches the bridge and where it meets the nut before heading into the peg box.
If these items are fine, then the problem is yours, not the instrument's. First of all you need to have a clear idea of what the pitches should sound like. Listen to the recording many times. Second, practice very slowly for finger placement. Before you play each note, think about what it is supposed to sound like based on your listening. After you play each note, ask yourself "was that right?" If not, go back and play that note again. Thirdly, you need to practice "correctness".
What I mean by this is that once you find the correct notes, you need to repeat them many times correctly. You cannot play something once correctly and expect to perform it correctly. Correct repetition needs to happen many times and many times more than incorrect repetition. For example, if it takes you 10 attempts to find the correct note(s), you'll need to repeat that part 100 times correctly in order to have beneficial practice.
When practicing for intonation, check against open strings when possible. Any note that is the name of an open string can be tested with that open string. Regular 3rd finger can be tested agains the next lowest string. Regular 1st and 4th fingers can be tested against the next highest string. The hardest passage in this piece (bottom of first page), unfortunately does not contain many "testable notes". Remember to practice slowly and be critical of each note. Don't just let them go by. Good luck
wow1 I love it! I've been plying the violin for about 10 years now, and this song is one of my favorites. I've been playing it wrong I guess. It really helps to hear this song, even a viola, expressibly because I learned to play by ear, which is very helpful, but sometimes it is tricky to read music..haha. anyway, thanks for putting this up! (:
Thanks for your comment. There are many things that can cause bad tone: poor posture, incorrect angle of violin, incorrect bow arm level, poorly formed bow hold, pressing with the bow, poor left hand finger placement, just to name a few. If you send me a video or even describe your problem in detail, I might be able to help you.
oh goodness this video was a life saver, especially since my brother sat and broke my Official Suzuki CD -__-X But could you please tell me if this is the correct tempo to play during a recital? I play it slightly slower, so I don't know.... What tempo marking did you use?
Sorry to hear about your CD. Please get a replacement as soon as possible. Thanks for your comment about my tempo. To tell you the truth, I think I play it a bit too quickly. The piece loses some of it's character when played too quickly. I would recommend a slightly slower tempo in performance. Although the piece has quick notes, the overall feeling should not be that it is a fast piece. The eigth notes should have a feeling of trotting, not running.
i think its great how you play your viola and put it on youtube. i am a viola player and whenever i look for videos on youtube of someone playing the viola, all that comes up is violin. thank you!!!!
If my video helped you remember how this piece sounded, I'm so glad. You can't expect to be able to play a piece well without knowing how it sounds. I would strongly recommend buying and listening to the official Suzuki CD.
I agree that my tempo is a bit brisk. I think I will record and repost this piece at some time in the future. I think a slightly slower tempo brings out the character of this piece better. Please be aware, however, that I don't intend students who are first learning these pieces to play along with my videos. My videos are meant to show students what a good performance might sound and look like. Please continue to practice your new pieces slowly. Good luck with this piece.
are you playing this on the viola? because i'm trying to find a violin version. i think playing with a viola makwes it sound so much more better. maybe it's because you play so well.
Thanks. Good luck with this piece. It's very challenging. Don't worry about playing it too quickly. In retrospect, I think my video is a bit on the fast side. If I re-recorded it, I'd play it a bit more slowly. I think it loses some charm when played too quickly.
im playing this on my violin for my solo and ensamble festival..and yea im not as good as you lol.. i almost have it memorized and i just need to work on a few things.. awesome job! =D
I'm glad you've found my channel. If you're learning from the Suzuki books, you can watch many other viola videos. My goal is to record and post all the Suzuki pieces, so stay tuned for more.
Good job! I'm trying to learn this piece for an audition.. Should the majority of the song be played in the upper half of the bow? And also, do you have any tips so I'll do good for my audition?
Thanks for your comment. I have my students play this piece primarily in the upper half. Most of my students who study this piece are beginners, who have not yet learned to play in the lower half - that comes later. Managing the weight of the bow in the lower half is quite difficult, so I don't teach it until the student has gained proficiency with the upper half. I'm not sure what your ability level is in this regard. I'm running out of space, so I'll continue my remarks in another posting.
1)For staccato eight notes use the upper half in a stop-bow stroke. The bow should come to a gentle stop at the end of each note. Each note should have a comet shape - articulate the beginning (take special care with up bows so they match the down bows), and let the note have a natural decay. Remember, short note doesn't mean short bow stroke. Use about 10 inches of bow for each note in order to get the comet tail - quickly and in a straight line.
2) For sixteeth notes also use the upper half, but not at the tip. The bow stroke should be even back and forth (unlike the stopped eight notes). Making this difference is one of the challenges of this piece.
3)Make sure the 32nd notes don't interfere with the rhythm. Practice without them to train the bow, then add them in.
These are just a few of the general issues with this piece. I'd be happy to give you individualized comments if you send a video response. Good luck with your audition!
Thanks for the tips! :) What is the tempo for this song (on a metronome) or what do you suggest? I'd send in a video response but I don't have a camera.
A range of tempos could work with this piece. My tempo is probably a little on the fast side. If played too quickly, the piece can lose some of its charm. Check out the youtube video "Frederica von Stade: Gavotte from Mignon". I think her tempo is perfect. Remember, it's more about expressing the character than finding an exact metronome marking. When you get close to the audition, record yourself to check if it sounds "right" to you. Whatever your tempo is, be sure to practice slowly.
wow...you are amazing. How long have you been playing? I have only been playing viola for almost 3 years and played this song for a competition. Thank you for putting that on You Tube, it is truly appreciated.
This song sounds a bit awkard. Not your playing...you handled it beautifully!! Are you a teacher?? You play way too well to be an adult Suzuki student. (adult Suzuki student, is that an oxymoron??)
Thank you for your kind comments on many of my videos. Yes, I am a teacher. I teach both violin and viola. My channel is intented to be a resource for students who are learning pieces from the suzuki method books. I've decided to focus my channel on viola, since there aren't many videos of these pieces performed on viola. I'll be adding more videos soon. Thanks for watching.
I LOVE your videos!! I play fiddle, and I'm struggling along with my own rythms and bow shuffles. In fiddle, it's ok to be an adult beginner. ;-)
I've always loved Gavotte (Lully) though, and I've been looking into learning it. Your version is my favorite on here, I can hear it so clearly! Your doing a wonderful service for your students!
By the way, you might want to check out the Frederica von Stade version of "Gavotte from Mignon". You can search for it on youtube. It's wonderful and might make the piece feel less awkward for you.
Oh yes, don't think for a moment I havn't heard that young lady play. (incredible) I also like watching the little red haired boy Lostcheerio. He doesn't play it all that well, but he is adorable.
very nice I had to play that yesterday for a Solo and Ensamble contest but one thing I dont understand is it in 2-4 time so tword the end of the song on the full measure of rest why did you ( and my teacher alike ) hold it out for 4 beats? shouldn't it be two?
Thanks for your comment. Your teacher is correct. When I was making this video, I was confused too. The confusion lies in the nature of the Gavotte rhythm and meter. At that point in the Gavotte you are probably feeling a stress on beat 2 rather than beat 1. If you are, then it feels good to re-enter on beat 2 (the strong beat). Count it out again and make sure that you feel 4 eighth notes in the empty bar. Part of the fun of playing a Gavotte is the switch-up between stress on 1 and 2.
A lot of students have trouble with the trill. The trick is not to let it interfere with the basic rhythm. Practice first without the trill by holding the first finger note as a dotted eighth-note. Practice this way until you're comfortable with the rhythm and bowing. Then add one trill and then two trills, as written. With each of these steps, make sure the bow is doing the exact same thing. Also, be sure to practice slowly.
Comment removed
superjoycelyn98 8 months ago
@frooben he is using a viola, so seeing as how I play viola and this song, he is using A D G and C
Aagaron 9 months ago
what strings are you using in this video?
frooben 10 months ago
@frooben All of them..A D G and C
Bananasplit3456 2 months ago in playlist Liked videos
No sheet music?
Darkbat667 10 months ago
press '5' :::)
fearlessRiot21 10 months ago
press '6' ::)
fearlessRiot21 10 months ago
Comment removed
pikachu00013 10 months ago
great song! I'm a viola player and i learned this song a while back but i had some trouble with the pizzicato at the end. how do you get into the position quickly?
JoeHolyFamilySchool 11 months ago
Beautiful！ ＼(☆▼☆)／～♪
fenderstcaster 11 months ago
I am doind this for a solo and I have rewatching this film over and over and it has helped so much thank you
ladrillo409 1 year ago
I'm doing this for a solo in April. And I'm 13 so it's pretty hard for me so far...
Alivia112 1 year ago
good job dude! i have this song for my solo in solo and ensemble. I have trouble around pick up to measure 36 through measure 46. any advice? Solo and ensemble is in about 3 weeks. SOOO NERVOUS!!!
SnoConeLuvr97 1 year ago
are you using suzuki book if so wher can i get one and how much would it cost me
EGuenthoer 1 year ago
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Im a frehsman in highschool and I have to do this for a state solo, such a great piece( On the bass :))
theblackdawn13 1 year ago
Im a frehsman in highschool and I have to do this for a state solo, such a great peice
theblackdawn13 1 year ago
Hey this was great to play along with I play the violin- you should make more!
Soberadrian 1 year ago
WOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW
evaevi95 1 year ago
Frooben screw you my violin sounds fine have you ever heard a stradaverri violin
ajboy1999 1 year ago
buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu sorry
martinbenitez13 1 year ago
If there was a piano accompaniment, this should replace the one on the CD.
concentration64 1 year ago
WOW 27 years is quite a lot !! :D
kiaritakarin 1 year ago
wish i could play it that fast...and that well haha
ChloChlo976 1 year ago
Rock on dude! Violas are the absolute best. Better lower tone. I consider it like a humming rythym(viola) to a scream(violin) How long have you been playing?
frooben 1 year ago
Thanks. I've been playing for almost 25 years.
Bratschenmeister 1 year ago 3
@Bratschenmeister Hey again what strings are you using?
frooben 1 year ago
@frooben violins rock! so do violas tho:)
cmarino8 2 months ago
Thank you! Your videos are soooo helpful! It is great to hear a song to get an idea of what it sounds like before I play it!!
nataliesissy 1 year ago
Thanks for watching. It's so important to know what a piece sounds like before learning how to play it. Listening is a critical and easy step that is often ignored by teachers and students. Before learning a piece, you should have it memorized in your mind, just like you would have your favorite pop or movie tune memorized. If you do this you'll save a lot of time learning to play it because you won't practice mistakes and then have to fix them.
Bratschenmeister 1 year ago
Many teachers and students skip this step. What happens is that the student practices mistakes and has to wait until the lesson for the teacher to point them out. It's difficult to correct the mistakes because they have been practiced. It's twice as hard to fix something than it is to learn it correctly the first time. If the student doesn't practice mistakes, lessons can be focused on developing skill rather than fixing mistakes - positive instead of negative.
Bratschenmeister 1 year ago
man you are awesome, i am playing this exact song, on MY viola, for solo fest. im good (not as good as you) but i have problems at 0:36 idk, its just that i have i huge problem with repeating notes for that amount of measures.
KnightOfTheLight95 2 years ago
What kind of problem do you have? Many students have trouble repeating the correct number of times. If this is so, the advice I have is the following: 1) Listen to the Suzuki CD a lot. As a general rule, you should listen to the CD of the book you are working on at least once per day (listening can be done as background). Before you begin to learn a piece on the instrument, you should already have it memorized in your mind.
Bratschenmeister 1 year ago
@Bratschenmeister Thanks for the advice! It actually helped me a lot. My final grade was a 26 out of 28. Since apparently according to my teacher there arent a lot of violas atleast in NY so I automatically qualified for Allstate. Thanks again! :)
KnightOfTheLight95 1 year ago
Think - How do you know how to sing "Happy Birthday" or the national anthem? It's because you've heard it over and over again. Make your repertoire pieces easy in your mind before you begin to practice. Sing the piece from memory. 2) At passages like 0:36, do not count the individual notes. Instead feel the groupings. Determine when the pattern changes. Is it on a strong beat or a weak beat. If you have to count, count in groups like measures or beats not individual notes. Good luck.
Bratschenmeister 1 year ago
@KnightOfTheLight95 i havve the same problem at 0:36
dancingbeautyqueen8 1 year ago
is that a violin or a viola?
your a great Violin player!!!!!
kamboljack 2 years ago
It's a viola. Thanks!
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
It's a viola.
Bratschenmeister 1 year ago 3
Brilliant! And your tips on intonation in the preceding responses are hugely useful. Thanks.
rishimedicine 2 years ago
Thanks a lot. I'm glad my responses are helpful.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
i'm learning this song it's kinda tricky though :)
WeirdDreamShow 2 years ago
This is a tricky one. Good luck!
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
also, I was wondering if you had any tips for better intonation, my violin just (or me) can't get it right...:P I just got my bow re-haired, my string replaced, and a mute, but I just can't get it to sound very good.
nanneerrs 2 years ago
Intonation is usually the player's fault, but there are a few things you should check on the instrument. First of all, before you play, make sure the instrument is in tune. Secondly, make sure the bridge is on straight. You can check by making sure the G and E strings are the same length. Just take a tape measure and measure length of each string between where it touches the bridge and where it meets the nut before heading into the peg box.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
If these items are fine, then the problem is yours, not the instrument's. First of all you need to have a clear idea of what the pitches should sound like. Listen to the recording many times. Second, practice very slowly for finger placement. Before you play each note, think about what it is supposed to sound like based on your listening. After you play each note, ask yourself "was that right?" If not, go back and play that note again. Thirdly, you need to practice "correctness".
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
What I mean by this is that once you find the correct notes, you need to repeat them many times correctly. You cannot play something once correctly and expect to perform it correctly. Correct repetition needs to happen many times and many times more than incorrect repetition. For example, if it takes you 10 attempts to find the correct note(s), you'll need to repeat that part 100 times correctly in order to have beneficial practice.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
When practicing for intonation, check against open strings when possible. Any note that is the name of an open string can be tested with that open string. Regular 3rd finger can be tested agains the next lowest string. Regular 1st and 4th fingers can be tested against the next highest string. The hardest passage in this piece (bottom of first page), unfortunately does not contain many "testable notes". Remember to practice slowly and be critical of each note. Don't just let them go by. Good luck
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
wow1 I love it! I've been plying the violin for about 10 years now, and this song is one of my favorites. I've been playing it wrong I guess. It really helps to hear this song, even a viola, expressibly because I learned to play by ear, which is very helpful, but sometimes it is tricky to read music..haha. anyway, thanks for putting this up! (:
nanneerrs 2 years ago
your videos are amazing! I play this song also, but i cant get my tone to sound very good. Are there any tricks for making tone better?
TheViolacutie 2 years ago
Thanks for your comment. There are many things that can cause bad tone: poor posture, incorrect angle of violin, incorrect bow arm level, poorly formed bow hold, pressing with the bow, poor left hand finger placement, just to name a few. If you send me a video or even describe your problem in detail, I might be able to help you.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
oh goodness this video was a life saver, especially since my brother sat and broke my Official Suzuki CD -__-X But could you please tell me if this is the correct tempo to play during a recital? I play it slightly slower, so I don't know.... What tempo marking did you use?
Hell0oIrony 2 years ago
Sorry to hear about your CD. Please get a replacement as soon as possible. Thanks for your comment about my tempo. To tell you the truth, I think I play it a bit too quickly. The piece loses some of it's character when played too quickly. I would recommend a slightly slower tempo in performance. Although the piece has quick notes, the overall feeling should not be that it is a fast piece. The eigth notes should have a feeling of trotting, not running.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
i think its great how you play your viola and put it on youtube. i am a viola player and whenever i look for videos on youtube of someone playing the viola, all that comes up is violin. thank you!!!!
Isabelthegreat 2 years ago
Whoa, your intiation and tone were great :D
toastedmango 2 years ago
Yay 4 violas i am learning this piece i played it yesterday then a forgot how it sounded LOL
BobTheSnailLover 2 years ago
If my video helped you remember how this piece sounded, I'm so glad. You can't expect to be able to play a piece well without knowing how it sounds. I would strongly recommend buying and listening to the official Suzuki CD.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
Play Slower, please!
I'm trying to learn it.
Suki373 2 years ago
I agree that my tempo is a bit brisk. I think I will record and repost this piece at some time in the future. I think a slightly slower tempo brings out the character of this piece better. Please be aware, however, that I don't intend students who are first learning these pieces to play along with my videos. My videos are meant to show students what a good performance might sound and look like. Please continue to practice your new pieces slowly. Good luck with this piece.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
ε®ες εx©ειεητε γ τίεηες μη ♭μεη δση ςαιμδσς ♪
pdjfpjnccstpicasso 2 years ago
You are very good !
Very, very, very good job!
ehtoo 2 years ago
Thanks!
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
are you playing this on the viola? because i'm trying to find a violin version. i think playing with a viola makwes it sound so much more better. maybe it's because you play so well.
iluvcandyproductions 2 years ago
Yes it's a viola. I'm sure you can find a violin version somewhere on youtube. Good luck!
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
Hot damn, that was great. Its tough to find good videos of suzuki pieces among all the ones by 7-year-olds who can't play it well.
Toasty25000 2 years ago
Thanks a lot. I'm glad you're enjoying my videos.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
wat was dat squeaking sound btw? did anybody else notic it?
ShioriYuki10 2 years ago
He has a bird.
Mygic 2 years ago
The squeaking sound is my pet lovebird. I likes to sing along, especially if the music is loud and fast.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
wow...dats wat a viola sounds lyk? im only a beginer in violin so idk d difrence. music is so wonderful
ShioriYuki10 2 years ago
Good job!
jvanis65 2 years ago
Thanks!
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
awsome
sniper13244 2 years ago
Thanks!
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
simply amazing. i was trying to play along but it was too fast, so im trying to practice as fast. very nice!
TheSJewel 2 years ago
Thanks. Good luck with this piece. It's very challenging. Don't worry about playing it too quickly. In retrospect, I think my video is a bit on the fast side. If I re-recorded it, I'd play it a bit more slowly. I think it loses some charm when played too quickly.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
This is lovely. Try not to play at the tip of your bow so often though.
heartsxtesselate 2 years ago
nice. i just finnished learning that one for violin
MusicKid1995 2 years ago
Thanks. How did it go?
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
your viola have a beautiful sound!!!! and you play very good!
nancymmv 2 years ago
it went well, thanks for asking
MusicKid1995 2 years ago
Congratulations.
Bratschenmeister 2 years ago
is that a viola? it goes extremely low
narutofreakten 2 years ago
yeah its viola
AsainNation 2 years ago
wow your really good! do u have a bird or parakeet? i could hear them or it might just be my parakeets. haha...well nice job
UsherGusher 3 years ago
Thanks for your comment. Yes I have a pet lovebird. It's hard to keep him quiet sometimes.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
hahaha
narutofreakten 2 years ago
Non sei un po' stagionato per fare certe cose??????
otorongo0373 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Non sei un po' stagionato per fare certe cose??????
otorongo0373 9 months ago
im playing this on my violin for my solo and ensamble festival..and yea im not as good as you lol.. i almost have it memorized and i just need to work on a few things.. awesome job! =D
XxiluvETFxX 3 years ago 2
Thanks! Good luck on your solo. Let me know how it goes.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
Thanks for the great resource, it will help a lot!
Hypknowsis 3 years ago
All of your videos are great! Really well played thank you.
ViolaVolga 3 years ago
Thanks!
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
I am playing this for Solo & Ensemble festival. This guy did an awesome job.
jcd201294 3 years ago
"bratschenmeister" das ist scheinbar prahlerisch, nicht war? Sie sind sehr gut, aber wahrscheinlich gibt's jemand, der besser als Sie sind.
cllanhyuuga 3 years ago
This song is good but pretty difficult especially with spiccato. (yes I did it with spiccato XD)Great job on it!
Sylfira 3 years ago
Great !
musicbringsmagic136 3 years ago
Thanks!
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
Bravo! Go violas!!!! Thank you for posting this video, I've been looking forever to find a Viola gavotte video.
VioGavino 3 years ago
I'm glad you've found my channel. If you're learning from the Suzuki books, you can watch many other viola videos. My goal is to record and post all the Suzuki pieces, so stay tuned for more.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
he looks like my gym teacher Mr. shaft !anyways your great at this song i meen awsome!
pinkbells00 3 years ago
Thanks a lot for your comment. Mr. Shaft must be pretty cool! We're not related.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
I play this on violin but only half as good as you
Alamour101 3 years ago
Bravo! Excellent job!
chunkymonkeyz 3 years ago
you played it real amazing. the piece has character. 5 stars
pikachoi2007 3 years ago
Good job! I'm trying to learn this piece for an audition.. Should the majority of the song be played in the upper half of the bow? And also, do you have any tips so I'll do good for my audition?
smiley1844 3 years ago
Thanks for your comment. I have my students play this piece primarily in the upper half. Most of my students who study this piece are beginners, who have not yet learned to play in the lower half - that comes later. Managing the weight of the bow in the lower half is quite difficult, so I don't teach it until the student has gained proficiency with the upper half. I'm not sure what your ability level is in this regard. I'm running out of space, so I'll continue my remarks in another posting.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
Here are a few general tips:
1)For staccato eight notes use the upper half in a stop-bow stroke. The bow should come to a gentle stop at the end of each note. Each note should have a comet shape - articulate the beginning (take special care with up bows so they match the down bows), and let the note have a natural decay. Remember, short note doesn't mean short bow stroke. Use about 10 inches of bow for each note in order to get the comet tail - quickly and in a straight line.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
2) For sixteeth notes also use the upper half, but not at the tip. The bow stroke should be even back and forth (unlike the stopped eight notes). Making this difference is one of the challenges of this piece.
3)Make sure the 32nd notes don't interfere with the rhythm. Practice without them to train the bow, then add them in.
These are just a few of the general issues with this piece. I'd be happy to give you individualized comments if you send a video response. Good luck with your audition!
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
Thanks for the tips! :) What is the tempo for this song (on a metronome) or what do you suggest? I'd send in a video response but I don't have a camera.
smiley1844 3 years ago
A range of tempos could work with this piece. My tempo is probably a little on the fast side. If played too quickly, the piece can lose some of its charm. Check out the youtube video "Frederica von Stade: Gavotte from Mignon". I think her tempo is perfect. Remember, it's more about expressing the character than finding an exact metronome marking. When you get close to the audition, record yourself to check if it sounds "right" to you. Whatever your tempo is, be sure to practice slowly.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
wow...you are amazing. How long have you been playing? I have only been playing viola for almost 3 years and played this song for a competition. Thank you for putting that on You Tube, it is truly appreciated.
bookworm916 3 years ago
XD Lol. I think he's a teacher.
laughwest101 3 years ago
I knew he was a teacher. I was just curious to know how long he had been playing. However, thank you for clarifying that for me. :)
ktnsk8er 3 years ago
Oh, I'm sorry! XD I feel really stupid. Sorry about that. :)
laughwest101 3 years ago
This song sounds a bit awkard. Not your playing...you handled it beautifully!! Are you a teacher?? You play way too well to be an adult Suzuki student. (adult Suzuki student, is that an oxymoron??)
abeeric 3 years ago
Thank you for your kind comments on many of my videos. Yes, I am a teacher. I teach both violin and viola. My channel is intented to be a resource for students who are learning pieces from the suzuki method books. I've decided to focus my channel on viola, since there aren't many videos of these pieces performed on viola. I'll be adding more videos soon. Thanks for watching.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
I LOVE your videos!! I play fiddle, and I'm struggling along with my own rythms and bow shuffles. In fiddle, it's ok to be an adult beginner. ;-)
I've always loved Gavotte (Lully) though, and I've been looking into learning it. Your version is my favorite on here, I can hear it so clearly! Your doing a wonderful service for your students!
abeeric 3 years ago
By the way, you might want to check out the Frederica von Stade version of "Gavotte from Mignon". You can search for it on youtube. It's wonderful and might make the piece feel less awkward for you.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
Oh yes, don't think for a moment I havn't heard that young lady play. (incredible) I also like watching the little red haired boy Lostcheerio. He doesn't play it all that well, but he is adorable.
abeeric 3 years ago
very nice I had to play that yesterday for a Solo and Ensamble contest but one thing I dont understand is it in 2-4 time so tword the end of the song on the full measure of rest why did you ( and my teacher alike ) hold it out for 4 beats? shouldn't it be two?
PPGAMrClean 3 years ago
Thanks for your comment. Your teacher is correct. When I was making this video, I was confused too. The confusion lies in the nature of the Gavotte rhythm and meter. At that point in the Gavotte you are probably feeling a stress on beat 2 rather than beat 1. If you are, then it feels good to re-enter on beat 2 (the strong beat). Count it out again and make sure that you feel 4 eighth notes in the empty bar. Part of the fun of playing a Gavotte is the switch-up between stress on 1 and 2.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
A lot of students have trouble with the trill. The trick is not to let it interfere with the basic rhythm. Practice first without the trill by holding the first finger note as a dotted eighth-note. Practice this way until you're comfortable with the rhythm and bowing. Then add one trill and then two trills, as written. With each of these steps, make sure the bow is doing the exact same thing. Also, be sure to practice slowly.
Bratschenmeister 3 years ago
im playing that song right now with my violin,im having a little of problem cotroling the trill..
damn trill xD i suck,did u do trill exercises?
ArturoGam 3 years ago