Practice makes permanent!
The old adage says "practice makes perfect", but only perfect practice makes perfect! Whatever we practice, HOW we practice solidifies in our ears, brains, and muscles, whatever it is we repeat over and over. So if you practice good posture while playing your violin, good posture becomes permanent. If you practice while slouching or sitting with one foot curled underneath you, this is what will become permanent. If we allow ourselves to be lazy about intonation or tone, about articulation and bowing, then we will be lazy performers and produce a concert that achieves mediocrity at best! So, when you are practicing, be aware of how you are practicing, so you can make the best possible permanent!
Tuning!!
Tuning perfection is something all string players, regardless of ability, strive toward their entire careers. While nearly unattainable, this pursuit is something we need to keep our minds bent on at all times. When we talk about tuning 'perfection', it is important that we ask the question "Perfect according to whom and relative to what?" As players of instruments in the violin family, we can actually play 'perfect' Pythagorean intervals, although this is quite messy in practice and sounds truly odd to the modern ear. What we are used to is what is called Equal Temperament, where every half step is equidistant, and which is no where near perfect! However, if we are ever to play in tune with other families of instruments in this day and age, this is what we must do.
Click on any of the drones below to have that note play for you while you practice your scales or any tricky passages to keep your intonation strong!