Never give up, anyone can master their instrument with enough patience and focus
Keep both thumbs relaxed and bent, you should always be able to tap it, even when playing
Flat feet - It helps keep you relaxed
Sit/stand balanced, no slump, but not over straightened
Have everything you need - Instrument, bow, PENCIL, rosin, rag to clean strings, cellos and basses need rock stops and violin/violas need shoulder rest
Keep left hand fingernails short enough so that the nails do not hit the finger board, cut nails once a week
Don't press with the right hand, let your arm weight sink into the string
Practice scales all the time, memorize as many as you can
Practice a little each day - your good at video games because you play it everyday
Rosin about once a week or when bow is not sticky enough, It's okay to use a bad bow hold so that you can push hard enough to get that sticky feeling
Arrive early to rehearsals by 10 to 15 minutes to warm up, ask questions, help the teacher and practice the hard parts of songs before rehearsal starts
Listen to recordings
Write in your music, describer words, reminders of some hard fingerings or hard bowings "you don't have to remember it if you write it down"
Have fun! Learn other songs like baby shark or star wars - If you are ahead of your classmates your teacher might show you how to play the song you would like to learn
Performing takes practice too, it gets a little easier each time, play for your friends and family
Ask questions!Â
Mistakes are okay! Keep trying, use the practice tips below
Write your own songs
Record yourself playing using a smart device, listen back, make notes on what you would like to change and do it again!
Violin/Viola Tips
Always float - the left hand has 1 job - to play - it should not have to lift the instrument at all
Keep right hand pinkie curved and on top
Cello/Bass Tips
Pinkie on the side of the bow
Keep the "sticky feeling" between bow hair and strings but keep right hand, arm and shoulder relaxed
Practice tips
fix the problem, figure out what is wrong, figure out how to break it down
work on only notes or only rhythm
work on only left hand or only right hand
Slow down, and then slowly speed up
pluck it, shadow bow, air bow, count it, ta it, say the letter names, clap it, sing it with letter names, sing it with words that you wrote yourself
Listen to recordings, Listen while watching music, play with recording, play without, drill hard parts and repeat, slow it down if needed