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This is the most important 4 words I will ever pass on to you. There is no violin.
So, you say, I came to this site to learn to play the violin. But believe me if there is a
violin there is no end of difficulty. On the other hand if there is no violin there is no problem.
Ok, physically there has to be a violin to get that sound that attracts you to want to play,
but the sooner you can lose the sense of that violin as a physical presence the sooner you will be
able to express yourself musically. So start with no violin. Put it back in its case so we can
first develop the balances in your body to add the violin to later. Stand with your feet shoulder
width apart. Imagine yourself as a puppet dangling from the crown of your head by a string. Now imagine
you have a tail long enough to lean on and bounce a bit while dangling from that string. Now sing a little
tune, something with a BEAT, and clap your hands in a large circular motion, up and around and out and
down and finally up again for the clap. Bounce on your tail to the beat of your tune. If anyone catches
you doing this tell them The Funny Monkey is the newest dance craze and carry on in an exaggerated
manner till they leave you alone. May as well learn to ham it up now. It will help when you are
playing for people later. While you are at it dance around a bit. Get that pulse surging through
your body, feel the beat everywhere. That's why we love dancing. You are going to love playing
music in that same way and today is the day to start. Just do that much a few times during
the day. Put on your favorite music with a good relentless pulse (I like Bach and Vivaldi for this
but Rock, Rap, Bluegrass, Irish all work) and BE a funny monkey for awhile. Turn off the music and
sing it doing the funny monkey. Get as great a sense of the pulse while singing as when it was
coming from your speakers. Make up
your own tunes to bounce to. You are making music. Enjoy! Next lesson -- creating a little
nest in which to cradle the violin.
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