End of book 1

Now I am at the end of my first book. I know how to make notes on all four strings and I know three major scales. This past lesson it was time for me to look more closely at my bowing. The left and and my fingers are good for now. The bowing needs to be more consistent. My up bows need to have more weight on them.

Specifics

Trying to get more specific with my practicing. Name the notes, look for bowings, slurs, etc. Play the notes paying attention short vs long and the correct intervals. Intonation.

Ringing in my ears

Yesterday I did a page all about the E string and then for the rest of the day and also today my ears are ringing. Like the sound a CRT screen makes. Our music room is too resonant for violin practice. Today I put our carpet from Turkey down on the floor in there and we can hang the kilims on the walls. And when I practiced today, I wore hearing protectors - those big red and black ear muffs from the workshop. It helped I think. I am waiting now for the ringing to subside.
I really want to play more tomorrow but I'm a little hesitant if my ears haven't stopped the tinnitus. I had a thought to go out the backyard where the sound will just dissipate, and give a little concert for the chickens. I'll see if they even care at all about me playing a violin at them.

Unprepared

Such a frustrating lesson today. I went in knowing I was not prepared. I didn't practice thurs fri or sat so I was still learning notes and then all my bowing etc is thrown off. The bow goes bounce bounce bounce and slides around sideways and it all sounds like crap. Time also to check up on the position of my right pinky. It seems to be usually pushing the bow away. It needs to be on top so it can pull not push. And loose wrist, don't have it yet. The fourth finger is what I'm working on now, and a pickup at the front of a song. Different rhythm - up down, up down, etc. Like dancing I think, or skipping.

Christmas recital

I am playing in the recital next week. Usually I'm just watching everyone else. I have one Christmassy song to play and I need to know it well enough that the playing for an audience thing doesn't make me forget all the notes. It's funny the way that works. Despite being a full grown adult who has day through many lessons and been audience for lots of my kids recitals. Then it's me who has to play and it's right at square one that I am standing.

Sunday practice

I'm videoing myself using my iPhone. I have played all four songs that I know from the Suzuki book 1. I'm watching for bow angle, bow am elbow movement and stiffness of my bow hand and how the sound changes in relation to those things. Also looking at how the bow skates sideways on the strings sometimes.

New practising

I'm learning the violin. I have had three or four lessons now. Sometimes, like tonight, the practising goes haltingly. All my skills of three weeks are gone and I can't even play a single string without crossing over the next one beside it.
In my lesson I am compelled to play everything extremely carefully. Which is boring to listen to. And then I get playing-for-the-teacher anxiety which makes the bow jump along the strings due tension in my arm or shoulder or whatever.