Connor, Mom, and the family showing up for violin class.
Wow what a precious shot! He is holding the violin perfectly under his arm!
I can't believe he can name all the parts of the violin already! He is so smart!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My youngest violin student - Connor!
Connor is 4 years old, and has been taking the violin in my studio for a few months now! Connor has a great smile, and loves coming to his violin class. Check out some of the photos we took this past Friday, along with a video of him naming the parts of the violin. Super Cute!
Monday, January 10, 2011
My daughter would like to learn the violin. I'm not sure if she will love it enough to practice everyday. Is there a way to rent a violin to try it out for a month or so? Thanks in advance for any advice you have.
This is a great question. Let me tell you what I offer in my studio, that you may find a private teacher doing in your area or maybe string instrument shop.
Many parents are stuck in the boat of wondering if their kids are going to like the violin, and don't want to invest a bunch of money into it if they aren't certain their kids are going to like it.
Personally, I provide a rental program, where the parents can pay monthly for a violin, and can return it at anytime. This is convenient for them because it eliminates the risk of them purchasing an instrument that might end up sitting in their closet down the road.
Obviously we all hope that our children develop a liking for the violin or any musical instrument, but sometimes it is better to rent first to make sure the interest is there.
Hope this helps!
Michael
Many parents are stuck in the boat of wondering if their kids are going to like the violin, and don't want to invest a bunch of money into it if they aren't certain their kids are going to like it.
Personally, I provide a rental program, where the parents can pay monthly for a violin, and can return it at anytime. This is convenient for them because it eliminates the risk of them purchasing an instrument that might end up sitting in their closet down the road.
Obviously we all hope that our children develop a liking for the violin or any musical instrument, but sometimes it is better to rent first to make sure the interest is there.
Hope this helps!
Michael
Friday, January 7, 2011
My Dad's Wedding!
My dad's wedding was back in September and we finally got the wedding pics! It was a great event, and it is nice to see him so happy. Congrats Dad and Tracy!
Our quartet "Serenade" played in the wedding.
A closeup shot of me playing "You Raise me Up" at the wedding.
The new family!
From left: Brooke (Tracy's Daughter), Stephanie (Tracy's Daughter), Tracy (Dad's Wife), Robert Sanchez (Dad), Michael Sanchez (Me)
Here is a shot of me and my Dad. Does anybody think we look alike?
Our quartet "Serenade" played in the wedding.
A closeup shot of me playing "You Raise me Up" at the wedding.
The new family!
From left: Brooke (Tracy's Daughter), Stephanie (Tracy's Daughter), Tracy (Dad's Wife), Robert Sanchez (Dad), Michael Sanchez (Me)
What would you say the most important thing for an adult beginner to remember about playing the violin?
I would say the most important thing that you can remember about the violin as an adult beginner is your fundamentals!
Keep your wrist straight, extend your elbow, thumb curved and more, are just some of the things that deal with the fundamentals.
Even if you have been playing or a while, don't be afraid to watch yourself in the mirror. This really helps calibrate yourself every once in a while because things can change with your fundamentals if you don't watch out!
Hope that helps.
Michael
Keep your wrist straight, extend your elbow, thumb curved and more, are just some of the things that deal with the fundamentals.
Even if you have been playing or a while, don't be afraid to watch yourself in the mirror. This really helps calibrate yourself every once in a while because things can change with your fundamentals if you don't watch out!
Hope that helps.
Michael
Monday, January 3, 2011
Student Spotlight - Danny Heemstra Age 7
Danny Heemstra has been playing the violin in my studio for about 6 months, and he participated in our Christmas Recital this past month! Check out his video playing "Frosty the Snowman." Danny also decided to tell everyone how he decided to play the violin. So Cute!
We also put together a little fun video in the studio of us playing Good King Wenceslas together!
Look for a bunch more student profiles and videos coming in the next month!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Hi sir, when should one start playing scales using the Carl fischer book? I am an adult beginner violin player and my teacher wants me to do scales but they are so frightfully difficult!
The Carl Fischer book is one of the most advanced scale books that I have played in or know about. This is a book designed for a professional violinist or someone training to become professional. It is definitely not designed for an adult beginner!
I would recommend something a lot easier. Depending on your skill level, you might want to start playing scales in 2 octaves and then go into 3 octaves once you have all of them mastered. There are many books out there that specialize in both.
The book you are working through is way too hard!
Hope this helps,
MIchael Sanchez
Friday, December 31, 2010
Hi Michael, Thanks for giving us Violin Tutor Pro! I have a Granada violin (I live in India). My only concern is that the fingerboard paint has started fading away ... Any help is appreciated :) Amit Joseph Patole
Hey Amit! Thanks for the comments about Violin Tutor Pro! Glad you are enjoying the software so far. :)
In answer to your question, normally fingerboards are actually not painted. They are made of ebony, which is a solid black material. I have seen a few fingerboards that were made of a different material and then paint was added, but this usually shows that the instrument is poorly made.
Fortunately the fingerboard has nothing to do with how expensive the violin is worth. You can get a new fingerboard put on, which is a little expensive, but worth the money if you have a valuable violin.
On the other hand I wouldn't worry to much, unless you are looking to sell the instrument.
Michael Sanchez
P.S. Can't wait to announce the launch of Violin Tutor Pro Series 2-5!
In answer to your question, normally fingerboards are actually not painted. They are made of ebony, which is a solid black material. I have seen a few fingerboards that were made of a different material and then paint was added, but this usually shows that the instrument is poorly made.
Fortunately the fingerboard has nothing to do with how expensive the violin is worth. You can get a new fingerboard put on, which is a little expensive, but worth the money if you have a valuable violin.
On the other hand I wouldn't worry to much, unless you are looking to sell the instrument.
Michael Sanchez
P.S. Can't wait to announce the launch of Violin Tutor Pro Series 2-5!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Favorite Holiday Moments
I love, as I'm sure many of you do, the holidays! I thought it might be fun to share our favorite moments and traditions that come around the holidays.
I'll go first: I love having a day like Christmas to help everyone rearrange their priorities, and put another's happiness before their own. It is a day to show someone you may not typically share things with, how happy they make you.
Okay, now it's your turn! Leave a comment with one of your favorite holiday moments or memories...maybe we will find new things to appreciate that we hadn't thought of already!
Happy Holidays everyone
I'll go first: I love having a day like Christmas to help everyone rearrange their priorities, and put another's happiness before their own. It is a day to show someone you may not typically share things with, how happy they make you.
Okay, now it's your turn! Leave a comment with one of your favorite holiday moments or memories...maybe we will find new things to appreciate that we hadn't thought of already!
Happy Holidays everyone
Formspring Question - Hello sir! I just want to ask, what violin should a beginner buy? I want to learn violin and i would like to buy one. What brand should I buy? The cheapest one sir. :)
Hey There! This is definitely one of the more popular questions I get from beginners as everyone needs a violin to start playing right!
My suggestion is don't buy an instrument off of craigslist. You might find something nice 1/10 times, but do you really want to take that risk? Most of the time what you find on there sounds literally like a tin can. You can get decent instruments on Amazon, and I actually purchase violins on there from a few different vendors.
Cecilio Violins are great, and these are really good for beginners just starting out. A good beginner outfit is the Cecilio CVN-500, which costs anywhere from $175-$350.
Once you have played for a while though, you will want an upgrade to this. It isn't long before you will be able to tell the difference between the quality of different violins. But the Cecilio is a great place to start if you don't want to spend too much.
Hope this helps!
Michael
My suggestion is don't buy an instrument off of craigslist. You might find something nice 1/10 times, but do you really want to take that risk? Most of the time what you find on there sounds literally like a tin can. You can get decent instruments on Amazon, and I actually purchase violins on there from a few different vendors.
Cecilio Violins are great, and these are really good for beginners just starting out. A good beginner outfit is the Cecilio CVN-500, which costs anywhere from $175-$350.
Once you have played for a while though, you will want an upgrade to this. It isn't long before you will be able to tell the difference between the quality of different violins. But the Cecilio is a great place to start if you don't want to spend too much.
Hope this helps!
Michael
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
What brand of strings do you prefer? I use Dominant, but was considering changing to a string with a brighter sound. Any suggestions? Joc
Great Question! Dominants are actually one of my personal favorites if you are looking for a synthetic string. A similar string that you might find a little brighter would be Evah Pirrazi strings by Pirastro. They are a little more expensive, and don't last as long as dominants, but you will like how bright they sound.
I wouldn't suggest using the Evah Pirrazi E, and going with the Pirastro Gold E as it sounds much better.
Hope this helps!
Michael
Monday, December 27, 2010
Formspring Question - Is it too late for me to start learning violin by the age of 20?
Great question! Many people have the perception that the violin should only be started by those at a young age. This is totally incorrect. Although starting at a young age is great for human development, it is never too late to start playing the violin even at a much older age than 20.
I have found in my studio, that adults learn at a much faster pace. At least 2-3 times faster than a young child between 8-15 years old. They pick up on concepts much faster than children, and most importantly find it more important to work on certain techniques and fundamentals that they appreciate.
My studio ranges from 4 all the way to 88 years old! Some of my students in their later years, started with me, and after a short period of time, are playing very well, and capable of playing in many solo settings. Many of them enjoy it so much!
So in summary my answer to your question. Is it too late to start the violin at age 20? Are you kidding? Absolutely not! If you have the interest, you will be amazed at how far you can go :)
- Michael
I have found in my studio, that adults learn at a much faster pace. At least 2-3 times faster than a young child between 8-15 years old. They pick up on concepts much faster than children, and most importantly find it more important to work on certain techniques and fundamentals that they appreciate.
My studio ranges from 4 all the way to 88 years old! Some of my students in their later years, started with me, and after a short period of time, are playing very well, and capable of playing in many solo settings. Many of them enjoy it so much!
So in summary my answer to your question. Is it too late to start the violin at age 20? Are you kidding? Absolutely not! If you have the interest, you will be amazed at how far you can go :)
- Michael
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Beginner Violin Lessons - How to Play the Violin
Introduction
Playing the violin is one of the most rewarding experiences you can encounter as a human being. Violin music can ease the mind and can turn into a great hobby for people of all ages. You are never too old to start learning the violin, and even if you aren't interested in becoming a violin virtuoso, you can still have tons of fun learning the basics as a hobby.
What you need to get Started
You will need certain materials to get started playing the violin. First you need a violin, bow of course which most people know that they need to have. You also will need a good case to carry the violin and bow in, and a shoulder rest to aid in holding the instrument. To use the bow correctly, you will need rosin, which makes the bow sticky enough to grip the strings. A basis book will do to get started and I recommend Essential Elements Book 1 as a good starting book for beginners.
How to Play the Violin
Playing the violin is not as hard as you might think. The key is having the right teacher to make sure you are doing everything correctly. Gripping the bow correctly is a key element to starting. Making sure your pinky is at the bottom of the bow, and having your thumb curved is quite important. Having a teacher watch this constantly is a huge help. Having the instrument level is important and is aided by a shoulder rest. Make sure your hand is placed at the nut of the violin, and doesn't creep up. This causes your notes to start to go sharp (out of tune). The most important thing to play the violin correctly is playing straight across the strings. Many beginners like to use too much arm and move the arm backwards instead of extending out with the forarm. Having a teacher watch this really helps, but you can also help yourself by watching your playing in the mirror.
Once you have all these fundamentals in place you can start learning from the book! Take things slowly and don't try to play too fast. Focus in on playing in tempo, and getting to the tip of the bow with full bow strokes. Having a teacher to watch this really helps. Start off by learning basis open strings and then going into putting fingers down while stroking the bow. The Essential Elements Book starts off in the key of D which means your second finger should be a space apart from one. To put your third finger down, use the second finger as an anchor which you put this finger right next to it. This really helps when you are first starting out. Keep progressing through the book slowly and I can promise you learning the violin as an adult beginner is really a lot of fun!
Playing the violin is one of the most rewarding experiences you can encounter as a human being. Violin music can ease the mind and can turn into a great hobby for people of all ages. You are never too old to start learning the violin, and even if you aren't interested in becoming a violin virtuoso, you can still have tons of fun learning the basics as a hobby.
What you need to get Started
You will need certain materials to get started playing the violin. First you need a violin, bow of course which most people know that they need to have. You also will need a good case to carry the violin and bow in, and a shoulder rest to aid in holding the instrument. To use the bow correctly, you will need rosin, which makes the bow sticky enough to grip the strings. A basis book will do to get started and I recommend Essential Elements Book 1 as a good starting book for beginners.
How to Play the Violin
Playing the violin is not as hard as you might think. The key is having the right teacher to make sure you are doing everything correctly. Gripping the bow correctly is a key element to starting. Making sure your pinky is at the bottom of the bow, and having your thumb curved is quite important. Having a teacher watch this constantly is a huge help. Having the instrument level is important and is aided by a shoulder rest. Make sure your hand is placed at the nut of the violin, and doesn't creep up. This causes your notes to start to go sharp (out of tune). The most important thing to play the violin correctly is playing straight across the strings. Many beginners like to use too much arm and move the arm backwards instead of extending out with the forarm. Having a teacher watch this really helps, but you can also help yourself by watching your playing in the mirror.
Once you have all these fundamentals in place you can start learning from the book! Take things slowly and don't try to play too fast. Focus in on playing in tempo, and getting to the tip of the bow with full bow strokes. Having a teacher to watch this really helps. Start off by learning basis open strings and then going into putting fingers down while stroking the bow. The Essential Elements Book starts off in the key of D which means your second finger should be a space apart from one. To put your third finger down, use the second finger as an anchor which you put this finger right next to it. This really helps when you are first starting out. Keep progressing through the book slowly and I can promise you learning the violin as an adult beginner is really a lot of fun!
If you can't access a teacher in your area, Violin Tutor Pro is an excellent alternative to private lessons. These Online Violin Lessons are perfect for any adult beginner.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Sanchez
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
First, congrats on making your twitter so popular. You are Worldwide (Poland). There is a funny coincidence because today I got the idea of buying myself an electric violin! And here you are, following me on tw ( : My request is for you to tell me everything bout it!
Hey there thanks so much for telling me where you are from! It is great to see that the violin is an interest Worldwide, and not just here in the United States. Sounds like you speak pretty English which is great!
I personally don't have any electric violins, or have never purchased any. I do have some friends that play in various bands, and they seem to lean most toward Yamaha fiddles. The ones with the cool halo bodies. Here is one on Amazon that I have seen other fiddle players use. Yamaha Silent Electric Violin.
I have always used a pickup on a classical violin to play gigs. I prefer this because I have played classical all my life. It makes me feel like I have more control over the instrument :). If you want a recommendation of a pickup, I would suggest going with a Yamaha VNP-2. They hook right into the bridge, and really produce a great warm sound.
Hope this somewhat helps!
Michael Sanchez
I personally don't have any electric violins, or have never purchased any. I do have some friends that play in various bands, and they seem to lean most toward Yamaha fiddles. The ones with the cool halo bodies. Here is one on Amazon that I have seen other fiddle players use. Yamaha Silent Electric Violin.
I have always used a pickup on a classical violin to play gigs. I prefer this because I have played classical all my life. It makes me feel like I have more control over the instrument :). If you want a recommendation of a pickup, I would suggest going with a Yamaha VNP-2. They hook right into the bridge, and really produce a great warm sound.
Hope this somewhat helps!
Michael Sanchez
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Updating The Face Of Violin Tutor Pro And RivertownMS
I did a photo shoot to update the photos featured on Violin Tutor Pro and Rivertown Music Studio.
Ahh...feeling fresh and getting to work!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Are there different "brands" of the violin? If there are, what kind of violin is the best to get?
This is a great question thank you for asking!
Unfortunately violins are not like cars, in that one brand operates a certain way compared to other brands. Each any every violin is unique, and can sound/play differently from one instrument to another. The more advanced player you are, the more you will notice this difference.
Opposite of cars, violins actually appreciate in value. This means that the older they get, the better they sound, and more expensive they are. Although you can find good new instruments, typically the older they are the better they will sound.
Most of the time if you see a violin label with an individuals name on it, this means that the instrument was hand crafted by this person. A hand crafted instrument will sound much better than one that was made through a machine! The next thing you will look for is when the instrument was made, which will tell you a lot about what you might be dealing with.
The best thing you can do is go to a trusted violin shop and play violins in an affordable price range, and pick the one that sounds best to you. This may not be the one that sounds the best to another violin player because of your different playing styles.
Hope this helps!
Violin Buying Tips For Beginners - Should I Buy Online?
Introduction
Many people ask the question if they should buy a violin online as a beginner. I consider buying a violin online a risky way to pick out an instrument because you never know what you are getting. Don't get me wrong, I am far against buying products online being that there is a huge selection and you can find pretty good deals if you look in the right places. But it is hard to find a good deal on a violin because you don't really know how good the violin is until you get the opportunity to play it.
Problems from Buying Online
There are many problems that can arise from instrument to instrument that it is impossible to tell until you get the violin in front of you. Even then a beginner player wouldn't in some cases be able to tell what the problems are until they bring the violin in for a checkup. Problems include small cracks or open seems on the instrument which can harm the playability and sound of the violin. Another problem is different pieces being warped or not in their right spots. Many times violins come with warped fingerboards which can really harm the playability of the instrument.
Is it Worth taking the Risk?
Many times people buy violins Online because of the affordability. They can get a violin, case and bow for sometimes under a hundred dollars. To them this is worth the risk especially if they aren't really sure that they that serious about playing the violin. My opinion is that any violin under a hundred dollars online is pretty much junk no matter what kind of violin it is. The bow and case are also going to be junk and I would stay away from buying any violin in this price range. Some violins online that are in the 200-500 range can actually be good instruments. If you get a good background of the instrument and there is a return policy I would possibly try buying a violin in this price range. Make sure you bring the violin into a local shop to make sure the violin is in working order.
What are my other Options?
If you don't want to take the risk of buying a violin online you do have some other options. There are many local violin shops that give you the opportunity to actually play on the violin before you buy it. You could bring your teacher with you to make sure the instrument is right for you also. Many times violin shops have rental programs that are really nice for beginners that are just starting out. I would look for a rent to own program that actually allows you to pay a monthly fee but all your payments go towards the ownership of the instrument. These work very nice because you can return the instrument if you are not interested in playing violin after a short period of time. On the other side, if you build interest in playing violin, you will eventually own the instrument which is great. I suggest going to a store that specializes primarily in stringed instruments and nothing else. They are the ones typically with the good inventory. You want to find stores that will trade-in the rental instruments for a better instrument in the future.
Many people ask the question if they should buy a violin online as a beginner. I consider buying a violin online a risky way to pick out an instrument because you never know what you are getting. Don't get me wrong, I am far against buying products online being that there is a huge selection and you can find pretty good deals if you look in the right places. But it is hard to find a good deal on a violin because you don't really know how good the violin is until you get the opportunity to play it.
Problems from Buying Online
There are many problems that can arise from instrument to instrument that it is impossible to tell until you get the violin in front of you. Even then a beginner player wouldn't in some cases be able to tell what the problems are until they bring the violin in for a checkup. Problems include small cracks or open seems on the instrument which can harm the playability and sound of the violin. Another problem is different pieces being warped or not in their right spots. Many times violins come with warped fingerboards which can really harm the playability of the instrument.
Is it Worth taking the Risk?
Many times people buy violins Online because of the affordability. They can get a violin, case and bow for sometimes under a hundred dollars. To them this is worth the risk especially if they aren't really sure that they that serious about playing the violin. My opinion is that any violin under a hundred dollars online is pretty much junk no matter what kind of violin it is. The bow and case are also going to be junk and I would stay away from buying any violin in this price range. Some violins online that are in the 200-500 range can actually be good instruments. If you get a good background of the instrument and there is a return policy I would possibly try buying a violin in this price range. Make sure you bring the violin into a local shop to make sure the violin is in working order.
What are my other Options?
If you don't want to take the risk of buying a violin online you do have some other options. There are many local violin shops that give you the opportunity to actually play on the violin before you buy it. You could bring your teacher with you to make sure the instrument is right for you also. Many times violin shops have rental programs that are really nice for beginners that are just starting out. I would look for a rent to own program that actually allows you to pay a monthly fee but all your payments go towards the ownership of the instrument. These work very nice because you can return the instrument if you are not interested in playing violin after a short period of time. On the other side, if you build interest in playing violin, you will eventually own the instrument which is great. I suggest going to a store that specializes primarily in stringed instruments and nothing else. They are the ones typically with the good inventory. You want to find stores that will trade-in the rental instruments for a better instrument in the future.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Sanchez
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Christmas Recital Over!
Hey everyone! We had the Christmas Recital last night and it went great! All the little ones were so cute, and even though nervous, they all did so well!
I am working on doing some editing today to be able to show all you guys the show! Can't wait to post it!
- Michael
I am working on doing some editing today to be able to show all you guys the show! Can't wait to post it!
- Michael
Friday, December 10, 2010
Getting Excited for my Christmas Recital!
Having my violin Christmas recital Saturday 12/11 at 6:30PM. Would love for all of you guys to be there! The location of the recital is at Rogers Heights CRC.
The address is 3025 Michael Ave. S.W. Wyoming, MI 49509.
Check out this funny video of me getting excited for it!
The address is 3025 Michael Ave. S.W. Wyoming, MI 49509.
Check out this funny video of me getting excited for it!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Holding the Violin - Shoulder Rest Tips
Introduction
Many people ask what accessories are needed to aid in holding the violin. A very important piece that aids in this process is what is called the shoulder rest. The shoulder rest is installed on the back of the violin and gives comfort to the player when he rests the violin on his shoulder and chin. Without a shoulder rest in place, holding the violin becomes very uncomfortable and can cause many bad habits down the road.
What kind of Shoulder Rests Can I Buy?
There are many different types of shoulder rests out there that aid in holding the violin. The most popular style is a "Kun" brand style. These are very popular because of their ability to adjust to different violin widths and give quite a few inches of support off of the shoulder. There are many different brands of Kuns that range in price and typically they start at about twenty dollars. I don't see much reason to choose one more expensive their starter model. There are many other types of brands of shoulder rests and I suggest trying out different ones to see which one feels the most comfortable to you. Many shops will allow you the option to put it on your instrument before buying to make sure you will be happy with it.
Do I have any other Options?
Another option you can go with for holding the violin is by using an actual kitchen sponge or rubber pad. These don't give as much elevation off of the violin but can provide enough comfort for the violinist. Obviously this method will cost a lot less and is a popular option especially for beginners.
How do I Install Them?
To install a Kun shoulder rest you will take the side that is narrower and place the rubber prongs on the front left back of the violin first. You then can install the thicker end on the right side back next. Make sure the shoulder rest fits securely. To install a sponge or rubber pad, you will be using a rubber band. The rubber band will stretch on bottom button of the violin to the left corner bout of the violin. This should be tight enough so that the sponge stays in place nicely.
Many people ask what accessories are needed to aid in holding the violin. A very important piece that aids in this process is what is called the shoulder rest. The shoulder rest is installed on the back of the violin and gives comfort to the player when he rests the violin on his shoulder and chin. Without a shoulder rest in place, holding the violin becomes very uncomfortable and can cause many bad habits down the road.
What kind of Shoulder Rests Can I Buy?
There are many different types of shoulder rests out there that aid in holding the violin. The most popular style is a "Kun" brand style. These are very popular because of their ability to adjust to different violin widths and give quite a few inches of support off of the shoulder. There are many different brands of Kuns that range in price and typically they start at about twenty dollars. I don't see much reason to choose one more expensive their starter model. There are many other types of brands of shoulder rests and I suggest trying out different ones to see which one feels the most comfortable to you. Many shops will allow you the option to put it on your instrument before buying to make sure you will be happy with it.
Do I have any other Options?
Another option you can go with for holding the violin is by using an actual kitchen sponge or rubber pad. These don't give as much elevation off of the violin but can provide enough comfort for the violinist. Obviously this method will cost a lot less and is a popular option especially for beginners.
How do I Install Them?
To install a Kun shoulder rest you will take the side that is narrower and place the rubber prongs on the front left back of the violin first. You then can install the thicker end on the right side back next. Make sure the shoulder rest fits securely. To install a sponge or rubber pad, you will be using a rubber band. The rubber band will stretch on bottom button of the violin to the left corner bout of the violin. This should be tight enough so that the sponge stays in place nicely.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Sanchez
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