Hello,
I have been playing violins for over 3 years now. I have been expanding my repertoire slowly over time, but in terms of learning, I am at mid-Suzuki Volume 4.
Something I have noticed is that the quality of sound that I get out of my violin is EXCELLENT(well, I did spend 3 months worth of apartment rent on my violin). My intonation is pretty good as well(I blindly pick a note and see what my electronic tuner says).
For the past few months, due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity(I play in between the swimming pool and the laundry room on the top floor of my building), the violin has been going out of tune, as I'm playing.
I also often don't carry an electronic tuner anymore, because I find that from my ear training, if I tune the violin independently, it's "right on" with the tuner, if I check with it later.
I've been told by my colleagues that I am no longer a beginner, but I still feel like one.
When do you stop calling yourself as a beginner?
If you're playing in tune, on time, and your output sounds decently musical, you're no longer a beginner.
I think you could tenuously define yourself as "not a beginner" when others begin giving unsolicited compliments after over hearing you play. I have a ways to go on this one. Lol. My fiancée has yet to compliment me. The day she does I will consider myself "not a beginner!"
Jessy
I agree with your friends, Steven. Perhaps when you gain a certain level of technical understanding?
I am always beginning something.
The violin crowd seems to recognize certain "rites of passage" for certain music such as Suzuki, Vivaldi A Minor, etc.
Someone on this forum can tell you what the benchmarks are.
Just last Monday my teacher told me that my bowing arm is still disturbed a lot by my left hand. He thinks my left hand is doing fine. As long as this lack of independence endures, I shall consider myself a beginner, regardless of repertoire and so called benchmarks. I have been playing for over 4 years now. Time flies when you're having fun!
The most important thing is not WHAT you play but HOW you play it. So good form, decent sound and intonation in a very simple piece - say a Bach minuet arrangement - would trump an awful performance of "the" Vivaldi concerto.
That said, it can be useful to have benchmarks. As teacher, I usually consider students to be at the start of the intermediate stage when they are ready - by virtue of a good grounding - to begin position work and Kayser studies, along with say, a Seitz student concerto. When they have finished all the 36 Kayser etudes and are comfortable in 5 positions or so and can make that Vivaldi concerto sound recognizable, I'd consider them to be at the high intermediate stage.
Incidentally, the Vivaldi A Minor was mentioned as important for pedagogical purposes as a gateway to 3 rd position by Laurie. I'm suret the standards were high for student performances.
As I recall, the last mvt. of the Vivaldi goes to about the 5th position.
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March 15, 2016 at 12:42 AM · I don't think there is a standardized level of ability, amount of time playing, or age where one can then call themselves "intermediate" or " advanced ". It seems to depend on one's learning community and level of confidence.