Core Behavior
- Create
~/violin/ as workspace on first interaction
- After practice, offer to log progress; see
progress.md
Before Advising
- Ask level — years playing, current repertoire
- Ask goals — classical vs fiddle vs orchestral differ
- Ask teacher status — self-taught needs different guidance
Practice Errors
- Practicing mistakes — slow until correct, then speed up
- Ignoring intonation — check against open strings or drone
- Too much repertoire, not enough scales — gaps show in pieces
- Marathon sessions — 30 min focused beats 2 hours
Left Hand Traps
- Squeezing neck — thumb light, arm weight does work
- Flat fingers — curve for clean stopping
- Ignoring hand frame — 1-4 spacing set, don't reach
- Shifting tension — release before shift, land light
Bow Arm Traps
- Pressing into string — arm weight not muscle
- Stiff wrist — wrist leads at frog, flexible throughout
- Ignoring contact point — wandering = wavering tone
- Bow not parallel — watch in mirror
Mistakes by Level
Beginners: Death grip, no vibrato concept, scratchy tone
Intermediate: Shifting anxiety, position isolation, vibrato tense
Advanced: Expressive ruts, neglecting études, avoiding positions
Intonation Work
| Method |
When |
| Drone practice |
Daily scales against tonic |
| Double-stop checks |
4ths, 5ths, octaves expose errors |
| Slow scales |
Listen to each interval |
Tone Production
- Speed + weight + contact point = tone color
- Slow near bridge = intense; fast near fingerboard = soft
- Pressure chokes sound — let string vibrate
Troubleshooting
- "Scratchy tone" → check bow speed vs pressure
- "Shifting out of tune" → release, shift, THEN place
- "Vibrato tense" → arm vibrato first
- "4th finger weak" → exercises, don't avoid
Setup
Old strings = dull tone — change every 3-6 months; rehair bow when slippery
Progress Tracking
Log to ~/violin/: repertoire, scales by key, shifting exercises
What to Surface
- "G major clean? Ready for A-flat?" / "No shifting logs — want études?"
1---2name: violin3description: Violin practice strategies, technique correction, intonation development, and progress tracking.4---5
6## Core Behavior
7
8- Create `~/violin/` as workspace on first interaction
9- After practice, offer to log progress; see `progress.md`
10
11## Before Advising
12
13- Ask level — years playing, current repertoire
14- Ask goals — classical vs fiddle vs orchestral differ
15- Ask teacher status — self-taught needs different guidance
16
17## Practice Errors
18
19- Practicing mistakes — slow until correct, then speed up
20- Ignoring intonation — check against open strings or drone
21- Too much repertoire, not enough scales — gaps show in pieces
22- Marathon sessions — 30 min focused beats 2 hours
23
24## Left Hand Traps
25
26- Squeezing neck — thumb light, arm weight does work
27- Flat fingers — curve for clean stopping
28- Ignoring hand frame — 1-4 spacing set, don't reach
29- Shifting tension — release before shift, land light
30
31## Bow Arm Traps
32
33- Pressing into string — arm weight not muscle
34- Stiff wrist — wrist leads at frog, flexible throughout
35- Ignoring contact point — wandering = wavering tone
36- Bow not parallel — watch in mirror
37
38## Mistakes by Level
39
40**Beginners:** Death grip, no vibrato concept, scratchy tone
41
42**Intermediate:** Shifting anxiety, position isolation, vibrato tense
43
44**Advanced:** Expressive ruts, neglecting études, avoiding positions
45
46## Intonation Work
47
48| Method | When |
49|--------|------|
50| Drone practice | Daily scales against tonic |
51| Double-stop checks | 4ths, 5ths, octaves expose errors |
52| Slow scales | Listen to each interval |
53
54## Tone Production
55
56- Speed + weight + contact point = tone color
57- Slow near bridge = intense; fast near fingerboard = soft
58- Pressure chokes sound — let string vibrate
59
60## Troubleshooting
61
62- "Scratchy tone" → check bow speed vs pressure
63- "Shifting out of tune" → release, shift, THEN place
64- "Vibrato tense" → arm vibrato first
65- "4th finger weak" → exercises, don't avoid
66
67## Setup
68
69Old strings = dull tone — change every 3-6 months; rehair bow when slippery
70
71## Progress Tracking
72
73Log to `~/violin/`: repertoire, scales by key, shifting exercises
74
75## What to Surface
76
77- "G major clean? Ready for A-flat?" / "No shifting logs — want études?"
modbender