Group 2

Derek Great first attempt!  Like most of us, including me, it is difficult at first to slow down and get the relaxation between each stroke.  I would also suggest in the first two exercises to make sure you are playing legato (no Staccato in those.)  Otherwise, your strokes are nice and even with good tone.  You are on the right track!

Martin Thank you very much Martin. I've had a couple of lessons recently as I knew I had lapsed into some bad habits and my teacher (he studied with Craig Ogden) suggested that my hand was too low. Since then I have been diligently trying to hold it in a higher position as you have just advised but I think (maybe after not playing for a week or so) I have started to lapse again. Funnily on the workshop with David Leisner he told me my hand was too high! 

I must admit I didn't watch your video before recording my video (big mistake!) so I just went at what I thought was a slow pace. I have watched your video now and I also did the Stephanie Jones course a while back and also watched the Scott Tennant video - think I may buy his version of the score!

Got another lesson tomorrow but it's about a 2 hour trip to get there and then 2 to get back so won't have chance to post a further update until Saturday.

Thanks for your great - and welcome - advice.

Derek

Martin I found this video helpful as well. It has never occurred to me, but I like the idea of the exercises being meditative! 

Derek good job on your first submission Derek. I watched Martin's video reply to you, so I don't want to burden you with too much more, but I do want to mention that in videos 1 and 3 it looks like your thumb stroke ends up landing on your i finger. You may want to try adjusting your hand position so that your thumb is more "out in front" of your fingers. Cheers! 

Steve Pederson Thanks Steve

Steve Pederson I have the same issue and it is really weird that it only happens when you slow down. But when you speed up, you never notices it. I'm curious what other thinks. Nice PJs! I once forgot to put on pants when trying to video myself practicing haha. 

Martin Thanks so much Martin. That's crazy that some folks have similar length fingers! Glad I'm not the only mortal in the house.  This is helpful to hear you talk through it - especially reiterating the part about the natural way the entire hand closes and opens. I will try that "moment of touch" you suggest, yet try not to make it staccato. Touch, play, relax. 

One thing that occurred to me is, since the middle finger is a bit longer, it may have a tiny bit heavier sound, which can actually work to our benefit. In programming drums, the down beat (kick drum) is always the most pronounced, the second beat (high hat), which in this case would be represented by the a finger, is much lighter, the third beat a bit heavier (snare drum) - but not as pronounced as the first - and then the fourth beat lighter. It gives the drum track a more realistic human feel. Obviously you wouldn't want to make the m finger much louder than the rest, but a very subtle yet slightly heavier emphasis could give it a more interesting rather than mechanical flow. 

Martin Thanks! I do start to feel it when I play it slow. This is such an interesting exercise for me as I always felt tension especially at the joint between the A finger and pinky. Think will benefit me overall not just tremolo.  Anyway my target is always to learn a tremolo piece end of the year so Im going to take it as slow as I can. 

don This is coming along great Don! From this perspective it looks like your fingers are taking rather large leaps, though - almost exaggerated leaps sort of flaring out - instead of smaller more "efficient" strokes. What really impresses me about this, though, is that you don't seem to miss a note of your tremolo. It's very even and beautiful sounding.

Steve Pederson yes I did intentionally exaggerate the movement, I was experimenting with the idea of over-compensating my movement,  hoping over time, it will naturally relax more easily. 

I also did the exercise 5 from Stephanie Jone's 8 step to tremolo course on tonebase. And I'll also just play open b string with AMI variating between E to D and accentuate a finger one cycle, m finger one cycle, and i finger one cycle with the thumb playing as softly as possible. Using a metronome, quarter beat first, then 8th then 16th. Think that really helps with the consistent and even tone. 

All in all, I've been spending maybe 10-15 mins daily doing this for about a month which is surprisingly very little provided you don;t fall asleep doing them