Do you record your children's violin practice to help correct mistakes?

[xing]

In a school masterclass, the visiting pianist recommended parents to record their children's practice and re-play to correct mistakes. I used iPhone to record DS's piano playing and it worked. But the record qualify of his violin practice is not as good, DS said it exaggerated his mistakes. Is DS's claim true? What app/device do you use to record violin playing?

Unless you have good quality recording equipment and a room with decent equipment, even good players are pretty much guaranteed to sound crap on a recording.

What standard is your DS? I think for anyone much below grade 7/8 or above and very self-motivated, that would just depress them so much it would do more harm than good.

I'd be working more on fostering good practise techniques, like isolating individual passages that need work and looking at them systematically, rather than playing a whole piece through over and over again, and working on individual aspects of technique in isolation (bowing technique on open strings vs left hand technique with simple detache bowing). And a good mix between the dull stuff (scales, technical exercises) and the fun stuff (pieces), coupled with encouraging him to play with others (orchestra, quartets, whatever), because it's the social aspects of music that will encourage him to practice off his own bat.

Gosh, I am visualising the meltdown that would ensue if I did this for ds...

Yes, I would support LA's reply.

I played drums for forty years, and our groups were sometimes recorded in a domestic setting, and also on 'gigs', and it is VERY difficult to get a good recorded sound. And, yes, domestic recordings do seem to emphasize the weaknesses!

If you DO have access to a proper recording machine, the best way to record might be using a contact-mic attached to the violin, rather than recording the sound within the room; rather like an electric guitar might be recorded.

iPad quality is fine for analysing notes, rhythm, intonation. Not great for closely examining tone production on violin but if you video can check posture and technique. Quality is fine for exam board assessments like music medals so unless student is advanced it is good enough to use as a tool, occasionally.

It's also a good incentive if you can publish or share a good performance, maybe email to friend or relative. Or the teacher ;-)

I record occasionally so I have a record of DCs progress, which is lovely for us all to look back on. The iPad seems fine for that. Have never thought to use it as a tool. One of DS's instrumental teachers sends me recordings when he has played particularly well in lessons, which I really appreciate (and it's good to know he plays better in lessons than at home!).

Thanks everyone for the advise. It is good to know that iPad may work better, will try it tonight.