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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Musical devices-pros and cons

58 replies

Worriedandlost · 19/05/2015 19:27

Friend of mine was using this device with her dc
www.amazon.co.uk/Buddies-Violin-Viola-Bright-BHBBB/dp/B002QAWNDE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1432058980&sr=8-3&keywords=bow+buddy
When I asked about it my dd's violin teacher she was very adamant that dd should not use anything of that kind.

Last week I finally gave up and bought it. As well as this one which arrived today
www.amazon.co.uk/Bowzo-Violin-Straight-Bow-Practice-x/dp/B00DBWZ7O8/ref=pd_sim_ce_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0E53TV0VQ2PZ3RAQKCCN

And after a practice with a straight bow thing, I am sitting and thinking now-why I wasted all this time and did not buy something like that in a first place? She still needs to learn to play properly without using all these devices but at least we can avoid constant nagging and my frustration.

Did anyone use things like that? What is your opinion and experience?

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MightHaveDoneBetter · 03/06/2015 17:51

I've always thought of those little props like the Bowzone or the bowbuddy as 'reference points' - sort of like using a map when you are in the car or maybe using a compass. How are you supposed to know where you are (kinesthetically speaking) if you don't have some way of making an estimate?

On the other hand - I would worry about those specific toys because (when your child is using them) the body will try (consciously or not) to adjust to those toys which can create unnatural tensions - especially with the bowzone. Furthermore, a child can become unnecessarily reliant on those little 'reference points' thereby falling into sloppy habits.

(Incidentally, a well known RNCM violin teacher uses a metal type gadget similar to the bowzone .. but again - it can mess up the shoulder/collarbone/shoulder blade alignment)

If one of my students really liked one of those toys, I would say fine - but you use it for 3 minutes (or whatever) of your practising and then do the equivalent time without. Novelty can be a wonderful thing when it comes to practising.

as for THOSE specific gadgets, it might even be better to do the matches stuck into blue tack - either side of the strings to create a 'pathway' (an errant bow will knock one or both matches over) .. and for bowbuddy, a corn plaster strategically placed on the heel of the bow (for the thumb) along with more blue tack on the stick (as a reference for the index finger & one for the pinky too - or another corn plaster) Much less expensive, much more transient and while not as 'gadget-y' does essentially the same sort of trick - in providing reference points.

Lastly, I'm not sure that it's helpful for teachers to make ultimatums. Discussions (during the paid for lesson time) might be more helpful and maybe more respectful of the child too ...... everybody (parent and teacher included) can learn something new....

Worriedandlost · 03/06/2015 19:06

howabout sorry, I was probably overreacting too.
I see your point and agree with you.
However, if anything, teacher is not rushing through the grades but slowing dd down. According to her she does not like when children rush through the grades, and I see why now, though I did not like it at first. She also says that she would not send a child to exam if she is not confident that child gets a distinction.
They play plenty of pieces, using 3-4 books simultaneously (Fiddle time series, Suzuki, etc). They play all exam pieces, all 9, so I guess once they used all the material she usually uses they just move to the next step? I don't know, I try not to interfere.
And really, in time terms, it was not rushing through the grades, it is almost three years dd was doing violin (a bit less), so one grade per year on average is ok for her age but not outstanding.

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Worriedandlost · 03/06/2015 19:07

MightHaveDoneBetter thank you Flowers
It is plenty of advice here, I will read it more carefully later.

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BettertoChange · 03/06/2015 19:36

I bought DS a similar device two years ago and the teacher was happy about it. It turned out not working very well if playing to 5th position as you need to move the bow close the bridge.

MightHaveDoneBetter,s " matches stuck into blue tack " is good way to overcome the problems. You should patent it!

Worriedandlost · 04/06/2015 10:32

BettertoChange, some actual experience here, thank you!
I really hope we will not use it for too long, at the end of they day she was already playing for few years and She just needs to get rid of some bad habits. We had an interesting episode on the last lesson - dd showed her bow hold to me, very proudly, it was like-look mum, I hold the bow correctly! it was so funny. I did not really check if it was correct or not but I was pleased that she cared :)

I must confess though, that I am a bit disappointed with the thing that straightens the bow, the whole idea is not to touch it when playing, but when touched sound does not change too much, therefore child just stops making effort and becomes even more careless.

But still very pleased with the bow buddy :)

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Worriedandlost · 04/06/2015 10:35

Btw, does anyone has advice how to stop her putting the neck of the violin into her left hand palm? She is holding it ok at home, with me reminding it every minute, but on a lesson :(

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MightHaveDoneBetter · 04/06/2015 12:00

dear W&L.....you are a really dedicated parent.

re left hand palm & neck of violin issue.... take a paper clip, fold it out so that one half is at a right angle to the other (you have a 90 degree bend). Tape one part to the neck of the violin with the other bit hanging down... then the child cannot put the palm to the neck because of the obstruction caused by the bit of the paperclip that hangs down.

Worriedandlost · 04/06/2015 14:16

MightHaveDoneBetter wow! Thank you! You are indeed Might Have Done Better! :)

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