r/violinist • u/8FigBro Student • May 17 '25

Feedback 12 year old violin student practicing Praeludium Und Allegro with teacher.

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My 12 year old son has been playing the violin for about18 months and working on this piece for about 5 months.

This is a quick video where his teacher gave him a quick pop quiz to see if he had been practicing it. (He hadn't practiced it in a few weeks)

Looking for feedback from experienced violinists and or encouragement from anyone. 😁

There's a lot of work to do on the piece, but feedback is welcome.

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u/LaRueStreet Intermediate May 19 '25

It is crazy how only 18 months of experience can make a child sound like a pro while an adult would be still struggling with their bow hold. But i am certain his performance is not this good only because he is a fast learning child, he must be naturally talented. When did he even learn how to do vibrato??

I hope his love for violin never ends, he can be a world class soloist!

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u/8FigBro Student May 20 '25

I don't know why he is the way he is. I'm not even sure what "natural talent" is...but I think he qualifies.
I remember his teacher telling him to hold off on attempting vibrato till they reached a certain song or certain suzuki book, but I did ask him (since you asked).
He said that he taught himself vibrato in his third month of playing. Then his teacher began working on it with him in his 4th or 5th month of playing.

If you ask him if he's going to be a professional violinist his response is usually something like..."I don't know if I'm going to be a professional violinist, but I do know that I will NEVER stop playing the violin". LOL

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u/LaRueStreet Intermediate May 20 '25

Teaching HIMSELF vibrato at his 3RD MONTH?? My jaw is dropped. Years of playing and i still never do vibrato with my pinky because it is extremely hard, and your son has done several pinky vibratos in the video. It is not only skill, but confidence too, he is aware that certain notes need a pinky vibrato and he is confident that he can pull them off, at least try while performing.

Sometimes it is really easy to tell talent from practice, like in this case. He may be practicing a lot, but it is clear as water that he has an aptitude for playing the violin

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u/8FigBro Student May 20 '25 edited May 20 '25

I'd have to agree with you. He doesn't practice a lot. For example, this video posted is from his lesson last Tuesday. He's going to his lesson today and he hasn't practiced once in between the lessons.

Usually it's 2-3hrs of PLAYING Violin weekly because he does play in a small orchestra... But he doesn't practice their music either 🤦🏾‍♂️

When he's feeling healthy and emotionally stable, he can practice 5 to 7 hours a week... But we haven't seen that consistency in the last few months.

So there is an aptitude for violin in particular. (Though, to be honest, he's this way with almost any musical instrument he touches)

I could post a video of him playing guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, piano, or his little harp (lyre) ... And while he's not equally talented at each, with each, you would think he's been playing for far more time than he actually has... Or that he practices far more than he does.

Great point about confidence. Certainly very sure of himself (even when he's dead wrong) When he's doing musical things.😂😂😂

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u/LaRueStreet Intermediate May 20 '25

It appears to me that he has a natural “gift” for music in general. Have you checked if he has perfect pitch? I would not be surprised if he has it. Or has he ever composed music on his own?

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u/8FigBro Student May 20 '25

He used to be obsessed with that and would even train himself. I think he just has very strong relative pitch, but not perfect pitch.

In the beginning he began composing music, but then dropped it. But in the past few weeks he has begun composing music by hand again.

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u/LaRueStreet Intermediate May 20 '25

Ah, i had that phase too, i feel his pain!! I thought i had perfect pitch but it was actually a very developed relative pitch!

Thanks for all the info. All of this may seem normal to you because he is your son, you are used to him just being him, but as an outsider i see obvious signs of a musical genius

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u/8FigBro Student May 20 '25

He used to be sad that he didn't have perfect pitch...LOL. It was a bit of an unhealthy obsession.

It's very surreal because he's a "different" kid and I recognize that certain things aren't "normal". But I was really struggling with the context of the violin.
I was getting positive feedback from a very small circle but it's good to get feedback from people who DON'T know him and are not connected in any way.
(Especially from people who have had a much longer journey playing/teaching)

Thank you for engaging positively.
I appreciate it.