• Home
  • About Vi
    • Bio
      • Short Bio
      • Full Bio
    • Resume
    • Testimonials
    • Fiddle Lessons
    • Workshops
  • Projects
    • Fritto Misto
    • The Band
    • Fiddle Whamdiddle
    • String Theory Project
    • New Tune Challenge
  • Blog
    • Fiddle Tune a Day
    • Quick Tip of The Week
    • Videos
    • Workshops
  • Shop
    • Albums
    • Singles
    • Digital Downloads
      • Armadillo On a Hot Tin Roof
      • Fiddle Tune a Day
      • I’d Love to Live in Loveland – Digital Download
      • Long Time Comin’
      • Old School Old Time
      • Someone Like You
      • ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
    • Tickets
    • Violins
  • Calendar
  • Contact
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Twitter

Vi Wickam

Champion Fiddler, Inspired Performer

You are here: Home / Videos / Quick Tips / Do I Have to Practice My Scales AGAIN? – Quick Tip

October 25, 2018

Do I Have to Practice My Scales AGAIN? – Quick Tip

Find more Quick Tips and lessons by Vi Wickam and other teachers at https://www.myTalentForge.com.

Hi, I’m Vi Wickam. And this is a [my] Talent Forge Quick Tip of the Week!

Now, it’s more of a question than it is a Quick Tip because the question is: What is all that technique practice good for?

Why do I spend hours practicing scales, arpeggios, and different etudes and things like that? What is the point?!

Well, I’ve got an answer for you, but I’d like to hear what your answers are about this too, because I think this is a discussion- this is an important question.

Why do we practice the technique? Why is it that whether it’s classical music, or Indian music- there’s a whole set of routines of becoming technically proficient that are set in place as the first step.

I’m not saying that that’s right or wrong, that is just one of the ways you can do this.

So my belief and my understanding of this, is that there is a certain level of technical proficiency that is required for this tool- whether it’s a violin, or a piano, or a viola, or a cello, or a saxophone- becomes a useful means of expression.

We learn to listen and to speak with our mouths, from a very young age.

We learn to read a little later, and then we learn to read out loud, and we learn to memorize speeches and things like that.

But on the violin, or whatever instrument you play, developing that proficiency is not an end unto itself. Developing that proficiency is a means to becoming proficient as a communicator.

Because you have to have a certain level of technical proficiency to be able to express your ideas that are going on in your head and your heart through your instrument.

So, the more adept you are technically- if you have something to say- the better you’ll be able to say it.

But if you don’t have anything to say, it doesn’t matter how technically proficient you are. If you don’t listen, it doesn’t matter how technically proficient you are, because you aren’t having a conversation.

So don’t forget that this is a means to an end, and not an end unto itself. Technique is certainly useful.

Absolutely important!

But technique without something to say, and without listening, is like a clanging cymbal, or an empty gong.

And that’s your Quick Tip for this week. Have a great one!

Article by Vi Wickam / Quick Tips / foundation, Free, free music lesson, quick practice tip, quick tip, scales, technique, the basics, vi wickam, what is technique good for Leave a Comment

online fiddle lessons

Featured Products

  • Old School Old Time Book - Fiddle Whamdiddle Old School Old Time - Bonus Combo $86.90 $54.95
  • Old School Old Time - Digital Download $12.00
  • Vi "The Fiddler" Wickam CD - Long Time Comin' Long Time Comin' - CD/Digital Download COMBO $27.00 $20.00
  • Old School Old Time Book - Fiddle Whamdiddle Old School Old Time - eBook $24.95
  • Vi "The Fiddler" Wickam CD - Long Time Comin' Long Time Comin' - Digital Download $12.00

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Swinging at the Savoy

Get Swinging at the Savoy NOW.

Cart

Keep Up with Vi

    (Fiddle Tune a Day and Quick Tip Subscribers will also get periodic blog updates)
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Colorado Music (28)
  • Fiddling (676)
    • Contests (13)
    • Fiddle Tune a Day (367)
    • Free Fiddle Lessons (15)
    • Musician's Round Table (8)
    • New Tune Challenge (21)
    • Workshops (52)
  • Music (144)
  • Musings (13)
  • Videos (609)
    • eGreetings (4)
    • Quick Tips (124)

Popular Posts

  • Fiddle Tune a Day
  • The Difference between a Violin and a Fiddle
  • How to Put on a Fiddle Contest Successfully
  • Play any Song You’ve Ever Heard
  • Binaural Beats Music Technology of the Future
  • Home
  • About Vi
  • Projects
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Vi "The Fiddler" Wickam | Genesis Website by Wickam Group, LLC