10 Mistakes Violinists & VIOLISTS make everyday - Fix these BAD HABITS ❌

Are you making some of these BAD habits? Watch this video to ensure you’re not wasting time or leading yourself to injury. And after becoming aware, practice enforcing the GOOD habits on Tonic: tonicmusic.app/practice-now
0:00 - Intro
0:23 - Mistake 1
1:59 - Mistake 2
2:28 - Mistake 3
3:00 - Mistake 4
3:34 - Mistake 5
4:02 - Mistake 6
4:27 - Mistake 7
5:01 - Mistake 8
5:23 - Mistake 9
6:02 - Mistake 10

[@RayChenViolinist]

Enjoying free educational content and want to learn more? Join the practice community on Tonic: tonicmusic.app/join-in to receive feedback and motivation from others! 🎵

[@lecidcampeador]

Traslate spanish please. We are rigths too

[@foxie_figure]

Wait a second one reply and 35 likes lemme fix this

[@MathMith]

I don't know if you guys realize how lucky we all are to live in a universe where one of the best soloist in the world is also a KZbinr. It's like having Mozart streaming weekly stuff like 10 best tricks to write a catchy masterpiece. This is truly the best time to start learning the violin! Thanks so much Ray, also, Tonic is awesome.

[@pradagio_]

Well said indeed!

[@isabellalucia7820]

And Mozart would SO have loved clowning about, improvising on social media!

[@ronaldmoretto4844]

I was about to write the same thing! I’m using tonic as a way to repay and support Rays lifetime hard work. 感谢陈锐

[@shantil7764]

Agree !!!!

[@antine1279]

Not just that, but the internet (if you use it well) is an enormous gift. You can learn nearly anything from anywhere, mostly for free

[@Crispy_nuggets]

Me, a non-musician : I'm gonna need this for my next life

[@RayChenViolinist]

Never too late to start now! There's quite a few adult beginner groups on Tonic. Why not live the dream and make a few friends as well?

[@Crispy_nuggets]

@@RayChenViolinist Yeah I'm thinking to learn the violin in the future. You inspired me so much!!

[@hast3033]

It's worth starting at any age, indeed Id argue adults have it easier due to their cognitive maturation coupled with the free and unlimited guides online today.

[@tarjena]

I'm not a musician either but still play the piano😄 I love the time spent at the keyboard and focusing on little details. This is a safe zone - noone gets hurt😊 Why wouldn't you start the violin?🙂

[@indignocat]

I began at age 33, paused for 10 years, and here I am at age 43 doing scales and exercising to Laoureux and Schradieck. Don't compare yourself to anyone but your past self.

[@ansonwong5850]

3:16 The greatest violinist at all time😂 15 “notes” per second

[@tygrtales6319]

I was searching for this comment😂

[@grabsmench]

6:28 "this is why I always encourage musicians to practice in front of others" *shows Ray practicing in front of a horse*

[@HugoChong1]

​@@tygrtales6319Me twoooo

[@karlwinkler66]

Including the World’s Fastest Violinist in the “eyes open” lineup cracked me up! Thanks for the valuable tips!!!

[@kittychan8900]

I love how Ray has such a coherent, organized and precise way of conveying his thoughts and advices. This is so easy to follow and a lot to learn for a video this short! Thorough efforts on Ray, the camera and also the editing work

[@clonebin0]

3:16 "the greatest violinists of our time"...shows the 15 notes/second guy haha

[@jasonyehmd]

😂

[@antonruinsmusic551]

Why am I watching this? I don't even play violin. But now I kind of want to...

[@RayChenViolinist]

Do it!!

[@yingyangmapper5399]

Gotta love these educational videos, as a beginner I really appreciate them, thanks Ray ❤

[@RayChenViolinist]

Let me know what other things you're having trouble with and would like me to create videos!

[@nafizzeybek5300]

Ray chen, can you do video about your normal day, what are you doing beside play violin or how many hours do you practice violin

[@MichaelM69]

Shaky bow arm!

[@olive2341]

Reading music notes hacks! ❤

[@jochebedcantony9299]

Playing smooth legato bowing

[@smithmusicstudies]

Smooth transition between up and down bows and bariolage tips.

[@johnknox2449]

Thanks Ray, 64 and my first lesson is this Sunday.

[@Lord-Davester]

Ray, my kids (8 & 11) love you! We saw you on your birthday when you played with the BSO. They’ve been playing violin for 4 years and these are all key techniques that they practice constantly. Even if they ‘beat’ a bad habit, it can sneak back in a year later. We’re constantly tweaking our practice to address whatever we need to. We love practicing the same phrase or song that needs work, and using that to also focus on a given technique. The repetition really helps! 🎻

[@allthethings09]

I've played violin for 24 years and I never knew about violin placement! Teachers would sometimes remind me to hold up my violin, but that was it. Knowing WHERE to place your violin is vital for streamlining your playing and preventing injury. And yeah, one of my teachers (the best one, of course) had me spend quite a bit of time dropping my right shoulder in order to play string crossings cleanly and effectively. Thanks for such nuggets of wisdom!

[@evitanewcombe8792]

Great suggestion! Thank you

[@ViolinWithKids]

Oh my gosh, this stuff is gold. Thank you Ray!!

[@sadhbhdelahunt]

Thanks so much, very helpful.

[@mehraneahmadi645]

Thank you Ray ..these series of videos that you're making are so HELPFUL 💙🙏

[@jonathanurbano1329]

So true! Been happening to me and still doing my best to rectify. Great tips! Thanks a lot!

[@vivianguo7872]

Ray, thank u so much for making tonic!

[@guillermoramirez8444]

Awesome, Awesome video!! 👏🏽Will have all these in mind in my next Tonic practice session! 😃

[@mcgrewsbrew7535]

this is an amazing video!!! Thanks Ray!

[@teresarandolph6576]

This is excellent advice. I’m going to watch it every day before I practice!

[@cansualexa]

Thank you!!

[@estherc3618]

thank you so much for these tips

[@DavidDavid-cc7bk]

Ray keep making these kind of videos they are super helpful and inspiring

[@Viola_Player]

Thank you so much for these tips! I didn’t know that I was doing these bad habits until you mentioned them! Your a life saver 🙏

[@wakingtheworld]

Excellent vid, Ray. Most helpful. Crucial to fix bad habits early on. Raised right shoulder is mine!

[@xeilentynhiazekairva]

Thank you!❤

[@chrisma3256]

Love that you featured your mom 😊 Thanks for the advice! Left shoulder and tension are something I'm often working on and falling back into bad habits when practicing lots.

[@christaherwig0404]

Thanks Ray, I'm learning more and more why you play so well💖🎻and you give so much practical advice that everyone, musicians or non-musicians, is eagerly waiting for🫶

[@idvbadchase]

Oh my thank you, good reminders for my students and myself! ❤🎉

[@antonvf9619]

so useful! many thanks

[@jiheehan3133]

Thank you so much, Ray. I am sharing this video with my students. I’ll also highly recommend Tonic to them!

[@rec2you]

Thank you!

[@jessicawhite2779]

This was great, thanks so much! I’m an orchestra teacher and will be sharing this with my students 😊❤

[@Astorid_Zero01]

Thanks Ray

[@smithmusicstudies]

I feel more confident in my teaching! I teach all these things! ❤

[@emmanuelmengot9061]

Thanks for the tips Ray. I have learned a lot from this video and I will do my best to improve on them God helping 🙏

[@paulinegrou]

I've been practicing the violin for about 20 years, and I still find that type of video super interesting ! Tried Tonic too and I love it !

[@RayChenViolinist]

Let me know which of these 10 mistakes you've made and how many hours you needed to practice to undo them!

[@RayChenViolinist]

It took me 2 to 3 years before I reduced the tension in my left shoulder :( That was really tough to unlearn

[@leyna3501]

i used to have a very extremely bad bow hold, and tend to hold my violin a bit low, which was seriously difficult to correct since i don’t have a teacher 😂 But practicing with tonic and entering an orchestra was a game changer !!!!

[@yingyangmapper5399]

too many

[@fluffyeyes4]

It took me about a year, or so, to unlearn a stressed bow hold. Funny enough, my teacher actually took a whisk and a plastic bowl and made me whisk to relax my hand. That pointed out to me how stressed I was making my hand. It also took time for me to unlearn putting my pinky (on my left hand) straight up to change it to closer to the string to prepare for it to play.

[@MishaSkripach]

@@leyna3501 Violin without a teacher???????? What's the point? There will be no result.

[@erintreasure6935]

Thanks. Tips 1 and 7 made an immediate significant difference for me

[@wolf-studio]

I started learning violin last year and this video really helps. Thanks Ray!

[@dsouther11]

I’m loving these tip videos. I’m an adult learner and have been playing violin for two years. I definitely have a bad habit of holding my violin too low, when I adjusted it to where you said, it was so much easier to keep my bow where I want it. My daughter has been learning for almost a year now on a 1/8th violin, she is also benefiting from your tips. Also, she says, if she keeps practicing and practicing she’ll get better and better and when she’s older she can play as good as you and even Hillary Hahn.

[@mevans4715]

I’m a long time violinist and I’m guilty of a few of these. I am aware of course and I’m working on fixing the problems. Thanks for the tips.

[@SnowJingxueWang]

Please please please Ray we need more educational videos!!!

[@inspirationalroseswashere..]

Concise, quick, and easy to follow. I like this video. This also makes me happy that I don’t follow a majority of these habits

[@sparklingmagnolia]

Thanks for this vid, even though I’m a cellist😅 Just downloaded Tonic though and so far I’m loving it!!

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Thanks Ray!

[@richardmorton4259]

Excellent video! I am guilty of 2 thru 10 and will work on them.

[@monikas4379]

Thanks

[@music389xd4]

Hello, I had the issue of where my left shoulder was lower than the other shoulder because of not knowing about these issues when I first learned violin and I needed to go to orthopedic once a week, so this really helps explain now about positioning violin and tension and how affects the left shoulder and can cause pain too. Thank you. That part is important! Still slightly slanted shoulders though at the moment, almost there. It is one of those, I wish I knew that sooner things.

[@johndeer4250]

first tip was a logical but never thought of thanks so much let’s hear the rest now !

[@davidcharles5220]

These days Ray keeps making videos that I really need, and it's helped me a lot, keep it up Ray.

[@Krzaku7312]

It is nice to know these things Those videos really help!!! Thx

[@rocketracoon399]

Thanks for the tips Ray ❤🎻

[@mellissadalby1402]

Thank you Ray! I am an adult learner and these tips are quite relevant to me.

[@LPnotes]

Thanks for these tips! It's been years since I've taken a violin lesson so all of this was a good reminder.

[@kimninnette]

Great content. Some of these things I need to check that I don't do. Today's practice. I am an adult learner. I started to learn Violin 18 months ago in my 50's. It's not easy but I am enjoying it. It was an instrument I always wanted to learn as a child but never had the opportunity, now as my kids have grown up, it was my time to start.

[@ReyanshGhosh]

thanks for mentions us violas in the video

[@agneslingat7448]

Thanks for the good tips Ray. I can use some of it. What’s a good tip to improve intonation?

[@cockerspaniel2344]

Incredible video - I'm still extremely impressed of your videos and duets with Karolina, hoping you will repeat playing together. Great 'job', 'Cocker Spaniel' from Germany. 👍😉🙋‍♀️

[@firewall_2485]

I’m in hs and a violinist of 6 years and this was still helpful. I might go and see about my shoulder because I have a similar problem.

[@cynthiangai513]

Thank you for such a practical video Ray! Funny videos are interesting, but videos like these are most helpful for other violinists like me. BTW all the mistakes you talked about were mentioned by my teacher! 😂 I used to twist my wrist when I was playing some difficult chords and it took me half year to erase it from my habit. It would be great if we could hear more left hand tips from you! Thank you! 🫶🏽

[@orhbo0]

This is a valuable video, thank you 😊 How about a series on bowing techniques?

[@daviddaasian9685]

Thanks professor Chen

[@Jaydenariel0920]

I’m so glad KZbin exist cause I’m working on getting a violin so I can start playing and practicing again and I’m just watching video after video so get a deeper understanding of the instrument so when I get it I won’t be diving in mindlessly and trying to figure out everything at once

[@mccafferyfamily]

This is great stuff. Love your online content ...

[@Amywithlove148]

Great sharing n useful points ❤

[@augustinechinnappanmuthria7042]

Super super super lovely tips

[@olitown_3840]

Thank you this was very helpful!! I just started learning violin and im super excited to practice and learn more about the instrument! (Im going from double bass to violin so its a little strange but still very fun)

[@elil2894]

Thank you Ray! I'm from Brazil

[@nafizzeybek5300]

Thanks for the video, it very instructive video

[@dm-jz7se]

This is a really good video. Thanks

[@ernestmulenga9791]

Great insight

[@jackmalone2718]

This video Is very helpful for my daughter thank you ray chen😊

[@jimmypaghasian6390]

I’m proud to say that I’m guilty and still practicing all of these ten mistakes. Because I don’t go to any music school or proper training. I just learned to play Violin through hearing. Thanks for these professionals who share their knowledge and skills here in You tube University.

[@sabrinai]

Best tonic ad in this video with all the mama Chen love ❤

[@JessicaMa-cu1lv]

SO helpful

[@robinshen8364]

Love this guy. Like seriously, how can you not?

[@ezekhielmatining]

ray chen never fails to fill me up with this delicious content!!

[@jnee3873]

OMG, THANKS SO MUCH, IT SAVED MY LIFE ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@-alexandra-7135]

This was really helpful! Thank you ray, I’m very happy you are on KZbin and can give us amazing informative videos and entertainment. I’ve just started learning violin as a second instrument, and these tips are really good! And the last one almost feels like an accusation XD I do it waaayy too much during piano practice 😭 Have a nic day/night 😊❤

[@vivianguo7872]

I started using tonic almost a month ago and I am practicing piano and violin so much more! Also, a fake Ray Chen joined my studio and I thought it was u. Now I am just simply furious at that imposter! Thx so much for creating tonic! Everyone on there is so nice!

[@jamesknoblock1064]

Enjoyed the subtle shout out to your teacher Aaron Rosand.

[@syenenen]

thank you ray, your videos are so helpful and interesting!! i just got my first violin today so this just came right on time!! praying that i'll stick to learning it since i tried holding the violin and the bow earlier and it already feels heavy loool

[@Im_Super]

You really helped me on my grade 6 AMEB Air Variation 1. Thank You❤

[@alexkuamoo3874]

I have done all of these. Nailed it.

[@tiffanykim710]

Wow. Good to knwo before i start to learn! I wanted to start learning! Im 15, its not too late?! Thank you!

[@DiegoCristiC]

thaaank you 😁

[@sabrinai]

What value there is in this video!

[@prilinlinduarte3067]

Foe more videos like this🎉🎉 Thanks ray❤

[@hunterblakely87]

You, sir, are an excellent business man

[@chrisma3256]

I really love the Tonic idea and found me lovely friends there. I just can't use it on my android these weeks. Currently I get the Bach challenge pop up and the Restart for an update pop every time I open it. I could probably start the app by going offline completely (worked on my kid's phone when she had the issue on another android phone a while ago) but since most pages didn't even load before I lack motivation to waste time. My kid has stopped using it altogether and ceased to be upset for crashing studios. Some Tonic friends stopped using it, too. As lovely as it is to offer it for free it's sad when it doesn't work even enough to join a studio to listen.

[@craftingafterdark]

What a sweet and silly shout-out to your mom! Love it ❤

[@felipedevis3768]

Muito bom Ray

[@OriannaCheah]

Hi Ray, greetings from Singapore 🇸🇬 😊 Thanks learn a lot from this 😅❤

[@vincentstone7272]

Insanely high quality video!

[@ShulmiyatsViolin]

Thanks you! Greetings from England! I am playing violin since 6 years old:)

[@MD-zm6sn]

Might be just because I'm from the deep south but the concept of someone with your qualifications and capabilities doing an analysis of the Devil Went Down to Georgia or learning it like you did with the Polyphia song is really interesting to me haha. There's a giant population of people still around that hold that song in quite high regard and it would catch a nice bit of interest.

[@akacopernicus5320]

Ray thank you for this, I have problem where I bend over when I play on the E and A string and I rarely ever notice it but my teacher always points it out. Do you have any tips to stop myself from doing this?