Rating  - Out of the Box!
This book is "out of the box" excellent! I am not a pro, I do not own a Viper. I have a normal violin with an acoustic sound pickup. I learned classical violin through high school, now as a much older adult I am picking back up the instrument, and playing from books of music, especially old time fiddling. But I needed this book to break me out of the read and play the notes only mode! I am enjoying more improv. and have even taken on the task of learning music theory so I can better understand keys and chords. I am trying to beef up the old time fiddler tunes once in a while too!
The practice exercises in this book are exactly what I needed, it helps me limber up the fingers and bow, and teaches the scales in a new way for me, one that leads to understanding of the chords and how to play them. He introduces a fingering scheme that is atypical to me, and helps tremendeously in understanding the improvisation techniques. The practice exercises he provides can be used for all keys and chords.
The CD that comes with the book blew my mind, his playing ability is fantastic, the sounds coming from the violin are unique and powerful, but the amazing thing is I can play some of his stuff already and once in awhile even sound like Mark Wood (OK, I at least hit the right notes). I think the vast majority of the book contains practice techniques, and then illustrations of them in some songs, but if you follow the practice plan the skills start to develop quickly. Great book to break out of the boring old stuff!
Now I want an electric 5 string violin!! I highly recommend this book if you want to learn some things out of the box of traditional methods.
Rating - Mark Wood changes the string world....again!!!
My Viper is the most amazing axe I've ever experienced. When I first heard Voodoo Violince so long ago, I never dreamed that someday I would hold the ULTIMATE INSTRUMENT in my hands. Let alone that I would get to share the stage with Mark Wood himself. And to top it all off, now I get to study every jaw-dropping technique and blistering lick whenever I want with the Electrify Your Strings book. I'm a pro violinist and have been improvising for well over ten years now, but Mark's method is taking me to a whole new level. I cannot get enough! With all due respect to my classical training, I wish I could put a copy into the hands of every kid who's slaving over his music stand regurgitating the same tired old scales and etudes and begging for sweet, sweet death. God bless Mark Wood and everyone in the Wood Violins Family! Rock On!!!
Rating - "THIS BOOK SPEAKS TO ME!"
This was emailed directly to Mark Wood from a new Viper owner named Amy, who purchased "Electrify Your Strings" to help her get started!
"Got my Viper strapped on and was working on Exercise 3 (arpeggios) of Mark's method book and I had to write and tell you how much I LOVE it. I read all the text first, then came upstairs to my private room to practice the notes. This is exactly what I've been needing! I have a bunch of method books by various people trying to teach improvisation (or jazz and blues styles) but I lost interest immediately after trying them the first times. So I basically gave up entirely and went back to notes (it's been a year now). Which I hate, because being a read-notes-only type totally cripples me in the rock and blues world. This book of his speaks to me in a way I understand, somehow. I can't really explain it. I've already learned enough in the first three exercises to try out some new things tomorrow night at band rehearsal. It hasn't even been an hour! With his explanation of the octave hand position with root notes and pentatonics, this alone gives me tons of ammunition with which to fire a little something away on my own in any song we rehearse. None of the other books explained that to me. So in short, after just a couple of Mark's pages, I'M FINALLY GETTING THIS!!! Something has clicked in my mind (and therefore my hands!). A totally awesome, inspiring beginning for me.
Please tell Mark how pleased I am. I wish you could see how excited I am, here with my beloved Viper strapped on, tapping away hurriedly on the keyboard so I can get back to practicing with this book.
My Viper goes with me to work every day and I show all of my clients. Everybody's jaws just drop open when they see it. "THAT'S a violin?!" they all gasp. It's so cool. I feel like a rock star!
Peace & Love and all nice things to you!
Amy"
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Customer Reviews for CHERRY LANE MUSIC COMP,1575607433,9781575607436,1575607433,781 |
