Too often we don’t start something because we don’t know where to start. When my violin students are having trouble practicing as frequently as they should, I ask them, “What is the most difficult part of practicing?” They give answers such as, “My bow hold,” “Finding the right notes,” “Keeping my bow straight.” When they’re done, I silently walk to my violin case and take out my violin and bow. I put on my shoulder rest, tighten and rosin the bow, and then walk back to them. “That is the hardest part of practicing.” As silly as it sounds, once the violin is out of the case and in our hands,
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