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Standard Violin Work Routine
(A list of technical details for
both lessons and practice)
- Bow hold:
We use the “upside down” bow hold checking middle finger placing, little
finger placing near the eye in the frog, and a round thumb with correct
contact on the stick between leather and frog.
- Tonus:
The art of drawing a good sound. Open strings with plenty of bass and body.
Heel to tip with an even healthy sound. Appropriate point of contact (usually
half way between bridge and fingerboard) – keep the spot focussed for a more
coherent and consistent sound. Keep the bow speed constant.
- Scales:
Learning finger patterns and playing scales with different rhythm and bowing
patterns. Playing by heart. Separate attention to top octaves. Slow practice
of Auxiliary notes and slow, smooth shifts.
- Studies:
by Sándor, Wohlfahrt, Mazas or others. The backbone of violin technique. 90%
of all technical proficiency and solidity in both hands is gained through the
étude repertoire. Complete fusion of technical and musical elements. Studies
develop bowing and tone to a high degree. Example: Détaché studies or legato
studies for the optimisation of bowing technique in string crossing.
- Passage work:
Whether you are studying an Encore piece or a
Concertino/Concerto you should go through the hardest passages and phrases
[marked out in square brackets] at different speeds and volumes. Left hand
finger work mechanism; precision and economy of movement. General fluency of
passages leading to playing of passages by heart.
- Repertoire:
Pieces played with fluency and with musical shape. Work on nuance and phrasing
and application of tone colours. Building up of stamina and preparation of
pieces for exams, auditions or concerts in their entirety possibly with
accompaniment.
Common
Technical problems that often need attention:
- Stance:
Tidy line up (position each foot under each corresponding
shoulder) / balanced stance leaning equally on the right and left foot /
“Chocolate” button touching neck / Violin horizontal / 45 degree angle of
scroll half way between from your front and your side / Head looking at scroll
not tilted.
- Left Hand:
Pay attention to the wrist gap / gap between neck and base
of thumb / relaxed thumb / rounded (actually more like a square) shaped
fingers / thumb opposite 1st finger / accuracy of finger patterns
and intonation / stick to the correct fingering.
- Right Hand:
The thumb must be rounded or bent at all times / Elbow at the right string
level (not too high nor low) / Bent little finger especially at heel / Using
all the bow from heel to tip / Point of contact / Use the correct bowing i.e.
Up / Down bows and correct slurs.
Practice tips
at home:
- Method.
Follow this chart with diligence and method for good results. By all means
enjoy playing your pieces, and try a balanced mix of old and new.
- Stages.
Remember that to master one level depends on completely mastering the previous
level. For instance you cannot master a passage at metronome mark of 120 if
you cannot play it at 100. Likewise you cannot play piece number 32 (the last
one in the book) if you cannot play piece 22 yet.
- Reward.
Consistency and regularity yield the best results. Practice more often rather
than for longer periods. Vary you practice material and methods to avoid
monotony.
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