Hi Matthew!

Please see the notes below from this weeks lesson. Happy practicing and great work!

Sharps – Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Bow exercises

Finger taps

  • keep working on your finger taps.
  • try to get 5 taps in a row of each pattern at a faster speed

Open strings – slurred string crossings

  • C string – frog stays close tot eh body and the tip points away
  • starting down bow. 2 beats on first string, 2 beats on second string, 4 beats on the string you land on for the up bow
  • use the whole bow, make string changes/crossings smooth
  • no breaks from one bow – keep the sound continuous
  • keep all fingers on the bow
  • remember to drop the elbow at the frog
  • Down bow = pull bow
  • Up bow = push bow

D major  + G major + C major

  • find the pitch before starting: check the fourth finger with the string below it
  • practice with drone
  • add the bow to the scales.
  • one note per bow. whole bow per note: from the tip to the frog and back :)
  • keep a good bow angle
  • sink into the string with left arm. don’t squeeze with the finger
  • try not to slant the fingers on the A string.
  • Keep the thumb under the secon finger, think of making a C shape with the hand, very rounded
  • use the open strings to anticipate the next note. prepare with the left arm.

Twinkle plucked

  • release left hand fingers from the string straight up in the air, not slanted. Don’t lift them too high or you will lose the sense of where the pitch is.
  • use the whole arm to sink into the string, not individual hands and fingers

Tucka tucka stop stop

  • make sure push and pull sounds are the same
  • start in the middle of the bow. 4 fast notes, and two slower notes.
  • half way between the bridge and the end of the fingerboard
  • practice bowing pattern on open A and D strings first
  • add to twinkle. Every note gets 1x the bowing pattern
  • remember to get the bow arm UP and elbow UP for the A string (but the pinky down)
  • practice in front of a mirror so you can see what the bow is doing

French Folk Song

  • practice checking D and G (fourth finger with the open string). Stop on the 4th finger and pluck the string below it to check intonation
  • Make sure we are moving the hand as a unit. Use the ARM to adjust the angle, not the hand.
  • Raise the fingers straight into the air. Try not to lift them sideways.