Focus on GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT

 

• Do a bowhold check - revisit lesson 8 if you need to.

• Do a whole bow warm up.

• Play fingers 0, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 0 on the D string and check your tuning. Check this with my playing in the video (about 4.15 in the video).

• Pluck through each piece once or twice.

• Then try with the bow the Student's Track until you feel confident to move on to the duets.

• Go from plucking to bowing and back to plucking until you are confidently bowing each piece.

• Don't be in any rush to 'get it right straight away' - being patient will pay off in the long run.

• Go over previous videos if you think something's not right.

• Most 'horrible' sounds occur because of a tense right hand causing the bow to 'tremble,' 'bounce' or be 'scratchy'.