Key Points: Pieces 26 & 27

• Pieces 26 & 27 continue the theme of finding 3rd fingers accurately. This needs careful attention. Beginners often play these flat (your finger needs to be moved slightly towards you) when they appear without having played a 1st and 2nd before. These 3rds occur when playing the open A just before which many students find quite hard.

• To start do a bowhold check,  do a whole bow warm up, play fingers 0, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 0 on the D string and check your tuning.

• Listen particularly to the 3rd finger as it is more likely to be in tune because the other fingers act as a guide.

Remember:

• To get going 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'.