Key Points: Pieces 56 & 57

 

• Piece 56 is actually a bass part which has been raised a couple of octaves to make it possible for a violinist to play it. Bear this fact in mind as you provide a bass accompaniment for the soloist in the duet.

• Piece 57 has an awkward rhythm which requires careful bow management. Check out the section where I perform the beginning so that you can see how the bowing works.

• The most awkward bits in Piece 56 are the quaver pairs followed by a dotted minim because they are quite quick. Practise them all separately until you are confident before the whole piece through.

• Think about the dynamics in Piece 57. When you are playing loudly ease the bow downwards with a very small amount pressure with the your index finger to increase the volume.

Remember:

• As always start by doing a bowhold check, do a whole bow warm up, playing the scale of D major and G major. This is so easy to do and really helps you check your tuning.

• 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'.