Viola Chapter 1: Straight bowing - Mark Pedus' Violin and Viola practice manual

CHAPTER 1: STRAIGHT BOWING EXERCISES

This chapter contains 9 progressive playlist to practice straight bowing, string changes and basic rhythms. It finishes with slurring across strings and double stopping.

The first six exercises were composed by Nicolas Laoureux. The last one was originally written by Charles de Beriot and edited by me.

Before you begin

Basics of bow hold

Exercise 1: Introduction exercises on Straight Bowing

Exercise 2: Smooth Bow Changes

Exercise 3: The Quarter note

Exercise 4: The 1/8th note

Exercise 5: The 1/8th note and complex string crossings

Exercise 6: The Legato

Exercise 7: Double Stopping

sheet music chapter 1

Before you get started!

A few little videos to help you get started before you start learning. Definitely worth watching if you are a complete beginner!

Basics of bow hold

A series of introductory exercises before you try to start bowing, explaining how to hold a bow and how to achieve straight bowing without over complicating the mechanics.

Use these exercises as a warm up for at least a few weeks!

Exercise 1: Introduction exercises on Straight Bowing

First introduction to bowing and string changes with breaks between each note. They allow you the time to double check your bow, thumb and shoulder position between each note.

The original exercise was written by N. Laoureux.

Exercise 2: Smooth Bow Changes

Similar exercise to the first, but without the rests, testing your muscle memory and relaxation. The priority remains straight relaxed bowing but pay attention to sound quality as soon as you can!

Once the straight bows are secure without breaks between the notes, concentrate on smooth bow changes.

The original Exercise was written by N. Laoureux.

Exercise 3: The Quarter note

The introduction of the Quarter note (also know as the crotchet)

Bit by bit more rhytms and bowing patterns become available. Also we are gradually speeding up the bow movement without losing control of straight bowing, relaxation and sound.

Exercise 4: The 1/8th note

As we get more comfortable with straight bowing rhythms we now introduce the 1/8th note (quaver). This is a simple introduction focusing on learning to devide one beat into two equal notes.

Exercise 5: The 1/8th note and complex string crossings

Now we start nearing the end of this chapter, we combine everything you have learned so far. All rhythms and string changes are combined to challenge your relaxation and your understanding of the rhythms

Exercise 6: The Legato

Until now, there was only ‘One bow, One note’ but that is going to change. Legato, or slurring, is the playing of several notes in one single bow. As we are still doing exclusively open string exercises, in this case it is the slurring of 2, 4 or 8 open strings per bow. Enjoy!

Exercise 7: Double Stopping

The playing of two strings at the same time is called ‘Double Stopping’. It is an essential skill for tuning your instrument by ear and for intonation work which will start in the very near future. Traditionally left for more advanced students, I believe training your hearing and intonation should come first in the development of any musician. Double stopping plays a major part in that, and after everything you have learned by now, it will probably be easily within your reach…

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