Violin Practice and Performance
General
Real Life Practice Guru: Kyklos with Dr K
My fabulous colleague and friend Nora Karakousoglou has created a Patreon site to help any string player become the best practicers they can be.
Introduction
In this section you will find links and tools to assist you during your practice time and in performing.
The practice tools are grouped in the following sections:
* Warm-up exercises
* Scales and scale practice
* Tips related to the fingerboard
* Shifting
* Bowing
* Charts that have to do with these topics
Books
Playing with Others; Performing
Playing Chamber Music
ACMP – Associated Chamber Music Players – is a non-profit organization that facilitates the playing of chamber music for pleasure by people of all ages and nationalities, from beginners to professionals.
Warm-Up
Scale Practice
ScalesAce - Online Practice Tool for Scales
ScalesAce is designed to complement the many resources already available to violin students preparing for their ABRSM practical exams. It provides a useful reference to help confirm fingerings, finger spacings and tuning whilst students are practising on their own.
Printable Scales and Arpeggios
This websites offers PDF files for 1-, 2- and 3-octave scales in different keys. The PDF file contains the scale (with indication for shifting), arpeggios, and broken thirds.
Getting to Know the Fingerboard
String Class Fingerboard Geography
An Intonation, Note-Reading, Theory & Shifting System by Barbara Barber.
I highly recommend getting this book.
Fingerboard Workbook Series
These workbooks are developed by Diane Allen, an expert contributor on Violin Lab.
They are excellent for learning fingerboard geography. And they are designed to help not only beginning players, but any violinist learn where the notes are (all of them in any position!) on the violin.
They are excellent for learning fingerboard geography. And they are designed to help not only beginning players, but any violinist learn where the notes are (all of them in any position!) on the violin.
Shifting Practice
Shifting Exercise |
This is my favorite shifting study to exercise the movements needed for large shifts into high positions.
Bowing
Twinkle String Crossing |
These exercises will keep you busy with string crossings..and will help build rhythmic prowess as well!
Sautillé Exercises |
This is an exercise I made to gently go from repeated note sautillé to single note sautillé.
Principles of Bow Direction |
In this handout, I've outlined most of the conventions violinists adhere to when marking bowings on their music.
Bow Stroke Demonstrations
A comprehensive list and video demonstration of all our many bow strokes.
Charts to assist you in your violin practice
Fingerboard Chart Vertical Orientation |
Shaded notes D, A, E, B show the pitch where the next higher string begins and indicates the end of first position.
Fingerboard Chart with Tapes |
This chart shows all the pitches as well as the position of your tapes. This might make the overview of the fingerboard more comprehendible for those of you who use tapes.
Fingering Chart for All Keys |
This video is a demo on how to use this chart.
Interval Chart as it relates to the Violin Fingerboard |
This is a beautifully designed chart by Elke to follow along with the video on Kinesthetic Intonation. Be sure to print on card stock and use the sliding pitch line for maximum benefit.
Note Names on the Fingerboard: G string |
Stephen Neff designed the following charts to help memorize the note names for each string. Print, laminate and study!