Draw the bow "caressingly" over the string starting at the frog and play the second note when yuou have arraived at the middle. If you have not practiced sufficiently to use the whole length of the bow, use a little less but move sloely with the right hand and forearm.
Divide whatever length you use into equal parts.
This is the meaning of a curved line, the slur. The notes under a curved line (a slur) are played with one movement.
Count aloud all the time. If you do not count, you will soon complain that you cannot understand time.
After playing the second measure with an up-bow, you are at the frog and to change to the A string you sipmly raise the bow hand a little.
The bow-hair must not leave the string to make the change.
The changing from one string to another is not easy, it cannot be done at once and must be practiced patiently. The note B is made an inch from the nut, and C which is only a half tone highter is found right next to B.
To play D, the fhird finger is placed about an inch from the second finger. Leave the finger on the lower notes, they will form a guide for the higher notes.
Always practive slowly, giving to eavh measure the time of at least four seconds.
When a pirce beings with the first note of a measure you use a down-bow, unless the notes is marked to be played with an up-bow.
A little v-like sign over a note signifies that an up-bow should be used.
A down-bow is followed by an up-bow unless the notes are marked differently.
On the second staff, you have three and then even four half notes to play with one movement of the bow. Here your right forearm and hand will learn to move slowly. DO not count faster. No.2 must be played all through with half bow twice as fast for half notes.
Do not cut the last note short. Wiat until you have counted four.
No. 3 is a little more difficult that No.2 because the change from one string to the other occurrs more frequently.
If you compare Nos. 2,3, and 4, you will recognize that they are the same melody only written in different time.
The last number although in 6/8 time shoud at first be played very slowly. Count aloud: 1,2,3,4,5,6.
Use half of the bow for the 8th note but you must make that up-bow twice as fast. Say 1 and 4 louder than the other counts.
The sign which occurs in the 7th measure of No. 3 is an abbreciation and signifies that the preceding measure should be played over again.
The dot on the right side of the C in the last measure augments the time value by half. Hold C for the three 8th notes, 3 counts. Consult the mirror frequently to see if you hold the violin and bow loike the illustraions in the 1st lesson. You shoul dbe able to hold the violin with the chin only. If you can do this it shows that is placed correctly.
N. B. When writing, always mention your instrument and last lesson received.
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© 2003 R. Fingerson
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