Particularly pupils who have not much time for practice should rather ask for more time than to merely play the lessons "almost right,".

You must be particular about producing a good tone and using a down-bow and an up-bow as appropriate.

When the work "grows over your head" notify us.

The Italian words at the left of the piece or at other places, refer to the speed with which a piece should be played and also to expression.

Andante - means slow -- at a walk. Allegretto - a little lively but not as fast as Allegro. They have, so to speak, no technical meaning.

Use your own judgement according to the character of the music.

Count aloud always before beginning to play.

Read the title and remember how the piece sounds. If possible ask some one else to play it for you.

Always look at what you are going to play for a few minutes and try to "hear" how it will hae to sound.

You must not yet try to play very loud and particularly not try to do so by drawing the bow harshly over the strings.

For the first selection you must count 1 & 2 & 3 &, Begin on three with an up-bow at the point and use half of the bow for two eighth notes.

take you time to get into the correct position. You will notice that you have continually two notes to play with one stroke of the bow with a few occasional half notes which get the same length of the bow. The movement of the right hand will therefore be the same all the time. Watch it.

Change smoothly from one string to another.

Count the same for Tyrolienne. Begin after having said 2. You have to play three eighth notes with half of the bow. The right hand and forearm must move slower. Pay attention to the dotted notes. You know that a dot over or under a note takes away half of its time, but it is played with the same length of the bow while the right hand moves faster. Keep your elbow near the body. The chords at the end of the Tyrolienne (several notes on one stem) are played with a swift movement of the bow over the four strings, beginning at the frog.

The bow must of course be taken off the strings and while counting you prepare yourself for the second one. Keep one count for the last rest and play a piece always twice for entertainment.

The last selection is in 6/8 time. COunt: 1,2,3,4,5,6, speaking 1 and 4 louder The brackets indicate a down-bow. The number ends with easy double notes, B and G. Learn to play both notes at the same time.

Lay the bow-hair carefully on both strings and devote the necessary time to play two notes smoothly.

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© 2003 R. Fingerson
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