"Spring Arpeggios" Practice

July 19, 2006 at 1:28 AM

Sounds horrible! But it's a start. Help! Any tips?

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 19, 2006 at 5:39 AM

When it's slow it's a thrown spicatto and when it's fast it's a bouncing bow spicatto, and you're doing that. If the first figure is a half followed by 8ths I'd practice everything in the recording with a metronome set to quarter notes, and also work on making the dynamics equal throughout, including the entire long bows. In the slow parts the first spicatto notes sound different like you're trying to use up bow, so make sure you start it where you want to play the others. It's nice and even at the very end of the recording - no problem with the supposedly hard part:) Metronome and even dynamics.

From William Yap
Posted on July 19, 2006 at 6:00 AM

Metronone and even dynamics... got it. Thanks.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 19, 2006 at 6:09 AM

And from subsequent listening, with me guessing at the bowing, if you use less bow for the long notes it will fix both the problem with its loudness and the problem with the first spicatto note at the same time. Just relax and make it a dull and easy exercise. No problem.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 19, 2006 at 6:14 AM

...meaning that will both make the long note less loud and the first spicatto note more in line with the rest of the group. I'm highly dependent on the edit feature over in the other area:)

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 19, 2006 at 6:32 AM

Ah. And give special attention to getting rid of the crescendo in the long notes. That will go a long way too (unless one's written there of course). Over and out.

From William Yap
Posted on July 19, 2006 at 7:21 AM

No crescendo, less bow, metronome and no dynamics... I'll see how I go with it in tonight's practice. Thanks.

From Andrea Zanchetta
Posted on July 20, 2006 at 6:27 AM

... try also to don't let the bow jump too high over the strings. Few millimiters are more than enough also for a slow speed. If you 'jump too much' it will be very difficult to control the bow and the sound. The soundpoint (between the bridge and the fingerboard) you choose seems OK.
Have Fun... Caprice n.1 of Paganini is awaiting for you ;-)
Greetings,
Andrea

From William Yap
Posted on July 20, 2006 at 7:32 AM

Thanks Andrea.

Paganini's Carprice No. 1? I don't dare. I'll stay with Rode's 24 Carprice for now :-)

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 20, 2006 at 12:06 PM

It wouldn't bug me to see an inch of bounce height for the slowest ones. Whatever works for you.

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