VIOLIN TECHNIQUE/VIOLA TECHNIQUE: Lesson assignment: Bach Partita in E, Gigue

February 13, 2011 at 6:21 AM

Hi (New Student),

Welcome to the Studio—it is great to have you on board.

Lets accomplish a lot!

All is to be memorized—technique and repertoire.

Along with the given Plains & String Crossings, Open & Closed Hand Groups, Basics I and 8va Study and Scale Study given in your audition lesson, add…

• New repertoire:

Bach Partita in E Major, Gigue—last movement.

This looks deceptively easy, but is part of your future college audition repertoire and development in all styles of composers.

We will build your bow control, agility and dexterity for all your violin playing with this gem of a work.

In practicing the Gigue, use a pulsed legato détaché (pg xii, Détaché #5, in the Technique book) for each separate bow stroke and pulse the beginnings of the slurs, as well. Also relate this to Basic I, pg 11, Pulsed Legato.

1. Begin memorizing immediately—#2-6 below will assist in this.

2. Say note/finger/string, e.g., B-4 on E, for everything;

3. Identify all Hand Groups using pgs 6 & 7; (these are finger interval patterns in sets of all 4 fingers)

4. Memorize when the passage is a scale, an arpeggio or a larger interval leap—note patterns/sequences/string crossings;

5. Begin everything with an Up Bow and then a Down Bow or vice versa.

6. Vary rhythms, i.e., in the 3-note patterns use 1-quarter & 2-8ths; 2-8ths and 1-quarter; 8th quarter 8th.

If there is a question or confusion go to things that are clear and then come back to the tricky spots. You can also email me your question—identify the line, measure number and notes in question. I often respond at crazy times, like 1 or 2 am, but keep working for the solution—I love it when a question is sent and later I see an email with the correct answer from the student before I respond:-)

Every 5 minutes or less you should be aware of progress, focus, improvement.

Do not be in a hurry.

Some things take longer and others come almost instantly. Generally when it takes longer, we are learning a totally new skill, our concentration has lapsed or it is just plain hard:-)

Lets go to work—

God bless,

Drew

Drew Lecher String Academy

Author of

"Violin Technique: The Manual, How to master"

"Viola Technique: The Manual, How to master"

From Mendy Smith
Posted on February 14, 2011 at 2:10 AM

To add to the memorization topic, I was once told that bowings and dynamics also need to be memorized along with the notes. Even if they change later in the development process, it is good to have a "base" firmly set in the mind to work from.

I have found that when I work from memory, the musicality is the recipient of my attention and not the notes as written on the page.

With Bach in particular, unintended "accidentals" can become a musically appropriate personal touch (within reason of course).

From Drew Lecher
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 5:52 AM

Yes, yes—memorize everything: notes, fingerings, intervals and groupings, bowing patterns, string crossings, bow and hair placement, angles, bow speed and weights, etc.,etc.

In doing this we free our playing to express the music as we hear it in our very souls. In focusing and mastering so many aspects we gain tremendous freedom of expression as we have learned, and continue learning, how much everything affects everything.

Just undo those nasty little unintended accidentals asap ;-)

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VIOLIN TECHNIQUE/VIOLA TECHNIQUE: Lesson assignment: Bach Partita in E, Gigue

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