Violinists, On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! - The Art of Starting

August 8, 2022, 12:16 PM · Musicians have a lot to think about when starting a piece or a passage. On their minds are the tone that they’re trying to set, the rhythmic quality, and the first note itself – all of which can make them feel overly cautious. Violinists also have to move the bow without scratching. It makes us appreciate how so many musical parts become integrated. However, starting is often the most difficult part of this system. In fact, starting and stopping several times is a rather common problem.

starting block

Preparing for Starting

Like the saying for carpenters, "measure twice, cut once," violinists should think, count, be confident, then bow spontaneously. Although it’s easier said than done, it’s still the recipe for a good beginning. What should your toolbox of thoughts consist of?

1. Have the first few notes clearly embedded in your mind. That would include bowings and rhythm as well. Because of the difficulty of starting something, have the first measure in your ear too. This means that you’ve absorbed the melody and the spirit of the music. Sometimes the mind alone doesn’t include that.

2. Small mistakes sometimes happen on the first not because you haven’t yet established a flow of rhythm and bow movement. The reflex to stop kicks in, which is a good example of” fight or flight” syndrome. Flight may win, but fighting is preferable. The strategy here is to minimize the damage by ignoring the mistake, and instead keep going. If you stop, you’ll likely start again and stop again. By bravely not hesitating, your rhythm and your confidence will stay intact.

3. Much can be learned from a missed first note. Maybe the fingerboard wasn’t properly measured in your imagination, the music wasn’t in your ear, or you were confused by the bowing. After you’ve finished the phrase, go back and analyze what went wrong. Fix one thing at a time, and that sense of limited focus will sharpen the mind to make everything else sound better.

There are two culprits that crop up at the beginnings of a phrase: notes and sounds. A scratch may make you want to start over, and even a slightly out-of-tune note will seem worse than it really is. All said, it’s one tiny moment in an ocean of music and sound. It helps to expect that mistakes may happen, and to incorporate that knowledge into your general mindset. With a little analysis, that mistake probably won’t happen again, and your playing experience will have been enriched.

* * *

Enjoying Violinist.com? Click here to sign up for our free, bi-weekly email newsletter. And if you've already signed up, please invite your friends! Thank you.

Replies

August 9, 2022 at 05:39 AM · Thank you for this helpful and reassuring advice, Paul.

August 9, 2022 at 07:56 PM · With apologies to the Great British Baking Show, it's "Ready, Set, BOW."

August 10, 2022 at 02:29 AM · Very helpful suggestions, especially the one regarding hearing the first measure(s) before starting. Also, having the bow on the string? Thanks.

August 10, 2022 at 03:45 AM · David, Having the bow on or near the string shows that you feel the beat and you’re ready to play. Calmly starting helps also to get a warm sound. If I start like a jack rabbit I’m liable to get a thin sound.

August 11, 2022 at 02:23 AM · Paul, as an example, how would you approach the very beginning G major chord of the Vitale Chaconne which goes over four strings to the G the E string? Bow on the G string or slightly above the string? Thanks.

August 11, 2022 at 04:57 AM · David, I’d start the Vitali with the bow above the string in the Vitali because there’s a need to have “a running start” that will provide a lot of impetus. However, there’s more than enough time to gently land on the string before creating the sound. Touching the string slightly is what engages the string to have a full resonance and complete vibration. Of course, the violin is designed to have a full sound at the beginning of each bow stroke. It can be done with the bow above the string or starting from the string.

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Facebook YouTube Instagram Email

Violinist.com is made possible by...

Shar Music
Shar Music

Pirastro Strings
Pirastro Strings

JR Judd Violins
JR Judd Violins

Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases
Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases

Anne Cole Violin Maker
Anne Cole Violin Maker

Violinist.com Shopping Guide
Violinist.com Shopping Guide

Metzler Violin Shop

Southwest Strings

Bobelock Cases

Johnson String Instrument/Carriage House Violins

Jargar Strings

Bay Fine Strings Violin Shop

FiddlerShop

Fiddlerman.com

Los Angeles Violin Shop

Baerenreiter

String Masters

Nazareth Gevorkian Violins

Laurie's Books

Discover the best of Violinist.com in these collections of editor Laurie Niles' exclusive interviews.

Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1, with introduction by Hilary Hahn

Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2, with introduction by Rachel Barton Pine

Subscribe