Introduction & Tarantella - Sarasate

July 5, 2010 at 04:33 AM ·

There are two ways to practice the Tarantella, in my opinion. The problems with it are speed and coordination. For coordination, practice with the bow playing the sautille stroke necessary for up to speed playing by playing each note 4 times, without stopping in between the notes. Then do the first note 3x the next one 1x, then 3x the next note, 1x the next and so on. Then reverse, doing 1x + 3x. Then each note 3x, then 2x + 1x, 1x + 2x, then 2x each note, then as written. All with the bow playing as close to tempo as possible and as close to the finished stroke as possible.

For speed, I would slur 3 then 6, doing every rhythm imaginable: 8th + 2 16ths, 16th + 8th + 16th, 2 16ths + 8th for 3 notes slurred. For 6 in a bow (after doing the first 3 up beats in one bow) I suggest the rhythms written out in the Galamian edition of Kreutzer #8.

Good luck with it, it's a really fun piece!

July 5, 2010 at 06:06 PM ·

My advice is to practise it slowly. Break it down into small segments and work on each one independently and then move onto the next. And have fun while playing it. it´s  a fun piece :)

July 7, 2010 at 05:16 PM ·

Thanks, TeoT and AnnaM.