Practice Your Viola!
Lesson 1
In this lesson, you will learn to play each of these bow strokes on a scale.
Click here to see the scales.
(you will need Adobe Acrobat© reader to read these files.)
All of the scales are major, and three octaves. If you are not able to play all three octaves, please just play the two lower octaves first, and build up to the third octave. Always use a metronome!
Here are video demonstrations of each technique. Study them carefully, and watch your own hand in the mirror while you play. Make sure your hand looks close to the same. All hands are a little different, and that's okay. The most important part is that you keep your hand relaxed, especially your thumb!
Fingers should remain curved and relaxed at all times. If you feel any tension, stop and relax your hand.
Playing the viola should not hurt!
On the string legato bow strokes |
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Detaché- Separated. Watch in the mirror and keep your bow straight. This sounds best in the middle of the fingerboard and the bridge. Keep the bow hair flat on the string. Use your arm to pull the bow. |
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Portato - Lengthened, sustained. Long all in one bow notes separated by a rest. Make sure all notes stay even. Keep your bow straight! |
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Legato- slurred. Prepare each bow crossing with the right hand. Stay smooth. Keep hand relaxed for smooth bow changes. Practice slowly and carefully.
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On the String Marcato Bow Strokes |
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Staccato-Italian for articulated distinctly. Short. Keep bow straight. Pull the bow from forearm. |
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Martelé- French for hammered. Keep fingers round. Pinch the first finger a little to pull a strong sound at the beginning of each note. |
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Off the String Bow Strokes |
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Spiccato-bounced. As violists, we use this one ALL the time, so it's worth spending a little more time with. Keep the thumb relaxed. Hold the bow above the string and let it drop. Allow a bounce, and do it again. Trust me, this will be very easy once you get your hand to relax. Remember to keep the bow hair flat, and the bow straight. |
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Sautillé- French for jumping. This is spiccato very fast. Start on the string in the middle, and move your hand so the bow starts bouncing. Make sure the hair stays flat and the bow stays straight for a good tone quality. |
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Ricochet- The bow rebounds at least once off the surface. Drop the bow and let it bounce to practice this. Now control it so that it only bounces 2 times. Next see if you can bounce many times both up bow and down bow. Still keep the hair flat and the bow straight. |
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