IN THIS LESSON
PHRASE 2
MEASURES (PICKUP TO) 5 - 8
The second phrase remains in this gloomy character, now with even slower paced crescendos and diminuendos, creating a more tense and yearning mood.
General Practice Strategies:
Maintain vibrato throughout to enhance relaxation and melodic expression.
Place fingers gently on the strings, making contact with the fleshy part of the finger pad to produce a deep, resonant tone.
Approach all shifts smoothly and lyrically, avoiding abrupt or uneven transitions.
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the hand positions in each position and practice shifting between them fluidly and expressively. For these 1/2step same-finger shifts, feel how much you want to lighten that finger so you can easily move, and do not feel ‘stuck’ in the old position.
To master the rhythm, practice subdividing the bow strokes; for instance, play with an 8th-note subdivision.
Consider the vibrato you choose for this phrase. The hairpin can be emphasized by gradually speeding up the vibrato to warm the note. In measures 7 and 8, consider a faster vibrato, as the tension of the phrase increases.
Breaking Down the Phrase & Reference Guide to Previous Exercises:
Measure 4 - 5:
Begin at piano dynamic, with light bow weight.
Starting at the tip, play a gradually crescendo-ing upbow, with vibrato increasing to help sing the note.
Measure 6:
Using chromatic fingering, move from 2 on C# to 1 on C natural on the downbeat, and adjust your hand frame to play in 2nd position.
Measure 7:
On the downbeat, shift to 3rd position - 4th finger on D string.
On the third beat, shift back a half step, from 1 on G to F#, and remain in 2nd position to the end of phrase.
Trill from G to A, and remember to play F# in the turn at the end of the phrase.
Measure 8:
The last note should be a full sung quarter note.
Lift the bow off the string gently and fluidly after this note, so you do not impact the end of the phrase.