IN THIS LESSON
PHRASE 8
MEASURES 61-64 / 73-76
Phrase 8 is a brief, four-measure motif which acts as a closing idea for Phrase 7. Phrase 8 starts by releasing the energy we built in phrase 7 through a full, singing sforzando bow, and maintains the singing quality through measure 62. The next 2 measures close the phrase by relaxing into a gentle, brushy off-the-string stroke.
General Practice Methods:
Practice toggling back and forth between each double-stop to ensure precise movements and landings.
To develop a melodic understanding of these double-stops, place your fingers on both strings but bow on one string at a time.
The first two measures use our On-the-String Traveling bow strokes, and the third and fourth measures use brushy-off-the string strokes.
Use Double Stop Left Hand Exercises G and B to refine tuning for this passage.
Phase 1 of Practice – Slow and Simple:
Begin practicing on the string with separate bows.
Practice toggling between sets of double-stops, focusing especially on shifts to double-stops.
Vibrato should be applied to longer sforzando notes.
Start with a pause between character changes to internalize the upcoming bow stroke.
Phase 2 of Practice – Adding Articulation and Speed:
Incorporate the specified bowings and articulations.
Continue toggling between double-stops, emphasizing shifts where applicable.
Gradually increase tempo with a metronome. Perfect one measure at a time at a quicker tempo and then string them together seamlessly without stopping.
Smoothly transition between different bowing techniques without pauses.
Breaking Down the Phrase & Reference Guide to Previous Exercises:
Measure 61:
Lean into the sforzando with vibrato, and pull the bow all the way to the tip.
Emphasize a released, singing bow character on the three up-bows. The bow should scoop out each note as it continuously moves from tip to frog.
Measure 63:
It is ok to make a small space at the end of measure 62, during which you shift to first position and set the first two notes of measure 63.
The Up-up stroke on beat 2 should help us travel to the balance point, so we can easily play off the string to the end of the phrase.
Measure 64:
Practice leaving your 1 and 2 fingers down while you place the blocked 3rd finger, so you do not have to aim for each double stop from scratch.
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