June 2020, Strummi

C (Do) Major Scale 3 Octaves Training Video for Violin

C (Do) Major Scale 3 Octaves Training Video for Violin

This video includes a backing track/piano accompaniment to the 3 octave scale in C Major for violin. The accompaniment is in a ragtime style.

Fingering and bowing suggestions are included on the score, as well as a moving cursor, which can help orientate in the process of practising.

Feel free to rewind the backing track and repeat areas that are more difficult.

Enjoy!

Practice Tip!

Pay attention to bow changes in the first (slow) variation, so that changes at the tip and at the heel are almost imperceptible.
Repeat as many times as needed.
Then, try to keep these smooth bow changes in the faster variations.
Pay attention to the movements/techniques needed to achieve these smooth changes.
Did you need to adjust the speed of the bow and/or change the weight of your bow arm during bow changes?

C (Do) Major Scale 3 Octaves for Viola. Training Video.

C (Do) Major Scale 3 Octaves for Viola. Training Video

This video includes the C Major 3 Octave Scale for viola with piano accompaniment in a ragtime style. This can be more fun than playing with a metronome and can help to give a musical to the learning technique.

The pattern of the scale is inspired by the training routine used by violinists and teachers in the excellent specialist music schools of Eastern Europe and Russia. It first starts slowly with separate bows, and then gradually increases in tempo as the number of notes in a bow also increase.

The video includes fingering suggestions a moving cursor on the sheet music, to assist in repeating areas for specific practice.

PRACTICE TIP! Try repeating the first variation as many times as needed to learn the fingering and to develop good, smooth shifts between positions with the left hand. Repetition of the first variation can also help to develop an even bow speed and smooth bow changes.

Thank you for watching. Enjoy!

G (Sol) Arpeggio 3 Octave Training Video for Violin

G (Sol) Arpeggio 3 Octave Training Video for Violin

This week saw the publication of a training video and backing track for G major and Minor Arpeggios 3 octaves.

Inspired by the scale training sequence used in Eastern-European schools and A. Grigorian’s scale method book, this video can be used to assist in learning arpeggios that start on G (G minor, G major , E minor, C major, C minor, plus also the diminished and dominant 7th).

The arpeggios start slowly with separate bows and gradually increase in tempo and the number of notes in a bow. Here is an overview of the arpeggio patterns:

The video can be viewed on YouTube. Happy practising!

New G and C Major Scale Practice Backing Tracks for Violin

Scales and arpeggios develop agility and an understanding of the geography of the instrument. Playing them precisely requires plenty of repetition which can be one of the most tedious aspects of learning to play the violin.

Since scales can be a lot more interesting to practice with something other than a metronome, these backing tracks were designed to make practising scales more fun.

The videos include sheet music with fingering suggestions and a moving cursor for easier identification of areas that may need to be repeated. The scale “patterns,” which start with half-notes (minims) separate bows, and gradually become faster, with quarter-note (crotchets), 2 notes slurred in one bow, followed by eighth-notes (quavers), 4 notes slurred, etc, is inspired by A. Grigorian’s scale system and the scale-learning traditions in Eastern Europe.

Here is the scale pattern used in the video:

Here is the video of G (Sol) Major Scale for Violin, 3 octaves:

Enjoy! Have fun practising 🙂

C (Do) Major Scale for Violin, 2 Octaves:

Inspector Clouseau arranged for Violin and Piano

Inspector Clouseau arranged for Violin and Piano

A new arrangement of Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther Strikes Again by Henry Mancini for easy violin and piano has been published.

This arrangement by Fiona Vilnite has been specifically adapted for novice violin players or those who have completed about a year of training. It is playable in the first position and can help to introduce playing in a minor key (it is in A minor).

Henry Mancini’s inspired musical composition also provides an opportunity for learners to explore musical character, whilst developing important technical skill in violin playing. It can help to develop concepts of stacatto to legato contrast and introduce martelé and détaché bowing techniques.

Sheet music can be bought here: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/inspector-clouseau-theme-for-violin-and-piano-digital-sheet-music/21756681

Listen to this piece on YouTube: