Key Points: Pieces 73 & 74

 

• As you will now have got used to, Piece 73 is a quicker 6/8. The tune is a folk dance in the form of a round. As with all quicker pieces start slowly to be gin with.

• Piece 74 is an interesting piece technically because of the rhythm. There is quite a lot of synchopation so do listen carefully to the tracks as preparation.

• All the 2nd fngers in Piece 73 are back nestled against the 1st finger on both the D string and the A string. On the A string do be careful as to the positioning of the 2nd fingers because the piece contains a passage with only 2nds and opens, i.e. no 1sts to nestle against.

• Piece 74 also has 2nd fingers back on the A string - although if it had had 2nd fingers on the D string these would have been forwards - this is clue to what's coming up soon.

 

Remember:

• As always start by doing a bowhold check, do a whole bow warm up, playing the scale of D major and G major. This is so easy to do and really helps you check your tuning.

• To get going pluck through each piece once or twice.

• Then try with the bow the Student's Track until you feel confident to move on to the duets.

• Go from plucking to bowing and back to plucking until you are confidently bowing each piece.

• Don't be in any rush to 'get it right straight away' - being patient will pay off in the long run.

• Go over previous videos if you think something's not right.

• Most 'horrible' sounds occur because of a tense right hand causing the bow to 'tremble,' 'bounce' or be 'scratchy'.