MUSE 355 Final Project

Name: Parker Sterling Date: 12 December 2016

Required Topics

Violin and Viola Set-Up

Definition: Students must sit/stand with good posture and when the instrument is brought
up to play against their neck/shoulder with a relaxed feel to it.

1. Left arm is relaxed and able to move freely up and down the finger board
2. Hand shape allows space between the hand and the instrument.
3. Instrument is about level to the ground, if anything upward
4. One must not scrunch their neck downwards or bring the shoulder up.
5. Thumb behind finger 1
6. Violin String E-A-D-G Viola A-D-G-C

Cello Set-Up
Definition: Instrument is leaned up against the performer with a slight tilt so that the
strings tilt towards the right.

1. Instrument is high enough so that the performer is not leaning down but not too high so
that it is uncomfortable
2. The instrument should be touching the ground at arm’s length away and then leaned
into the body.
3. Thumb behind 2nd finger
4. Fingers are evenly spaced between each finger except for extensions
5. Strings are A-D-G-C

Double Bass Set-Up

Definition: Bass must be comfortably close to the performer and slightly leaned against
the body with them hunching over

1. End pin must be adjusted for height, setting it up so that the space between the
fingerboard and the bridge
2. Left hand is arranged so that there is a whole step between 1 and 4, 2 being the half
step
3. Thumb placed behind two
4. Shifting should be readily available given the fact that bassists will shift often
5. Strings G-D-A-E
Violin and Viola Bow Hold
Definition: Thumb provides support/fulcrum – Middle finger Closes ring for fulcrum –
Index finger presses the bow down and controls sounding point – Ring finger controls
sounding point – Little finger lifts bow pressure

1. Hungry bunny shape

2. Fingers retain a curved shape
3. Movement comes from wrist primarily
4. Distance between the fingers is the same as if they were relaxed
5. Utilize the fingers individual tasks

Cello and Bass (French) Bow Hold

Definition: Similar to viola and violin, the thumb connects between the frog and the rod.

1. Hand is nice and relaxed

2. Last knuckles hang over the bow for points of contact
3. Lead bow motions with wrist/micro movements
4. Pronate with the wrist
5. keep fingers curved

Détaché
Definition: notes being played by varying bow strokes

1. Defined bow movements in either direction

2. Switching directions quickly
3. Consistent bow speed/no decelerating/accelerating
4. Notes are not marked in any way
5. Cannot be done lazily, takes intension

Staccato
Definition: Separated

1. Quick starts to bow

2. Quick stops to bow
3. Sure understanding of how rhythms are to be played
4. Proper length of bow used so that it does not go too far in either direction
5. No extra weight at the start or end of the notes

Spiccato
Definition: Bouncing the bow on the string

1. Moving the bow while bring it down

2. Energy into the downward weight but not too much so that it doesn’t bounce
3. Avoid repeat bounces with each attack
4. Wrist movement is ideal for the technique
5. More separated than staccato
Louré
Definition: Dance of slow or moderate tempo in triple or compound duple meter

1. Performer must feel the accent on alternating up and down bows

2. Slow tempos does not mean slow bows
3. Smooth dancing does not necessarily mean smooth bow
4. Performer must be as expressive as a dancer would be
5. Players must think light and lifted

Slurred Staccato
Definition: Notes that are gently rearticulated with the same, continuous bow stroke

1. Defined stop at the end of the first note (s)

2. Defined start at the beginning of the next note(s)
3. Don’t use too much bow at one time and run out of space
4. Proper pressure must be used to get the proper dynamic at a slower bow speed
5. A slight increase on the weight of the bow when articulating

Retake
Definition: Moving of the bow back to the original position that it was played, most often
tip to frog

1. Lifted straight off the bow

2. Smooth motion that does not look panicked
3. Player may breathe during the retake
4. Bow must be placed on the strings so that it does not make sound until the player
wants
5. Player must be aware that they might put too much weight when coming back down
onto the strings

Hooked Bow
Definition: playing a dotted rhythm with both notes on the same stroke and the first note
is shortened

1. Think of a 16th or 32nd note rest between the two notes

2. Defined pause in the sound
3. The idea of Collé needs to be implemented
4. Start of the next note must be made with intension and slightly extra weight
5. Think of them as pick ups
Slur
Definition: Notes being played under the same bow stroke without stopping the bow

1. Fingers and bow are independent of each other

2. Bow must be at a pace so that all the notes are played before running out of bow
3. The weight must be appropriate for the given dynamic and necessary bow speed
4. Smooth bow speed throughout
5. Hands are not working together at all

Tremolo
Definition: Rapidly moving the bow back and forth to rearticulate the same note

1. Primarily a wrist movement

2. Less tension within the hand the better
3. Do not move the instrument
4. Keep consistent weight on bow
5. Small bow strokes

Sul Tasto
Definition: Playing right over the finger board of the instrument

1. Useful for a soft color

2. If a part needs to be extremely quiet this is ideal
3. This is one of the lanes that children can use
4. Do not expect a great volume for this technique
5. Do not push too much onto the strings

Ponticello
Definition: Bow kept near the bridge to bring out higher harmonics

1. Useful for producing a “scarier” tone

2. Light bow use produces different harmonics than hard bow use
3. Pairs well with tremolos
4. A separate lane that can be defined for use
5. Can be used to refine bow pressure

Collé
Definition: French word for Glue

1. The technique to have the bow stick to the strings

2. Bow is moving through a “Molasses”
3. Paired with weight on the bow
4. Stark difference than having the bow bounce along the strings
5. Useful for defining legato
String Crossings
Definition: Changing strings through a phrase

1. Right hand must memorize what each string angle feels like
2. Left hand must be able to switch between strings as easily as shifting
3. There are not only the positions for each string but also for the double stops
4. Smooth motion in between them but also lock into place each time
5. Angles feel different between the frog on the string and the tip

Hand Frames
Definition: Positions that the hand can be in to play different note intervals on
instruments

1. These positions must be well defined

2. Violins and Violas can be put in the idea of different fingers having buddies for hand
frames
3. Cello must keep even spacing between fingers for default hand frames
4. Extensions for all instruments take time to build and should be treated carefully so that
the hand is not strained
5. Bases must remember not to use their third finger

Shifting
Definition: Different positions on the fingerboard for the hand to be placed and play
different notes with the same hand frames

1. Muscle memory takes time but is necessary so that the children can memorize the
feeling
2. Left hand must move quickly when shifting
3. Hand moves straight along the finger board and does not shift the instrument in any
direction
4. The angle from the wrist to the fingers remains the same
5. Less tension the better

Tone Production
Definition: Placing of the bow on the strings with a movement to create a desired sound

1. Bow weight varies with each instrument but the thicker the string the heavier the bow
weight for a default sound
2. The bow hairs are not flat on the strings
3. Different weights on the strings each end of the bow
4. Staying within the proper lanes when playing is vital for consistent tone
5. Vibrato can be used to embellish but must be done in a manor that does not impede on
the original tone
Dynamics
Definition: Different volumes to play at

1. Bow speed can change the dynamics

2. Bow weight can change the dynamics
3. Bow placement (Lanes) can vary the dynamics
4. Student must be able to take into account each variable independently so that they can
have greater control of dynamics
5. Dynamics often change when playing a slurred/quick passage and it will take time to
fix these issues

Phrasing
Definition: A musical sentence

1. Stringed instruments must still feel a breath when playing to create phrases
2. Retakes are valuable resources for creating phrases
3. Students can tell a story and create phrases as the story progresses
4. Students may have a tendency to play through multiple phrases without a pause
because they do not need a literal breath
5. Students can sing through phrases to find natural breaths

Vibrato
Definition: A rapid slight variation of pitch

1. Relaxed feel in left hand

2. Bow movement must be smooth and consistent
3. Primarily finger movement for violins and violas
4. Primarily wrist movement for cellos and basses
5. Instrument cannot shake when executing (steady against wall for violins and violas)

Five Elective Topics

1st Elective Topic. Lanes

Definition: The specified different areas between the fingerboard and the bridge that can
be played on

1. Nearest the bridge

2. Slightly distanced from the bridge
3. Exactly in between the bridge
4. Slightly distanced from the beginning of the fingerboard
5. On top of the end of the fingerboard
2nd Elective Topic. Staying in lanes
Definition: Keeping a consistent sound within different playing types such as Sul Tasto
and Ponticello

1. Similar idea to switching strings but on a different access

2. Parallel lines that change height
3. Bow has an adjustable stilt on both sides that keeps you in lanes
4. Students must be able to switch lanes without hitches, similar to shifting their left hand
5. Play a game of switching lanes randomly to refine them

3rd Elective Topic. (De)Crescendos

Definition: Gradually changing from one dynamic to another

1. Progressively change one of the variables within dynamics

2. Easiest to adjust most often is the weight of the bow
3. If the bow speed is what needs to be increased, the left hand remains the same
4. Isolate the crescendo in the right from the fingerings in the left
5. The middle lane is the most resonant

4th Elective Topic. Pick ups

Definition: Notes that are played before the bar line into a phrase

1. Often done with an up bow

2. The whole bow does not need to be used for a pick up
3. Students must be careful not to accent it unless it is specifically an accent
4. Students can think of it as a slight lift into a phrase
5. Similar technique to a hooked bow

5th Elective Topic. Pizzicatos

Definition: Notes being played by plucking the strings with their finger

1. Pluck with the pointer finger most often

2. Bow is kept in the right hand when plucking
3. One technique is to steady their hand with their thumb resting on the corner of the
fingerboard
4. Hand can also stay suspended above the strings for a quick return to bowing
5. Can be plucked with either hand on multiple different places for different volumes and
timbres