Belknap Practicing System |
Exercise Index |
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Go on to Left Hand Exercises ![]() |
Detaché |
Detache is french for separate bows, not to be confused with the english "detached" - with space between the notes.
From Kruetzer Etudes No. 2
Exercise #1 - Play in the lower half (from the very frog to the exact middle)
Exercise #2 - Play in the exact upper half (from the exact middle to the tip)
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Detaché Instructions
1.Play as loud as possible.
a.Bow next to the bridge (Control the "Sounding Point").
b.Keep the bow straight
c.Keep bow hair flat
d.Use the entire upper or lower half of the bow.
e. Use leverage and a heavy arm to add weight to the bow, not finger
pressure.
2.Use the proper muscles and bones in the right sequence or order of motion
(see below) to go up bow and down bow - always leading with the elbow and dragging
the wrist and fingers in both directions (up and down).
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Order of motion & leverage
is used to add pressure to the bow by turning the bones of the forearm (the
Ulnas and Radius) in or out versus squeezing between the thumb and the first
finger of the right hand and pressing to get the sound out. If you set the hand,
always staying flexible in the wrist and fingers, and turn the two bones of
the forearm into the string (counterclockwise) there is less pressure pushed
onto the top of the violin and the top plate of the violin is allowed to vibrate
more. On the down bow a big sound is accomplished by using a combination of
leverage and arm weight. On the up bow we are fighting gravity and leading with
the elbow and using leverage not arm weight. Pulling the bow this way allows
you a fullness of sound not possible by just squeezing or pressing.
Collé |
Collé is French for glued or sticky. Kruetzer No. 7
Slow with no metronome and away from the bridge.
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Collé Instructions
1. The fingers should be straight at the tip ready to be thrown up bow.
2. The fingers should be round (especially the pinky) when being thrown down
bow at the frog.
a. Prepare the hand to be thrown in either direction.
3. Always imitate the hard consonant sound of the "T".
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Martellé |
Martelé is French for hammered (with a hammer).
Kreutzer Etudes No. 7
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Martellé Instructions
1. The fingers should be straight at the tip ready to be thrown up bow.
2. The fingers should be round (especially the pinky) when being thrown down
bow at the frog.
a. Prepare the hand to be thrown in either direction.
3. Always imitate the hard consonant sound of the "T".
4. The down bow is a Martelé stroke.
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Staccato |
Staccato is Italian for articulated distinctly, with a separation
between notes.
you could also use wieniawski concerto No. 2, Hora Staccato by Dinicu-Heifetz.
= 40-152
1. Start slowly with a nice "pop" or collé
sound at the beginning of each up bow stroke.
2. Build up your speed faster every day and track your progress daily in the
Practice Journal.
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Instructions
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Sautillé |
Sautillé is french for jumping. Kruetzer Etudes No.
2
You could also use pagan perpetual motion, sinding suite, pagan caprice No.
5, and many others
= 144
1. Repeat each note 8 times
2. Find the "sweet spot" where the bow bounces by itself.
a. this bow stroke sounds off but is really on the sting. The stick bounces
but the hair never leaves the string.
3. Your hand has to be thrown by the big muscles (biceps and triceps).
4. If it is not working try these three ways to fix it.
a. Hold the bow with the index and ring finger (and the thumb) and throw the
bow.
b. Lower your shoulder and raise the elbow slightly, 3-4 inches.
c. make sure your motion is up and down and not sideways.
d. you may be in the wrong spot for the speed you are attempting. Try changing
the speed or the spot of the bow.
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Sautillé Instructions
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Ricochét |
Ricochét is French for skipping a rock. Not to be confused
with the English version of bouncing off things.
You could also use Pagan Caprice No. 1, Mendelssohn Concerto and many others
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Instructions
1. Drop/throw the bow in the middle from about 4 inches high and let it bounce.
2. Lift pinky and ring finger and drop/throw the bow on an open string while
going down bow.
3. Press with index finger for about 6 bounces then pivot hand and lift index
finger while putting the ring and pinky fingers back on the bow.
4. Let the bow bounce by itself as much as possible to the tip.
5. Don't try to control the bounce of the bow.
6. Keep the bow hair flat.
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Chords |
You could also use Pagan Caprice #24, Kreisler Preludium Allegro or many others.
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