Details Details Details workshop handout

1. Details, Details, Details!
Timing
1. Metronome Skills
a. Practice the shuffle pattern with your metronome, both
on the downbeat and the upbeat.
b. Test yourself by starting with the metronome, turning it
off, then checking your tempo when you finish.
c. Practice with the metronome at half time as well as
double time.
2. Body Language
a. Practice breathing while you play
b. Try tapping your foot while you play, and if you already
do, try adding a little back and forth movement to help
your groove.
3. Use Your Favorite Records
a. Chop along with the CDs you like.
b. Pick songs with varying tempos and try to play along,
especially getting in and out of breaks and solos.
Intonation
1. The Dreaded Scales
a. Pick several scales each week (or month!) and practice
them slowly with your tuner.
b. Practice those same scales but skip a note.
2. Position Work
a. Slide from 1st position to 2nd and 3rd positions AND back
down again. Check your accuracy at each end with your
tuner.
b. Practice random notes in all positions with an open
droning string. Use long, steady bows and really listen
for proper resonance.
© FiddleStar 2009

2. Tone
1. Long Bows
a. Use your whole bow, slow and fast, on all strings.
Challenge yourself to play full bows without making even
one little extraneous noise.
b. Play long bows with your metronome, 4 counts, 2 counts,
and then 1 count per bow. Try for consistent tone each
time.
2. Bow Transitions
a. This is often where bad tone happens. Practice changing
bow direction (both at the frog and tip) and try to
minimize noise.
b. Roll your bow slightly from one angle to the other as you
change direction.
Recording Yourself
1. Video Recording
a. Get close-ups of both hands if you can.
b. Pay attention to your posture. Often, bad playing can be
fixed with better form.
c. Check your bow placement. Are you playing in the
middle?
2. Audio Recording
a. Check your timing against a metronome.
b. Is your playing strong and confident? If not, would it be
fixed by simply playing louder?
c. Are you trying to do too much? Are your notes and ideas
clearly expressed?
3. Professional Feedback
a. Ask a teacher or player you admire if you can hire them
to assess your recordings and give you some feedback on
those pesky details.