Yoga for String Players
Practice Metronome
***** NEW MATERIAL ***** AUDITION ETUDE'
VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
DOUBLE BASS
Practice Metronome
***** NEW MATERIAL ***** AUDITION ETUDE'
VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
DOUBLE BASS
Shifting: 3rd Position and Higher (view before working on scales below)
Cello (written explanation)
Cello Play-along
Double Bass (written explanation)
Double Bass Video
Double Bass Tuning w/h Harmonics
Viola (written explanation)
Viola Play-along
Violin (written explanation)
Violin Play-along
Key Signature On-line Practice
Viola 3 Octave Scales: Learn C and D major
C major Tutorial Video D major Tutorial Video
Violin 3 Octave G major Scale Violin 3 Octave A major Scale
Video Tutorial Video Tutorial
Cello 3 Octave C major Scale Cello C major Arpeggio
Cello 3 Octave D major Scale/Arpeggio Cello Scale/Arpeggio pdf
Double Bass 2 Octave F major Scale/Arpeggio
Double Bass 2 Octave G major Scale/Arpeggio
Double Bass 2 Octave Scales (print form)
** Concert Attire **
Girls: Black Skirt (knee length), White
Blouse and Black Shoes (No Tennis Shoes)
All Boys & Girls (playing Cello/Bass): Black Dress Pants, White Shirt and
Black Dress Shoes (No Tennis Shoes)
Reference Links: 2023 - 2024 School Year
Books Needed: New Essential Elements Book 2
New Scales for Strings Book by Samuel Applebaum 2
Should be purchased before returning to school.
Finger Board Chart Template (Free)
Practice Arco:
Viola/Violin
Cello
Double Bass
Bow Hold/Bow Hold Exercises (All Instruments)
Double Bass ***Bass***
(1) Buy a soft rubber stress ball, wrap your fingers AND thumb around it and compress all your fingers and thumb evenly towards the center in sets of ten. I keep a ball next to my pillow and do at least three sets of ten each night (when I remember to!)
• (2) Make a gentle fist with your LH and bring it up to a playing position, opening it out naturally as you go to put curved fingers on the string and thumb on middle of back of neck. Press down gently then inspect the groove made in the pads by the string. Observe where the string falls on the pad under each finger tip.
• (3) The groove should be back a little from the very top of your finger. Many people have a flat spot between the center of the finger print and the final rounded tip of the finger. I aim to bisect this flat spot with the string groove.
• The "pianist's hand shape" rests this flat spot on the keys. Sit at a table or keyboard and rest your hand on your curved fingers as though you are playing. The finger ends approach the "keys" at something like 45 degrees, definitely not too vertically.
• (4) Think of your curved fingers being hooks not presses. With your fingers bunched up side-by-side hook them over something and pull towards you to feel their strength. Now position them on the string with no thumb contact on the neck and hook the string down to click on the fingerboard. Now place your thumb in position and hook the strings down to your thumb - the neck and strings happen to get in the way!! Repeat clicking the string down onto the fingerboard with your curved fingers like you are doing a gym exercise then repeat as you gradually spread your fingers into note spacings. Try to keep this hooking sensation, not squeezing and flattening/collapsing as you open out.
• (5) Keep your thumb on the back of the neck and raise/lower your fingers by flapping from your big knuckles while maintaining the curved finger shapes. The muscles that cause this action start back as far as your elbow and work through your wrist to your fingers, which is why the alignment of everything is so important.
• The strength of your fingers comes from their arched shape as well as muscles. The actions of raising and lowering them should almost end up feeling dissociated from their hooked strength once you have the knack of it.
Cello: ***Cello***
• Is there a direct line running straight from the left elbow through the base knuckle of the fourth finger to the fingerboard through the finger pad?
• Does the elbow height allow quick sliding up and down the fingerboard?
• Is the thumb relaxed and opposite second finger pad?
• Does the hand and fingerboard form a tunnel? (a “C”shape?)
• Are the fingers curved, and not collapsed?
• Are the base knuckles above the fingerboard?
• Is the first finger tilted back slightly toward the fingerboard nut?
• Does the finger articulation (move) function from the base joint?
Violin/Viola: SEE LINK BELOW AND BRING (2) TWO TO CLASS MONDAY
Hold the Violin/Viola on a two supports: Your left collar bone and thumb.
• Twist your wrist toward the thumb so that your fingers will stand tall over the top of the fingerboard.
• Now straighten your wrist so that your index finger will be low and the pinky high.
• Keep spaces between the fingers, especially between fingers one and two.
• Turn all fingers on their left side so that they are like a fan opened toward the pegs.
• Before placing your pinky on the fingerboard, relax it, turn it on its left side and then place it down on the fingerboard.
• Hold your thumb opposite the first finger on the other side of the fingerboard.
• Your elbow should be pointed straight down toward the floor.
Note-reading games
Viola Link 1
Viola Link 2
Alto Clef: Viola
Cello/Bass Link 1
Cello/Bass Link 2
Violin Link 1
Violin Link 2
Fun Rhythm Games: Helps with Rhythmic Counting
- Set a red solo cup upside down in front of each child.
Beats 5-8: Clap once. Pick up the cup and set it down.
Beats 9-12: Clap once. Pick up the cup with your left hand. Hit the top of the cup with your right hand. Hit the bottom edge of the cup onto the table or floor.
Beats 13-16: Switch the cup to your right hand. Tap the table or floor with your left hand. Set the cup down in front of the person on your right. Repeat.