An arpeggio is the notes in a chord played in a sequence, one after the other instead of simultaneously. Arpeggios are usually introduced in Suzuki Book One starting with the key of A major, then D major, and then G major. In Suzuki Book Two, students are introduced to D Minor, B Flat Major, and A
Tag: Etudes
Many students in an effort to control the bow grip the bow with the fingers all strongly curving around the top of the bow or balancing on the finger tips on top of the bow. This creates tension in the wrist which prohibits fluid bowing and the condition where to make a sound, the pointer
This short video describes the causes of the most basic violin related injuries and pains and ways to alleviate the issues through posture work.
I often find myself happily trimming fingernails for young students at lessons. Trimmed fingernails are critical on Left Hand fingers 1-4 and Right Hand Thumb and Pinkie. Students are free to go crazy and grow the other ones. I have one memory of my teacher, Barbara Embser as a 4 year old in
Hot Stove game helps new students learn the left hand finger numbers. Student pretends the left hand thumb is a hot stove. Parents or siblings or friends call out numbers between 1 and 4 and the student practices quickly touching the correct finger to the thumb. Index Finger = 1 Middle Finger = 2 Ring
For training the left hand fingers to hover over the fingerboard, it is useful to imagine each of the fingers is a member of a team of helicopters practicing touching down and lifting off. The game is to try to have each finger touching down and lifting off at the exact same speed and hovering