Shifting & Ear Training

(based on the Yost System)

*Intonation Training CD-Track 8, G

*Practice in all keys with the appropriate track on the "Intonation Training CD".

= about 40 (each note . . . very, very slow!)

Instructions
1. Relax fingers, hand and wrist.
2. Move arm first from the biceps to the new position dragging the hand and the finger, gliding on top of the string, never pushing forward with the fingers.
3. Push finger down in tune pressing as little as possible. You should not have to push the finger all the way to the fingerboard. If you missed the shift, "You either didn't get your arm to the right position or your finger was not thrown in the right spot" (Dorothy Delay). Try again until you can hit it 5 times in a row!
4. Know what position you're in at all times... say it out loud before you go (14 positions total)
5. Get to know what each position feels like with the arm motion or angle of the elbow joint, with the palm of the hand, and with the thumb.
6. Use all fingering possibilities.
7. Get to the next position quickly and then tune very slowly. Try not to overshoot the shift.

Tuning

(based on the Sevcik System)

*Intonation Training CD-Track 1 C Major

*Practice in all keys with the appropriate track on the "Intonation Training CD".

Start at = 40

Gradually move it up to the goal of 16^th notes at = 192

Instructions
1. Start slow and tune at = 40. As you go faster slur more notes together in one bow.
2. Finger Lifting/Dropping - Be articulate: Lift and snap fingers down like hitting a bell.
3. Repeat all patterns in all positions and keys.
4. Track daily/weekly progress in the Journal.

Warning:
If pain or extreme tightness occurs, stop immediately and see your teacher as soon as possible! Be careful with any pain you might experience doing any exercise. Try to determine if it is a sharp pain in a joint or tendon (which is very "dangerous") or soreness in a muscle that needs more conditioning (not so "dangerous").

3 Octave G Major Scale (Slurred)

Based on the Galamian "Contemporary Violin Technique"

Learning Concepts Increases your comfort and agility in all positions. Develops confidence and accuracy in all positions. Improves coordination.

Instructions
1. Memorize fingerings, bowings, and positions.
2. Use the WHOLE BOW on every stroke
3. Build speed:
a. Practice =88, then slowly build speed to =104.
b. Do repetitions of 2 beat segments first with left hand alone.
4. Use the "Intonation Training CD" to improve your intonation.
5. Practice left hand alone for speed and accuracy.

See Violin Fingerings Chart

© Galaxy Music Corporation, a division of ECS Publishing, Boston, MA. Used with permission.

3 Octave G Major Scale (Slurred / Separate)

Based on the Galamian "Contemporary Violin Technique"

Learning Concepts Increases your comfort and agility in all positions. Develops confidence and accuracy in all positions. Improves coordination.

Instructions
1. Memorize fingerings, bowings, and positions.
2. Use the WHOLE BOW on every slurred stroke, half the bow on the martelé strokes, and at the very tip or very frog for the small faster strokes 8-24.
3. Build speed:
a. Practice = 88, then slowly build speed to = 104.
b. Do repetitions of 2 beat segments with left and right hands seperately.
4. Always listen and tune to the "Intonation Training CD".

See Violin Fingerings Chart

© Galaxy Music Corporation, a division of ECS Publishing, Boston, MA. Used with permission.

3 Octave Arppegios (Slurred)

You could also use Carl Flesch or Galamian arpeggio sequences.

Learning Concepts Increases your comfort and agility in all positions. Develops confidence and accuracy in all positions. Improves coordination.

See Arppegios in all keys

Instructions
1. Memorize the sequence of arpeggios on the piano... start with the first 3 notes of each arpeggio.
2. Mark what position you are in above each new position. If needed get help from your teacher.
a. Find the note your finger is on in the new position.
b. Compare that note to the note that same finger plays in first position.
c. The interval between those two notes is the position you are in it's that simple.
3. Memorize fingerings, bowings, and positions on the violin.
4. Use the WHOLE BOW on every stroke.
5 . Do repetitions of 2 beat segments first with left hand alone.
6 . Always listen and tune to the "Intonation Training CD".

Advanced Version 1
1. After you get proficient at 40=each note try the rhythms and bowings you did on the 3 octave scales!
2. Build speed by practicing =88, then slowly build speed to = 104.

Advanced Version 2
Try doing arppegios in octaves

Thirds / Ear Training

(based on the Yost System)
You could also use Paganini Concerto No. 1, Paganini Caprice No. 18, 4, or many others.
*Intonation Training CD-Track 8 G Major
*Practice in all keys with the appropriate track on the "Intonation Training CD".
Interval Pattern: sBBssBBs = very, very slow!

similé [needs to go onto image]

Instructions
1. Relax fingers, hand and wrist.
2. Move arm first from the biceps to the new position dragging the hand and the finger, gliding on top of the string, never pushing forward with the fingers.
3. Tune with the biceps before putting fingers down.
4. Use all fingering possibilities.
5. Know what position you're in at all times...say it out loud before you go. (14 positions total.)

Advanced Version 1
Play the 3rds in broken thirds exercise alternating between 1 and 3 and 2 and 4

Advanced Verion 2
Using the same fingering from Advanced Version 1, play with an off the string stroke

Octaves / Ear Training

(based on the Yost System)
You could also use Kruetzer #24, and almost any great violin concerto or Paganini Caprices.
*Intonation Training CD-Track 8 G Major
*Practice in all keys with the appropriate track on the "Intonation Training CD".
= very, very slow!

Instructions
1. Relax fingers, hand and wrist.
2. When shifting move arm first from the biceps to the new position dragging the hand and the finger, gliding on top of the string, never pushing forward with the fingers.
3. Tune with the biceps before putting fingers down.
4. Get the 1^st finger in tune and the 4^th finger will tune itself.
5. Always lift and drop 1^st and 4^th fingers at the same time.
6. Know what position you're in at all times...say it out loud before you go. (14 positions total)
7. Press on lower string more with the bow and keep bow close to the bridge.

Fingered Octaves / Ear Training

(based on the Yost System)

You could also use Paganini Caprice #17, Wieniawski Concerto #2 or Sibelius Concerto.
*Intonation Training CD-Track 8 G Major
*Practice in all keys with the appropriate track on the "Intonation Training CD".
= very, very slow!

Instructions
1. Relax fingers, hand and wrist.
2. When shifting move arm first from the biceps to the new position dragging the hand and the finger, gliding on top of the string, never pushing forward with the fingers.
3. Tune with the biceps before putting fingers down.
4. Get the 1^st finger in tune and the 3^rd finger will tune itself.
5. Always lift and drop 1^st and 3^rd fingers at the same time.
6. Know what position you're in at all times...say it out loud before you go. (14 positions total)
7. Press on lower string more with the bow and keep bow close to the bridge.

Advanced Version
Try playing the fingered octaves broken in thirds exercise alternating between 1 and 3, and 2 and 4.

Tenths / Ear Training

(based on the Yost System)

You could also use Bruch Concerto in g minor, Paganini Concerto in D Major, Paganini Caprice 24, and others.
*Intonation Training CD-Track 8 G Major
*Practice in all keys with the appropriate track on the "Intonation Training CD".
Interval Pattern: BssBBssB
= very, very slow!

Instructions
1. Relax fingers, hand and wrist.
2. When shifting move arm first from the biceps to the new position dragging the hand and the finger, gliding on top of the string, never pushing forward with the fingers.
3. Tune with the biceps before putting fingers down.
4. Get the 1^st finger in tune and the 4^th finger will tune itself.
5. Always lift and drop 1^st and 4^th fingers at the same time.
6. Know what position you're in at all times...say it out loud before you go. (14 positions total)
7. Press on lower string more with the bow and keep bow close to the bridge.

Vibrato

= 40-84

Instructions
1. Shake a small vitamin bottle (with the left hand) with the rhythms above Met=40-84.
2. Make sure the muscles being used are the biceps and triceps not the forearm.
3. Once this motion is comfortable in the biceps and triceps try to vibrato in guitar position looking at your vibrato and its motion.
4. Try with each finger in guitar position and make sure all joints are loose (arm, wrist, and finger joints) and that the motion is going straight up the violin.
5. The finger should roll from one side of the finger pad to the other side.
6. Work on changing fingers without stopping the vibrato.
7. After this is comfortable try it with the violin held up on the shoulder with all the rhythms.
8. The vibrato should always have a "ping" in the sound if the motion is correct and the first knuckle is very loose.
9. As this motion gets more natural work on loosing the wrist and fingers so as to not have tension anywhere.
10. Work on the following vibrato colors to use them in your pieces:
a. Slow Wide
b. Fast Wide
c. Slow Thin
d. Fast Thin

Side Note:
The vibrato motion should start in the big muscles (biceps and tricepts) not the muscles in the forearm where muscles are used for lifting and dropping the fingers. Once the motion is correctly started in the big muscles the wrist can be loosened and the appearance of the loose wrist vibrato returns with less tension and freer motion. All the joints, the elbow, the wrist, and the finger knuckles should be very loose.