Bored with scales? Join me for a whole month’s worth of 31 different ways to approach scales. New posts go up every day in January 2023. Start from Day 1 here.
The idea for today’s scales is very similar to yesterday’s (Day 8: String Crossing Focus), but with shifts at the center. I did my usual scale (in terms of key, fingerings, bowings, slur and rhythm groups, etc.), first in “Stop Mode:”
just before each shift, come to a complete stop
make the shift
then continue in tempo
After a few passes like that, I followed it immediately with the same scale in “Continuous Mode” (no stops, but still being very aware of where the shifts are).
Why do this one?
First of all, it forces you to be very aware of where the shifts are. By stopping just before the shift, you’re making sure you’re aware of the shift just before anything needs to happen. And this awareness can lead to greater confidence, accuracy, and clarity.
Second, you can take as much time to do the shift as you want, since the tempo has come to a halt. You can use that time to focus on anything about the shift: melodic distance, shift distance, which finger is making the shift, finger pressure during the shift, and anything else you know about shifts.
Third, you’ll probably find (like I did) that the result of practicing your scale this way is greater precision in your shifts. Shifts are very often the most vulnerable part of a passage, and giving them extra attention like this can act to reinforce them.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.
The notation below is only an illustration of how someone doing the given key and fingering would practice this scale approach. Fingerings are included only to illustrate what happens at the moment of the shift. You should practice this in whatever key you would normally do, with your usual fingerings, bowings, rhythms, turns, tempo, etc.
tomorrow:
I’m a violinist and private teacher in the Chicago area, and in a previous musical life I was in a professional string quartet. Teaching violin and chamber music are dear to my heart. Send me a note or leave a comment on a post — I’d love to hear from you.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.