Stuck in a scale rut? 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.
Like a bolt of lightning across the string ... today is all about speed! I set the challenge for myself of using extreme bow speed on my scales. In one sense, it’s easy: just move your hand quickly and the bow will follow. But it’s amazing how extreme speed reveals tiny imperfections in our bow technique. Without perfect straight-bow technique, the bow can veer wildly off course. Without well-developed sensitivity to balancing weight and contact point with speed, the sound will turn into any number of screeches or scratches.
Get it right, though, and not only will you have control over a whole range of accent types, but you’ll also have greater control over phrasing and the basis for portato and other pulsing bow strokes.
The Details
I broke this up into three levels of difficulty.
Level 1: Use the full bow. Move the bow as fast as possible from frog to tip on the first note, pause, then from tip back to frog on the second note, pause, and so on. Pause at least long enough to be sure you’ve come to a complete stop between each bow stroke. It’s surprising how much the bow wants to wander, but avoid that by using whatever you know about keeping a straight bow.
Level 2: Use the full bow. Start each note by moving the bow as fast as possible, but in the last few inches of bow suddenly change to moving it very slowly. This will have the effect of a strong accent (like fp) or subito f / subito p, but keep your focus on the motion and the bow speed — not the dynamics/accent. Keep the bow moving at all times, either extremely fast or extremely slow, and try not to let the bow stop.
Level 3: Similar to Level 2, but instead of one cycle of fast-slow per bow, do two cycles (the first fast part starting at the frog, followed by slow bow until the middle, then the second fast part starting at the middle, followed by slow bow until the tip). If that goes well, do four cycles or more per bow.
For ultimate bow control, keep your weight and sounding point the same during both the fast and slow portions. It will be tempting to add weight during the fast part (to reinforce the loudness of it) … but avoid this! Try to develop the ability to control your bow speed independent of other factors.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.
Do this in any key, with your usual fingerings.
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.