Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Survival
Kit
Mr S Heron
NEELB
Contents
Beginners:
Beginner Violin Shopping List
Quizlet
Useful apps
Operation Bow
Listening Homework
Grade 1:
Grade 1 Violin Shopping List
The Low Down on the ABRSM grade exams
A Guideline for Grade 1, ABRSM Violin Sight-Reading
Grade 1 ABRSM Scale Flash Cards
Grade 2:
Grade 2 Violin Shopping List
A Guideline for Grade 2, ABRSM Violin Sight-Reading
Grade 2 ABRSM Scale Flash Cards
Grade 3:
Grade 3 Violin Shopping List
A Guideline for Grade 3, ABRSM Violin Sight-Reading
Grade 3 ABRSM Scale Flash Cards
Advanced Violinists:
Advanced Students - The Art of Practicing
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Fiddle Time Joggers by Kathy and David Blackwell, and published by Oxford University
Press. This is a really fun book and includes a cd.
2)
Strings in Step for Violin, Book 1, by Jan Dobbins and published by Oxford University Press.
It also includes a cd.
3)
A block of violin rosin. This helps the hair to rub against the string and cause it to vibrate,
making a lovely sound. A good make is Hindersine. I would recommend Hindersine 6V
Violin Rosin.
4)
5)
A shoulder rest. There are many on the market. It is important to make sure that you chose
the correct size. I would recommend the Kun Mini collapsible violin shoulder rest (fits 1/16
size), retailing at around 22, or the Kun Junior collapsible violin shoulder rest (fits - ),
retailing at around 30, depending on what size of violin your child is given. I like this type
because it is comfortable and fully adjustable. Another option is to buy a medium sized
sponge and attach it to the violin with an elastic band. I will show you how to do this.
6)
It is not entirely necessary, but once you know what size of violin you have, it is often a good
idea to buy a spare set of strings so I can replace a broken one immediately. A bit like a
spare tyre in a car. Astrea is a reasonably priced beginner string. Alternatively you can buy
these as and when you need them, but you may be without a string for a week or so.
7)
There are numerous places where you can buy the above. I would recommend
Amazon.co.uk. You might like to check out a local music store such as Matchetts Music in
Belfast (028 9032 6695) or Nicholl Brothers in Ballymena (028 2564 9616).
QUIZLET
quizlet.com is a superb website which specializes in flashcards. I use it for 2 different purposes:
1)
Listen
Rhythm
Notes
Other Musical Elements
Play
What is the time signature? Notes are often put into groups of 2, 3, or 4 and divided by bar
lines.
What are the different note values in the music? Are you familiar with them?
What are you like at changing from one note value to another whilst keeping a pulse with
your metronome?
Take note of any repeat signs or DC or Dal segno signs.
Step 2: Then play the cd again for a second time and clap and count the rhythm out loud. If
possible tap your toe lightly to the pulse so that you feel the heartbeat of the music.
Using a metronome: You may find that the tempo of the cd is too fast. In this
case, use a metronome. It you do not already have a metronome, buy one!
Every musician worth his salt should have one.
Set it to a slow tempo to give you time to get your brain around the rhythm and
clap and count your way through. Once you feel you have mastered this, crank your metronome
up a few notches and try again.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Ideally, aim to reach a little faster than the tempo of the cd. When you finally clap and count
along to the cd, it will feel easy and relaxed.
Happy days!
STAGE 3 Make sure you are familiar with the 3 note facts.
Background:
When you see a note in the music it tells you a number of things all at once. It describes how long
the note lasts for and also what the note sounds like. When you play a stringed instrument like
violin or cello there are also 3 other facts you will need to know:
1)
2)
3)
You need to know these 3 facts all at once. It seems impossible, but with practice, you will be able
to do it. Flash cards are a great way to develop your fluency.
Now for action!
Step 1: Call out the names of the notes. (Do you know the lines & spaces? See Music Theory
handout No. 1)
Step 2: Call out the finger that you need to use. (See the note charts)
Step 3: Call out the name of the string you are playing on. Just do this once at the start of each
new change of string.
Step 4: Repeat the above with the cd. If you find the cd is too fast for you to work this out in
time, use a metronome at a slower speed, and repeat, getting gradually faster each time.
More experienced students:
When you are confident with this you will be able to multi task and see these 3 elements at once.
Bypass this procedure and instead look at the key signature and work out how this effects your
fingering such as close and extended 2nd fingers for violin etc.
When you are at home use your imagination and pretend you are playing in a big concert
hall with an orchestra in front of lots of people. With experience you will feel more
comfortable performing and perhaps even play better than you do on your own at home.
Try improvising to pop music, tv, etc.
Join an orchestra at school and/or the NEELB. You will make lots of friends, play great music,
improve your playing, especially your sight reading, and get lots of opportunities to perform
and travel.
This procedure may seem very slow and time consuming, but it really does work. In the long run it
will save you time, and build really good foundations in your playing, in particular your tuning.
To do this, play through the piece slowly, with a loose sense of the pulse.
Play with a lovely big tone.
Use chaos notes (check against the open string.)
Ideally ask your folks, relative or friend to play the piano or keyboard along with you to give
yourself something to compare yourself to. Hopefully by this stage you will have memorised
the tune of the piece.
Use a chromatic tuner.
If you suspect you have played a wrong note, or just played a note out of tune, go back and
fix it and move on, like forward winding and rewinding a cd. Remember, you want to play
correctly more of the time, not practise your mistakes.
You may notice little groups of 2 or 3 notes. I like to repeat these. As I play them more
confidently, and accurately, I gradually get them faster and repeat them. Then I continue
onto the next note or next group at a slow speed. Try joining the notes or groups of notes
together, like pieces of a jigsaw.
Eventually, use your metronome. Put these small sections together to form larger sections.
Eventually join these larger sections together until you can play all the way through in one
go. Start slowly, and gradually get faster. When it is up to speed, play along with the
backing track or ask someone to accompany you on the piano.
Initially keep your eyes on the music 99% of the time in order to keep track of where you
are. If you need to, look quickly at your instrument for a split second, and back again to the
music. Later on, if you have time, you can try to memorize the music and not look at it at all.
Aim to play a bit faster than the cd. When you play with the cd, it will seem slow and easy.
Nobody said this was going to necessarily be fun. You may be able to think of a million other
things you would rather like to do, but your sacrifice will be worth it! Many other fine
musicians before you have travelled the same road and are glad they made the sacrifice. It
is a means to an end. There is no gain without pain.
Most of all, enjoy! Your effort in learning this new skill and honing your talent is well worth the
effort. It will be a blessing to you and other people.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
1.
The duration of notes
A note value refers to the duration of a note. Below is a list of some of the note values.
You can see how one note value derives from another by looking at the note pyramid.
Notice how you half each note value to get two of the next type.
Also notice that each note has an American name (fraction name) and a British name:
Note Pyramid
Note
Rest
British Name
American Name
Duration
(in counts)
Semi breve
Whole note
Minim
Half note
Crotchet
Quarter note
Quaver
Eighth note
Semi quaver
Sixteenth note
2.
Pitch
When you open your music you will notice that the notes do not live in outer space, but they are
placed on lines and spaces called the stave. This is where the notes live. Each note will have a
different sound (or pitch) depending on where it lives on the stave.
Each line and space has a name, not like Jack or Daisy, but after a letter of the alphabet. Did you
know that there are only 7 letters in the musical alphabet!
Notice how, on the stave, as you go from each consecutive line to space, or space to line,
you go through the alphabet.
As you climb up the stave, you go up the alphabet, and vice versa as you go down. This is
like climbing up or down rungs of a ladder.
In music you will soon come across scales. A scale is a sequence of musical notes in
ascending or descending order.
Remembering the names of the notes. Now we have a problem! With so many lines and spaces,
how on earth will we remember all their names?
1
Rhymes
One way is that we invent a rhyme, one to help us remember the lines, and a word for the spaces.
The first letter of each word gives us the particular alphabetic letter name of the note:
5 Lines
Football
Deserves
Boy
Good
Every
4 Spaces
E
C
A
F
Another way of remembering the names of the lines and spaces of the stave is to think of your
hand as the stave. Each of your 5 fingers represents a line of the stave, and the gaps in between,
the spaces:
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
2
Refer to the open strings
Another quick way of working out the lines and spaces is to remember the open string notes of
the violin:
So, test yourself often, and in no time at all you will know the names of the notes automatically.
What the mind repeats, it retains!
Step 1:
Hold your hand out like a floppy paw. Make sure it is nice and relaxed. Your fingers
should be dangling down.
Step 2:
Pick up your bow with your left hand, pointing the frog to the right.
Step 3:
Move the bow into your hand so that your little finger is above the eye of the frog.
Step 4:
Move your hand down onto the bow until the bow is just above the first knuckle of
your index finger, from your finger tip.
Step 5:
Place the tip of your thumb just in front of the frog, on the wood.
Step 6:
Angle your hand to the left so that you lean on your first finger. This is called
pronation. Do this so much that your little finger sits on top of the stick.
Step 7:
Rest your bow on the string. Give the weight of the bow and your arm to the string.
'Ev'ry time you stop and start go through your bow check list, it's really smart'.
Operation Bow
Have you ever played the board game Operation?
One of the most challenging aspects of playing the violin as a beginner, is only playing one string at
a time, and avoiding glancing the other adjacent strings. You can practice this by playing long bow
strokes from the heel of the bow to the tip repeatedly.
Make sure that you watch where the bow meets the string. You will have to vary the height of
your elbow on each string. Your elbow will be highest on the G string, and lowest on the E
string. Use your imagination.
If you glance an adjacent string, it is like touching the hole in your patients tummy and he shouts
out.
Have fun!
Listening Homework
You will often hear musicians say that one of the best ways to improve on your instrument is to
listen to other musicians play. I would certainly agree with this. It helps to give you an impression
of what your instrument is capable of. From an early age I was fascinated by watching musicians
play. The visual side of learning music is for me even more stimulating. By watching you can learn
so much about the technique required to get the most out of your instrument. If possible go and
see a live concert, and watch really good professional musicians. Perhaps the greatest reason to
watch musicians is that it can be really inspiring. I have often come from a concert and
immediately taken my instrument out when I got home because I was so inspired and wanted to
try out a new idea I had seen. Going to a live concert is not always possible. For that reason I
would thoroughly recommend that you use YouTube. It is an amazing resource.
For home work, I would like you to listen to a new piece of music for your instrument every week
and answer there 3 questions. Write the answers on the following Listening Homework Record
Sheet, and week by week you will surprise yourself as to how many pieces of music that you know.
Question 1:
What is the name of the performer?
Question 2:
What is the title of the music?
Question 3:
Who is the composer?
As well as listening to Classical music, why dont you expand your horizons and listen to other
types of music. Have you tried Vanessa Mae, The Turtle Island String Quartet, Darol Anger,
Nigel Kennedy, Mark OConnor? It will launch you on a road of discovery that can shape the
way that you develop as a musician.
Happy listening.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Buy the Grade 1 ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Violin Exam Pieces
Book. Make sure it is from the 2012-2015 syllabus, that it includes a score, violin part and a
CD (it has a blue cover).
2)
Buy the Grade 1 ABRSM Scales & Arpeggios Book from 2012 (green cover).
3)
Buy the Grade 1-5 ABRSM Violin Specimen Sight-Reading Tests from 2012 (light blue cover).
4)
Perhaps buy the Grade 1-3 ABRSM Specimen Aural Tests, New Edition from2011 (brown
and orange cover). Make sure it includes 2 cds. Your school will prepare you for this, but I
would recommend doing work on this at home. For other alternatives see my handout The
Low Down on the ABRSM Grade Exams.
5)
If you do not already have it, please buy Fiddle Time Runners, written by Kathy & David
Blackwell & published by Oxford University Press. This follows on from the previous book
you have been using, Fiddle Time Joggers.
Listen to all of the CDs and write down your favourite 2 pieces in each list, in order of preference.
There are 3 lists, A, B, and C. As you will see from the index at the front of the book there are 6
pieces in each list to choose from. Once you have chosen we will discuss and make our final 3
choices, one piece from each list. Fill in the list below:
List A
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
List B
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
List C
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Listen to them repeatedly, following your sheet music at the same time.
Try to memorize the melody.
How many little details in the music can you notice such as any crescendos and diminuendos,
dynamics, unusual rhythms, staccato notes, legato notes, slurred notes, separate notes?
The more of these little details that you can include when you come to perform, the better.
The examiner will be looking out to see if you noticed them.
It gives you such a sense of achievement to achieve your grade exams. It will be a lot of fun, but at
times you may find it frustrating. At times like this you will need patience, perseverance, and
discipline.
You will get through.
I have taught hundreds of students that have made the journey and were so glad that they did.
I am really looking forward to starting this adventure with you!
a)
b)
c)
If you have an iphone there is an app that you can buy which is called the ABRSM Aural
Trainer for Grades 1-3 it is 2.99.
You can buy a resource from the ABRSM called Specimen Aural Tests New Edition from
2011 (brown and orange cover). Make sure that it includes 2 cds.
Look up the NEELB website: www.neelb.org.uk. Click on Curriculum at the top of the page.
Click on Creative and Expressive, then Music on left of page. In Aural Tests you will find
examples for each grade, with answers.
Tips Pick up a copy of the current 2012-2015 Bowed Strings Syllabus by the ABRSM. It has a blue
cover.
Information
The exam is marked out of a total of 150 marks. 100 marks to 119 marks is a pass. 120
marks to 129 marks is a merit. 130 or more is a distinction.
Your school will enter you for the exam and will notify you of the cost.
All monies should go to the school and not myself.
Schools will try to arrange a suitable exam date. It is Music Service policy that tutors do not
enter students for grade exams.
You will hopefully have an opportunity to warm up and top and tail your pieces with your
pianist in a warm up room prior to the exam.
The ABRSM has produced an excellent resource called These music exams - A guide to
ABRSM exams for candidates, teachers and parents. It is free and can be obtained from
most music shops, such as Matchetts Music in Belfast (028 9032 6695).
Marking scheme
Schedule of maximum marks for all grades:
Pieces 1 ............................... 30
Pieces 2 ............................... 30
Pieces 3 ............................... 30
Scales and arpeggios ........... 21
Sight-reading ....................... 21
Aural tests ........................... 18
Total................................ 150
All being well the school will hear the results within around 3 weeks approximately and you
will be given a distinguished certificate with your name on it.
Available for Grades 1-5, this book which has a light blue cover gives examples of sight reading
appropriate to the level expected in the exam. It takes account of the revised requirements.
You can purchase this book for around 5 from a number of sources such as Amazon or local
music stores such as Matchetts Music in Belfast (028 9032 6695).
Pick up a free copy of the syllabus for sight-reading and familiarize yourself with it.
Sight-reading requirements:
The sight reading component is worth a total of 21 marks out of a total of 150 marks for the
entire exam.
There are very specific requirements which you should be aware of for each grade, which
will vary a little from one instrument to another.
Notes/Pitches
In D or A major.
Position/String
Bowing
Dynamics
Note values
The only note values used will be minims, crotchets, and quavers.
Rests
Further guidelines:
The sight-reading tests are without accompaniment. Candidates will be given a short interval of
up to half a minute in which to look through and, if they wish, try out any part of the test before
they are required to perform it for assessment. (Syllabus, page 7.)
Sight-reading relies on two elements:
1
Observation
Look at the key signature. Remember that the sight reading will only be in one
key, D or A major. It is helpful to play this scale before you play the extract in
order to familiarize yourself with the finger patterns you will use. The really
good news is that you only use extended 2nd finger on any of the 3 strings
(remember you dont play on the G string), never close 2nd finger!
Rhythm/Tempo The extract will only include rhythms made up out of quavers, crotchets, minims
and crotchet rests. Look over some of the examples in Specimen Sight Reading
Tests to test that this is true. A useful exercise to help you gain confidence and
fluency at changing from one note value to another is to set your metronome to
crotchet = 90, establishing a pulse. Then ask someone to randomly call out a
new note value. Can you change fluently from one note value to another
smoothly, without hesitation?
Examine the Time Signature. Remember it will only be in one of three time
signatures: 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4.
In order to work out what tempo or speed the music is to be played at it is
necessary to observe the tempo marking at the start of the extract. It may be in
English, but it may also be in Italian. It is therefore necessary for you to learn the
list of grade 1 Italian terms that are required for the grade 1 theory exam. A list
of these can be found at www.quizlet.com. This is a superb site. Do a search for
whatever Grade you are doing, eg, Grade 1 Italian Terms (no25). It will give you
a list of all the Grade 1 Italian words that you need to learn and also some fun
games to help you memorize them. Quizlet is primarily a flashcard website, so it
gives you the option to make your own flashcards. You may get an extract which
is marked Andante. Because you have learnt the words in Quizlet you know
that Andante means at a walking pace. But how fast is that? You need to how
many beats per minute this is (BPM). You can find a comprehensive table at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempo. It tells us that Andante is 76 - 108 BPM.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Use your metronome to hear the pulse. In time, you will get an accurate
impression of the tempo of these terms. Make sure that you choose a realistic
tempo. If the speed indicated is too fast for you, it would be better to play it a
little slower, to give yourself more thinking time, than to play too quickly and
sacrifice the fluency and detail.
Other Musical
Elements
Articulation/
Dynamics
The good news is that for grade 1 you do not need to consider articulation. For
grade 2 you will need to look out for slurs.
There are only 3 dynamic markings for grade 1; p (piano) = softly, mf (mezzo
forte) = moderately loud, f (forte) = loud. Some examples maintain the same
dynamic all the way through. Some extracts vary the dynamics. The golden rule
is to exaggerate the dynamics. Make it crystal clear to the examiner that you
have noticed the dynamic changes. Also, ask yourself how wide is your dynamic
range? Practice playing at each dynamic level. Make your pianos quieter and
your fortes louder. Be more extreme.
Execution
You will get up to half a minute to prepare yourself before you have to play use this time
wisely.
Go over the above 5 musical building blocks in order.
Do this consistently with each sight reading extract that you practice at home. In time you
will get faster and better skilled.
One of the best ways to improve your sight reading is to play in an orchestra.
I hope that this has been helpful for you any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask
me. I hope that your sight-reading just gets better and better!
Mr. Heron
D major scale,
slurred bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
E minor arpeggio,
separate bows
only (quaver = 104)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
E minor natural
scale, separate
bows (crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
E minor natural
scale, slurred bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
G major arpeggio,
separate bows only
(quaver = 104)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
A major arpeggio,
separate bows only
(quaver = 104)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
A major scale,
separate bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
A major scale,
slurred bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
D major arpeggio,
separate bows only
(quaver = 104)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
D major scale,
separate bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
G major scale,
separate bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
G major scale,
slurred bows
(crotchet = 52)
Grade 1 ABRSM
Violin Scale Flash
Cards
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Buy the Grade 2 ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Violin Exam Pieces
Book. Make sure it is from the 2012-2015 syllabus, that it includes a score, violin part and a
CD (it has a blue cover).
2)
Buy the Grade 2 ABRSM Scales & Arpeggios Book from 2012 (green cover).
3)
Buy the Grade 1-5 ABRSM Violin Specimen Sight-Reading Tests from 2012 (light blue cover).
You may already have this for grade 1.
4)
Perhaps buy the Grade 1-3 ABRSM Specimen Aural Tests, New Edition from2011 (brown
and orange cover). Make sure it includes 2 cds. Your school will prepare you for this, but I
would recommend doing work on this at home. For other alternatives see my handout The
Low Down on the ABRSM Grade Exams.
5)
If you do not already have it, please buy Fiddle Time Runners, written by Kathy & David
Blackwell & published by Oxford University Press. This follows on from the previous book
you have been using, Fiddle Time Joggers.
6)
A Tuneful Introduction to Third Position by Neil MacKay, published by Stainer & Bell.
Listen to all of the CDs and write down your favourite 2 pieces in each list, in order of preference.
There are 3 lists, A, B, and C. As you will see from the index at the front of the book there are 6
pieces in each list to choose from. Once you have chosen we will discuss and make our final 3
choices, one piece from each list. Fill in the list below:
List A
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
List B
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
List C
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
Listen to them repeatedly, following your sheet music at the same time.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Available for Grades 1-5, this book which has a light blue cover gives examples of sight reading
appropriate to the level expected in the exam. It takes account of the revised requirements.
You can purchase this book for around 5 from a number of sources such as Amazon or local
music stores such as Matchetts Music in Belfast (028 9032 6695).
Pick up a free copy of the syllabus for sight-reading and familiarize yourself with it.
Sight-reading requirements:
The sight reading component is worth a total of 21 marks out of a total of 150 marks for the
entire exam.
There are very specific requirements which you should be aware of for each grade, which
will vary a little from one instrument to another.
Notes/Pitches
Position/String
Bowing
Dynamics
Note values
The only note values used will be minims, crotchets, and quavers.
Rests
The only rests will be crotchet rests, with the addition of dotted
minim and minim rests.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Further guidelines:
The sight-reading tests are without accompaniment. Candidates will be given a short interval of
up to half a minute in which to look through and, if they wish, try out any part of the test before
they are required to perform it for assessment. (Syllabus, page 7.)
Sight-reading relies on two elements:
1
Observation
Look at the key signature. Remember that the sight reading will only be in one
key, D, A or G major or E natural minor. It is helpful to play these scales before
you play the extract in order to familiarize yourself with the finger patterns you
will use. The really good news is that you only use extended 2nd finger on any
of the 4 strings, never close 2nd finger, but now you may be expected to play on
the G string.
Rhythm/Tempo The extract will only include rhythms made up out of quavers, crotchets and
minims and there may be crotchet and now minim and dotted minim rests. Look
over some of the examples in Specimen Sight Reading Tests to test that this is
true. A useful exercise to help you gain confidence and fluency at changing from
one note value to another is to set your metronome to crotchet = 90,
establishing a pulse. Then ask someone to randomly call out a new note value.
Can you change fluently from one note value to another smoothly, without
hesitation? Examine the Time Signature. Remember it will only be in one of
three time signatures: 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4, the same as Grade 1.
In order to work out what tempo or speed the music is to be played at it is
necessary to observe the tempo marking at the start of the extract. It may be in
English, but it may also be in Italian. It is therefore necessary for you to learn the
list of grade 1 Italian terms that are required for the grade 1 theory exam. A list
of these can be found at www.quizlet.com. This is a superb site. Do a search for
whatever Grade you are doing, eg, Grade 1 Italian Terms (no25). It will give you
a list of all the Grade 1 Italian words that you need to learn and also some fun
games to help you memorize them. Quizlet is primarily a flashcard website, so it
gives you the option to make your own flashcards. You may get an extract which
is marked Andante. Because you have learnt the words in Quizlet you know
that Andante means at a walking pace. But how fast is that? You need to know
how many beats per minute this is (BPM). You can find a comprehensive table at
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Execution
You will get up to half a minute to prepare yourself before you have to play use this time
wisely.
Go over the above 5 musical building blocks in order.
Do this consistently with each sight reading extract that you practice at home. In time you
will get faster and better skilled.
One of the best ways to improve your sight reading is to play in an orchestra.
I hope that this has been helpful for you any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask
me. I hope that your sight-reading just gets better and better!
Mr. Heron
Buy the Grade 3 ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Violin Exam Pieces
Book. Make sure it is from the 2012-2015 syllabus, that it includes a score, violin part and a
CD (it has a blue cover).
2)
Buy the Grade 3 ABRSM Scales & Arpeggios Book from 2012 green cover).
3)
Buy the Grade 1-5 ABRSM Violin Specimen Sight-Reading Tests from 2012 (light blue cover).
You may already have this for grade 1 & 2.
4)
Perhaps buy the Grade 1-3 ABRSM Specimen Aural Tests, New Edition from2011 (brown
and orange cover). Make sure it includes 2 cds. Your school will prepare you for this, but I
would recommend doing work on this at home. For other alternatives see my handout The
Low Down on the ABRSM Grade Exams.
5)
If you do not already have it, please buy Fiddle Time Sprinters, written by Kathy & David
Blackwell & published by Oxford University Press. This follows on from the previous book
you have been using, Fiddle Time Runners.
Listen to all of the CDs and write down your favourite 2 pieces in each list, in order of preference.
There are 3 lists, A, B, and C. As you will see from the index at the front of the book there are 6
pieces in each list to choose from. Once you have chosen we will discuss and make our final 3
choices, one piece from each list. Fill in the list below:
List A
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
List B
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
List C
1 ___________________________________________________________
2 ___________________________________________________________
Listen to them repeatedly, following your sheet music at the same time.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Available for Grades 1-5, this book which has a light blue cover gives examples of sight reading
appropriate to the level expected in the exam. It takes account of the revised requirements.
You can purchase this book for around 5 from a number of sources such as Amazon or local
music stores such as Matchetts Music in Belfast (028 9032 6695).
Pick up a free copy of the syllabus for sight-reading and familiarize yourself with it.
Sight-reading requirements:
The sight reading component is worth a total of 21 marks out of a total of 150 marks for the
entire exam.
There are very specific requirements which you should be aware of for each grade, which
will vary a little from one instrument to another.
Notes/Pitches
Position/String
Bowing
Dynamics
Note values
Rests
Articulation
Further guidelines:
The sight-reading tests are without accompaniment. Candidates will be given a short interval of
up to half a minute in which to look through and, if they wish, try out any part of the test before
they are required to perform it for assessment. (Syllabus, page 7.)
Sight-reading relies on two elements:
1)
Observation
Look at the key signature. Remember that the sight reading will only be in one of
these keys, D, A, or G major, or E natural minor. It is helpful to play these scales
before you play the extract in order to familiarize yourself with the finger
patterns you will use. The really good news is that you only use extended 2nd
finger on any of the 4 strings, never close 2nd finger, but now you may be
expected to play on the G string.
Rhythm/Tempo The extract will only include rhythms made up out of quavers, crotchets, and
minims, and there may be crotchet and now minim and dotted minim rests.
Look over some of the examples in Specimen Sight Reading Tests to test that
this is true. A useful exercise to help you gain confidence and fluency at
changing from one note value to another is to set your metronome to
crotchet=90, establishing a pulse. Then ask someone to randomly call out a new
note value. Can you change fluently from one note value to another smoothly,
without hesitation? Examine the Time Signature. Remember it will only be in
one of three time signatures: 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4, the same as grade 1.
In order to work out what tempo or speed the music is to be played at it is
necessary to observe the tempo marking at the start of the extract. It may be in
English, but it may also be in Italian. It is therefore necessary for you to learn the
list of grade 1 Italian terms that are required for the grade 1 theory exam. A list
of these can be found at www.quizlet.com. This is a superb site. Do a search for
whatever Grade you are doing e.g. Grade 1 Italian Terms (no25). It will give you
a list of all the Grade 1 Italian words that you need to learn and also some fun
games to help you memorize them. Quizlet is primarily a flashcard website, so it
gives you the option to make your own flashcards. You may get an extract which
is marked Andante. Because you have learnt the words in Quizlet you know
that Andante means at a walking pace. But how fast is that? You need to know
how many beats for minute this is (BPM). You can find a comprehensive table at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempo. It tells us that Andante is 76-108 BPM. Use
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
your metronome to hear the pulse. In time, you will get an accurate impression
of the tempo of these terms. Make sure that you choose a realistic tempo. If the
speed indicated is too fast for you, it would be better to play it a little slower, to
give yourself more thinking time, than to play too quickly and sacrifice the
fluency and detail.
Articulation/
Dynamics
2)
Execution
You will get up to half a minute to prepare yourself before you have to play -use this time
wisely.
Go over the above 5 musical building blocks in order.
Do this consistently with each sight-reading extract that you practice at home. In time you
will get faster and better skilled.
One of the best ways to improve your sight reading is to play in an orchestra.
I hope that this has been helpful for you any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask
me. I hope that your sight-reading just gets better and better!
Mr. Heron
Advanced Students
The Art of Practising
Tuning is the number 1 difficulty in playing the violin!
The general principle is try to practice playing (percentage wise) more correctly, rather than your
mistakes.
If you make a tuning mistake or play a wrong note, stop and fix it, and then move on.
Dont be tempted to play too fast.
Go slowly enough so that you can catch any mistake you may make.
It is like putting a bandage on it. In time, with consistent correct repetition you will train yourself
to play more in tune, more of the time, as your muscles remember where they were placed. It is a
scientific fact!
When you start practicing in this way it feels like you are moving really slowly, but be patient. You
will get faster at it and build really good foundations for your tuning. You are going through the
gradual process of sharpening your ear.
You cant run before you can walk!
Practice Formula
Stage 1
If you have a cd recording of the music you are practicing, listen to it repeatedly in order to get the
tune into your ear. Ask yourself do you know it well enough to be able to sing it? Your
knowledge needs to be 100%. If possible, follow the score at the same time as listening to
reinforce your learning. A good knowledge of the melody will help you to detect any wrong notes
or tuning mistakes all the quicker.
Stage 2
Now work through the whole piece of music very slowly on your violin, one note at a time, all the
way through. Use a loose sense of rhythm. Listen very carefully to your tuning. Play with a full,
sustained, solid, boring tone, so that you can hear what you are playing clearly. You are going
through the process of sharpening your ear.
How quickly can you detect tuning anomalies and fix them on the spot? Professional players do
not play in tune all of the time, but they are ultra-fast at detecting faults and adjusting before
anyone else has time to register them.
Your ear is like the navigation computer of a guided missile, guiding your finger towards the
target.
Violin Survival Kit
Scott Heron - NEELB
Go back and forward over any shifts along the way. Practice the chaos notes to realign you in
whatever position you are in to avoid drifting out of the centre of the tonality. Use Spocks.
Compare your tuning to the piano or keyboard. Practice bar by bar, phrase by phrase, until you
have covered the entire piece.
Gradually join the bars and phrases together, like putting pieces of a jigsaw together. Once you
have decided on the fingering, be consistent.
Every piece has one or two tricky bits, which I circle in the part as DANGER areas. Go over and
over theses bars until they are fluent.
Stage 3
You now need to increase your fluency. The best tool for this is a metronome. Initially set it to a
relatively slow tempo. Work through the piece in sections at this speed. Gradually connect the
sections and aim to go from start to finish continually without any stops.
Once you feel confident at this tempo, increase the tempo by increments of 10 until you are
playing faster than the correct tempo of the piece. When you play the correct tempo, it will feel
relaxed, and even slow!
You will achieve a real sense of control as you reinforce your muscle memory.
Stage 4
Eventually add other aspects of the music such as articulation, dynamics, expression, etc, one by
one. Layering your practice like this enables you to simultaneously combine the musical elements
in conjunction with the other, making it possible to multitask successfully.