Washoe County School District - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Washoe County School DistrictViolin Unit “How-To”for Teachers

Presented by Danielle Cates & David NavaretteSlide2

Taking Instrument Out of the CaseAlways hold instrument securely, entire hand closed around the neckHave a policy for your classroom-Leave

cases open when the violin is out or close and lock case after getting violin out-Do not leave cases closed that are not locked (by latches or a zipper)-When

you put away violin, lock the latches as soon as you close the case

-All

this is to avoid forgetting to lock it, standing up, and having the instrument fall out onto the floorTaking out the bow-Unlock first-Slide out (do not pull up!)-Putting the bow away-Tip first-Lock in placeSlide3

Parts of the ViolinImportant parts to cover:-Bridge (don’t touch!)-End

Button-Neck-Scroll-Shoulder (Upper Bout)

-Sound

Hole / Forte Hole / F Hole

-Pegs (don’t touch!)-Fine Tuners/Tailpiece-Strings-Fingerboard-Chinrest/JawrestSlide4

Violin PosturesGuitar PositionThings to watch for:

-Bridge is visible (not getting bumped by hand or arm)-Plucking over the fingerboard-Fingers standing up

>Finger

tips pinch the string

>Middle of the finger on the tape-Thumb pad on back of neck>“slide back until you touch the scroll”Playing PositionPosture Set-up Every Time-“Alligator bites the shoulder/sandwich”

-Violin

on your head

-Violin

in your ear

-Slide

straight down

-Grab

with the side of your jaw

>Note

: chin does NOT touch the chinrest



-Right

thumb on the SIDE of the fingerboard

-Wrist

straight (Dragon Story)

-Follow posture

instructions from guitar positionSlide5

Posture Pictures

Pizzicato

T

humb on side of fingerboard. Don’t pluck where you bow 

Fingerboard

Fingers should stand up for best tone (keep knuckles high)

Wrist

Keep it straight, try not to let hand touch the violin – only thumb and fingers may touchSlide6

Parts of the BowImportant Parts to Cover-Frog

-Screw (Tension Screw)-Tip-Grip (Winding)

-Stick

-Horsehair

(don’t touch!)-Ferrule (“clip”)Slide7

Bow CareTaking the bow out of the case

1. Look at the bow (put it back the same way)2. Unlock

3. Pick up

the frog 1

inch only4. Slide the bow out of the case until you can see the entire bow5. Bow on your head (quiet sign)Rosining Rosin bow every time you play. You should see the rosin on the hairs. “Scrub, scrub, scrub”

Tightening and Loosening

Righty

Tighty

- Lefty

Loosey

Bow

is loose when in the case

(

hairs

should be nearly touching the middle of the

stick)

Bow is tight when out of the case

-Hairs

are about one pinky width away

from the

middle of the stick

-Tighten

BEFORE rosining too!

Only takes about 3-4 turns to tighten

or loosen

the bow

-If

a finger other than the pinky can

fit between

the hairs and middle of the stick, you’ve gone TOO FAR.

“Loosen Your Bow Whenever You Go!”Slide8

Bow HoldBeginner Bow Hold“Turkey Sandwich” Style

1. Tip of the thumb on the clip/ferrule

2. Middle

knuckles across the stick

3. Little space between each finger Poke space! Check good hand posture by poking between each finger.4. Keep fingers straight, for now Fingers

will relax as they get used to the bow hold and build those

hand

muscles

Slide9

Bow ExercisesWithout the ViolinLizard Crawl

-Crawl down and up the bow using only fingers-Builds muscle, helps students familiarize with the weight of the bowBow Charades -Copy Teacher (hat, dolphin, beard, rocket)

-Surprise

bow hold checks; goal is to keep your bow hold the whole time

Bowing on the shoulder-Use this for “Elbow Swing” practice-“Open like a door” use left index finger on inside elbow to check for swinging motion.-Rhythm exercises -Bow upside down (wood side)

With the Violin

On the string

-Encourage

students to use middle to upper half

of

bow

(helps relax their shoulder and elbow)

-Discourage

playing at the frog (can stiffen the arm)

-Keep

right shoulder and elbow low

and relaxed

-Adjust

arm height for various strings (escalator)

Teeter-Totters

-

Tilt

bow across strings by

raising/lowering

the arm

Bow under violin

-Can

put fingers on the string and bow

in the crook

of

their

left elbow (upside down –

w

ood on elbow))

Bow in the air

-Can

put fingers on the string

-Good

to check correct bow direction

Col

Legno

Bowing

-Hold

bow upside down (hairs face the ceiling)

-Tap

strings (gently!) with the upper half of the

bow

stick

-Do

not “bow” with the wood, just tap up and down

for

a

cool trick and rhythm practiceSlide10

Care/Maintenance/TuningCaring for the Violins

Keep out of extreme heat or coldDo not set them down on their bridge“If its not in your hand, its in the case!”Store sponges on top of the violin, so it blocks the bow from falling on violin when case in closed.

Always clean rosin off violins after use – do not let it sit on there!

Body of violin

StringsUnder fingerboardDo NOT clean bow hairTuningTeachers should use fine tuners whenever possible

-If

they get turned too

far to the right,

they can damage the

top of the violin.

Keep an eye out!

If

this happens, loosen them and

use the

peg.

-Righty-

Tighty

to raise the pitch

-

Lefty-

Loosey

to lower the pitch

If you are comfortable using the peg, only do

so if

fine tuners are not sufficient

-School strings

teacher should handle

string replacements

Pluck/bow

string constantly

if you are using peg

-Better

to hear the string so you don’t over-tighten

-If

you are using the wrong peg – you’ll know it!

S

lowly

loosen each peg before tightening it, push in slowly as you turn it away from you to tighten. Don’t

over-tighten or turn too quickly, this will break the string!Slide11

Classroom ManagementBow on the head for quiet signCopy teacher’s bow

/ charades to get their attentionStudents in rest position when not playing

-like

guitar position, left hand on the violin shoulder, right hand “cradles the baby”-If they do this correctly, nothing will be touching the strings (no plucking sounds!)Always start beginners sitting on the floor. -They may stand as they become more comfortable holding their violins securely.Slide12

Need help during your Violin Unit?Ask your strings teacher or

contact: Danielle Cates dacates@washoeschools.netDavid Navarette dnavarette@washoeschools.net

Good, low-cost websites to suggest to students who want to play

violin

www.sharmusic.comwww.swstrings.com