The musical term pizzicato is a direction for the players of bowed string instruments (i.e., violin, viola, cello, and double bass) to pluck the strings with their fingers instead of using the bow. The word pizzicare in Italian means ‘to pinch.’ The earliest known use of pizzicato can be traced back to Monterverdi’s Madrigal – Il combattimento di Tancredi…
Violin players attribute much of their skills to muscle memory. The long hours of practice are meant to develop and refine our motor skills to a level where the movements become a second nature to us. However, such training is only effective when it is coupled with a heightened sense of awareness, particularly in listening….
Holding the Bow Right A good bow hold is a prerequisite to a beautiful tone. Each finger in the right hand has its functions, and each finger must be placed correctly on the bow stick. Subtle finger motions are required when playing the violin, and therefore, the fingers have to stay curved and relaxed. One…
How to Interpret Staccato Staccato is a musical term for notes that are played short and detached. Notes to be played with Staccato are simply notated with a dot above or below. Staccato can also be used as a term to describe the overall articulation of a passage or a piece. The opposite of Staccato…
What Is Intonation? Intonation refers to the accuracy of pitch, where notes can sound higher or lower than expected if the performers are not well-trained. Most violin students spend much of their effort on intonation in their practice routine. Bad intonation can dampen the instrument’s tone quality and weaken the harmonic effect of the whole ensemble. The…
The Art of Vibrato Vibrato on the violin involves oscillating the fingers of the left hand between the main pitch and a slightly flatter side of the same note. The action of vibrato can be initiated from the arm, hand, or fingers. There are many teachings out there that describe each type of vibrato and…
Proper Posture for Playing the Violin A well-balanced posture requires minimal muscular effort to remain in a position or to execute an action. The right alignment between the head, torso, arms, and legs gives us that balance and allows us to move with ease. Playing the violin with a good posture prevents fatigue and injuries…