Practice Notes Fiddle 1

Checking tuning: G D A E

Bow twice across each string, back and forth

Scales: Gmaj, Dmaj, Amaj
  1. Bow twice on each note, up and down the scale, repeat.
  2. "Mississippi groundhog," up and down the scale, repeat.
  3. "Grasshopper," up and down the scale, repeat.
  4. Straight scale, up and down, repeat three times.
Songs
  1. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star": Dmaj, Gmaj, Amaj, three times each.
  2. "Shortenin' Bread": Dmaj, Gmaj, Amaj, three times each.
  3. "Shortenin' Bread" with "Grasshopper" beat: Dmaj, three times.
  4. "Frère Jacques": Dmaj, three times.
TOTAL PRACTICE TIME: 25 minutes a day (after practicing for 8 weeks, starting with 10 minutes a day and adding 5 minutes every other week or so, as your arms and hands gain strength)

Things to think about
  1. Breathe and relax into the bowing.
  2. Don't rush. Play each song slowly first, until the notes sing out clearly.
  3. Start with a down bow, but don't pick up the bow again until you stop playing. Keep the bow moving up and down; notice how the bowing switches direction from repetition to repetition within a song.
  4. Keep your fingers down on the string as the notes move up the scale. Don't lift them unless you have to.
  5. Do arm stretches to keep arms and wrists limber.
  6. Expect it to feel awkward whenever you have a new fingering or rhythm or bow pattern to learn.

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