Violin Bow Technique
Bowhold
Introduction to Bowhold
Finding a Bowhold
Bowhold Stability
Bowhold Flexibility
Bowing Fundamentals
Introduction to Fundamentals
Straight Bow
Square Position
Bowhold at Heel & Point
Introduction to Change of Bow
Change of Bow 1
Change of Bow 2
Down-Bow Retakes
Actions in Hand & Fingers
Détaché
Introduction to Détaché
Détaché in Middle
Détaché in Upper Half
Détaché in Lower Half
Whole-Bow Stroke
Slurred Bowings
Introduction to Slurred Bowings
Two-Note Slurs
Smooth String Crossing
Left-Hand Articulation
Pulsing Within the Slur
Introduction to Combined Bowings
Combining Slurs & Détaché
Combining Articulations
Martelé, Collé, Hookstroke & Upbow Staccato
Intro to Martelé, Collé, Hookstroke, Upbow Staccato
Introduction to Martelé
Martelé Development
Bow-Hand Pronation
Thumb & Fingers
Martelé as a Useful Practice Technique
Introduction to Hook Stroke
The Rebound
Two-Note Unit
Hook Stroke Practice
Introduction to Collé
Collé Development 1
Collé Development 2
Collé in Other Bowings
Upbow Staccato
Spiccato, Sautillé & Ricochet
Introduction to Spiccato, Sautillé, Ricochet
Introduction to Spiccato
Spiccato Development 1
Spiccato Development 2
Standing Spiccato
Lifting the Bow at Heel
Introduction to Reflex Bowings
Introduction to Sautillé
Develop the Vertical Action 1
Develop the Vertical Action 2
Sautillé - Forearm or Hand
Common Challenges in Sautillé
Introduction to Ricochet
Bounce the Bow
Endless Bouncing
Ricochet - Add Bowstroke
Ricochet - Add String Crossing
Re-Energize Ricochet
String Crossing
Introduction to String Crossing
Whole-Arm - Development
Whole-Arm with Bowstroke
Pivot String Crossing 1
Pivot String Crossing 2
Example from Bach Partita
Practice Points for Bach 1
Practice Points for Bach 2
Tone Production
Introduction to Tone Production
Balance & Weight
Bow Speed
Resonance in Whole Bows
Resonance in Détaché
Point of Contact (Sounding Point)
Bowhair Inclination
Son Filé
Chords
Introduction to Chords
String Levels
Planning in Four-Note Chords
Point of Contact
Simultaneous Three-Note Chords
Finger Action
Planning & Practice
Introduction to Planning & Practice
Mixed Rhythms
Practice Breaks
Three Bows Per Note
Rhythm Subdivision
Open Strings
Pulsing
Heel, Middle & Point
Planning Bow Division
Lifting the Bow at Heel
Integration
Introduction to Integration
Warm-Ups
Expressive Playing
Starting a New Piece
Musical Intent
Musical Character - Sicilienne
Musical Character - Gigue
Rhythm - Mozart Sonatas
Violin Left Hand
The Violin & Your Body
Shifting without a Shoulder Rest
Introduction
Holding the Violin
Shoulder Rests
Why Use a Shoulder Rest?
Warm Up the Whole Body
Chin Rests
Introduction to Warm Ups
Warm Up the Left Hand
Left-Hand Fundamentals
Introduction
Bring the Violin to You
Left-Thumb Placement
Arm Steering & 4th Finger Pizzicato
Arm Steering & Pre-Shifting
Set Up Left Hand from 3rd Finger
Set Up Left Hand from 4th Finger
Left-Hand Frame Exercises
Finger Before Bow
Holding Fingers Down
Curved Fingers & Flatter Fingers
Finger Patterns
Finger Pattern Diagrams
Finger Action
Introduction
Base-Knuckle Action
Lizard Tongue
Height of Finger Lift
Balance The Hand
Horizontal Finger Action
Harmonics
Release the Pressure
Trills
Trills & Turns
Trills & Vibrato
Left-Hand Pizzicato
Finger Independence
Introduction
Table-Top Finger Exercises
Independence Exercises
Tap Fingers While Bowing
Harmonics Develop Control
Exercise After Gerle
Facility
Introduction
Finger Patterns
Mixed Rhythms
Mixed Bowings
Use Sautillé to Develop Facility
Finger Action at Varying Tempos
Check Your Fundamentals
Shifting
Introduction
Pre-Shifting
Basic Shifting Actions with Broomstick
1st to 3rd Position Shifting
Release Pressure
Developing the Aural Map
Guide Fingers
Guide Fingers - Kreutzer Study 11
Introduction to High-Position Shifting
Thumb as Pivot; Stretches & Contractions
Shrinking Spaces between Fingers
Diatonic Sequences
Flesch One-String Sequence
Yost Shifting
Chromatic Sequences
Practice Points
Scales & Arpeggios
Introduction
One-Octave Scales
Two-Octave Scales
Three-Octave Scales
3-8ve Scale Sequence
Top Scale Octave
Rhythm Patterns in 3-8ve Scales
Two-Octave Arpeggios
Three-Octave Arpeggios
One-String Scales & Arpeggios
Scales in One Position
Scales in One Position - Practice 1
Scales in One Position - Practice 2
Chromatic Scales
How to Practise Chromatic Scales
Dominant & Diminished Sevenths
Practise Scales Descending
Chords & Double Stops
Introduction
Tuning Double Stops
Shifting in Double Stops
Practice for 3rds, 6ths, 8ves - 1
Practice Technique - 2
Practice Technique - 3
Flat or Curved Fingers
Thirds
Fifths
Sixths
Octaves
Fingered Octaves
Tenths
Intonation
Introduction
Tuning Notes to Open Strings
Resonance
Slow Intonation Practice
Developing the Feel
Find Double Stops in Passages
Find Central Notes
Pitch in Context
Vibrato
Introduction
Pre-Vibrato - Loosen the Body
Pre-Vibrato - Knock the Peg
Check Vibrato Direction
Vibrate on Wood
Improving Your Vibrato Action
Developing Flexibility
Width & Speed
Continuous Vibrato
Impulse Vibrato
Support of Another Finger
Arm Vibrato
Hand Vibrato
Coordination & Practice
Introduction to Coordination
Left/Right Independence
Finger Before Bow
Crossing Strings
Place Fingers Together for Speed
Introduction to Practice
Think Ahead for Left-Hand Clarity
Different Finger Patterns on One String
Mixed Rhythms & Bowings
New Ševčík Variations
Introduction
Theme - Var9
Var10 - Var19
Var20 - Var29
Var30 - Var40
Kreutzer Etudes
Introduction
Etude No.2
Etude No.3
Etude No.4
Etude No.5
Etude No.8
Etude No.11
Etude No.27
Etude No.36

Violin Left Hand –
“An important contribution to violin teaching and learning.
This may well be your best yet.”

Goetz Richter, AM
Associate Professor of Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music