Samples for Download

from Chapter 6 - Bowing

From Vertical Bounce to Bananas

You can find a spiccato stroke by letting the bow fall to the string from a height and bouncing off straight away without any bowstroke action.

Gradually decrease the distance above the string and introduce more bowstroke to describe the shape of a banana.

Forearm Spiccato Towards Nut

Often a useful short cut to spiccato is to play détaché while raising the elbow slightly to change the angle of the bow to the string. Then maintain the same stroke, but let it start to leave the string.

The détaché stroke in the middle of the bow uses a fluid forearm action. As you move the action to the lower half notice that although the upper arm and fingers are more involved, the movement is still predominately forearm.

Notice that Fintan's right elbow moves freely.

As outlined in the Introduction to Spiccato the forearm action is most easily learnt in the middle of the bow.

Smooth String Crossing

Practise spiccato on all four strings, either open strings or a simple four-note chord like G Major.

Make the whole-arm string-crossing movement as smooth and continuous as possible - move gradually towards the new string.

Start on E-String

To develop fluency practise spiccato with a variety of rhythms and starting points on different strings.

Here are groups of four notes on open strings, moving from the E-string to G-string and back again.

Start Up-Bow

Practise starting up-bow to develop an even bowstroke.

Uneven playing is often caused by a strong down-bow followed by a weaker up-bow.

Starting with an up-bow on strong beats, where you expect to hear a stronger sound, can help you play more evenly and clearly.

Repeated Up-Bows

Standing spiccato (playing spiccato using repeated up or down bows) is a forearm movement supported by hand and finger action.

Practise the action on an open string, making sure it is regular and clear.

Just as with spiccato you can change the character of the stroke by varying its length and height, although usually when using it in the repertoire aim for a long enough stroke for resonance.

The excerpt is from "Catch Me If You Can" by Mary Cohen.

SEE
Score - Standing Spiccato
Resources - Repertoire