Level: appropriate for all violinists and violists. I’m of the opinion that none of us, myself included, is so advanced a player that we cannot benefit from a review of the basics. At Baroque Workshop I generally spend some of the master class time each day doing exactly that, and I personally look forward to the opportunity to strip away habit and odd technical accommodations and remind myself of the fundamental building blocks of baroque violin technique. In this online class I will condense that review into a single session.
We’ll start from the very beginning: how to stand (or sit), how the instrument is positioned relative to the body; how to hold the bow; and how the bow approaches and contacts the strings. We’ll look at the mechanics of tone production with baroque equipment and consider the kinds of sounds we want to be able to produce. The tools we use to create musical expression boil down to dynamics and articulation. We’ll practice making three kinds of articulation (a “vowel,” a “consonant,” and an “explosive consonant”) in various parts of the bow, and will work through the “bow shapes” described by Leopold Mozart in his 1756 treatise.
Although this looks like a short list of things to work on, every single one of these items is the basis for a lifetime of work and discipline, and my own experience assures me that giving some attention to these issues absolutely will improve one’s playing. There will be opportunity during the session for questions and discussion.
The Baroque, Medieval/Renaissance, and Recorder Workshops will hold online sessions in May and June. Information is currently available for the May classes, and will be available in mid-May for the June classes. https://sfems.org/sfems-workshops/virtual-sessions/