Hello guys!
This lot I owe you. I know that you guys might not be able to understand like half of it, so just approach me yea (: Cuz I'm not able to put some of them accurately into words, and this is the best my limited language ability can do :/ Good luck reading them!
Right Hand
- RELAX! Make sure that your palm is relaxed and open, i.e. is not clenched.
- Make sure that your hand is in as natural a shape/position as possible. No weird twisting!
- Do not PRESS into the string with your bow. Put in HAND WEIGHT and use MORE BOW (bow length deficiency is common illness among NJStringgers :/). Your objective should be to keep the string down with enough bow length to make your strings vibrate at its maximum. (Refer to the article given last year)
- Don't put weight onto the bow with your last finger (your pinky. or whatever you call it.)
- Please practise playing your open strings (~4 counts per bow) in order to achieve a strong, solid, steady tone. Make sure that there is no fluctuation in your tone during each bow stroke.
Left Hand
- Relax!! Open up your palm!
- Make sure that when you stop a note, you build up from open string (i.e. when you stop a D note on your A string with your 3rd finger, make sure that you hear that your 1st and 2nd finger are in tune first)
- When stopping a note, ensure that the bottom fingers don't lift up (i.e. when you stop a D note on your A string with your 3rd finger, your 1st 2 fingers don't lift up)
- Practise in front of the mirror, and ensure that your arm is straight, and that your wrist is comfortable
Right hand AND left hand
- Decide if you want your RH or LH to lead. For passages with running notes, your LH should lead. How to practise: Play slowly; put your LH fingers down BEFORE you bow the note.
- The stronger your RH is, the stronger your LH is. *note: strength in your hand ≠ tensing up your hand.
Strength in your RH should only be at the point of contact between your fingertip and the string; the joints in your fingers should still be loose/relaxed.
Shoulders
- RELAXRELAXRELAXRELAXRELAX. can't ever stress enough of that (:
Body
- STRAIGHT!! Whether sitting or standing, make sure that your backbone is straight, and that your neck, then your head, is perfectly balanced on top. Straight and relaxed! NOT stick-straight and stiff!
whee. now you're done. go watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRijEVjGTYY&feature=related. yeah.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
HELLO STRINGERS
Please keep checking back the strings blog for updates kay! Concert mistresses will be posting video clippings up here, notes, special mentions etc etc, for us to improve :)
Some updates:
Senior High Team PracticesMonday:
4.30pm - 8.30pm Wednesday:
3.30pm - 7pm Thursday mornings (soon to be confirmed):
7.15am to 8.30amSectionals on your own :) (by decree of your SLs)
Junior High Team PracticesThursday:
4pm - 7pmOther updates:
1. Talentime falls on
13th Feb 2009 :) Tickets are going at $5.
2. Auditions for talentime are on 5th Feb, 6th Feb and 9th Feb
3. Auditions for emcees for talentime are OPEN! :)
4. Sit at the booth in the canteen when you're free!and during your duty time slots :)
5. We've got this new 'rule' thing after discussion that day: we'll play through the pieces one time after orchestral practice to ingrain in ourselves what Mr Oh has told us (summarize)/set-up RACE! in 5 minutes. if this time limit is exceeded, we will stay back for the amount of time that we exceeded to practice. :)
6. Tang Quartet is performing in school on 13 February, 2009. we'll inform ALL stringers of time/venue to meet for this performance :) It'll be an awesome learning experience for all of us!
6. CCA DAY: ENTHU. SPUNK. STRING. (you can do it!)
XOXO. YOU KNOW YOU LOVE STRINGS. 6. I LOVE STRINGS. I LOVE STRINGERS. AND I THINK THE JOKE BELOW IS LAME. I don't get it.
7. I think this picture is CUTE. hehe. :) HEHEHEHE. one of the pictures from SOUNDTRACKed.
