Quality of sound and articulation: Left hand
- Adjust the sound production to reflect musical and technical requirements
- Increase speed, strength and flexibility of finger action at a variety of tempi
- Develop security in different positions and an awareness of the different types of shift, including silent shift, portamento and glissandi
- Play with vibrato
Help learners to develop more finger independence, e.g. by devising their own exercises for playing double stops in bluegrass music.
Orange Blossom Special
Encourage learners to choose appropriate fingering for the style of music, e.g. avoiding open strings or unnecessary string crossing for maintaining a consistent smoothness and uniformity of tone in classical pieces. For roots music where open strings are desired, learners need to develop the skills to blend the sounds of stopped and open strings.
For melodic phrases give attention to the sound timbre and shape of notes either side of an open string note.
Ask learners to play exercises and pieces that develop finger dexterity, e.g. rapid passage work in fast reels and jigs.
Encourage learners to choose positions appropriate to the tone colour required by the music.
Teach exercises that help learners develop their use of vibrato, i.e. applying it with more variety and security.
Be aware that in some cases vibrato can affect intonation.
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