Quality of sound and articulation: Left hand
- Develop a flexible, balanced and rounded left-hand shape with a straight left wrist, which facilitates accurate placement of the fingers and thumb
Show learners how to use exercises on and off the instrument, moving the arm, hand and elbow as appropriate, e.g. glissando.
Creating effective exercises and drills to enable learners to adopt appropriate left-hand shape and position is invaluable in large-group and whole-class teaching. It promotes independence, giving learners the necessary skills to recreate the desired technique in their individual practice.
Be aware of learners’ individual physical characteristics and make adaptations as appropriate.
Show learners how to move the left hand freely around the instrument. Ask them to copy, using all the fingers.
Activities such as ‘hoovering’ the fingerboard are good preliminary exercises for the later introduction of vibrato and position shifting.
Show learners how to develop finger independence, e.g. play slow trills, leaving the lower fingers on the string.
Use exercises such as left-hand pizzicato, or tapping the strings in time to the music.
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