Superstudies Violin Book 1

Synopsis

Superstudies Violin Book 1 is a collection of nineteen original, imaginative studies for solo violin and has been specially designed for young players.

Each piece concentrates on one or two aspects of technique, and the whole set covers a wide range of left and right hand skills, including spiccato bowing, string crossing. Moto perpetuo, cantabile, and easy double stops.

Teachers and pupils will find this valuable yet light hearted collection both enjoyable and stimulating.

Summary

Chapter 1: Basic Bowing Techniques

* Chapter Summary: Covers foundational bowing techniques such as holding the bow, drawing a straight bow, and controlling bow speed and pressure.
* Example: Exercise 1a: Draws a straight bow on the open A string, gradually increasing and decreasing pressure.

Chapter 2: Bowing Patterns

* Chapter Summary: Explores bowing patterns like legato, staccato, and martelé.
* Example: Exercise 5a: Alternates between legato and staccato bowing on the G string.

Chapter 3: Fingerings

* Chapter Summary: Introduces fingerings for the first three fingers and demonstrates finger placement and shifting.
* Example: Exercise 10a: Plays the chromatic scale in first position using first, second, and third fingers.

Chapter 4: Scales

* Chapter Summary: Focuses on major and minor scales in one octave.
* Example: Exercise 15a: Plays the G major scale in first position, with separate exercises for ascending and descending.

Chapter 5: Arpeggios

* Chapter Summary: Teaches broken chord patterns and how to play them with smooth bowing.
* Example: Exercise 20a: Plays an A minor arpeggio in first position, starting from the root note.

Chapter 6: Double Stops

* Chapter Summary: Introduces playing two strings simultaneously, practicing finger placement and coordination.
* Example: Exercise 25a: Plays double stops on the A and D strings, with different finger combinations.

Chapter 7: Trills

* Chapter Summary: Covers the technique of trilling, which involves rapidly alternating between two notes.
* Example: Exercise 30a: Practices trills between A and B on the A string.

Chapter 8: Vibrato

* Chapter Summary: Introduces vibrato, a technique that involves rocking the fingertips to produce a characteristic sound.
* Example: Exercise 35a: Practices vibrato on the open G string, starting with a slow and gradual motion.

Chapter 9: Sight-Reading

* Chapter Summary: Develops sight-reading skills through simple melodies and rhythms.
* Example: Exercise 40a: Reads and plays a melody composed of quarter notes, eighth notes, and half notes.

Chapter 10: Musicality

* Chapter Summary: Emphasizes musical expression through dynamics, phrasing, and tone quality.
* Example: Exercise 45a: Plays a melody with variations in dynamics (loud and soft), different phrasings, and contrasting tone qualities (rich and thin).