POLISHING PRACTICE FORM—Books 1 & 2

PIECE:_________________________

PRINT A SHEET FOR EVERY PIECE YOU KNOW.  

Skills and practice tasks are listed in the left column.  Start with basics then refine.  Write in each appropriate row what you have done in that area, such as bar numbers covered, metronome marking, date, etc.  Paste this into a word-processing app. to adapt this form to include anything that you find useful.

I.  Left hand position

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Should/chin

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Elbow, Thumb,

       Wrist

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. “frame”

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. table tops

 

 

 

 

 

 

   E. add vibrato

 

 

 

 

 

 

iI. Right hand position

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Bump in thumb

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. “candy cane” 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. wagging 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. no “mountains”

 

 

 

 

 

 

   E.  Straight bow

 

 

 

 

 

 

III. Pitches

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Fingers on tapes

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Check highs &  

       lows

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C.  Ringing notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D.  Use tuner

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV. Rhythm  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Count or sing with 

       CD

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Count out loud 

      while playing

 

 

 

 

 

 

V. Bowing

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Air-Bow

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Bow division

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. Articulation

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. Dynamics & tone

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. See string vibrate

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Phrase shape

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. Bow placement,  

      weight, speed

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. Extreme dynamics

 

 

 

 

 

 

   E. Subtle dynamics

 

 

 

 

 

 

VII. Memory 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. 3-1,2-1,1-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. sections, spots