POLISHING PRACTICE FORM—Book 3 & up

PIECE:_________________________

PRINT A COPY OF THIS 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. Basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. During shifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. With Vibrato

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. Vibrato speed 

     and width

 

 

 

 

 

 

iI. Right hand position

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Straight bow

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. Legato

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. Staccato

 

 

 

 

 

 

   E. Frog

 

 

 

 

 

 

   F. Off-string strokes

 

 

 

 

 

 

III. Pitches

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Ringing notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. Drill shifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. Use tuner

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. Check accidentals

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV. Rhythm  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. Count with CD

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. sub-divide bows

 

 

 

 

 

 

   C. Count out loud 

      while playing

 

 

 

 

 

 

   D. Metronome:  

     write steady tempo

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

VII. Memory 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A. 3-1,2-1,1-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

   B. sections