I am playing this for my Grade 7 viola next month and am really struggling with the bowing in the staccato grazioso section. I think it is probably alright for a pass but for a higher mark I feel the notes need to have more clarity and the string crossings (eg: in bar 1 and 4) need to be neater. I don't have the necessary bow control to get the light, dancing feel this piece needs.

To play this section apparently I need a loose right wrist so I have been practising bowing on open strings and concentrating on bending my thumb when I get to the point. What else can I do to loosen my right wrist? I am playing it at the balance point of the bow. Is this right?

Any suggestions on this piece and anything general about bow control will be gratefully received

Thanks, Puff

Does anyone know this piece???

Developing skill in spiccato and ricochet bowing would help immensely. Strong by flexible right-hand fingers and a good bow hold are also essential so that you aren't forcing the bow to bounce as opposed to maintaining the bounce.

It's almost impossible to teach ricochet and spiccato by description alone. It really has to be taught from a practical demonstration, but as a basic outline to achieving it - assuming your bow hold is perfected - place the bow hair on the string, lift the middle two fingers off the bow, press the little finger down to lift (pivot) the bow from the string (without twisting the wrist), then, simply let the bow drop back again - much in the same way a counterbalanced car park gate might work. When done correctly the bow will naturally bounce on and off the string as if it was a rubber ball. If you were to add a quick down bow stroke to this would then be called ricochet because the bounces decrease in size each time. Maintaining a regular bounce for spiccato or staccato comes from the tinniest movement from the little finger.

Common faults include: throwing the bow back onto the string with movement from the wrist or hand. Lifting the bow using the hand rather than it pivoting within the hand by movement from the little finger alone.

Thanks so much Amanda. I will try that when I practise tonight. I'll let you know how I get on.

Maybe I should just clarify one point. With the two middle fingers lifted from the bow slightly the bow, when you press down with the little finger the bow is pivoting on your thumb with lateral support from the fist finger. It's important to not to let the first finger either wrap itself around the bow stick, or drift upwards and thus lose the lateral support.

As far as riccochet bowing goes, I lift my ring and little fingers, not my middle 2. Is this bad? I mean, it comes out sounding...well it comes out OK, considering the time I've put into it.

The bow will never be balanced or properly controllable by the thumb and just the first two fingers. It also means your bow bounce is being triggered by movement from the wrist and hand. By lifting the second and third fingers the bow is still in perfect balance, the impetous is being controlled by the little finger and you can immediately put a controlled stop on the bounce just by putting the weight of the second and third fingers back on the bow.

Ahh! Just the thing! Am having trouble with staccato too.
Thanks, I'll try that Amanda! You do give very good descriptions, it's almost as if you were demonstrating it.

I was thinking the same thing

Thanks Amanda, I tried that today and it felt very strange but I can see that it's going to help, particularly with the ff passages for control

Glad to hear so many have found it of use.

I try to be as descriptive as possible without getting bogged down - excessive detail that leaves people having to read it a dozen times before they actually have any idea what they're supposed to be doing. Perhaps I should consider putting a book together.

You could launch it at the Forum Course...