TIPS FOR PRACTICING, PLAYING, PERFECTING SIXTEENTH NOTES
Recently, I had a few online students in different online courses, including Violin Exercises ask questions in regarding sixteenth notes. When this happens, I take it as synchronicity and a sign that it is a topic that needs to be addressed. If I have students aking these questions, then I know that thousands of violinists are struggling with the same issue.
Many violinists have what I call freak out moments when they see sixteenth notes. Since I learned piano first, I was very comfortable with sixteenth notes when I started the violin…I honestly don’t remember sixteenth note freak outs on the violin. For me the challenges were 32nd and 64th runs on the violin and how to break them down.
The following tips can be applied to sixteenths, thirty-seconds, sixty-fourths and beyond.
Be sure to read to the end where you will find a FREE violin lesson video tutorial on how to practice to develop speed.
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WHAT ARE SIXTEENTH NOTES?
Sixteenth notes are seen as black notes beamed together with two beams. If you have four of them they equal one quarter note beat and two of them equals an eighth note beat.
HOW FAST ARE SIXTEENTH NOTES PLAYED?
This is all depends on the tempo of the piece. I have had students immediately freak out and say, “I can’t play sixteenth notes.” This is soooo not true. I know they can play sixteenth notes, just at a slower tempo. Just because a note is a sixteenth note, does not automatically mean that it is played at a fast tempo. If the tempo of a piece is metronome marking 60 for the quarter note the sixteenth note is slower than if the piece had a metronome marking of 120 for the quarter note.
HOW TO FIRST LEARN TO PLAY SIXTEENTH NOTES?
If you have been following my teaching for awhile you already know the answer…
Scales.
Start playing a simple scale at your current level; for example, a one octave A Major or a two octave G Major. Play with a metronome set at 60 for the quarter note and play once through with quarter notes then eighth notes and finally sixteenth notes. Finally to challenge yourself randomly mix up the rhythms.
After this, challenge yourself with the same exercise however playing the scale in broken thirds.
Need to see the music? Check out Rhythm Adventures.
RHYTHM ADVENTURES
E-BOOK
“Rhythm Adventures” focuses entirely upon rhythm and the bow arm. Left hand complications have been completely removed and all rhythms are practiced solely on open strings.
HOW TO MATCH UP THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND?
Determine where the issue truly is…with your left or your right hand. Practice and focus individually on the left hand then the right hand. Practice the passage with open strings without the left hand. When incorporating the left hand, think about matching the left hand to the right hand.
FREE! HOW TO DEVELOP SPEED TRAINING VIDEO
SIXTEENTH NOTE AND FAST PASSAGE PRACTICE TIPS
WARNING!!!
When increasing speed, be sure to stay relaxed. Tension will slow you down. Always use a metronome and increase speed incrementally. Keep a journal and record your progress. Say you end one day at 108, start the next day at 106 beats for the quarter note.
Always be a stickler about tone and intonation. If you lose either of those while increasing speed, STOP!!!! Do not go any faster. Take that metronome and find your speed that you can play well in tune and in tone. Perhaps stay there for awhile before increasing the speed again. Then take it up one notch on the metronome and stay there until you are able to play in tune and with great tone.
Please share in the comments which above tips you will be implementing into your daily practices sessions.
Happy Magical Practices,
GORGEOUS TONE ACADEMY
SIX WEEKS TO GORGEOUS TONE
P.S. Do you desire Gorgeous Tone? Gorgeous Tone Immersion is a program for creating massive momentum in your violin tone production journey, to help you be confident in your violin tone and find freedom of self expression. Gorgeous Tone is a 6 week immersion with 6 definitive modules walking you through tone starting from choosing strings, taking care of your equipment all the way through improving tone on specific bow strokes. Learn more and enroll here.
Heather is a classically trained concert violinist performing with the Yambol Chamber Orchestra, Bulgaria. She received her BM violin performance degree from CU-Boulder, studied with top teachers including Rachel Barton Pine. Heather has held leadership positions with multiple orchestras in the Greater Chicago-Milwaukee area. She has instructed millions of violinists globally via Youtube videos, online academies, group coaching and one on one sessions. Heather’s students have won multiple awards, concerto competitions, held concertmaster positions in orchestras and even performed in Carnegie Hall. Heather is an advocate of a holistic violin lifestyle – putting one’s mind, body and spirit as a violin journey priority.
Heather Kaye
Violinist
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