Fundamentals of Clean String Crossings on the Violin
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Not happy with your string crossings? Improve your string crossings with what makes a string crossing GREAT!In this post, discover the fundamentals of clean string Crossings on the violin.
First off what constitutes a string crossing? String Crossings are when we play from one string to another.
The first place to investigate why your string crossings may be lacking is actually your bow arm mechanics.
String crossing bow arm mechanics
Are they truly operating correctly? Our bow arm operates mainly in two ways we regulate which string we’re playing on by the plane or what I call the elbow elevator for each string.
Then our bow arm also controls the length of the bow. So we work horizontally and we work vertically with our bow arm. If these two motions get confused and they’re not kept separate, you’ll most likely have a difficult time playing with straight bows and hit other strings.
Keep the upper arm still. Do NOT row!
So let’s talk about this first initial operation of the bow arm that needs to be addressed and then we’ll go in to exactly how to play a clean string Crossing.
As we play the violin, the upper arm of the bow arm needs to be kept still. If the upper arm is moving back or the elbow kicks back, you see the bow starts to go a little crooked and then just imagine if you needed to have a string crossing here at the tip or stay on one string, you’re going to have a harder time to control because the bow is crooked.
Check that you are playing with straight bows
Make sure your bow arm is operating in such a way that is conducive for playing with straight bows to support healthy string crossings. If you are unable to play with straight bows, the string Crossings are going to be difficult plus you’ll most likely be hitting other strings. Click here to check out my blog post on how to play with straight bows.
How to practice? 5 minute warm up on open strings only with straight whole bows from frog to tip. Check that your upper arm is staying still by using your left hand to hold onto your bicep as you play.
This way you can make sure that you are not moving this part of your arm back.
Play against the wall
Another great way is to play against the wall or a door frame. Set yourself up with your upper arm against the door frame and then play, play your scales, play your piece.
Even though you are against the door frame, allow your arm to move up and down but obviously you will not be able to move your arm back. This ensure that you are not moving your bow arm improperly. Now what I have found is that when I worked with violinists, on this they would move their entire body with the violin to mimic the improper movement with the bow arm.
I wouldn’t suggest practicing too much against the door frame because it could bring in other bad habits but it’s a great way to help you realize if your bow arm is working properly or not.
Play against the wall
Remember that the string crossing stems from your elbow.
Practice every string combination to be sure that the motion stems from the elbow. Use your vertical motion of dropping the bow arm when needing to go to a higher string and raising the bow arm to go to the lower string.
How to play string crossings really cleanly is to be at the new string level before you move the bow. Remember the beginning of this post, I said there were two operations of the bow arm. We work vertically and we work horizontally. If those two motions get confused that’s where problems start.
To make a string crossing from G to D, be sure to be on the D string level before you move the bow on the new string.
Okay so yes I know this is slow, but if you’re not able to do this properly in slow-mo you’re definitely not going to be doing it well in a faster Tempo.
You have to isolate and really be the master of this at a slow tempo and then you can increase the speed otherwise you’re just not going to understand the motion and continue to play confusing the two motions and continuing to hit other strings and have soggy string Crossings.
Practice slow.
Master bigger muscle groups then move to smaller muscle groups.
The initial study of string crossings needs to be done with the bigger muscle groups and then once you have mastered the bigger muscle groups you can go into the smaller muscle groups.
Taking your string crossings to the professional level involves smaller muscle groups of the fingers and wrist. PLUS minimizing the motion from string to string. For example, play on the D side of the G and the G side of the D when playing a string crossing between G and D.
You may be surprised how truly small that motion is.
Using the smaller muscle group is superb for fast string Crossing passages. It will be really clumsy and clunky to play fast string crossings from the elbow.
Practice string crossing exercises
I have an excellent exercise for string Crossings that’s included in my 52 Violin Proficiency Exercises.
Not only do you get the string Crossing exercise, but You also Get Rhythm rhythmic scales, hand frame exercises, and many more. You have 52 exercises, one exercise a week with video training. I walk you through to help you with what I have found to be some of the most difficult and problematic techniques that adult violinists have when coming to the violin.
Have fun practicing your string Crossings. Ciao.
Happy Magical Practices,
Heather is a classically trained concert violinist residing in 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.
Please share in the comments which above tips you will be implementing into your daily practices sessions.
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