Piece Preparation Packet...

The following suggested piece

preparation can be applied to any
new piece you begin/add/revisit in
your violin journey.
Listen to Recordings...

● Listen to recordings every day

with and without music.
● Create your own youtube
playlist for your piece and
journal your thoughts on
stylistic differences - what you
like and don’t like from each
performers’ performance.
Meditate with the piece...

● Close eyes...
● Light a Candle
● Incorporate as a morning
meditation
Listen and Journal the Following...

● Evoked Emotions
● Any visuals you see
● Colors
● Physical feelings in the
body, what kind and
where
Make a Practice Copy of the Music...
● In your practice copy you can
write down fingering, bowing,
and dynamic possibilities as
“trials.”
● Transfer only permanent
decisions to the performance
copy. I do this with every solo
piece I learn that I perform. This
way my performance copy is
PRISTINE without distractions.
Key Signatures…

● Always know your key

signatures found in the piece
(major and minor)

● Practice scales within the keys

found in the piece.

● Highlight key changes

Time Signature Overview...
● Falcon’s Viewpoint, know the
big picture…
● For example, if the piece is in
12/8, see the big 4 beats in each
measure
● Listen to a recording to feel and
see the “Big 4.”
Importance of Subdivision...
● (Continuing with 12/8 example)
Count 12 beats for each measure
● Know all eighth note
subdivisions
● Listen to a recording to count
each measure in 12.
● Listen to recordings and play
Melodic Study...
● Only Play Melodic Line - one
note at a time within rhythm
● No Chords
● Listen to recordings and follow
melodic line
● Highlight melodic line in
practice part
Melodic Study cont’d...
Once comfortable with the
foundation of the melody -
explore how you would play
musically within this simple
context to discover what to apply
before adding complicated
harmonies...
Harmonic Study...
● Listen to recordings and follow
harmonic structure
● Highlight harmonic structure in
practice part
● Only play harmonic structure
(Chords or single notes in
doublestop harmony)
● Play within rhythm
● Isolate chords
What Exactly is Harmony?
● “In music, harmony is the use of
simultaneous pitches (tones,
notes), or chords.

● Harmony is often said to refer to

the "vertical" aspect of music, as
distinguished from melodic line,
or the "horizontal" aspect.”

Courtesy of Wikipedia
Ways to Practice the Harmonic Study:
● Isolate Chords in time (vertical
aspect.)

● Take notice and play bass line

(notes with stems going down)

● For the harmonic study, analyze

all notes not in the melodic line….
discover their purpose.
Ways to Practice the Harmonic Study:
● Every note holds a distinct
purpose within the piece or else
the composer would not have
included it….
● Even if it is only for atmosphere
or a flourish combined with
other notes.
Combine What You Have Discovered:
● Best way to combine your
melodic and harmonic study
is in small bits
● You may be pleasantly
surprised to find how much
easier it is to play after
these “studies.”
Combine What You Have Discovered:
● As violinists, not only are we
the soloist, at times we are
our own accompaniment.
● Sometimes a duo, trio or
even quartet.
How to Practice?
● In “52 Violin Proficiency
Exercise Program,” Week 17
Exercise, I discuss 6 Simple
Steps to Starting a new
piece.

● You can apply these steps

for everything you learn on
the violin.
6 Simple Steps to Learning a New
Piece:
1. Know your Key and Time Signatures
2. Practice Scales in corresponding key(s) of the piece
3. Discover your challenges - play through the piece
and highlight what you do not understand and/or technical difficulties.
4. Study why these challenges are your challenges
5. Incorporate strengthening exercises into a scale practice, if possible
6. Create “bitlys” isolated exercises for challenging parts.
Application Time!
1. Download or Print PDF, at least the 6 simple steps slide.
2. Keep on your music stand
3. Stay focused.
4. Effectiveness is through mindful preparation and mindful
practice.
5. Keep a journal.
6. End your practice session by writing down the 3 topics to
practice in the next session.
7. Take breaks.
Don’t Know What to Practice?