Free Video Violin Lesson 9

Review Questions

1. What is subdivision?
2. What does it mean to play on “The and (&) of one?”
3. Are you comfortable counting the “Addition Method?” I.E. wuh-uhn two-oo for quarter notes

Lesson 9

Hello and welcome to Stringsavvy.com Violin Lesson #9! In lesson #8 we learned about playing eight notes. Today’s lesson is going to cover 1^st & 2^nd endings, as well as half notes and half rests.

We have learned that a quarter note is one beat, and that an eighth note is one half of a beat. The half note is two full beats.

Following the addition system for counting:

Eighth Notes

Quarter Notes
Also count:
Wuh-uhn Two-oo Three-ee Four-orr

Half Notes
Also count:
Wuh-uh-uh-uhn Three-ee-ee-ee

A half rest is equal to two quarter rests.
An easy way to remember a half rest is that it looks like a hat! Half/Hat.

Now that we can successfully count half notes, let us play them! Since the half note is longer than a quarter note, we may have to move our bow slower to accommodate for the duration of two full beats. The purpose of using the addition system to count is so that we learn to feel the length of notes.

Lets play #77 together. Remember to save your bow so you can play the FULL TWO beats of the half note! Don’t forget to lift your bow before the repeat.

When we add notes in 78, be sure to let your fingers hover over the strings and just pop off rather than lifting high of the strings.

First and Second Endings:

A first and second ending most likely was first done in order to avoid writing (and printing) large amounts of music that had similar beginnings but different endings. Today we still use them for their convenience and ease of reading. What would have to be written out as two full pages with only one different note for the ending could simply be put on one page with a 1^st and 2^nd ending.

When we read a repeat we go right back to the beginning of a song without skipping or adding beats of rest – it is a constant flow. Now when we add a 2^nd ending, we still play that repeat through, but the 2^nd time through that particular passage we SKIP any music labeled by the “1^st” bracket and move right onto the 2^nd bracket.

Simplified: “Play the 1^st ending the 1^st time through. Then, repeat the same section of music, skip the 1^st ending, and play the 2^nd ending.” – Essential Elements

Play #76- Essential Elements Quiz – For Pete’s Sake on your own, then compare with the video performance. Were you able to understand and play the 1^st and second endings correctly? Remember to SKIP the 1^st ending the second time through the song!

Left Hand Pizzicato:

#82 Texas Two String
4+ means to use your 4^th (pinky) finger to pluck the string. This will help build finger strength for playing as well as help shape your hand.

Well there you have it! You learned how to count half notes and play multiple endings. If you have any questions or comments, don’t be shy! Comment below and I’ll be sure to respond!

Review

• Half Notes are worth two beats, generally played on 1 and 3
  • ( 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +)
  • Can also be counted “Wuh-uh-uh-uhn Three-ee-ee-ee”
• Quarter Notes are played only during numbers ( 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +)
  • Can also be counted as Wuh-uhn Two-oo Three-ee Four-or
• Eighth Notes are played on both ONE and AND ( 1 + 2 + )
• Watch your fingers, are you pushing down hard on the strings and lifting them way up? (BAD!) Or are you pushing down just enough for notes to sound, and only letting them pop off slightly above the string (GOOD!)

Vocabulary

Left Hand Pizzicato – In this case marked by a (4+) for 4^th finger pizzicato. Plucking done with a finger on the left hand.

Assignment

1. Practice counting and clapping, playing half notes.
2. Review
   1. #64 – D Major Scale
   2. #66-73
3. Practice
   1. #76-82
   2. Be careful on 2nd endings and count your half notes!

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