Calling violin teachers/parents (re G3 2012-15 piece)

[PetraDelphiki]

Hi all

Dd is currently working on her g3 pieces and I'm just trying to find out something about a1 (la rotta). In the book there is a 4th finger marked (d on the g string) straight after an open d. Is that compulsory? Or is it an optional but you get more marks if you do?

If she plays it that way it sounds terrible - If she plays 2 open ds then c on the g string it sounds great!

Thoughts appreciated...yes I will ask her teacher too but next lesson not until end of week!

You don't have to use that fingering, no. The examiner won't give credit if you do and if it means the note isn't in tune that's bad!

Fingering is up to you. But, suggested fingering is often there for a reason: so something like an open string followed by the same note with the fourth finger might convey a different tone between the two notes (open strings have a very different character to fourth fingers), or it might mean that the fourth finger is part of a legato phrase that is easier to do that way, or it might be to avoid the potential slight delay of a string crossing when the piece is up to speed, etc. So it might be worth working out what the reason for the fingering is, and then seeing if you can still get that effect by using an open string. If not, it might be worth persisting with the fourth finger and trying to figure out why it sounds terrible. Is it not in tune? Is it too weak to make a good sound? etc.

It's definitely a different tone even when she gets the right note - I think she's just finding the stretch really hard to get accurate at speed. I just wonder whether it's better to sacrifice the change intone to be sure of accuracy I pitch!

I would definitely use the open string D in those bars. The same phrase comes up several times in the piece, it falls on a strong beat, and the open string will give a nice ring to the note. I suspect the editor suggests 4th finger because many children would struggle with the fast string-crossing from open D down to the 3rd finger C in the middle of the semiquaver run.

In general though, if your DD can't reach to play 4th finger notes in tune on the lower strings, check that she isn't holding the instrument with her elbow too far to the left underneath. Also, it can sometimes mean the violin is too big for the child.

Thanks Tassle...she can reach the note slowly it probably is her elbow going wandering at speed! But she does find the change mid bar really easy so will discuss with her teacher! Will also point out the blurb at the start of the book tgat says fingering is optional...

My daughter is no where near grade 3 or even grade 1. She is learning to use her fourth finger to play a Suzuki piece. Her teacher has given her a fourth finger exercise to strengthen the fourth finger.