Breathe together, Move together, Play together
A - Bow Resonance Development
In this activity, the ensemble members explore techniques of collé and a classical approach to the contemporary bow chop technique. The goal is for the ensemble to catch the string together, close to the bridge, and for the tones to resonate similarly to pizzicato. This is a great activity to help refine bow technique and develop an awareness of connecting bow articulations within the group.
The Lane Game is one of experimenting with speed and weight. In this activity, players are encouraged to utilize similar bow speed and weight while transferring lanes from fingerboard to bridge. Players are offered an opportunity to sense varying tone color and explore how bow weight and speed affects tone.
The multiple circle bow activity utilizes full circle bows, both in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. It may be used with open strings, a scale, or in the downbeat game. This activity encourages players to produce full spinning tones while utilizing the full arm and engaging the whole body. This is a beneficial activity to connect the ensemble through movement and tone.The activity is also effective for solo players, large ensembles and orchestras.
The Ponticello Lane game encourages a deeper understanding of playing at the bridge, creating a full fortissimo sound, and drawing a straight bow. This activity encourages ensemble members to discover how to create a balanced core sound.
The Ponticello Lane game over two strings is a continuation of the Ponticello Lane Game over one string. Exploring the same activity over two or more strings helps to develop necessary technical bow skills while encouraging ensemble bow choreography and synchronization.
Using the Scrubbies technique, players are afforded an opportunity to discover how engaging the whole arm contributes to navigating lanes to create various colors and tone. This activity can be utilized by ensembles of any size as well as by individual musicians.