2021 Block 4 Fiddle Practice

2021 Block 4 – Fiddle Pratice Calls

Welcome to Block 4!

Weds 9th June – Weds 7th July inclusive (five weeks)
with an additional, optional Social Event on Weds 14th July.

Here is the Tech Tools exercise sheet for the Fiddle Practice Calls. Links to the recordings after each call will also be available on this page.

Fiddle Practice Call Recordings

  1. 2021 Block 4 Week 1: 9th June 2021
  2. 2021 Block 4 Week 2: 16th June 2021
  3. 2021 Block 4 Week 3: 23rd June 2021
  4. 2021 Block 4 Week 4: 30th June 2021
  5. 2021 Block 4 Week 5: 7th July 2021
  6. 2021 Block 4 Social Evening: 14th July 2021

Link to Playlist

Technical Nugget Recordings

  1. 2021 Block 4 Week 1: 9th June 2021 – Bowing arm angle for different strings.
  2. 2021 Block 4 Week 2: 16th June 2021 – A technique for singing and playing in tune: Kodály (do, re, mi).
  3. 2021 Block 4 Week 3: 23rd June 2021 – Developing the Kodály technique to use for folk music motifs.
  4. 2021 Block 4 Week 4: 30th June 2021 – Developing an internal metronome
  5. 2021 Block 4 Week 5: 7th July 2021 – Balancing the bowing arm on the strings

Link to Playlist

Tune Surgery Recordings (from Week 2)

  1. 2021 Block 4 Week 2: 16th June 2021 – Resolving a tune that doesn’t end / Did some tunes begin life on instruments other than the fiddle? / Cross tuning on the fiddle
  2. 2021 Block 4 Week 3: 23rd June 2021 – Triplets & Birls / Bow Speak
  3. 2021 Block 4 Week 4: 30th June 2021 – Major or minor? / Notes for double stopping / 3 against 2 rhythms
  4. 2021 Block 4 Week 5: 7th July 2021 – Tip for spanning the fifth / Physical dimensions of the violin

Link to Playlist


Zoom Call Details

Wednesday evenings
Weds 9th June – Weds 7th July
6.45 – 7.00 pm Tune Surgery (call open from 6.40 pm)
7.00 – 7.45 pm Fiddle Practice Call
7.45 – 8.30 pm Live Teaching Call
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81381008318?pwd=NkJ3UUVjYTVtamtBbVdzek5oNit5QT09
Meeting ID: 813 8100 8318
Passcode: nefs2021b4

NEFS Block 4 Social on Zoom – Weds 14th July, 7.00 – 8.30 pm


Melissa’s Technique Videos

Melissa has begun the process of recording her Technical Nuggets into short, bite-sized pieces to remind you how to do the different exercises. It is also hoped that you will be able to see more detail than from the Zoom recordings to help you get the most from them. The Technical Nuggets will continue as part of the Fiddle Practice Calls – this is just a reminder of exercises that have previously been covered.

Link to Playlist


Technique Video Playlists – additional resources from Stewart


Introduction to Melodic Motifs

Introduction to Bowing Patterns

Introduction to Ornaments – Cuts and Flicks

Introduction to Bow Hold