2022 Block 3 – Fiddle Practice Calls
Welcome to Block 3
Weds 27th April – Weds 25th May inclusive (five weeks).
Fiddle Practice Call Recordings
- 2022 Block 3 Week 1: 27th Apr 2022
- 2022 Block 3 Week 2: 4th May 2022
- 2022 Block 3 Week 3: 11th May 2022
- 2022 Block 3 Week 4: 18th May 2022
- 2022 Block 3 Week 5: 25th May 2022
Technical Nugget Call Recordings
- 2022 Block 3 Week 1: 27th Apr 2022 – Finger movement in the right hand.
- 2022 Block 3 Week 2: 4th May 2022 – Short bows with flexibility in the right hand.
- 2022 Block 3 Week 3: 11th May 2022 – Combining finger and arm movements in the bowing arm.
- 2022 Block 3 Week 4: 18th May 2022 – Flexible fingers when the bowing arm is outstretched.
- 2022 Block 3 Week 5: 25th May 2022 – Combining short bows using the fingers and long bows opening the arm, and adding string crossing.
Tune Surgery Call Recordings
- 2022 Block 3 Week 2: 4th May 2022 – changing bow hold and knock on effects / Southern Donegal fiddle style
- 2022 Block 3 Week 3: 11th May 2022 – How to approach the doubling exercise to increase speed and coordination / How does tuning an AEAE fiddle work?
- 2022 Block 3 Week 4: 18th May 2022 – Notation – what does it mean when the note head is a cross not an oval / Classical percussion symbols (and notation software symbols) used for ‘ghost notes’, and notating ‘chops’.
- 2022 Block 3 Week 5: 25th May 2022 – How to stop your bow sounding scratchy and like a chainsaw! Bow hold and a light bowing arm.
Tech Tools Worksheet
Additional Resources from Stewart
Technique Video Playlists
Introduction to Melodic Motifs
Introduction to Bowing Patterns
Introduction to Ornaments – Cuts and Flicks
Finger Positions
Open String Hand Frames (images)
Primary FInger Position 
Secondary Finger Position 
Lesser Finger Position 
Klezmer Finger Position 
Greater Finger Position
Open String Hand Frames PDF worksheets:
- Primary Finger Position
- Secondary Finger Position
- Lesser Finger Position
- Klezmer Finger Position
- Greater Finger Position
Melissa’s Technique Videos
Melissa has provided recordings of her Technical Nuggets in 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.