Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Private messaging is working again.

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Staccato tips
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
Avatar
HP
Trondheim, Norway
Members

Regulars
January 31, 2019 - 8:54 am
Member Since: October 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 404
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Currently I'm working on Minuet nr 4 (J.S. Bach.) which have a lot of staccato throughout the whole piece. Does anyone have any tips on how to achive a smooth staccato? I usually get a lot of crescendo or diminuendo, especially close to the stoping point. 

'Armed with theory, practice becomes meaningful. Through practice, theory becomes fulfilled.' - Egon von Neindorff.

Avatar
Pete_Violin
Utah

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
January 31, 2019 - 9:52 am
Member Since: March 25, 2018
Forum Posts: 456
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hi @HP 

I kinda feel like you are much more advanced than me and I am not sure if I can offer a lot of advise.  

But here goes... my take on staccato.

There are 3 parts to staccato. The first bite or almost a dig with the bow, then the duration of the note, then the stopping of the staccato.  The stop is critical to playing this properly and it is what some novice players can neglect.  It also establishes the rhythm of the bowing.  

You probably already have the start down pretty well.  You should move with a deliberate stroke.  Be sure to apply a fair amount of pressure with your forearm.  Then also stop the stroke deliberately in a similar manner as the start of the stroke.  

Consciously think about the three parts of this bow stroke as you play and be deliberate both in the start and end of the note. 

I am not quite certain I understand what you are referring to when you describe staccato as smooth.  Are you talking about how to play evenly?  Or are you talking about the tone from start to end of the stroke? 

Keep in mind the three parts of staccato and practice it that way. You should see some improvement. 

I hope this helps.  

- Pete -

Avatar
HP
Trondheim, Norway
Members

Regulars
January 31, 2019 - 10:58 am
Member Since: October 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 404
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Pete_Violin Thank you for the input. I'll try to practice it more as a three part operation to see if it will improve. By smooth I guess I'm referring the evenness of the tone and the transition between the notes. I'm sorry I didn't explain well enough what I meant. 

'Armed with theory, practice becomes meaningful. Through practice, theory becomes fulfilled.' - Egon von Neindorff.

Avatar
Pete_Violin
Utah

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
January 31, 2019 - 11:16 am
Member Since: March 25, 2018
Forum Posts: 456
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Oh I see.  No problem. 

I also forgot to mention that when you play, move your arm at the elbow and avoid much movement at the shoulder.  This will also help your tone. 

- Pete -

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
February 10, 2019 - 9:05 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537

The crescendo, diminuendo technique is good in combination with the karate chop movement. :) However, don't over do it. Experiment till you find a staccato that pleases you.
Short strokes are better.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: AndrewH
Guest(s) 73
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming fryserisnon8, Picklefish, Tammy, Shell, Schaick, GlassTownCur, Violinista Italiano, Ogre, djroger, marcnaz, VirginViolinist, Cearbhael, eugenephilip572
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8844
ABitRusty: 4303
Mad_Wed: 2849
Gordon Shumway: 2743
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
DanielB: 2379
stringy: 2376
Mark: 2273
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31781
Moderators: 0
Admins: 8
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 84
Topics: 10864
Posts: 138046
Newest Members:
jeni2024, Goldenbow, joanie, hunmari01, lydia.vertu SP, Thavence SP, tcaron21, Ustiana SP, DennisRathbone SP, Dan
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16537, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, JoakimSimplePress: 0, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 6097