Pizzicato World violin and viola

First systematic introduction

The left-hand pizzicato (LHP) is introduced in this booklet as a practicing technique. The basic coordination is built up step by step on the basis of various rhythms. The most important horizontal, vertical and diagonal planes are taken into account. By adding the feet and the bow, the whole body is also integrated into the activity and the coordination between right and left is systematically built up in the sense of independence between the two sides. The basis is the left-hand pizzicato with 1, 2, 3 and 4 independent rhythm lines.

What the booklet contains:

40 exercises for all levels
introduction into the left-hand pizzicato practicing technique
Detailed description of each exercise
more than 360 graphs and rhythms
around 230 QR codes that link to further practice possibilities, sources and videos (optional)

What you need for this:

instrument
bow

Optional extension with the fingerboard attachment and/or the use of foot rollers (recommended) is possible.

Focal points of the exercises

A basic distinction is made between playing in one position and playing across the whole fingerboard. The focus in each case is as follows:

finger of the left hand in one position

one string is beeing plucked
several strings are beeing plucked at the same time/alternately
as intervals
as chords
without anchor finger
with anchor finger
in combination with the right arm (bow)
in combination with the feet
on the basis of 1, 2, 3 and/or 4 rhythm lines
with optional versions (e.g. fingerboard attachment)

finger of the left hand across the whole fingerboard

one string is beeing plucked
several strings are beeing plucked at the same time/alternately
as intervals
as chords
without anchor finger
with anchor finger
in combination with the right arm (bow)
in combination with the feet
on the basis of 1, 2, 3 and/or 4 rhythm lines

Notation and graphs

The graphic representation of the individual exercises makes them easy to use. It is "international" and does not require any words. The exercises are notated on four lines representing the four strings. At the centre is the red cross, which comes either in combination with one (or more) grey crosses or in combination with numbers. The latter explicitly indicate the fingers to be used for plucking. The grey crosses indicate a variety of possible combinations of fingers that can be used to perform the respective exercise. The blue bow shows the possible uses of the bow and the icon with the feet indicates the foot work. Both the bow and the feet are gradually developed to master independent rhythm lines while plucking the fingers of the left hand. In total, the booklet contains more than 360 printed graphics plus a further 400 or so graphics that can optionally be accessed via QR codes.

Publication details

Erdmute Maria Hohage, Pizzicato World violin and viola. Left-hand pizzicato as a practicing technique for ccordination and rhythm | ISBN 978-3-9824267-0-9 | 96 Seiten | 29,90€ | More than 200 QR codes* that link to videos and further information [AT]*The use of the QR codes is optional. The exercises can be performed without: there is no legal claim with regard to the QR codes. | Also available as an eBook

From the preface

Erdmute Maria Hohage

The origins of the information in this book go back to something I experienced about ten years ago. A student was experiencing a basic problem: the coordination of his left fingers was not precise enough in three-part and four-part chords to be able to play Dont, Biber, Telemann or Bach. I established a whole new approach to his basic coordination, using the left-hand pizzicato technique presented here. We got a good grip on the problem and many other things changed for the better. Two aspects that didn’t necessarily seem naturally linked together at first have remained with me in particular: the student suddenly made shifts in position together with interval fingerings and chords look completely natural to him, and he increasingly played (generally speaking) with a much more precise intonation. I was surprised about the latter, as we had “only” focused on his basic coordination, which did not require any intonation at all.

Pizzicato: practicing vs playing technique

Left-hand pizzicato is actually one of the violin and viola playing techniques. The string is plucked with very high finger pressure. The LHP practicing technique differs in that the fingers of the left hand are plucked very gently and precisely. However, it is also true that you can use the practicing technique to learn the playing technique. This is not only more gentle to the fingertips, but also highly effective.

More than just a sense of rhythm

The mini-subscription "Improving with the left" shows how to go from practicing technique to playing technique. It also covers topics such as scales, fluency, string changes etc. LHP is much more than pure rhythm, pure coordination. It is a way of learning and improving many things on the violin and viola in a very effective and varied way.