Left-hand pizzicato (LHP) as a practicing technique

The video shows impressions of the practicing technique and an insight into the print edition of "Pizzicato World violin and viola" (systematic structure of LHP)

Violin and viola

The LHP is based on gentle, precise plucking with the fingers of the left hand. It can be usefully supplemented with the bow and the use of the feet in order to learn and then further develop the basic coordination of all levels when playing the violin and viola. It is a practice technique that can be learnt both from the very first lesson and at any later stage and is suitable for all levels. It was developed by Erdmute Maria Hohage. The exercise technique promotes, among other things:

coordination of the most important aspects for playing violin/viola
independence between left and right
integration of the whole body through foot work
playing in different positions, double grips, finger pressure, intervall technique, finger fall, changing strings and
the ability lo "let it go".

Below you will find offers on the topic of LHP for both teacherse and practitioners. Further details on the practice technique can also be found below.

Events und Publikationen zur Linke-Hand-Pizzicato-Übetechnik

Events and publications on LHP

Combinations of the practicing technique

This technique is based on a quiet, delicate and precise plucking of the strings with the fingers of the left hand. It is performed at different points on the fingerboard, depending on the practice goal. It can be used to practise the coordination of the four fingers in different ways, at all levels of ability. The basis for this are rhythms or passages from a piece of music. Different combinations are possible, e.g:

the fingers pluck one string
the fingers pluck several strings
one string is plucked with only one finger
one string is plucked with several fingers
Plucking can be performed with/without changing positions

Next, the bow is added: Coordination is therefore extended to the right and left. Here, too, there are many ways to train the principle at different ability levels. There is no such thing as too easy! You can also add the feet and give them their own rhythm. This improves rhythm stability because it increasingly comes from the body itself.

From the violin and viola playing technique to the practicing technique

New is that the playing technique is now also available as a practicing technique. It is the ideal preparation for the playing technique, which requires a very high level of coordination. However, it can do much more if you use it sensibly.

The technique is systematically introduced and systematically built up on the basis of the exercises offered. It is suitable for all playing levels from the first exercise on.

New is that plucking with the fingers of the left hand can be understood as a practicing technique aswell. There are differences to the playing technique: e.g. the playing technique already assumes that you have very good coordination. The fingers pluck the strings with great effort/pressure, which means that you can only practise the playing technique for a limited time each day. The practicing technique, on the other hand, involves gentle, calm and precise plucking. Too much pressure would be harmful here. The videos show different ways of ‘plucking’.

Practise rhythm and gain a sense of rhythm

In addition to the technical aspects of playing described above, which can be developed in a fantastic way with the LHP practising technique, perhaps one of the greatest achievements of this practising technique is the sense of rhythm that can be achieved.

The sense of rhythm is developed from the player and can increasingly be internalised. With this sense of rhythm, spontaneous musically induced tempo fluctuations become authentic, rhythmically stable and also easier to understand when playing together with others.