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Scale variation du jour — 10.2.07 — Up Bow Staccato

Somehow bowing staccato helps your clean sound and clean, efficient finger movements. This is one staccato variation I like, suitable for intermediate/advanced. The bow should dig into the string when you do up bow staccato. That creates a good crisp start to the note. You should also keep pressure on string between each up bow note. Normally we lift the weight off the bow to change notes, but here that is not the case.

An up bow staccato scale variation

Connie Heard told me when I was studying with her, that the best person she knew at doing up bow staccato practiced it in front of the TV! I’m not sure I recommend that, but it’s a good anecdote.

Rapid up bow staccato finds its way in some gypsy music as kind of an effect and it’s also in some Fritz Kreisler pieces I like.