Session 1

Practice Spots

Violin 1 Spots Dvorak

  • M.6-10

  • M.123-126 intonation 

  • M. 173-end

Violin 1 Spots Clementine

  • Price beginning - m 7

  • Price m 59-67

  • Price pick-up to m 76-80


Violin 2 spots Dvorak

  1. Rehearsal no. 4-5

  • Work on the double stops, and as a practice technique - play as single notes to get really comfortable in the hand.

  • Create a long line and shape with the double stops.

  1. Rehearsal no. 5-6

  • Go through slowly to really feel the relationship between each note, notice all of the accidentals and really feel the harmony! Add as much shape as possible.

  1. Rehearsal no. 10-12

  • Get acquainted with the Sul. G fingering for those two measures.

  • Familiarize yourself with the fun bowing pattern in the 16th notes

  • 11-12, practice with metronome and notice change in pattern

  • Measures 106-112, work on hairpins in the triplets

Violin 2 spots Clementine

  1. Measures 17-24, notice how different types of breathing in the rests influence the character. Work on your characterful breathing!

  2. Notice each time the melody comes back, and get really specific with the character. How are they different? Try out different characters for each of them and notice how they feel!


Viola spots Dvorak

The viola solos!

  • Beginning through m. 6 - tone and rhythm

  • M. 64 (big #6) through m.67 - rhythms and intonation

  • M. 122 through m. 115 - similar to beginning, slightly different bowing

On deck: tricky spots to keep an eye on

  • M.19 through m. 26 - the string crossings!

  • M. 133 through m. 137 - the tricky offbeat rhythm

Viola spots Clementine

The viola solos!

  • Duet with violin: beginning through m. 8 - practice for good tone

  • Melody: pick to bar 24 through m. 32 - familiarize yourself w/bow usage

  • M. 68- end (practice 72-83 w/single notes) - focus on accuracy of notes

  • The tricky spot to keep an eye on:

  • M.44 through m. 55 - accidentals and rhythm


Cello spots Dvorak

  • Whole movement- practice switching from pizz to arco. Test different ways of holding bow during pizz

  • Come up with a creative storyline about the movement. Anything goes! Be prepared to share in the breakout room

  • Familiarize yourself with the treble clef spots on last page- write note names to help with transposing down the octave 

  • Practice slowly starting at 80bpm on the metronome. Remember to use ladder system to revisit what you’ve already learned

  • Check intonation by playing adjacent notes as double spots when possible. Helps with the hand frame :)

  • Take a look at rehearsal 6-7 and check for correct notes with the accidentals slowly. 

Cello spots Clementine

  • Try going through movement twice at a slow tempo (80bpm) to get the whole scope and flow. Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it can’t also be musical and creative! 

  • Find a recording of someone singing the original folk song “Oh My Darlin Clementine” 

  • Next week we will discuss ways to make the cello “solo” sound more vocal or song like