How to Practice
Your practice session should always start with scales, then move on to the bowing and thinking exercise, followed by etudes. This is the same approach you should take during the school year with each practice session before working on your orchestra music. Close attention should be paid to all the performance skills: proper posture/stance, correct bow hold, bow arm/bow use, left arm, left hand, intonation, tone quality, rhythm/counting ability, musicality, and note reading.
Racing through these practice materials will not benefit you. You must focus and be very aware of the sound you are producing. Conscious playing is what we are striving for!
Print out a practice log to keep track of your practice time outside of class. Meet the minimum requirement, and get a treat at the end of the month.
Helpful materials for all students of the FYO
“How to practice” printable sheet
Most current practice Logs: March 2013
Materials by Instrument
Violin (Bow Hold Review) (Fingering Charts) (Left hand/arm Review)
D Major scale (Groups B, C and D)
G Major scale (Groups C and D)
C Major scale (Groups C and D)
F Major scale (Group D)
Open strings: quarter notes and rests (Beginners and Group B)
Second finger bowing and thinking
Third finger bowing and thinking
Fourth finger bowing and thinking (Group C and D)
Three Key Etude 1 (Groups C and D)
Four Key Etude 1A (Group Beginner, B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 2 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 3 (Group B, C, and D)
Four Key Etude 4 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 5 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 6 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 7 (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 8 – D (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 8 – G (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 8 – C (Group C and D) NEW
Wohlfahrt Etude 1 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 5 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 6 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 9 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 10 (Group C and D)
Viola (Bow Hold Review) (Fingering Charts) (Left hand/arm Review)
D Major scale (Groups B, C and D)
G Major scale (Groups C and D)
C Major scale (Groups C and D)
F Major scale (Group D)
Open strings: quarter notes and rests (Beginners and Group B)
Second finger bowing and thinking (Beginners)
Third finger bowing and thinking (Beginners)
Fourth finger bowing and thinking (Group C and D)
Three Key Etude 1 (Groups C and D)
Four Key Etude 1A (Group Beginner, B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 2 (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 3 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 4 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 5(Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 6 (Group B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 7 (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 8 – D (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 8 – G (Group C and D)
Four Key Etude 8 – C (Group C and D) NEW
Wohlfahrt Etude 1 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 3 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 5 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 6 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 9 (Group C and D)
Wohlfahrt Etude 10 (Group C and D)
Cello (Fingering Charts)
D Major scale (Groups B, C and D)
G Major scale (Groups C and D)
C Major scale (Groups C and D)
F Major scale (Group D)
Open strings: quarter notes and rests (Beginners and Group B)
Bowing and thinking (Groups B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 1A (Group Beginner, B, C and D)
Four Key Etude 2 (Group B, C, and D)
String Bass (Fingering Charts)
D Major scale (Groups B, C, and D)
G Major scale (Groups C and D)
C Major scale (Groups C and D)
F Major scale (Group D)
Open strings: quarter notes and rests (Beginners and Group B)
Bowing and thinking (Groups B, C, and D)
Four Key Etude 1A (Group Beginner, B, C and D)
