Finger independence training for the Tremolo

So here we are again.
Talking about the famous Tremolo technique.

Here is one thing I will say up front. I believe that we should not call it “Tremolo Technique”, because this leads to the misunderstanding that we need to play something else, or move our fingers in a different manner then we usually do in order to get the 3 notes together… or better one after another.

I have heard so many students that have the “Gallop” sounding Tremolo.
This is exactly where we end up when we try to have somehow ONE movement of the hand and three fingers going inside and creating 3 notes.
It is somehow like a brushing movement, most students execute it very light and are not able to obtain a loud sound, or others got more training and are able to make the 3 notes sound more or less loud and fluent.
BUT this works only with one certain tempo; it means the Tremolo line will only flow if you perform it with one certain overall Tempo. In the moment when you slow down the tempo you get a “Gallop” like Tremolo.

Many years ago I was honored to be adminted for a master class with David Russell, this was I think in the mid 90s. David use to teach near by Frankfurt a whole week with a selected group of students.

On the second day I performed “La Floresta” by Barrios for him. My Tremolo was not weak in sound but it was not stable…. if I slowed down the tempo I went into the “Gallop” tremolo.
The great comment from David was: “Within your Tremolo, you have to be able to play with different accents, moving the accent from one finger to another.

Well I knew of course what he meant (I guess everybody have had this experience and knows what it means), but how do we get really a strong Tremolo that is fluent and can vary in tempo and dynamics?

It took me over 15 years of performing and finally finding a solution to this problem. Everything was inspired by my good friend Dr. Felix Olschofka, a great violinist and teacher at the University of North Texas/Denton. We met during our studies at Indiana University/Bloomington.

During my period as a Orchestra Conductor I had to learn a LOT about violin playing. My friend Felix spend few days explaining me the concept of “Contact Point” for the violin. And this was one of these moments where you think you are discovering the New World.

CONTACT POINT:

The place or spot where the bow is in contact with the string. The bow transmits all the energy to the strings and is able to vary the color and nuances of the sound, ad juts by changes the Contact Point. Sounds very easy but it a real Art that taks many violin players years to become perfect. There are many different schools that teach all about bow arm. I think a very famous is by Leopold Mozart and also of course by Geminiani. Every thing evolves around the contact point that makes the sound be rich and with a incredible proyection.

The complete concept of Contact Point will be another series for y Blog, so for now I will not get into the discussion. I already have it written down but …later on.

BUT we have to know that the Contact Point is crucial for the Tremolo!
We need 4 independent contact points that have all the energy needed, in order to make each note sound full and proyecting and all the other great souding word describing the sound.

The main problem is that we hace to understand the Tremolo as a sequence of 4 independent attacks, and not a special movement of the thumb and a-m-i fingers brushing over the string.

Ana Vidovic actually proves my point: If you think on 4 independent attacks, that this means that your worriews lie only in getting the attacks together in one line. Ana Vidovic performs the Tremolo with thumb and just m-i fingers. Middle- and Indexfinger play fast attacking the strings pretty much strong making the 3 notes sound full and in the correst sequence. There is no special movement foe the Tremolo – just 4 independent attacks.

My idea of the Tremolo is the classic apporach since Tarrega, this means using a-m-i fingers because 3 fingers can do the work better then only 2 fingers,……..

 

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