Sub-divide, and conquer

Yesterday afternoon the wind kicked up, the sky darkened, and nature let loose with a doozey of a storm; the kind that quickens your pulse, demands you drop everything – including your jaw – and gaze in amazement.

After a time my daughter couldn’t resist having a more up close and personal experience, so she grabbed my hand and pulled me outside to join her in a good soaking.

And how simply refreshing it was. Such are the gentle pleasures that remind us how wonderful life can be.

Only thing is, we forgot to sing.

Next time.

Now, let’s talk counting. I think in the past I’ve spoken of sub-dividing mainly during slow practice. A very good thing to do.

Yet there are also occasions when sub-division can make the difference between muddy and sparkling fast playing. Let me give you an example.

In Kreutzer number 2 there are numerous little melodic and harmonic movements that take place in an eighth note time frame. If one is only aware of quarter notes it is very easy gloss over these, loosing opportunities for nuance and musicality in the process.

Another example, though not strictly involving sub-dividing I’ll admit, is the Presto movement of Bach’s G minor Sonata, unaccompanied. Though marked in 3/8, many violinists can’t resist sliding into ‘one’.

The result is often a meaningless flood of notes that says very little.
What I tell myself, is this. ‘Play as fleetly as you like, providing you stay in 3.’

Now, I can tell you my G minor Presto ain’t slow. At the same time, by remaining in 3 I have full control over the flow of the notes, and can illuminate ALL of the rich harmonic and melodic detail in the music.

The bottom line is this, don’t allow yourself to think only in one way about the pulse of a piece of music. Each way you conceive of the pulse will produce a different musical effect. And only by experimenting will you find and present the strongest case the music has to offer.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. For many an experienced player time remains something of a bugaboo. Here’s the course that will give you the rock-solid control over time you’ve always wanted. Kreutzer for Violin Mastery