TWIN CITIES, MN / ACCESS Newswire / April 9, 2025 / Marnie Thies of proviolin.com explores the different components of teaching advanced violin students. She discusses the methods she uses to cultivate technique and musicality. Marnie Thies Violin Lessons explains her approach to teaching key elements of violin playing, such as enhancing left-hand dexterity, refining bow arm technique, developing continuous vibrato alongside various speeds of vibrato to convey different emotions, and sight-reading. These skills are developed through targeted exercises that aim to improve left hand fluidity, and the bow arm.
For advanced students, lessons focus on further refinement of left-hand dexterity. This technical aspect is addressed by using "The School of Violin-Technics" Volume One by Schradieck. This method book develops left-hand strength, agility, and speed, particularly improving finger coordination and evenness across all fingers, including the pinky. There are many amateur and professional violinists that use Schradieck on a daily basis to keep their fingers in the left hand moving in an agile manner. Marnie Thies's former violin teacher, Mary West, played from this book when she was 87!
Thies further develops finger dexterity through accelerated three-octave scales, incorporating bow control and metronome work. To improve bow arm technique and even bow distribution, Marnie Thies has students divide the bow evenly for each note (e.g., half bow for two notes, one-third for three notes).
Another aspect that Marnie Thies addresses in her lessons is bowing technique, particularly bow distribution (also known as bow division). Bow distribution refers to using an equal or appropriate amount of bow for each note when playing multiple notes on a single bow stroke.
In violin playing, a down bow moves from the frog (the part of the bow held by the player) toward the tip, while an up bow moves from the tip back toward the frog. Proper bow distribution is crucial for producing a consistent tone and ensuring each note is clearly heard.
To develop control and precision in bow distribution, Marnie Thies Violin Lessons teaches an exercise where students pause the bow between notes when playing multiple notes in a single bow stroke. This helps students become more aware of how much bow they are using and reinforces muscle memory in the right arm.
Thies acknowledges that this exercise can be challenging, as students often use too much bow at the frog and tip, making the sound uneven. To address this, she places visual markers (such as tape) on the bow or instructs online students on where to place the tape themselves. These markers serve as a visual and tactile guide, helping students develop more precise bow control.
Other advanced bowing exercises include studies from Sevcik's "Forty Variations, Op. 3." These exercises focus on various off-the-string bow strokes which are important for playing more advanced repertoire. Practicing these variations further facilitates the fluidity, precision and confidence needed to navigate more challenging music. In addition to bowing techniques, Thies also emphasizes the importance of vibrato in her lessons.
One of the main techniques Thies incorporates into her lessons is continuous vibrato, a hallmark of expressive violin playing. She stresses its significance by explaining that vibrating on every note enhances tone through a richer sound thereby creating greater emotional depth helping students play with a more refined sound. Vibrato becomes particularly important for advanced students who aim to bring a greater level of musicality to their performances. Marnie Thies ensures that her students master this skill as a critical part of their technical development.
How does Marnie Thies of Marnie Thies Violin Lessons suggest that her students practice having vibrato on every note?
Marnie Thies advises her students to cultivate continuous vibrato by mentally preparing before each note, ensuring that vibrato is applied instinctively. Over time, this repetition builds muscle memory in the left hand, making vibrato a natural and deeply ingrained part of their playing.
Another component of vibrato involves varying its speed, which is key to expressing emotion. A slower, wider vibrato conveys a calm emotion, while a faster, narrower one communicates intensity. To help students develop this skill, Marnie Thies assigns exercises with various rhythms, including eighth notes, triplets, 16th notes, and 32nd notes. These exercises allow students to master vibrato at different speeds, adding depth to their playing and helping them match the emotional nuances of the music. This control also improves their overall musical expression and versatility.
In addition to vibrato, Marnie Thies prioritizes sight-reading practice for students preparing for auditions, such as youth orchestra auditions, which often involve playing higher notes and tackling complex rhythms. To enhance sight-reading skills, she incorporates position-based exercises designed to improve accuracy in higher registers. Thies also integrates the use of flashcards and tuners, helping students practice pitch recognition and precise finger placement. This targeted approach builds confidence and precision while reinforcing accuracy across all violin positions, a crucial component of advanced musicianship. Violin positions, determined by the left hand's placement on the fingerboard-the ebony strip of the violin-allow players to navigate the fingerboard and access higher notes with ease.
Through Marnie Thies's methodical approach, she ensures that students are equipped with the skills needed for superior violin playing. By nurturing the development of solid technical foundations from the very beginning, Thies helps her students navigate obstacles, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
At the time of this article, Marnie Thies Violin Lessons offers lessons to students aged five and older, as well as adults, in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving students in the surrounding areas of Falcon Heights and North Oaks. She also gives online violin lessons. To observe the progression of her online student who studied exclusively with Marnie and acquired vibrato solely through online lessons, please visit her online violin lessons page at proviolin.com. If you are interested in lessons with Marnie, she can be reached through her website.
CONTACT:
Marnie Thies of Marnie Thies Violin Lessons
Email: marnie78t@gmail.com
SOURCE: Marnie Thies Violin Lessons
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