Technique · Learning Jazz Violin

1d • Tips

Technique

A few members have been chatting in the comments about technique.

Technique is a really interesting subject for jazz players because the world of jazz violin is inhabited by players from different places, musical backgrounds and varying technical ability on the instrument.

I know when I first started jazz, my technique basically didn’t exist at all. I practised jazz HARD, and over that time I think I practised some weird points into my playing.

Issues I’ve come up against time after time since playing professionally. Over the years Iv worked at it and had lesson with different teachers to help fix my issues.

I would implore jazz violinists who haven’t had a solid technical foundation in violin playing to do the same; alongside you work on improv, take lessons with a good teacher in your area who understands your jazz goals (they can be hard to find)

People who have a decent grounding should try to keep this up too but I always suggest that they start to use different material to work on their issues or technical goals. Find a way to work on jazz language whilst focusing on your violin playing. This is where my weekly exercises can come in handy. Rather than schradiek, if you know what you are working on, try to use enclosure and scale exercises to push your left hand. Better still create your own exercises out of lines that you like, that’s literally what I do!

Btw, just 48 hours left of my 20% discount on all stand alone courses in my classroom. Those 46 lines could be a great place to start with the above!

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