Task Analysis: How to play open string notes on the violin

1. Prepare the bow

a) Remove bow from case
b) Tighten the bow hair until the space between bow hair and bow is the width of a
pencil
c) Rosin the bow
i)
Grip the rosin
ii)
Gently rub rosin on bow three or four times
2. Hold the bow
A) Position the hand and fingers
i)
Place the middle part of index finger on the grip, which is the padded part of
the stick a few inches above the tightening knob
ii)
Place the tip of your pinky on the flat part of the stick near the base
iii)
Place the tips of the ring and middle fingers on the side of the frog (black
square-shaped piece near the end of the bow).
iv)
Rest thumb underneath the stick at the front of the frog, either close to or
directly on the bow hair
B) Adjust overall hand position
i)
Keep hand relaxed and loose
ii)
Keep hand rounded as if holding an orange
iii)
Dont let palm rest on bow
3. Prepare the violin
A) Remove violin from its case
B) With your left hand, pick up violin by the neck
C) Bring the rounded body of violin to your neck
D) Rest the violin on your collar bone
E) Position the chin rest under your jawbone, closer to the earlobe than chin.
F) Hold violin in place with your jaw
4. Position hand that is holding the violin
A) Place your hand under the top part of the neck
B) Hold instrument with the scroll pointed away from your body
C) Steady the neck of the violin
i)
Rest the neck of the violin in the space between the left thumb and first finger.
ii)
Rest the side of your thumb on the violin neck
5. Play open string notes on the violin
A) Stand or sit in an erect position (back straight, good posture)
B) Place the flat side of the bow (hair) on the neck.
i)
Position bow in between the bridge and the fingerboard.
ii)
Make sure the bow is positioned directly over the belly of the violin.
C) Move or pull the bow along the four strings of the violin (GDA and E)
i)
Hold the bow with the wrist, elbow, shoulder all parallel to one another.
ii)
Move bow as straight as possible.
iii)
Keep the bow parallel to the bridge
iv)
Apply a small amount of pressure to the bow on the violin

v)
vi)

Tilt the bow hair towards the bridge at a 45 degree angle.

Adjust pressure of bow on strings to make a pleasing, continuous sound that is
not scratchy.
vii)
Change which string is played by raising or lowering the elbow to the proper
angle.
D) Practice playing open string notes.
i)
Start with short strokes of 6 inches or so in the middle of the bow.
ii)
Progress to half strokes that extend from the frog to the middle and back
again.
iii)
Move on to full-length strokes.
iv)
Practice until you can play one string at a time without touching more than
one string at a time.
Objectives:
Given the right pieces of equipment (violin, bow, and rosin) the student will be able to:
1) Hold the violin and bow correctly.
2) Play the four open notes (G,D,A and E) with a relatively clear tone.

Assessment:
Direct
1. Students will demonstrate how to hold the violin and bow, place the instrument in correct
playing position, and play all four open notes.
2. While observed by the module instructor, students will demonstrate their comprehension
of the task by orally and manually leading a parent, sibling, fellow student (who has not
taken this learning module), or any other individual not enrolled in the module through
the steps needed to hold the instrument and bow correctly, as well as how to bow the 4
open notes
3. During a brief in-class or videotaped performance, parents or teachers will observe
students as they hold the bow and violin and play four open tones. The instructor will
demonstrate proper stance and performance before each student takes his or her turn.
Then parents or teachers will write down his or her observations concerning the students
stance, ability to hold the violin and bow correctly, quality of tone, and familiarity with
the overall musical task.
Indirect
1. Ask students how well they think they can play open strings on the violin.
2. Ask students how they think the instructor could better teach them how to play open
strings on the violin.