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Leonard : Left hand exercise Here is a daily exercise for the left hand, designed to improve and refine its mechanism. Velocity, light finger work, evenness and shifting are also gained. Do not play this too loudly, and never force the fingers. Try and keep the tempo 100% accurate and even throughout the exercise. As each key requires a slightly different finger pattern, the fingers are constantly changing pattern, and are thus exercised in all possible ways. Use your fingers only. Do not apply force with your wrist, forearm, elbow or any other damaging and non necessary component.
The bowing must be totally even in speed and quantity. The left hand should fit into the bowing, and not vice versa. If your fingers are at all aching or tired, then immediately rest for a minutes until all signs of strain have dissolved. Forcing your left hand into building up speed and strength through brute force and exhaustion is a totally damaging practice. Agility can only be gained through lightness and correctness in the vertical finger mechanism performed at the correct joint ( third ).
Remember to remain in position until instructed to move to a new one. Above all, remember to play with smooth string crossing as well as smooth light fingering. Play softer, and change the tempo to a faster one..... next try with a firmer tone and steadier tempo. This variety will also add sensitivity and flexibility to your mechanism. As a daily exercise, Leonard has given us a concise one, designed to keep your left hand in shape in as little practice time as possible.
If you decide to halve the tempo, then use 8 notes per bow, or even 4. As your skills develop double the tempo, at 16 notes per bow ( as written ). Make sure your bow is at the middle half way through the bar ( even tone ). You must be constantly aware of the tempo by being at the heel / middle / tip in time with the metronome. If you don't have a metronome then use the one inside your head ! |
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