Let’s summarize what we have seen so far. If we really want to get better on our instrument, if we want to save time to achieve the utmost precision we must not merely play through over and over again, particularly at the beginning of the learning phase of a new piece.
We must avoid practicing bad habits that are diffcult to get rid of after a couple of weeks.
What is the best way to start?
That depends on how difficult this particular piece appears to us. Generally we should focus on our intonation at the very first beginning. We kind of take it to pieces, perhaps even measure by measure if necessary. Of course, this approach isn’t required in passages we have under control already.
Today we take an example from Brahms’ Violin Concerto:
Without any doubt a very difficult and demanding piece.
Let’s assume the worst case: Almost every note is wrong and out of tune. Shifts resemble a lottery, let alone the octaves.
So we start with the very first notes, one by one, interval by interval:
How often we have to repeat the notes depends on our concentration. But I wouldn’t recommend more than five or six repetitions before going on to the next measure. It’s better practicing the next interval, then returning to the first if required.
I have included the bowing for the single measures. It is most important to stick to the original bowing to make sure you practice the notes exactly as they are played in context later on. Best is to start bar 2 with a down-bow, bar 3 with an up-bow and so on.
Let’s go on to the next part, our first shift to the fifth position:
Again, we should start with an up-bow to practice it correctly right from the beginning. We should keep in mind that shifts should be practiced in both directions if possible. It’s easier to remember the distance between the positions that way.
We proceed to the first really difficult part:
Perhaps we have to do this interval by interval first, depending on our intonation. The octave is easier than it looks at first sight. If the first finger “f” remains in position you’ll be fine. We just have to add the fourth finger and that’s it. We repeat it about five times and now it comes:
The assembly of the quintuplet and the octave:
That should work quite fine since we have practiced the shift seperately. Now we can play the piece from the beginning to the first octave to see what we have done so far.
Speaking with Freddy Mercury: “It’s a kind of magic!” 
If we are happy with that we’ll have a look at the octaves. First note by note, then as a double stop:
It’s always easier to play an octave one by one than simultaneously. This way we learn the distance between first and fourth finger. By playing the double stop we simply check if we play the octave in tune.
When the octaves are in tune we put them together:
Since we have shifts again we play them in both directions, up- and downward.
Next week we’ll carry on with this terrific concerto.
Have fun practicing!
